RUBIRIZI, December 9, 2025 – Farmers in Rubirizi district are receiving renewed support to shift from subsistence to commercial livestock production, following a fresh training initiative by the Rural Initiative for Poverty Alleviation [RIPA], a social enterprise working to improve rural livelihoods.
During the training, Vincent Tumusiime Bamugaya, Director for Economic Monitoring and Research in the Office of the President and Executive Director of RIPA, said properly managed livestock enterprises hold significant potential to transform household incomes.
He noted that the session aimed to equip farmers with practical livestock management skills, gather feedback on the progress of RIPA’s goat and dairy projects, and sensitise new applicants to the organisation’s Animal Banking programme.
Bamugaya emphasised the need for farmers to appreciate breeding, production, and marketing as viable business ventures that can serve as a foundation for wider commercial activity.
He added that RIPA’s work is anchored in five pillars—Production, Processing and Marketing; Strategic Alliances; Enterprise Development; Micro-Savings, Credit and Insurance; and Research and Development—designed to build socially and economically resilient communities.
Tackling low cattle numbers and rural poverty
Christopher Akampurira, RIPA’s Head of Strategy, Business and Marketing, underlined the urgency of the intervention, revealing that Rubirizi, despite its high population density, has fewer than 500 head of cattle.
RIPA hopes to reverse this trend by promoting zero-grazing dairy farming and strengthening livestock value chains, with a target of supporting 500 households over the next five years.
He also pointed to wider national concerns: 33 percent of Ugandan households still depend on subsistence farming, while rural poverty continues to slow development. With 76 per cent of the population living in rural areas and 73 percent employed in agriculture, he said, initiatives like RIPA’s are essential.
Project goals and early successes
Bamugaya reiterated RIPA’s mission of driving sustainable poverty reduction in rural Uganda. The organisation’s strategic plan prioritises value addition, private-sector-led job creation, and enhanced productive infrastructure.
Key goals include increasing agricultural output through improved inputs, better practices, and enhanced feed management.
More than 70 families in Rubirizi are set to benefit from RIPA’s zero-grazing dairy and goat programmes this year, following last year’s support to 100 households with goats and 30 with dairy cows. The organisation is also advocating for climate-smart, environmentally responsible farming practices.
The initiative aims to uplift youth as well, with plans to establish 11 youth agribusiness groups and offer training in entrepreneurship and vocational skills. By 2026, the programme is expected to benefit 10,000 people and create at least 500 jobs for previously unemployed young people.
Support for faith leaders
In a related gesture, RIPA has donated four cattle to religious leaders in Rubirizi in recognition of their community service. Beneficiaries included the Parish Priest of Rugazi, the Archdeacon of Ndekye, and the County Sheik of Rubirizi.
Sheik Manisuri Suwatu, Head of the Muslim community in the district, thanked RIPA for its continued support, saying the livestock would help generate income through milk sales, assist with school fees, and create opportunities for future value addition.
RIPA founders Lion Tumusiime Vincent Bamugaya and Lion Kwesiga Rosebel reaffirmed their commitment to partnering with faith leaders to advance the organisation’s mission of poverty alleviation and promote sustainable development across rural communities.
https://thecooperator.news/rubirizi-coffee-farmers-warned-against-picking-immature-berries/
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