Women in Serere district urged to embrace poultry farming as chicks are distributed
SERERE, April 23, 2025 –– Women’s groups in Serere district have been encouraged to take up poultry farming as a strategy to combat poverty and improve their livelihoods.
Deborah Akello, Executive Director of Women and Girls Rights Advocacy Uganda [WAGRAU], a local non-governmental organisation advocating for women’s rights, made the call while distributing chicks to women’s groups as part of an economic empowerment initiative.
“When we give money, for example Shs 300,000 as capital, often after just a month the business has collapsed. That’s why we are focusing on poultry farming, it’s more sustainable,” said Akello.
In an interview, Akello confirmed that each women’s group comprising 10 to 20 members, had received 25 chicks as a starting point. After a one-month monitoring period, each group will receive a further 75 chicks, bringing the total to 100.
“Our goal is for each group to have 100 chicks. After six months, they can sell a female bird at a minimum of Shs 30,000 and a male at Shs 40,000,” she explained.
To ensure success, Akello added that WAGRAU would collaborate with veterinary officers to vaccinate the chicks against diseases, helping prevent losses.
She urged the women to fully embrace the project and commit to hard work, emphasising that poultry farming could significantly improve their quality of life.
Akello further pledged to hire land, plough, and provide seeds and farm inputs for the women, whose main role would then be to plant, weed, and harvest. After selling the harvest, the women are expected to buy household assets and also save collectively as a group.
Beneficiaries express gratitude
Esther Akello, a beneficiary from Aima Kakus Village, Olio Sub-county, expressed her appreciation, saying the chicks would generate income and improve the wellbeing of women and their families.
“We shall be able to feed our children well, educate them, and care for them when they are unwell,” she said.
Loyce Mary Arionos, Chairperson of the Aima Women’s Group, vowed to keep the group active and committed to proper poultry care, including seeking veterinary support to keep the chicks healthy.
She thanked WAGRAU for the initiative and expressed hope that the resulting income would ease the burden of paying school fees, particularly for single mothers in the community.
About WAGRAU
WAGRAU is a community-based, non-profit organisation dedicated to the promotion, protection, and respect of women’s and girls’ rights and dignity. Founded in 2017 and officially registered in 2019, WAGRAU works to dismantle patriarchy, challenge societal norms that normalise gender-based discrimination, and support female empowerment across Uganda.
https://thecooperator.news/local-communities-in-serere-receive-new-irrigation-scheme/
Buy your copy of thecooperator magazine from one of our country-wide vending points or an e-copy on emag.thecooperator.news
Views: 17
