The National Animal Genetic Resources Centre and Data Bank (NAGRC&DB) has initiated a massive agricultural transformation in the Busoga sub-region by distributing a significant consignment of high-quality livestock and essential farming inputs to local communities. Presided over by the First Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of East African Affairs, Rt. Hon. Rebecca Alitwala Kadaga, the handover ceremony in Kamuli district marked a strategic shift from traditional sugarcane cultivation toward sustainable, high-value livestock farming. During the event, NAGRC distributed 50,000 Kuroiler chicken, 180 grandparent pure-bred pigs, 185 Kasolwe goats, and 20 pure-bred Jersey bulls. To ensure the long-term success of these genetic resources, the agency also provided 20 complete Artificial Insemination (AI) kits with assorted semen and 500 bags of fertility-boosting mineral salts.
This initiative directly benefited over 139 farmer groups organized under the NGO “Uganda First,” providing them with the tools necessary to exit subsistence farming and enter the commercial livestock market. Central to this transformation is the Kasolwe Stock Farm, a government-managed facility that has been revitalized into a comprehensive hub for dairy, piggery, poultry, and fish production. The farm is the birthplace of the revolutionary Kasolwe brown goat, a “super breed” specifically engineered for the East African climate. This breed is highly prized by local farmers for its exceptional twinning abilities, rapid growth rates, and its unique capacity to thrive in harsh environmental conditions.
Beyond providing superior animal genetics, the project emphasizes total value chain support through the farm’s commercial animal feed production plant. With a capacity of 5MT/hr, the plant produces a wide array of compounded feeds, including dairy meals and goat pellets, while sourcing raw materials directly from the host community. This localized sourcing has already begun transforming the livelihoods of local grain farmers by providing a reliable and immediate market for their produce. Furthermore, the farm’s outreach programs have seen over 10,000 cattle inseminated in the last two years, significantly improving the genetic quality of local herds.
Waiswa Kawali, spokesperson for Uganda First, expressed profound optimism after touring the farm, stating that the high-quality genetics in poultry and dairy hold the key to regional prosperity and urged the youth to utilize these resources to escape poverty. Minister Kadaga reaffirmed the government’s commitment to the region, pledging to lobby for the completion of the Kasolwe farmer training hostel and skilling center complex. This will finalize the site’s status as a world-class Centre of Excellence, ensuring that Busoga farmers are not only equipped with the best livestock but also the infrastructure and technical knowledge required to sustain a thriving agricultural economy.
