Under support from the Statehouse Poverty Alleviation Department (PAD), over 343 goats were handed over to the grass root communities in Kyongera Parish Kyarusozi Sub county, Kyenjojo District on Sunday August 24^th, 2025.

The Deputy RDC Kyenjojo, Mr. Allan Bamuha, Assistant RDC Kyenjojo Hamza Rwantale, and the District Production Officer, Mr. Shem Ssekyanzi, and LC III Chairperson Kyarusozi Sub County, Mr Nyakoojo Denis, presided over the distribution exercise.

The Poverty Alleviation Department (PAD) in State House was established in 2000. The State House Poverty Alleviation Department (PAD) is a unit under the Office of the President of Uganda, established to support the President’s vision of reducing poverty at the household level. It mainly works through direct interventions in selected communities, serving as a demonstration arm of government on practical poverty eradication strategies. In 2003, the department was mandated to develop wealth creation models. The department has so far designed more than 12 initiatives aimed at increasing productivity and value addition.

In 2003, the department received a mandate to develop wealth creation models to benefit the people of Uganda. The department has thus far designed more than 12 initiatives aimed at increasing productivity and value addition. Kyarusozi has been a lucky beneficiary of the goat and cattle farming initiative, which was designed to provide starter livestock, skills, and training so that poor households can build sustainable enterprises and move from subsistence farming to commercial agriculture.

Speaking at the function, the Sub county chairperson, Mr. Nyakoojo Denis, thanked the government and President’s office for the poverty alleviation program, and for prioritizing the people of Kyongera, and Kyarusozi. He noted that this has improved household incomes through fast-multiplying livestock as goats reproduce quickly, supply manure for crop production, serve as an entry point for families with limited resources, since goats are cheaper to manage than cattle. He requested the initiatives be extended to other villages so the whole district can be impacted positively just like Kyarusozi has been.

The District Production Officer, and Coordinator Parish Development Model in Rwenzori region, Mr. Shem Ssekyanzi, informed the congregation that the State House Poverty Alleviation Department (PAD) has been rolling out several goat and cattle farming initiatives as part of its household income improvement programs. These projects are usually introduced in model villages or targeted vulnerable communities, with the aim of turning livestock farming into a reliable source of wealth. He emphasized that they had zeroed on the cattle and goat initiatives because both animals are wealth multipliers at the household level, require low maintenance, have a quick reproduction rate, and an availability of ready market. They complement crop farming (manure for soil fertility), and most importantly fit into the model village strategy, where one household’s success demonstrates to neighbors how livestock farming can transform livelihoods. He urged the beneficiaries to take good care of the goats so as to improve their standards of living, improve the community, and the country at large

The Deputy RDC, Mr Allan Bamuha, thanked State House for the initiative, noting that it showed how government is committed to improving livelihoods of every Ugandan citizen. He emphasized that the goat and cattle farming initiatives of Poverty Alleviation Department of state house are designed to provide starter livestock, skills, and training so that poor households can build sustainable enterprises and move from subsistence farming to commercial agriculture.

PAD works in tandem with other government anti-poverty initiatives. The program aims at enhancing or supplementing the five pillars of the Poverty Alleviation Program (PAP) and the Prosperity for All program, especially the element that calls for the creation of Savings and Credit Cooperative Societies (SACCOS).

Beneficiaries receive their goats from the Deputy RDC and DPO

Kids of one of the beneficiaries from the goat initiative

One of the beneficiaries of the cattle initiative

RDC, DPO and RDC interract with Mzee Byabazaire, a beneficiary of the cattle initiative in his matooke farm