Deputy commissioner urges shift to profitable farming and youth empowerment

29 June 2026, 10:36 am

By Gerald Odongo

On Sunday, 28 June 2026, the Deputy Resident District Commissioner for Amolatar addressed a congregation at Ocekitol Yahweh Pentecostal Mission Church in Aputi Sub-county, urging residents to shift their focus from subsistence farming to more selective and productive agricultural practices.

He emphasised that agriculture should be viewed as a business venture rather than merely a means of survival. During his address, he encouraged attendees to move away from arbitrary crop selection and instead focus on high-value, market-oriented enterprises.

Highlighting cocoa and coffee as key examples, he noted that these crops have already provided stability to farmers in various parts of Uganda.

He further underscored the Ministry of Education’s commitment to ensuring a reliable power supply in the near future, which would enable the establishment of electricity-powered enterprises such as salons. The Deputy Commissioner also assured the community that efforts would be made to improve access to safe water in the area.

He called on church leaders to actively involve young people and women in forming Savings and Credit Cooperative Organisations (SACCOs) and Parish Development Model (PDM) groups. These groups, he said, would serve as platforms for accessing start-up capital for productive ventures such as coffee farming, while also demonstrating exemplary leadership within the wider community.

Additionally, he cautioned parents against imposing harsh punishments on their children, warning that such actions may constitute criminal offences under the law.

In support of the church, he pledged to provide 200 seedlings for planting and urged the congregation to fully embrace government programmes, including the PDM and restocking initiatives.

The gathering also provided an opportunity for Ocekitol Yahweh Pentecostal Mission Church to seek financial assistance to acquire a public address system to support its activities and outreach efforts.