19,833 Karenga households receive hand hoes to boost farming and fight poverty

10 November 2026, 10:34 am

By Sarah Ejang

The Government of Uganda, through the Ministry of Agriculture, Animal Industry and Fisheries (MAAIF), has distributed 19,833 hand hoes to households in Karenga District to boost agricultural production, eradicate poverty and combat hunger.

Each household will receive one hoe. The tools were delivered by MAAIF to the district headquarters.

The distribution exercise was launched by the Minister of Ethics and Integrity, who is also the Woman MP for Karenga District, Hon. Akello Rose Lilly, in Kapedo Sub-county.

During the launch, hoes were distributed to communities in Kapedo Parish. The exercise will subsequently extend to Kakwanga, Kawalakol, Labalangit, Sangara, Karenga and Lakori sub-counties, as well as Kapedo, Karenga and Kidepo town councils, covering seven sub-counties and three town councils in total.

The hoes are valued at approximately UGX 297,495,000.

Speaking at the launch, Hon. Akello said the initiative was aimed at improving agricultural productivity and supporting families in their efforts to eradicate poverty and combat hunger.

“Please use the hoes to increase productivity and fight poverty,” she said.

Hon. Akello thanked President Yoweri Museveni for supporting the people of Karamoja through empowerment initiatives aimed at improving their livelihoods.

She also appealed to community members to ensure that their children attend school and warned parents against using children to graze cattle.

She directed the Resident District Commissioner (RDC) and the police to arrest parents who keep their children out of school to graze animals.

“I appeal to the community to take their children to school. Parents who keep their children out of school to graze animals must stop,” Hon. Akello said.

She further urged LCIII and LC I chairpersons, as well as kraal leaders, to cooperate and support the initiative, noting that the younger generation represented Uganda’s future.

“LCIII, LC I and kraal leaders must cooperate and support this initiative, because the younger generation is the future of Uganda,” she said.

The Karenga Resident District Commissioner, Mr Taban Peter Data, said sub-county chiefs across the Karamoja region had been guided on how to distribute the hoes.

He cautioned them against favouring their relatives and friends during the exercise.

“Avoid giving these hoes to your friends and relatives who are not from the parishes. Only consider people within your community and ensure that each household receives a hoe,” Mr Taban said.

He also warned beneficiaries against selling the hoes and spending the proceeds on alcohol, urging them instead to use the tools productively during the planting season.

“Don’t sell the hoes. Use them in your gardens,” Mr Taban said.

Mr Taban further advised community members to embrace mixed farming and grow different crops to ensure a variety of food supplies.

“Don’t plant only one crop. Have a variety so that we can have a mix of food items,” he said.

The Member of Parliament for Dodoth West, Hon. Baatom Ben Koryang, said the initiative would help households increase food production, improve incomes and support government efforts to eradicate poverty and combat hunger.

“This initiative will help our households increase food production and improve household incomes. Let us use this support to fight poverty in Karenga,” Hon. Baatom said.

Gen. Michael Walaka Hyeroba said the government support was part of a deliberate effort to economically empower communities as they worked together to secure Karamoja.

“This support from the government is part of our deliberate effort to empower you economically as we jointly secure Karamoja,” Gen. Hyeroba said.

He added that food security was closely linked to national security, urging residents to embrace agriculture as a pathway to peace and prosperity.

“We cannot keep the peace with guns alone. True peace comes when every household has food on the table. I call upon you to put these tools to work, educate your children, and abandon cattle rustling for productive farming,” Gen. Hyeroba said.