The Olam blueprint: How Pius Olam’s four-Alacre farm is redefining wealth and tourism in Lango

26 June 2026, 4:37 pm

By Frank Oyugi​

LIRA, UGANDA — For decades, the narrative surrounding wealth creation in Northern Uganda has hovered around traditional, expansive paradigms. However, at the heart of Lira City, a quiet revolution is taking place on just four acres of land.

City Gate Mixed Farm, located in Amucha, has become a beacon of hope, demonstrating that a small piece of land, when heavily and strategically utilized, can yield immense economic transformation.​

During a specialized educational field visit hosted at the model farm, young women contesting in the prestigious Miss Tourism Northern Uganda pageant were exposed to the realities of agro-tourism and sustainable climate-smart agriculture.

The visit sought to shatter the myth that agriculture is a low-reward venture, framing it instead as the vibrant backbone of the region’s socio-economic future.​

The Visionary Behind the Gates

​Mr. Pius Olam, the CEO of City Gate Mixed Farm, stands proudly among his livestock. Driven by an unyielding passion for animals and sustainable farming, Olam has structured his enterprise around a highly efficient, tightly integrated four-acre model.​

“First of all, you see, farming to me is a passion,” Olam explains, a smile lighting up his face as he talks about his cattle and poultry. “The love for animals always drives me. Secondly, as we always say, agriculture is the backbone of this country, and it is very true. Once you have something that brings you money on a daily basis, to me, it is a great business.”

Olam’s model is meticulously diversified to guarantee consistent, daily cash flow. Every morning, the farm generates income from two main steady streams: thousands of eggs collected from the poultry section and fresh milk pumped from high-yield Friesian dairy cattle.

​To put the numbers into perspective, City Gate Mixed Farm’s Operations Manager, Mr. Nek-Edwin Ian, reveals that the farm currently hosts a staggering 25,000 layer birds alongside roughly 10,000 dual-purpose Kroiler chickens reared specifically for meat.

The cattle section operates as a precision-managed unit with one breeding bull, ten dairy cows, and four calves, while an expansive ranching arm features nearly 200 free-range cattle.

Additionally, the farm processes animal waste into premium organic manure, which is sold back to local crop farmers to promote healthy soil ecosystems.​

The financial rewards of this high-intensity integration are staggering. “Approximately in a day, the farm is making roughly 10 million Ugandan Shillings,” Ian notes casually, highlighting the vast economic potential locked within disciplined agricultural practices.​

Overcoming the Elements: Climate and Biosecurity

​Managing an enterprise of this scale in Northern Uganda does not come without distinct challenges. Relying on delicate, high-yield exotic breeds requires maximum attention and strict biosecurity measures.​

“You’re dealing with something that has blood, just like a human being,” Olam notes. “They can wake up sick, and that means full attention must be given to them.”​

Climate variation poses another significant hurdle. City Gate imports premium South African goat breeds, including Boer, Savanna, and Red Kalahari goats, known for their superior meat quality. However, transitioning these animals from Southern Africa to the equatorial weather of Northern Uganda demands rigorous care.

Beyond the livestock, Olam’s farm features a thriving demonstration plot of ‘Elite’ clonal coffee, proving that the cash crop can flourish exceptionally well in Northern Uganda’s changing climate, bringing in additional seasonal revenue.​

Tourism with a Purpose: Pageantry Meets Agro-Development​

For the contestants of Miss Tourism Northern Uganda, the visit was an eye-opening shift in perspective. Accompanied by Mr. Olal Jimmy (commonly known as Winter), the Operations Manager for Miss Tourism Uganda Northern Region, the young women experienced firsthand how culture, tourism, and agriculture intersect—a concept known as Agro-Tourism.​

“Some people look at pageantry as something that spoils young girls,” Jimmy reflected. “But with Miss Tourism Uganda, we are here to empower the girl child by pushing them to learn ‘ground jobs’ and sustainable development beyond the runway.”

The contestants, moved by the sheer productivity of the farm, realized that agricultural self-reliance is the ultimate form of regional security. Melisa,One of the contestants shared her profound takeaways from the experience:

​”What I learned about our visit is that we can be able to eradicate poverty from Northern Uganda and among our people through farming as our backbone,” she stated confidently.

“A major takeaway is that you don’t need to start big. One chicken at home is enough for you to start farming and earning money.”​Inspired by CityGate’s integration, she announced plans to expand her own ongoing goat-keeping project, vowing to build eco-friendly housing structures and implement sustainable agricultural practices to safeguard the land.​

A Call to Action for the Lango Sub-Region​

As the day concluded, the overarching message from the hosts, organizers, and youth ambassadors resonated clearly: Northern Uganda must transition from subsistence cultivation to commercialized, smart agribusiness.

For years, regions like Lango have imported poultry and dairy products from other parts of the country, yet the land beneath their feet is highly fertile and fully capable of supplying the entire nation.​

Pius Olam leaves aspiring farmers with a vital piece of advice for finding success in agriculture: patience and presence.​”

A successful farmer should never be in a rush; a farm is never built in one day,” Olam counsels.

“The animals you keep must be happy. And how do you make them happy? You make them happy by putting your own footprints on that farm. You must step into that farm almost every single day” he observes

​With youth stepping forward to champion the earth, and visionaries like Pius Olam paving the path, Northern Uganda’s four-acre blueprint might just be the definitive key to erasing poverty and securing regional self-reliance.