Joy as Wetland resource users receive alternative livelihoods
By Ambrose Wanagoli
Butaleja: The people of Busabi sub county, affected by the wetland restoration program, have today afternoon received goats to boost their livelihood, as several others wait for heifers.
The community members who had encroached on the Dumbu wetland received 197 goats, and expect 220 heifers soon with support from GCF, and Government of Uganda through the Ministry of water and Environment. Out of the animals received, 186 were she-goats and 12 bells.
The bells were given to each group consisting of 10 to 15 farmers for fertilisation.
Dr. Jackson Twebaze Ndahayo, thw district Veterinary officer, Butaleja district local government says that the goats are of high quality and will eventually enable the farmers benefit as expected.
Ndahayo, urged the beneficiaries to feed their goats well, and emphasized that half a loaf is better than no bread.
Mrs. Lamula Weere, the district Natural resources officer, asked the beneficiaries not to sell their enterprises. She also called upon the rest of the people who applied for other enterprises to be patient as this shall materalize soon.
Godfrey Nasuga Musulemi, the Assistant RDC for Butaleja, directed the the beneficiaries not to charge the community members for fertilisation. He also asked them not to sell the enterprises, but rather strive for redemption out of poverty.
Hon. Michael Daggu, the district secretary for Production, assured the beneficiaries that a goat can result in everlasting wealth. He testified that he got a heifer through Operation wealth creation program years ago, but now counts 12 hie breed heads of cattle, with the freedom to sell them.
Meanwhile, the public discredited their LCIII chairperson Guloba Patrick Malya, who scrambled for goats off the beneficiaries and yet he did not initially request for goat farming as an alternative livelihood during the wetland restoration program.
According to the community members, Malya exhibited a double standard because he’s a candidate for “Fish farming”.
Relatedly, Hon. Wycliffe Mutono, the district councillor for Busabi sub county, challenged the top district officers to consider compensating the wetland encroachers according to the acreage surrendered to the government under the wetland restoration program.
According to Mutono, the community members who surrendered at least an acre, deserve pregnant heifers.
