How retired CAO built a thriving poultry farm

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For the tenth year running, Vision Group, together with the Embassy of the Netherlands, KLM Airlines, dfcu Bank and Koudijs Animal Nutrition, is running the Best Farmers Competition.

The 2025 competition runs from April to November, with the awards in December. Every week, Vision Group platforms will publish profi les of the farmers. Winners will walk away with sh150m and a fully paid-for trip to the Netherlands.

While many view retirement as a time to slow down, David James Maleka Kyeyago, a former chief administrative officer of Namayingo district, saw it as a chance to build something lasting.

Even before retiring in 2014, Kyeyago was quietly prepare for the second phase of his life — one rooted in purpose, productivity and poultry.

Starting with 500 layer birds in a modest shelter, the 70-year-old has grown C&D Synergies Farm into a thriving agribusiness that supplies eggs in Jinja city and beyond.

Located in Masese 1 village, Southern division, Jinja city, the farm is a leading egg producer in the region, according to Tom Kasadha, the Jinja district production and marketing officer.

His farm has 4,147 layers that produce over 70 trays of eggs daily with each sold at sh10,000. His market includes chapati sellers, bakeries, confectioneries and supermarkets.

Beyond poultry, Kyeyago cultivates 18 acres of sugarcane, yielding 30– 40 tonnes per acre every 14 months and four acres of coffee, producing 24 bags of 70kg annually.

He also maintains a eucalyptus forest at his ancestral home in Buwanula, Mayuge district.

Family at the heart of the farm

Kyeyago’s wife, Catherine and children — Brenda Kadhaya and Sam Maleka — are involved in farm operations.

Kadhaya, the production manager, resigned from her IT Specialist role in Jinja district local government to serve the farm, citing poultry as more lucrative. Catherine oversees the farm’s finances.

Their strong family involvement has helped the farm thrive for over 15 years.

“My parents were farmers. It’s my duty to sustain the family legacy,” Kyeyago says.

Humble beginnings

Kyeyago’s passion for farming began in 1998, inspired by a friend who earned millions from poultry.

Starting with 500 chicks in semi-permanent shelters, he expanded to 1,000 birds within six months. By the time he retired in 2014, he had 2,500 birds.

Between 2015 and 2017, he overcame feed challenges with help from Stanley Tumwesigye, a livestock feed shop operator, who allowed him to take feed on credit and repay after selling eggs.

To manage disease outbreaks, he hired Dr Joseph Kusasira, a veterinary expert who implemented effective vaccination protocols and offered technical guidance.

Kyeyago’s 14-acre sugarcane and four acre coffee plantations are located at his ancestral home in Lwamula village, Mayuge district.

In 2021, Kyeyago upgraded to metallic storeyed cages — A-Type and H-Type — holding 1,444 and 1,100 birds respectively.

The cages, which cost sh38m are housing a total population of 1,440 birds. They have water pipes and plastic nipples for 24/7 hydration, and feed trays for efficient feeding.

The younger birds (4–12 weeks) are reared in a deep litter system and fed three times daily until they begin laying. Chicks aged 1–4 weeks are kept in lighted rooms to promote growth.

According to Kadhaya, the birds consume 355kg of feed daily, including maize bran, broken maize and Koudjis concentrates.

Kadhaya highlights the benefits of cage rearing: easycounting, vaccination, and clean eggs.

On the other hand, deep litter systems offer less confinement stress and 24-hour water access but limit stocking density and complicate management.

Innovations

Cages are fitted with trays that collect droppings, which are transported to a waste store 30 metres away. The droppings of the chicken in the deep litter system are scooped and stored.

Agricultural lime is used to suppress odour.

Kyeyago invested in a solar-powered dryer that dries droppings within 12 hours. The waste is packed into 50kg and 100kg bags, sold to commercial farmers at sh8,000 and sh15,000 respectively.

Sugarcane and coffee

Kyeyago’s 14-acre sugarcane and four -acre coffee plantations are located at his ancestral home in Lwamula village, Mayuge district.

Each acre of sugarcane yields 45– 50 tonnes every 14 months, sold at sh125,000 per tonne to Mayuge Sugar Factory.

He boosts yields with organic manure and intercrops coffee with beans, soybean, and groundnuts to fix nitrogen and enrich the soil. His coffee is pruned and sprayed to control mites, aphids, and black ants.

Sustainability

 Kyeyago’s farm integrates sustainability through rainwater harvesting with tanks of 5,000 and 10,000 litres, and recycling of poultry droppings and cow dung into organic manure for his fields.

Around the farm, he has planted avocado, oranges, mangoes, jackfruit and soursop, adding biodiversity and shade.

To minimise odour, rooms and floors are disinfected with agricultural lime and sawdust every 2–3 days.

To prevent disease, farm entrances have footbaths filled with disinfectants, changed every 3–4 days.

Best management practices

Kyeyago maintains detailed records of daily production, sales, expenses, including drugs, feeds, wages, fuel and profits.

He invests in knowledge by attending workshops and the Harvest Money Expo, visiting prominent farms, and participating in the Jinja Annual Agricultural Show.

He also regularly watches Bukedde TV and reads Harvest Money and Enkumbi Terimba pullouts.

To support farm operations, Kyeyago secures loans either from a bank or from family, ensuring continuity. 

To prevent theft, Kyeyago installed CCTV cameras around the poultry complex, supported by guard dogs. Additional technologies include a double-cabin pickup, a Bajaj motorcycle, and a generator to manage power outages.

Market linkages and digital outreach C&D

Synergies supplies bulk buyers in Jinja, Mbale, Njeru, Iganga, and Kamuli municipalities.

Kyeyago uses a WhatsApp group and a TikTok account to update clients on deliveries.

Digital banking has streamlined operations, with clients sending mobile payments to reserve egg deliveries.

Achievements

Kyeyago attributes his success to hard work, commitment and public trust.

“I am connected to thousands of friends, including local leaders, members of parliament, commissioners, resident district commissioners, and business moguls. Clients trust me and send millions to my phone. Once the eggs are secured, I call them to pick their lots,” he says.

His farm has enabled him to enjoy a quality retirement, educate his children to diploma and degree levels, and build a modern farm complex.

He has also acquired additional land in Mayuge district, expanding beyond his ancestral home in Lwamula village.

Plans

Kyeyago plans to construct a facility to process eggs into powder and mayonnaise, targeting luxury hotels. He also aims to increase his flock to 10,000 birds by the end of 2026.

Lessons learned

Kyeyago recalls a major setback when he lost 40% of his second poultry batch to disease. He later discovered that the vaccines and feed had been adulterated.

He had purchased from uncertified suppliers. This experience taught him a critical lesson: always source inputs from trusted and certified outlets.

Challenges

Despite its success, the farm faces several challenges: Cage nipples sometimes malfunction, leaving birds without water if unnoticed.

Water pipes require regular cleaning to prevent disease — an expensive and labour-intensive task. Chicken droppings can overwhelm the waste store when client demand is low.

Layers tend to crowd and suffocate each other in deep litter systems, requiring constant monitoring. Fluctuating egg prices and rising feed costs during peak seasons affect profitability.

During surplus production, transport costs increase as eggs are ferried to distant markets.

Social impact

The farm serves as a learning centre for women, youth, Persons with Disabilities (PWDs), schools and agricultural students. Records show that three schools visit every quarter for hands-on learning.

Women’s groups, youth associations and farmers’ cooperatives routinely visit for training and to purchase eggs, off-layers, and chicken droppings.

Fred Mulemezi, an upcoming farmer from Nakabango village, credits C&D Synergies for inspiring his poultry venture.

Teachers at Blue Sky Primary School and Hezekiah Ntale, 60 also started poultry enterprises after visiting the farm. Kyeyago is also vice chairperson of Bugoga Twegaite Farmers’ Cooperative Society, actively engaging with other farming entities.

The farm employs three permanent workers, each earning sh200,000 per month. To reduce wage bill, Kyeyago, his wife Catherine (finance manager), and daughter Kadhaya (production manager) take on multiple roles.

Profile

Born in Luwanula village, Mayuge town council, to Mzee Yafesi Kisadha (deceased) and Beatrice Nantale, Kyeyago grew up tending livestock and crops. His father was a farmer and produce supplier.

He attended Kyebando Primary School (1967), VH Secondary School – Iganga (O’Level), Bukalasa Cooperative College (certificate in cooperatives), and Kigumba Cooperative College (diploma in cooperatives and business administration).

His career began in 1973 as a cooperative assistant in Luuka district, rising to senior sales and marketing officer at Uganda Grain Milling Company, then export manager at Uganda Cooperative Alliance.

He pursued further studies at the Chartered Institute of Marketing (UK), became a Certified public accountant, and a Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Marketing (CIM).

Kyeyago served as Mayuge town clerk, deputy chief administrative officer (CAO) and CAO in Bukwo, Buyende, and Namayingo before retiring in 2014. He continues to audit for various institutions.