Helping the poor fight poverty
Jan 26, 2003
GEOFFREY Ssebunya used to wake up early every day in a pensive mood, hold his hollow cheeks and curse the day he was born.
By Denis Jjuuko
GEOFFREY Ssebunya used to wake up early every day in a pensive mood, hold his hollow cheeks and curse the day he was born. He had always wanted to take academics seriously. But without a stable income, this seemed impossible.
Ssebunya’s childhood dream of becoming an electrician ebbed away and he could do nothing but watch. He had done all the odd jobs in his Lukuli village, Makindye, to raise fees for a course at Kampala Polytechnic, Mengo, but the meagre resources he earned did not stretch far enough. He wondered why God was so unfair to him. Nevertheless, he never lost hope.
One morning, as he listened to the small portable world receiver that had become his sole comfort, Ssebunya heard that Central Broadcasting Services (CBS) FM was giving away animals as a means of fighting poverty.
Since he was heavily armed with a lethal handwriting arsenal, the only requirement that CBS wanted, he straightaway gave it a try.
Among the 10,000 proposals that were submitted, Ssebunya’s moving story was picked.
“When I saw a CBS van, I was excited. They had come to assess my poultry keeping ability. They were satisfied,†Ssebunya recalls. “I prayed hard. Early this year, I heard my name over the radio. I had won 100 chicks in the Quality Animal Basket Promotion. I beamed with joy. As an orphan, this was an opportunity,†he says.
The wonder chicks have since grown and laid eggs that have pushed him back to school.
Ssebunya is just one of the 57 Ugandans, who are currently the proud owners of heifers, high value goats and chicks.
This promotion, dubbed Nsindika Njake, is an entandikwa scheme sponsored by CBS FM, Quality Chemicals (an agro-based company) and Buganda Cultural Development Foundation (BUCADEF). The promotion started early this year and shall run for two years or more, depending on its success.
CBS listeners are asked to write proposals detailing their animal husbandry and poultry keeping abilities. The panel, comprising officials from CBS, BUCADEF and Quality Chemicals selects the best five proposals.
According to Michael Kawooya Mwebe, the CBS general manager, the Nsindika Njake programme intends to help the active poor in the war against poverty.
“We look for someone who will be able to keep the heifer healthy,†he says. “This is in line with the central government’s Plan for the Modernisation of Agriculture, because we also work with them.â€
This promotion has become the talk of town and on realising its importance, Dr Kisamba Mugerwa, the minister of agriculture, has already donated two heifers from his own farm to be given away. Others who have also donated include Henry Kanyike, chairman Dairy Development Authority, and Sam Kizito of Uganda Beef Producers’ Association.
Every month, two heifers, two goats and 200 chicks are given away to lucky winners. The heifers are given to two winners, two goats to one winner and 100 chicks each to two winners.
“Uganda feeds Ltd supported our case with 100 chicks and four bags of chicken mash in June,†Robert Kasozi, a CBS manager, says.
The heifer winners, however, sign a contract with CBS vowing to return the first female calf so that another winner can take it.
“We want the project to be self-sustaining. After you have returned the first female calf, the heifer is yours for good,†Kawooya says.
He says they left out groups and zeroed on individuals because groups might have other interests, leading to grumbling and counter-accusations.
Jane Ssekajugo, a widow with nine children in Kamengo, Mpigi, says her life has tremendously changed since June: “I will now be able to pay fees for my children and improve our living standards,†Ssekajugo says.
Dr Matthias Mukooba of Quality Chemicals says that his company is aiming at developing communities and liberating them from poverty.
Humphrey Ssenkoole of BUCADEF says, “The project shows that we are a service delivery body to the rural population.â€
GEOFFREY Ssebunya used to wake up early every day in a pensive mood, hold his hollow cheeks and curse the day he was born. He had always wanted to take academics seriously. But without a stable income, this seemed impossible.
Ssebunya’s childhood dream of becoming an electrician ebbed away and he could do nothing but watch. He had done all the odd jobs in his Lukuli village, Makindye, to raise fees for a course at Kampala Polytechnic, Mengo, but the meagre resources he earned did not stretch far enough. He wondered why God was so unfair to him. Nevertheless, he never lost hope.
One morning, as he listened to the small portable world receiver that had become his sole comfort, Ssebunya heard that Central Broadcasting Services (CBS) FM was giving away animals as a means of fighting poverty.
Since he was heavily armed with a lethal handwriting arsenal, the only requirement that CBS wanted, he straightaway gave it a try.
Among the 10,000 proposals that were submitted, Ssebunya’s moving story was picked.
“When I saw a CBS van, I was excited. They had come to assess my poultry keeping ability. They were satisfied,†Ssebunya recalls. “I prayed hard. Early this year, I heard my name over the radio. I had won 100 chicks in the Quality Animal Basket Promotion. I beamed with joy. As an orphan, this was an opportunity,†he says.
The wonder chicks have since grown and laid eggs that have pushed him back to school.
Ssebunya is just one of the 57 Ugandans, who are currently the proud owners of heifers, high value goats and chicks.
This promotion, dubbed Nsindika Njake, is an entandikwa scheme sponsored by CBS FM, Quality Chemicals (an agro-based company) and Buganda Cultural Development Foundation (BUCADEF). The promotion started early this year and shall run for two years or more, depending on its success.
CBS listeners are asked to write proposals detailing their animal husbandry and poultry keeping abilities. The panel, comprising officials from CBS, BUCADEF and Quality Chemicals selects the best five proposals.
According to Michael Kawooya Mwebe, the CBS general manager, the Nsindika Njake programme intends to help the active poor in the war against poverty.
“We look for someone who will be able to keep the heifer healthy,†he says. “This is in line with the central government’s Plan for the Modernisation of Agriculture, because we also work with them.â€
This promotion has become the talk of town and on realising its importance, Dr Kisamba Mugerwa, the minister of agriculture, has already donated two heifers from his own farm to be given away. Others who have also donated include Henry Kanyike, chairman Dairy Development Authority, and Sam Kizito of Uganda Beef Producers’ Association.
Every month, two heifers, two goats and 200 chicks are given away to lucky winners. The heifers are given to two winners, two goats to one winner and 100 chicks each to two winners.
“Uganda feeds Ltd supported our case with 100 chicks and four bags of chicken mash in June,†Robert Kasozi, a CBS manager, says.
The heifer winners, however, sign a contract with CBS vowing to return the first female calf so that another winner can take it.
“We want the project to be self-sustaining. After you have returned the first female calf, the heifer is yours for good,†Kawooya says.
He says they left out groups and zeroed on individuals because groups might have other interests, leading to grumbling and counter-accusations.
Jane Ssekajugo, a widow with nine children in Kamengo, Mpigi, says her life has tremendously changed since June: “I will now be able to pay fees for my children and improve our living standards,†Ssekajugo says.
Dr Matthias Mukooba of Quality Chemicals says that his company is aiming at developing communities and liberating them from poverty.
Humphrey Ssenkoole of BUCADEF says, “The project shows that we are a service delivery body to the rural population.â€