Otuke, Uganda | In Apoke village, farmers gathered as dozens of goats were handed over to community members, an event many residents said symbolised hope for improved livelihoods rather than just livestock ownership.
The Member of Parliament for Otuke East, Julius Acon Bua, has donated 60 goats to Obanga-akica community group as part of a long-running grassroots empowerment programme in Otuke District.
The legislator, who is seeking re-election under the ruling National Resistance Movement (NRM) for the 2026–2031 parliamentary term, said the initiative is intended to shift households from short-term assistance to sustainable income generation.
He explained that his earlier focus had been on supporting farmers with crop seeds, but that the programme had now progressed to livestock rearing, which he said could multiply and provide long-term benefits to families.
Acon noted that the project had started before he joined elective politics and said he would continue with it despite political pressure or criticism.
He urged beneficiaries to properly care for the goats and encouraged residents to organise themselves into community groups so they could qualify for future support.
The goats were delivered to the group through Love Mercy Foundation, an initiative associated with Acon’s development work.
The chairperson of Obanga-akica group, Olwa Dickens, said the donation would have a significant impact on members’ lives.
He said the goats would help families meet essential needs such as school fees, medical expenses, and household welfare, adding that such consistent community support from such a political leader is rare in the constituency.
In a region where erratic rainfall, limited access to credit and persistent poverty remain major challenges, livestock rearing is widely viewed as a more resilient livelihood option compared to reliance on crop farming alone.
According to information from Acon’s office, a total of 260 goats and 44 sheep have so far been distributed to at least 19 organised groups across Otuke East Constituency.
The allocations have varied, with some groups receiving smaller numbers of goats while others have benefited from larger distributions, in some cases alongside small cash grants.
The livestock initiative follows earlier interventions in agriculture and education.
In March 2025, the MP distributed maize seed to an estimated 25,000 households across the constituency.
In September 2025, more than 100 schoolgirls from Alangi and Anepmoroto Primary Schools received sanitary pads, while bicycles were awarded to high-performing pupils as part of efforts to improve school attendance and reduce teenage pregnancies.
The run-up to Uganda’s 2026 general elections has placed politician-led development initiatives under the spotlight, with critics questioning their timing and intent.
Acon says his efforts are focused on complementing government programmes and filling gaps at the community level.
For residents of Apoke village in Ogwete Subcounty however, attention appeared to be focused less on politics and more on the practical benefits of the goats, with discussions centred on breeding, household income and the hope that the initiative would lead to lasting improvement in living conditions.
