Kapelebyong Locals Embrace Skills Training Program to Boost Livelihoods

Residents of Amero village in Asamuk sub-county Kapelebyong have welcomed a life-changing skills development initiative brought to them by the Countryside Innovation Network a science and technology-driven program aimed at transforming rural livelihoods through knowledge and practical skills.

The initiative, led by the Countryside Innovation Network and its institutional partner, the Great Lakes Industrial Development Institute (GLIDE), has introduced targeted training to help communities transition from subsistence to commercial farming.

Locals, previously unfamiliar with proper animal husbandry, now report being able to rear and treat goats and chickens a vital source of food and income.

Mesa Teddy, a project technician with Countryside Innovation Network, says the transformation has been remarkable.

“When we first introduced the program, many people were skeptical. But now, we are seeing people building poultry and goat houses. Chickens that used to sleep outside now have proper shelters and are laying eggs indoors. The community is beginning to reap real benefits.”

She believes that if more people adopt these practices, villages across the region could evolve into thriving commercial farming hubs.

Patrick Edilu a project coordinator with the organisation, described their mission as one of "preaching prosperity."

“We are moving farmers from doing things just for survival to embracing commercial production. Our aim is to create clean, smart, greener and more prosperous communities,” he said.

The organisation has established a training academy known as the PASS Master School, where farmers are formally enrolled as students. The program not only teaches technical farming skills but also focuses on "mindset cleansing"

He said their preparing farmers mentally and emotionally to adopt new ways of working and thinking about agriculture.

Currently, training on different. Skills including how to mix feeds is underway in several regions, including Achanga in Achowa sub-county, and Kapelibyong district. Other expansion areas include Kamuli, Butaleja, Butebo, and parts of northern Uganda.

“We take participants step-by-step from having just one chicken to managing a profitable flock. It’s a journey we walk together,” Patrick added.

As the program continues to expand, the Countryside Innovation Network is calling on more communities and stakeholders to embrace the initiative, with the vision of building economically empowered and environmentally sustainable rural societies