From 200 to 7,000 Birds: ONC Empowerment beneficiary builds multi-Million poultry enterprise in Kira

Wakiso, Uganda: What began as a small poultry startup supported by the Office of the National Chairman (ONC) empowerment program has evolved into a thriving commercial enterprise generating millions of shillings and creating jobs in Wakiso District.

Abdul Karim Waswa Tamale, a resident of Kitukutwe Village in Kira Municipality, has expanded his poultry project from just 200 chicks received under the ONC empowerment programme in 2023 to more than 7,000 chickens today, earning approximately Shs12 million every 35 days.

His transformation was highlighted during a Tuesday monitoring visit by ONC Manager Hajjat Hadijah Namyalo Uzeiye, who toured beneficiary projects to assess the impact of government wealth-creation interventions and document success stories emerging from the programme.

The visit forms part of ONC’s nationwide monitoring exercise aimed at ensuring beneficiaries effectively utilize government support while showcasing enterprises that have successfully transitioned from startup projects into sustainable businesses.

Turning Opportunity into Enterprise

Waswa was among 127 beneficiaries who received startup support through ONC’s empowerment initiative in 2023. The package included 200 chicks and poultry feed sufficient for 400 chicks, providing a foundation for what has now become one of the area’s notable poultry enterprises.

Standing among thousands of birds during the monitoring exercise, Waswa reflected on the journey that transformed his livelihood.

“When I received the chicks, I knew it was an opportunity that could change my life if managed properly. Through hard work, discipline, and reinvesting profits back into the business, the project continued growing year after year,” he said during the Tuesday visit.

Abdul Karim Waswa (in white shirt) has expanded from 200 chicks received under the ONC empowerment programme in 2023 to more than 7,000 chickens today.

Today, the farm produces both income and employment, demonstrating the multiplier effect that government empowerment programmes can generate when beneficiaries embrace enterprise development.

A Model of Integrated Farming

Located on two acres of land, the farm operates as an integrated agricultural enterprise combining poultry production with crop farming.

Waswa grows maize used in the formulation of poultry feed, reducing production costs and shielding the business from fluctuations in commercial feed prices. He also maintains a thriving banana plantation where poultry manure is utilized as organic fertilizer, creating a circular production system that maximizes output while minimizing waste.

The approach has improved both poultry and crop yields, allowing the farm to operate more efficiently and sustainably.

Agricultural experts have long advocated integrated farming models as a pathway to increasing profitability among smallholder farmers by reducing production costs and diversifying income streams.

Karim Waswa has expanded from 200 chicks received under the ONC empowerment programme in 2023 to more than 7,000 chickens today.

Beyond improving his own household income, Waswa’s poultry enterprise has become a source of employment for residents in the surrounding community.

The business currently employs 16 workers, including five permanent staff responsible for poultry management and eleven additional workers supporting various farm operations.

For many of the employees, the farm provides a stable source of income and contributes to household welfare. The employment impact illustrates how successful agribusiness ventures can stimulate local economic activity while addressing unemployment challenges, particularly among young people.

Hajjat Namyalo Commends Success

Speaking during the visit, President Museveni’s Chief Muzzukulu, Hajjat Hadijah Namyalo, praised Waswa for demonstrating what government empowerment programmes are intended to achieve.

She described his progress as evidence that wealth creation initiatives can produce tangible results when beneficiaries embrace hard work, accountability, and proper enterprise management. “This is exactly the kind of transformation we want to see across the country,” Hajjat Namyalo said.

“A beneficiary receives support, builds a successful enterprise, creates employment opportunities and improves household income. That is how communities are transformed.”

Hajjat Namyalo speaks during the visit at Kitukutwe, where ONC Empowerment Beneficiary, Abdul Karim Waswa, now boats of over 7000 poultry birds

She noted that ONC’s monitoring exercises are designed not only to ensure accountability but also to identify success stories that can inspire other Ugandans to take advantage of government programmes aimed at economic empowerment.

Expanding the Dream

Despite the impressive growth, Waswa says he is far from finished. His next target is to establish a dedicated layer poultry unit to diversify production and increase profitability.

Waswa identified feed processing as one of the major operational challenges, explaining that the absence of a feed-mixing machine increases labour requirements and production costs.

Recognizing the challenge, Hajjat Namyalo pledged support towards the acquisition of a feed-mixing machine to improve efficiency and strengthen the enterprise’s future expansion plans.

The intervention is expected to lower operational costs while enabling the farm to process larger quantities of feed more efficiently.

ONC Boss Hajjat Namyalo and Beneficiary Abdul Karim Waswa

Waswa’s success story reflects the broader objectives of government empowerment programmes championed by President Museveni, which seek to move more households from subsistence livelihoods into the money economy.

Through initiatives that provide startup capital, productive assets and enterprise support, government aims to increase household incomes, create employment opportunities and promote self-sustaining businesses across the country.

Hajjat Namyalo reiterated the importance of embracing agriculture as a business, particularly among young people seeking sustainable income opportunities.

She thanked President Museveni for his continued commitment to wealth creation programmes and urged beneficiaries to emulate successful entrepreneurs like Waswa by utilizing government support productively.

As ONC continues monitoring projects across Uganda, the story of a farmer who transformed 200 chicks into a 7,000-bird enterprise stands as a powerful reminder of what can be achieved when opportunity meets determination.

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