The Busoga Consortium for Development (BCD), with support from the Chinese Embassy in Uganda, has distributed 1,500 hybrid Rainbow chicken to 300 households across the Busoga sub-region as part of the Village Agriculture Model (VAM) — a project launched in August 2024 to improve agricultural productivity, food security, and household incomes.
The distribution, held on Tuesday, 21st October 2025, took place in the model villages of Mashaiga (Mayuge District), Namayombe (Namayingo District), and Busana (Kamuli District), where each household received five Rainbow birds.
The Rainbow breed is valued for its fast growth, resilience, good weight, and high egg production (170–200 eggs annually), providing both meat and egg income. The birds are adaptable to traditional rearing methods and are not labor-intensive, but farmers were cautioned not to leave them without maximum care.
Before distribution, the birds were brooded for six weeks, vaccinated, and monitored for disease resistance by technical experts.
Dr. Anthony Mula, Director General of BCD, said the initiative complements the Government of Uganda’s Parish Development Model (PDM) and is part of Busoga’s long-term strategy to end poverty by 2030, integrating education, health, environment, and agriculture.
“This initiative is complementary to the President’s Parish Development Model. Our Village Agriculture Model focuses on all aspects of rural life — education, health, environment, and agriculture. It’s a game changer for transforming the Village economy as a basis for rural transformation,” Dr. Mula explained.
During the phase one distribution, 100 households in each village received 5 chickens, with plans to expand to over 700 households per village within three months. As part of the expansion, a hatchery will be established in each model village, enabling farmers to reproduce chicks locally, expand production, and create local employment opportunities.
In Namayingo District, Minister for Agriculture for Busoga Kingdom Owek. Samuel Nathan Nkenga commended BCD for supporting the Kyabazinga’s vision to reduce poverty and promote education.
In Kamuli, Dr. Richard Musenero, District Agricultural Officer, lauded the Rainbow breed, noting,
“This breed is high-yielding and adaptable to local conditions. We expect significant improvements in household incomes within the next two years.”
Farmers were strongly cautioned against eating or selling the mother stock before reproduction and urged to act as “watchmen for one another” to ensure sustainability.
The poultry project is among several initiatives being pioneered by the BCD with technical support from China Agricultural University. Alongside poultry, BCD has introduced soybean and chili farming projects, providing profitable alternatives to low-value sugarcane cultivation.
Experts say that combining poultry, chili, and soybean enterprises will help Busoga escape long-standing poverty cycles. Anchored in the Busoga 10-Year Development Agenda (2020–2030), these projects aim to modernize agriculture, promote value addition, and drive the region toward middle-income status by 2030.
Regional leaders, including Rt. Hon. Rebecca Kadaga, First Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for East African Community Affairs, as well as Rt. Hon. Nakadama Rukia Isanga 3rd Deputy Prime Minister of Uganda have been at the forefront of mobilizing Busoga using the VAM approach as a vehicle to transform the sub-region out of poverty and catalyse the effectiveness of the Government-led Parish Development Model program.
Busoga at a Glance
Home to 4.5 million people, with over 90% engaged in agriculture, the region has historically relied on sugarcane, maize, and cassava, with more than 40% of rural households living below the poverty line.
Through poultry and crop diversification including the planned village hatcheries BCD aims to significantly enhance household incomes and transform Busoga into a region of productivity, resilience, and shared prosperity.