By Steven Enatu
KABEREMAIDO
His Royal Highness, Papa Raphael Otaya Won Ateker, the cultural leader of the Kumam community, on 9th October, 2025 visited Okile Ranch in Kaberamaido District, where a goat dairy project will soon be established in partnership with the Ateker International Development Organization – AIDO.
His visit was in fulfilling the community’s pledge to offer 500 hectares of land for the establishment of a goat dairy factory, sausage processing plant, and other livestock value chains aimed at transforming the livelihoods of the Kumam people.
The goat dairy initiative follows a partnership between Kumam Cultural Heritage and AIDO, which began after AIDO’s international delegation, led by His Royal Highness Dr. Paul Jones Eganda 1, visited Kumam on 27th May 2025 this year to strengthen development cooperation among Ateker-speaking communities.
During the visit in Okile, His Highness Won Ateker was accompanied by Jesca Atai, an agricultural expert from AIDO, who inspected the land’s accessibility, security, and readiness for the project.
Atai revealed that Canadian dairy goats are expected to arrive in Uganda by January 2026 and pledged to help improve the quality of local animal breeds.
She also confirmed that the registration process of the project under the Uganda Registration Services Bureau (URSB) is nearly complete.
Among the cultural leaders present were Wily Etenu, Chairperson of the Ililimo Clan, Peter Ekilu, the Second Deputy Prime Minister, Ediamu, Minister for Youth and Children Affairs, and Patrick Edyelu Eunyu who is the Minister for Higher Education.
The community in the area showed commitment to this project in a symbolic way when Mzee Nelson Ekwamu Okara from Ojangai handed over a 1970s map of Okile Ranch to the cultural institution.
Okile Ranch land has remained idle since 1987 when livestock were lost to Karimojong raids.
Won Ateker assured the community that they will receive a share of the project benefits and be given first priority for employment once the project begins.
According to AIDO, the new local corporation will be 49 percent owned by foreign investors, 30 percent by the Kumam Cultural Heritage, and 21 percent by AIDO Network international.
