By Our Reporter
KATAKWI
In her ongoing mission to combat poverty at the household level, Vice President Maj. (Retired) Jessica Alupo has distributed 10,000 kroiler chickens to women in the Katakwi District with the call on the National Resistance Movement (NRM) structures to effectively guide the community on how to benefit from government initiatives aimed at alleviating poverty.
Among the recipients, at least 1,000 wives of NRM registrars at village and parish levels, along with wives of Parish Internal Security Officers (PISOs) and wives of the Gombolola Internal Security Officers (GISOs), each received 10 kroiler chicken.
In Toroma County, 326 women were given a total of 3,260 kroilers, 4,410 kroilers were distributed to 441 women beneficiaries in Ngariam County, while 233 beneficiaries in Usuk County received 2,330 kroilers.
Earlier in 2023, VP Alupo provided thousands of kroiler chickens to the wives of clergy members, including lay readers, pastors, catechists, and Muslim leaders, with each woman receiving five chicken.
Several women have shared success stories about how their kroiler chickens have multiplied, enabling them to purchase cows, goats, and sheep. For example, Clare Okiror, the wife of a pastor in Toroma Town Council, testified that her five chickens have helped her acquire nine sheep.
Building on this success, Alupo, who also serves as the Woman Member of Parliament for Katakwi District, was encouraged to continue this initiative. She noted that historically, an Etesot home is recognized by the presence of hens.
Alupo emphasized that the offices of the Resident District Commissioners (RDC) and district NRM Chairmen should leverage NRM structures to inform the community about the benefits available through various livelihood programs, including the Parish Development Model, Emyooga, and funds for women and youth, all of which aim to fight poverty.
The vice president encouraged the men to team up with their wives in the battle against poverty and in enhancing their household economy.
“I would be disappointed to hear that chickens died because the woman left home and the man didn’t take care of them,” she stated on Sunday October 19th, 2025, adding that a household with chickens should also have a cow.
Alupo urged the beneficiaries not to waste their chickens on entertaining guests but to consider becoming chicken entrepreneurs or turning them into livestock.
She emphasized the importance of embracing government initiatives to grow food both for profit and for personal consumption.
Alupo reaffirmed the government’s dedication to restoring peace and security, which had been disrupted by Karamojong warriors, now focusing on development efforts.
John Robert Okiror, the NRM district Chairperson, reminded beneficiaries to avoid eating or selling the ‘seed’ chickens, which could eventually lead to acquiring a cow to benefit their families.
Vincent Xaviour Okwii, the Deputy Resident District Commissioner in Katakwi, reported a decline in cattle thefts attributed to Karamojong warriors, though minor thefts of chickens and goats by some residents still persist.
Beneficiaries like Simon Peter Ilaborot from Ngariam sub-county and Sarah Alupo, a resident of Dokomeri cell in Katakwi town council, expressed their gratitude to the vice president for her support, promising to multiply the chickens into livestock to transform their livelihoods.
