How Museveni’s Four-Acre Farming Model is Transforming Lives in Teso Region

Joseph Ijara, a former taxi driver turned successful farmer in Serere District, has credited President Yoweri Museveni’s four-acre model for his transformation. Ijara shared his inspiring journey on November 18, 2024, during the President’s visit to his farm as part of a regional wealth creation tour in Teso Sub-region.

“It all started 11 years ago when I attended a rally in Soroti for International Youth Day. The President passionately spoke about the four-acre model, and his words sparked something in me,” Ijara said.

Shortly after the rally, Ijara faced a setback when he lost his taxi job. However, he turned to the 2.5 acres of land he had inherited and began rearing chickens. Starting with a small incubator, he expanded to 1,500 local chickens, later transitioning to layer chickens. Income from eggs enabled him to invest in dairy farming, starting with four cows and growing the herd through artificial insemination.

The COVID-19 pandemic brought challenges but also opportunities. Ijara launched a soap-making enterprise to address local demand when prices soared. “I sold non-laying chickens, bought a soap-making machine, trained in Kampala, and returned to teach my staff. That’s how the soap project began,” he explained.

Teifa Farm spans 35 acres, producing 319 liters of milk daily, with some processed into yogurt and ghee. Diversified enterprises, including poultry, dairy, and soap production, generate an annual net income of UGX 500–600 million.

“The President’s message changed my mindset. Wealth doesn’t require vast land. Start where you are and act,” Ijara urged.

President Museveni praised Ijara’s success, calling it proof of the four-acre model’s effectiveness. He outlined the model’s key components: allocating one acre for coffee, one for fruits, one for dairy pasture, and one for food crops, supplemented by backyard poultry or fish farming. “Even with limited land, farmers can achieve prosperity if they implement high-value activities,” Museveni said.

The President emphasized strategic planning, likening leadership to medicine: “Diagnosis and precise solutions are key. This is what the NRM has been doing since its inception.”

The event also drew leaders like NRM Vice Chairperson Capt. Mike Mukula and State Minister for Sports Peter Ogwang among others, demonstrating broad support for Museveni’s vision for wealth creation in Teso.