At 68, Mr. Julius Akorinako, a retired District Inspector of Schools in Kamwenge, is living proof that it is never too late to start over, especially when you follow sound advice.
After retiring in 2017, Mr. Akorinako ventured into coffee farming, and today, his story is a testimony to resilience and transformation. “When I retired, I didn’t know what was next. I was earning little from maize, and the returns were discouraging,” Mr. Akorinako recalled today during President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni’s visit to his farm in Kamwenge district. “But I remembered what President Museveni always told us during his rallies here in Kamwenge saying that Maize has no money and that If we wanted to get out of poverty, we should venture into coffee , fruits , poultry and others. That message stayed with me,” he said.
In 2019, Mr. Akorinako, a resident of Lwamugonera cell, Rwenkuba ward, Kahunge Town Council, Kibale County, Kamwenge district acted on the President’s advice. He started with just two acres of coronal coffee seedlings from a coffee nursery bed and within two years, he had his first harvest. “In the first season alone, I earned Shs 5m. After expenses, I remained with Shs 3m in profit. That was proof that I had made the right choice,” he said.
Encouraged by the success, he gradually expanded his coffee plantation to six productive acres. Today, Mr. Akorinako earns Shs 20m every four months with an annual net income of about Shs 40m. “I thank President Museveni for opening my eyes. I advise fellow Ugandans to take his advice seriously. I have seen the results myself, and my life has changed,” he said.
Mr. Akorinako’s farm now employs 20 permanent workers, each earning Shs 200,000 monthly, alongside up to 60 casual laborers who work on a weekly basis. Beyond coffee, Mr. Akorinako grows bananas on four acres, beans, mangoes on one and a half acres and rears 60 goats. “I’ve also invested in irrigation to boost productivity during drought. I use a solar power generator for irrigation to cover five acres, especially for the coffee and the bananas,” he explained.
On his part, President Museveni applauded the people of Kamwenge District for embracing mindset change and transforming their economic practices by shifting from subsistence farming, especially maize, to more productive ventures like coffee growing. “Thank you for listening to my advice and now inspiring others,” President Museveni said.
He highlighted that this transformation began when residents chose to act on the message he had consistently preached. “When I came here in Kamwenge, people were planting maize. You would find Someone telling you they had two acres and were making only sh600,000 gross. I asked them don’t you see that that’s blindness?” he said.
President Museveni emphasized that real poverty is often rooted in ignorance and poor decision-making. “Darkness of ignorance is like murder,” he said.
He also reflected on how past migrations like those of the Bakiga from Kabale were driven by perceptions of scarcity and poor land planning. “Some left Kabale claiming it was full, yet it wasn’t. They came and took land here, but no one advised them that what drove them from Kabale could also drive them from Kamwenge if they didn’t plan better,” he noted.
Addressing the dangers of land fragmentation, President Museveni encouraged Ugandans to adopt modern systems of land management. “When we started the student movement in the 1960s, we were already seeing the problems. The enclosure system and inheritance practices were dangerous. If you stay together without dividing the land, then you can share the net profits,” he said.
He praised individuals like Mr. Akorinako for embracing irrigation, planting pasture, and investing in solar power. “You can’t just sit and wait for rain, then when it doesn’t come, you blame God. In Genesis, God said, ‘Go and multiply,’” he said.
President Museveni also advised Mr. Akorinako not to divide his land but to register a company where every family member can benefit from the joint enterprise. To support him further, the President donated Shs 12m for the purchase of two more cows and a Fuso truck.
The First Lady and Minister of Education and Sports, Maama Janet Kataaha Museveni, expressed deep gratitude to God for the role the NRM government has played in transforming the lives of Ugandans. “I thank God for the NRM government and the burden it has carried for a long time to transform the country and to try and see that it uses its money to awaken the lives of Ugandans. This has always been the problem of many African governments. They had not discovered that their role is about improving the lives of the people,” she said.
The Deputy Speaker of Parliament, Rt. Hon. Thomas Tayebwa commended leaders in Kamwenge District for listening to the President’s guidance on enterprise selection and transforming from subsistence farming into commercial agriculture, particularly coffee farming. “Thank you, Hon. Frank Tumwebaze and your team, for listening to President Museveni’s advice. Even in my home area, we were only growing bananas and making waragi, but today we have transformed into coffee farming and other enterprises,” Rt. Hon. Tayebwa said.
The Minister of Agriculture, Animal Industry and Fisheries, Hon. Frank Tumwebaze, lauded the President for spearheading the transformation of Kamwenge District, particularly through the promotion of coffee farming, improved infrastructure, and strengthened security.
Hon. Tumwebaze, who also serves as the Member of Parliament for Kibale County, recalled how President Museveni personally encouraged a shift from maize to coffee production over two decades ago. “Your Excellency, in 2004 you directed me and the RDC at the time and asked, ‘You, the people of Kamwenge, when will you stop planting maize?’ You came to the district and trained us, and since then, both political and religious leaders embraced the change,” Hon. Tumwebaze said.
He noted that the shift to coffee has paid off significantly. “According to your statistics, six out of every ten homesteads in Kamwenge now have coffee. Those with large pieces of land still grow some maize, but the majority have transitioned to coffee farming.
On security, Hon. Tumwebaze commended the Uganda People’s Defence Forces (UPDF) for swiftly responding when Allied Democratic Forces (ADF) militants attacked the area. “When ADF attacked us, you sent the UPDF. We are now peaceful,” he noted. The minister further expressed gratitude for the continued development of infrastructure, particularly the Ibanda–Kabarole Road, and the expansion of electricity coverage.
The Woman Member of Parliament for Kamwenge District, Hon. Sylvia Bahireira Tumwekwase, also applauded the President for his prompt intervention during recent security threats and for his continued commitment to the peace and stability of the region. “We warmly welcome you, Your Excellency. We are happy to receive you in Kamwenge,” Hon. Bahireira said.
The event was also attended by the Minister of ICT and National Guidance, Dr. Chris Baryomunsi, local leaders, among others.