agriculture 6 April 2026 Daily Monitor (Uganda)
Dairy Farming Brings New Hope to Widows in Acholi Region
Widows in northern Uganda's Acholi region have transformed their lives through dairy farming cooperatives, turning donated heifers into sustainable income sources for education and housing. Technical training from NARO and DDA has boosted milk yields dramatically, empowering women post-war. Source: https://www.monitor.co.ug/uganda/news/national/dairy-farming-restores-hope-for-acholi-widows-5414666
In Omoro District and Gulu, widows who lost husbands to war or illness have found renewed hope through dairy farming. A cooperative started by seven women received initial heifers from the Church of Uganda via Heifer International, creating a sharing system where offspring pass to other members.
Ms Beatrice Akera, 62, faced raising six children alone after her husband’s 2010 death. The milk from her heifer changed everything, funding meals, school fees, and home improvements. All her children completed education, with some becoming graduates and an engineer.
Fellow widow Ms Salume Orem, 80, saw her daily milk output jump from 3-4 litres to 25 litres per cow after NARO training on feeding and health. She sells up to 40 litres at Shs2,000 each on good days and manages 10 heifers producing over 60 litres total.
The Gulu Women Dairy Development Cooperative now collects over 5,000 litres daily, venturing into yoghurt with DDA equipment. Though processing paused due to faults, skills in feed preservation help during dry seasons.
Experts like NARO’s Ms Winnie Nanteza note job creation for families and better yields using local grasses. Members report iron-sheet homes, educated children, and economic independence after LRA conflict hardships.
This article is based on a report from Daily Monitor.