
Mr Geoffrey Otim, a poultry farmer, feeds his chicken in Awich Village, Unyama Parish, Gulu City in April 2021. PHOTO/TOBBIAS JOLLY OWINY
Chicken farming is emerging as a leading livelihood activity for Ugandan households, according to the National Population and Housing Census 2024 report. Despite a decline in overall livestock keeping—from 58 percent in 2014 to 36.7 percent in 2024—chicken rearing remains the most popular enterprise, practiced by 78.6 percent of households engaged in livestock farming.
The census revealed that 2.9 million households rear chickens, with 79 percent of these located in rural areas. Male-headed households account for 2,099,180, while female-headed households make up 810,779. Western sub-regions, including Bunyoro (82.5 percent), Rwenzori (81.4 percent), and Tooro (78.7 percent), lead.
Chicken rearing is among the seven enterprises championed by President Museveni under the Four-Acre Model, aimed at boosting household incomes. The initiative has inspired success stories across the country.
Mr Fred Byamukama, the MP for Bugangaizi West and state minister for transport, has leveraged poultry farming on his four-acre demonstration farm in Kakumiro District. Mr Byamukama said he has diversified activities on his farm.
One acre is planted with coffee mixed with bananas, half an acre with pineapples, and another half-acre with pasture for his six zero-grazing cows. He also has about 25,000 chickens, of which 11,000 are laying eggs.
“From the 11,000 layers on my farm, I collect 302 trays of eggs daily, translating to Shs118 million per month in sales. However, after paying workers and covering feed costs, I remain with a net profit of Shs55 million per month from poultry alone,” Mr Byamukama said during the closure of the National Youth Conference hosted by the Hoima Catholic Diocese at St Andrea Kaahwa playgrounds in Hoima City under the ecclesiastical province of Mbarara on December 15, 2024.
Similarly, Mr Peter Mugisha from Kyenjojo District shared his journey into backyard poultry farming, which he has successfully practiced for three years. Currently, he rears over 500 exotic layer chickens within his compound. Mugisha explained that he transitioned from tea farming to poultry because it requires less capital investment and is more manageable.
“I started with Shs500,000. Chicken rearing is less labor-intensive and does not require vast pieces of land compared to other livestock farming like cattle, which need more than two acres,” he said.
Of his 500 chickens, 300 are active layers. By December 2024, Mr Mugisha was collecting 300 eggs daily, equivalent to eight-and-a-half trays. Each month, he sells approximately 250 trays to hotels, supermarkets, and schools. “Each tray goes for Shs10,000, earning me a gross income of Shs2.5 million monthly. After deducting Shs800,000 for feeds and medication, I am left with a substantial profit,” he explained.
Profits
Mr Fred Asaba Tusiime, a resident of Kyakalyabe Cell in Kiryandongo District, has been rearing chickens for four years. He described poultry farming as more profitable within a shorter time-frame compared to other livestock ventures, which require substantial capital, land, and labour.
“I started with layers, but they didn’t perform well for me, so I switched to broilers. Broilers are more profitable in less time. The start-up capital varies depending on the number of chicks and the cost of feeds,” Asaba explained.
Asaba began his venture with an initial capital of Shs2 million, which he used to purchase 100 broiler chicks at Shs2,800 each, along with four drinkers at Shs7,000 each, three feeders at Shs25,000 each, and a semi-permanent poultry structure costing Shs700,000. He initially bought 50 kilogrammes of feed at Shs140,000, transitioning to grower and finisher feeds, which cost Shs300,000. He also allocated funds for essential vaccinations, including Newcastle and Gumboro vaccines.
Poultry farming, Asaba noted, requires minimal land. “Even with a small plot or a backyard, you can start poultry farming as long as the structure is well-ventilated. You need a suitable structure, feeders, drinkers, and a brooder if starting with day-old chicks,” he said.
He said the farmer has to closely monitor chicks, especially during their first week, to prevent losses. However, Asaba pointed out that the high cost of poultry feeds significantly reduces profits if the business owner does not apply calculations.
According to Asaba, broilers are ready for sale within four to six weeks and are sold for Shs12,000 to Shs15,000 each, depending on their size. For Kuroilers, it takes 90 days to start earning, with each bird sold at Shs25,000 to Shs30,000. He also mentioned that the market for broilers is vast, with demand often exceeding supply, especially during the festive season.
“Currently, a 50kg bag of poultry feed costs between Shs140,000 and Shs160,000, depending on the type of feed. If you have over 100 birds, you’ll need at least 50kgs per week. We urge the government to address this issue to improve profit margins,” he added.
Mr Job Byaruhanga, the Masindi District agricultural officer, said poultry farming has been driven by various factors, including the rising cost of living and the desire for self-sufficiency and additional income to support families.
Mr Hilary Mugisa, a poultry farmer from Masindi District, shared his success story, revealing that he currently rears 600 broiler chickens in a single structure. He recounted starting with 180 chickens using an initial capital of Shs200,000. After four months of care, he sold them, earning Shs1.2 million.
“After selling the first batch, I invested in 700 broiler chicks, which I am currently raising. By March, they will be ready for sale, and I expect to make a profit of Shs5.9 million if all goes well. I want to encourage those who complain about a lack of money or jobs to consider this business—it works, and I have no regrets,” he said.
Mr James Mujuni, a chicken trader in Kabudaire, Fort Portal City, shared how he successfully ventured into poultry farming after receiving Shs1 million under the Parish Development Model (PDM) last year. He has started realizing profits eight months into the venture.
Mujuni explained that he currently keeps more than 1,000 broiler chickens at home. To maximize his earnings, Mujuni opened a shop in Kabudaire where he sells chickens directly to customers, thereby avoiding middlemen, who previously exploited him.
“In a week, I sell more than 30 chickens, with prices ranging between Shs20,000 and Shs35,000 at the shop. When selling at home, the price is slightly lower, between Shs15,000 and Shs25,000,” he said. He added that he sold more than 200 chickens during the festive season. “I earned more money than ever before, ending the season with more than Shs6 million,” Mujuni said.
Ms Felezia Ithungu, another PDM beneficiary from Nyakiyumbu Sub-county, said she received Shs980,000 and invested the funds in poultry farming. She said she purchased 200 chicks at Shs3,000 each, totaling Shs600,000, and after one month, she sold all the birds at Shs10,000 each, earning Shs2 million.
“I reinvested part of the profits and bought 700 chicks, which I’m now selling at Shs10,000 each. I expect to earn Shs7 million. As the business grows, I have already placed an order for 1,000 more chicks,” she explained.
Dr Yusuf Kibaya, the Kasese District veterinary officer, said poultry farming in the district faces challenges such as white diarrhoea, coccidiosis, and mycoplasmosis. Despite these hurdles, he acknowledged that the PDM programme has empowered many residents to venture into poultry farming, significantly improving their livelihoods.
Other beneficiary says
Sharon Musoki, a resident of Kagando I Cell in Kisinga Town Council, Kasese District, is one of the beneficiaries of the Parish Development Model (PDM) who ventured into poultry farming.
Musoki, a Social Sciences graduate, told this publication that she has no interest in searching for a formal job because her poultry business is providing steady income. Musoki revealed that she used the money under the PDM programme to purchase 150 chicks at Shs5,000 each, with a total cost of Shs750,000, and the remaining Shs250,000 covered other expenses such as feeds, drinkers, feeders, and medicine.
She said that she didn’t spend money on constructing a poultry house because she converted one of her rooms to create a suitable environment. She later purchased coffee husks from a milling company and spread them on the floor.
“I was advised that birds grow better in a room with a rough, unfinished floor. I only spent money on drinkers, feeders, medicine, and a heat source,” Musoki explained.
During the first cycle, Musoki lost eight chicks out of 150 chicks, which had diarrhoea. Despite this, she sold the remaining 142 birds for Shs25,000 each, earning Shs3,550,000 in just three months.
Encouraged by her success, Musoki reinvested her profits and increased her stock to 400 chicks in the second cycle. This time, she earned approximately Shs4.5 million. By the third cycle, she had expanded her project further and earned about Shs8 million.
“The market is always available, especially during weddings and other social functions,” she said, adding that most of her birds are purchased by traders, who export them to DR Congo.
Compiled by Alex Ashaba, Ismail Bategeka, Yoweri Kaguta & Steven Wandera