Chicken Rearing Update

DSC02195, originally uploaded by amanda.milholland.

By Nicholas Ssekiranda and Amanda

Nicholas Ssekiranda has been working with KACCAD since September 2007. He, and his cousin Sam who also works with KACCAD, are members of Bbiira AIDS Community, the councilors group we work with to provide support to people and families living with/affected by HIV/AIDS. He directs our work with this group. In addition, he helps manage the group chick rearing project led by clients from our HIV/AIDS Outreach and Support Program.

For this quarter we are privileged to inform you that we opened up a chicken project for a group of seven HIV/AIDS affected families. Participants of this project share the responsibilities of caring for the 250 layer birds. The chickens have just started to lay eggs this month. This project has given great inspiration to the members who previously did not have a reliable source of income.

At the same time, the project has been facing a major challenge, limited funding. As result of the conflicts raging in Kenya, the price of fuel has escalated in Uganda. This has caused the cost of chicken food to rise. We would like to sincerely thank ‘With God’s Little One’s’ for lending additional support to this project, and helping us to overcome these challenges and maintain the operation of the farm.

Another challenge with this project has been that our beneficiaries sometimes struggle with sickness, as we have focused this project on people living with HIV/AIDS. Sadly, one of our core members passed away just this week. Yusuf Kawooya was a very active member of the project. He will be greatly missed by everyone in the Kikaaya community. Yusuf leaves behind his wife Hadijah, and a one year old child. Our hearts go out to his family at this difficult time.