RDC Kikuube Tumusiime commissions motorcycles to district extension workers  

Kikuube District Local Government has procured three brand new motorcycles in an effort to improve extension services and production in the district.

The UG Boss Motorcycles valued at Shs 30 million were procured using the sector development grant, under the production department and they are meant to facilitate the movement of the agricultural extension workers in the district.

While commissioning the motorcycles at the district headquarters, the Kikuube Resident District Commissioner (RDC) Amlan Tumusiime explained that the motorcycles are meant to enable the sub-county extension workers reach the farmers at their respective farms and advised them on the right agronomic practices.

He further noted that farmers need extension services to move from subsistence farming to commercial farming but extension workers have been lacking transport to reach farmers.

“This is part of the government’s strategy to improve and promote commercial farming from subsistence farming in the country. We need to ensure that farmers get extension services since they are necessary. I also realized that transport for extension officers has been a challenge but now it is no longer a challenge,” explained Tumusiime.

Barnabus Ntume, the acting District Production Officer (DPO) revealed that some agricultural extension workers in the district have been facing challenges of transport since they did not have motorcycles.

He explained that the motorcycles have been allocated to the extension workers of Kiziranfumbi Town Council and Kabwoya sub-county, while the third will remain in the office of production.

Ntume noted that the motorcycles have come at the right time when the district is mobilizing farmers for Parish Development Model (PDM) adding that with these motorcycles, they are able to reach every corner of the district.

“The motorcycles are going to help our extension workers to reach the farmers and increase agricultural production in the district. The issue of transport has been a great challenge but I am optimistic that my officers are now going to reach the farmers,” he said.

Peter Banura the district Chairman, cautioned the users against misusing the motorcycles for personal use.

He vowed that the district will punish any officer who will be found mismanaging the motorcycles.

“We should not find these motorcycles parked in bars; you should not use these motorcycles to fetch firewood, to carry charcoal and they should not be given to your relatives. This is a property of government so avoid mismanaging our motorcycle but go and use them to serve its intended purpose.”

Nicolas Kiiza, the Secretary for Production, marketing and natural resources in the district hailed the government for the efforts it has put in transforming the country’s economy through improved agricultural production.

He noted that extension officers in the district have been complaining over lack of transport to effectively execute their work and now this complain is over.