In 2023, when Jackson Mpagazihe, 62, a resident of Kimbugu Village, Kabwoya Sub-County, Buhaguzi County, Kikuube District, received Shs980,000 from the Parish Development Model, PDM, and used it to start fish farming, a venture that has turned lucrative.
This did not just turn his dream to become rich with at least a reliable source of livelihoods into reality.
On Tuesday, 17th March 2025, Mpagazihe shocked President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni with his narrative of how he started his first farming business, defying all the odds that the enterprise requires much money to begin.
Mpagazihe has transformed his livelihood through fish farming, a venture he started in August 2023 with an initial investment from the government program.
“I received shs980,000 in August 2023 through the PDM initiative. We were trained about fishponds, and I decided to invest in them. I used shs500,000 to construct a fishpond and added shs20,000 to my remaining shs480,000 to buy fingerlings,” he said.
Mpagazihe initially stocked his pond with fingerlings and started managing his fish farm. At the same time, he earned shs 160,000 from maize farming, which he used to buy fish feed.
“After eight months, I harvested my first batch of fish in April 2024. I sold 150 fish at shs5,000 each, earning shs750,000. Over the following weeks, I continued selling more, and after six months, I had made a total of shs1.5 million,” he said.
With this income, he reinvested in another pond and stocked more fingerlings to expand his fish farm.
His second harvest came in December 2024.
“I had increased production, and this time, I sold 150 fish at shs5,000 each, earning shs750,000. I continued selling weekly, and after another six months, I had made sh900,000,” he explained.
He later sold another 50 fish, earning shs500,000. “With daily sales, I made an additional shs800,000 over six months,” he added.
Currently, Mr. Mpagazihe owns six fishponds stocked with 20,000 fish, although two are yet to be stocked with fingerlings.
“So far, I have harvested twice and made a total of shs2.9m from the second round. For the third round, I expect to harvest 7,000 fish,” he said.
Despite using only half an acre of land for his fishponds, Mr. Mpagazihe now earns significantly more than he did from maize farming.
“I used to farm maize on a large scale, but I only made shs400,000 per year, which was too little for the effort involved. Now, from just half an acre, I earn about shs 200,000 per month, which I never got from maize farming,” he noted.
“After selling my fish, I now make around shs 1.3m per season. This has enabled me to pay school fees for my children, who were previously sent home due to unpaid dues,” he said.
Mpagazihe’s success has inspired others in his community. “Two of my neighbors have come to benchmark my fish ponds, and I have trained them on how to start their own,” he noted.
He also expressed gratitude to the government for introducing the PDM program.
“I want to thank the President for bringing PDM. I believe it will change lives for those who use the funds wisely,” he said.
Mpagazihe first learned about PDM through his parish chief, who sensitized the community about the program and encouraged them to take advantage of the opportunity.
“You must embrace this program wholeheartedly. This money belongs to you and your community. If you misuse it or fail to repay, you deny others a chance to improve their livelihoods,” he warned.
This event was part of his three-day countrywide assessment tour of the PDM in the Bunyoro sub-region, which commenced today.
President Museveni lauded Mr. Mpagazihe for his exemplary efforts in fish farming, noting that he started his project with just shs 500,000 and sweat capital, defying misconceptions that fish farming requires huge investment.
Museveni reiterated that the success of the initiative depends on the discipline and commitment of its beneficiaries.
“Many people feared that starting a fishpond was expensive, but Mr. Mpagazihe has proven that even with little money, it is possible. Fish farming is not only profitable but also an effective way to conserve wetlands while ensuring food security,” President Museveni said.
He encouraged wetland dwellers to transition to fish farming, explaining that fishponds help retain water that can be used for irrigation, ultimately boosting agricultural productivity.
“With just half an acre, one can earn sh700,000 after deducting feed costs and up to sh1.4m per acre. This is a sustainable business that can transform households,” he emphasized.
To further support Mr. Mpagazihe’s initiative, President Museveni contributed shs10m to facilitate a tuk-tuk for transportation and a fish feed-making machine to enhance his enterprise valued at Shs35million.
“I want to thank Mr. Mpagazihe for his hard work and innovation. He is a living example of how the PDM can change lives if embraced fully,” President Museveni remarked.
The Mpagazihe’s story of how he succeeded with little support from the government is similar to many PDM beneficiaries across the country who have managed to create reliable sources of livelihoods since the inception of the program.
President Museveni is currently touring the Bunyoro subregion to assess the implementation of PDM and other government wealth creation programs.
