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President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni has reiterated the value of the four-acre model as a strategic tool to shift Ugandans from subsistence to commercial farming, emphasizing that even households with limited land can prosper if they adopt this approach.

Under the model, one acre is allocated for coffee, another for fruit trees, a third for pasture to support zero-grazing livestock, and the fourth for food crops for home use. Additional ventures such as backyard poultry, piggery (for non-Muslims), and fish farming along wetland fringes are encouraged. The President also recommended cocoa and oil palm farming, noting their high returns even on small plots.

Museveni made these remarks on Monday, June 16, 2025, during a visit to Zimu Demonstration Farm in Sselinya B village, Mpigi district. The farm, owned by Hajji Muhammad Yusuf Zziwa, exemplifies the NRM’s strategy for increasing household incomes through modern farming on small landholdings.

During the visit, President Museveni toured Zziwa’s coffee, banana, and avocado plantations, inspected his dairy cows, and walked alongside Zziwa and his wife. He commended Zziwa for fully embracing the four-acre model and turning his small farm into a commercial success. “The NRM message is about using modern agriculture to generate income. You don’t need a lot of land to make money,” the President said.

To support Zziwa’s work, Museveni pledged a solar-powered water pump to benefit the whole village and donated a pickup truck to help transport poultry feeds, which are currently sourced from Mukono.

Zziwa’s story is one of determination and growth. From starting with just one cow, he now produces 10 litres of milk a day and earns about UGX 360,000 monthly. His poultry venture is even more lucrative, yielding 55 trays of eggs daily, each sold at UGX 10,000, resulting in daily earnings of UGX 550,000. After expenses of UGX 138 million, he nets UGX 60 million annually from poultry alone.

From coffee, Zziwa earns a gross UGX 68 million, netting UGX 56.8 million, and another UGX 3.7 million from bananas. His avocado farm brings in UGX 720,000 annually, with plans to improve profits. Altogether, the four-acre farm generates an impressive UGX 294 million in gross annual income.

Zziwa has also diversified into herbal medicine, producing a traditional tooth remedy that has been verified by the National Drug Authority (NDA).

Despite his success, Zziwa highlighted ongoing challenges, including high transport costs, unstable poultry feed prices, and water shortages affecting both his farm and the wider community. Nonetheless, his farm has become a regional demonstration center, offering practical training and motivation to other farmers.

Former Mawokota North MP Amelia Kyambadde praised President Museveni for prioritizing rural development and wealth creation. She called for increased investment in water supply, healthcare, and skills-based education to support growing rural populations. Her suggestions included building a hospital, establishing a ferry service, and setting up a youth training hub for modern agriculture and entrepreneurship.

In response, President Museveni reaffirmed his government’s dedication to rural empowerment and economic transformation, emphasizing that sustainable household wealth creation remains a core focus of Uganda’s long-term development agenda.