My name is Mike Duku, I am 51 years old, a husband, father of eight, and a refugee from South Sudan living in Yumbe District. When I came to Uganda in 2016, life was uncertain. Food was rationed, and I worried constantly about how I would provide for my family.

In 2019, I joined the Nyesikolong RELIP group and learned something that changed my life: cattle could be used not just for meat or dowry, but for ploughing land. I had never seen that before. With training and support from AFARD, I joined the animal traction committee and began to dream of starting my own business.

By 2021, I had saved enough from farming and cassava sales to buy my first pair of bulls and a plough. I trained them myself, along with two helpers. Soon, neighbours began asking me to plough their fields, and I started earning money. I paid school fees, prepared my land on time, and even helped my brothers.

Today, I own more bulls and continue to grow my business. I’ve managed to increase my family’s acreage, grow enough food, and save for my son’s education. My son now ploughs during school holidays to support his own fees. What started as training has become a livelihood, a way to restore dignity and provide for my family.

As I look ahead, I know this journey was made possible because of the skills and opportunities I gained. For me, animal traction is more than farming; it is the path to stability, education, and a hopeful future.