When Rev. Fr. Emmanuel Kiyimba steps away from the altar, he doesn’t hang up his collar — instead, he puts on his farmer’s hat and heads to his fields. On his farm in Busunju Town Council, Mityana District, the Catholic priest has quietly built a thriving agricultural enterprise that has earned admiration from none other than President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni.
During his recent wealth creation tour under the Parish Development Model (PDM), President Museveni visited Fr. Kiyimba’s farm and applauded the priest’s blend of faith and farming. The President described him as a true example of living the mission of Jesus Christ.
“I’m happy to see that the priest is walking in the footsteps of Jesus Christ, whose mission had four dimensions: to preach the gospel, heal the sick, feed the hungry, and himself worked in carpentry,” Museveni said. “I have seen the coffee, cows, and pigs, and also helped our people. I’m also going to help them.”
Fr. Kiyimba’s farm is a model of self-reliance and smart agricultural practice. He keeps seven dairy cows, four of which produce 25 liters of milk daily. His family consumes three liters, and he sells the remaining 22 liters at Shs1,600 per liter, earning Shs35,200 daily — about Shs1,056,000 a month, or Shs12,672,000 annually.
His piggery adds another Shs5 million to his yearly income, while his 6.8-acre Robusta coffee plantation generates Shs7.8 million each harvest season.
Inspired by the priest’s success, President Museveni pledged Shs100 million, a tractor, and a school bus to support Fr. Kiyimba’s parish projects. He also promised Shs500 million towards the completion of the local church.
The President used the visit to highlight the critical role of religious institutions in driving Uganda’s social and economic transformation. “Through projects like these, the Church is not only saving souls but also helping people escape poverty,” Museveni noted.
Fr. Kiyimba’s success story stands as living proof of the Parish Development Model’s goal: shifting Ugandans from subsistence to commercial agriculture. His efforts, rooted in both faith and farming, are transforming lives in Busunju — one harvest at a time.
