From Government Office to Green Gold: Inside Ronald Ssegawa’s Lucrative Rona Farm

 

MASAKA CITY — Leaving the comfort of public service for the uncertainties of commercial agriculture is a bold decision that demands vision, resilience and determination. For Mr Ronald Ssegawa Gyagenda, founder and proprietor of Rona Farm, that leap has evolved into a thriving agribusiness that is creating jobs, promoting food security and demonstrating that modern farming can be a powerful engine for wealth creation.

Situated on a 20-acre property at Kabale-Bugonzi Hill along the Kampala–Masaka highway in Masaka City, Rona Farm has grown into a diversified agricultural enterprise integrating poultry, piggery, coffee production, maize processing and farmer training.

Today, the farm stands as a testament to how private investment in agriculture can drive local economic development by creating employment opportunities, adding value to agricultural products and inspiring more Ugandans to embrace farming as a profitable business.

From the moment visitors enter the farm, they are greeted by well-organised poultry houses, neatly maintained coffee gardens, modern piggery units and agro-processing facilities that reflect innovation, efficiency and sound farm management.

On Thursday, June 19, 2026, Mr Ssegawa, dressed in a blue overall, moved from one section of the farm to another, supervising workers and monitoring daily operations. To a first-time visitor, he appeared to be an ordinary farm employee rather than the proprietor.

That hands-on approach, however, defines his leadership philosophy.

“People often assume that once you have worked in government, you should not engage in physically demanding work. I am living proof that agriculture is a respectable and rewarding business. I chose to invest in something that creates jobs and benefits the community,” Mr Ssegawa said.

Named after its founder’s first name, Rona Farm currently employs more than 150 workers across its various enterprises, including poultry production, piggery, coffee nursery management, maize processing, administration and records management.

Modern Poultry Farming Driving Productivity

Poultry production is one of the farm’s flagship enterprises.

Rona Farm keeps more than 3,400 layer chickens housed in specially designed wooden structures that provide adequate ventilation, sufficient space and a healthy environment to maximise productivity.

The birds are fed on carefully formulated feeds, including maize bran processed under the farm’s own Buddu Pure Maize brand. They are also grouped into different housing sections named after regions such as Buganda and Tooro to simplify management and monitoring.

Each bird receives about 120 grammes of feed daily, while strict adherence to hygiene, proper spacing and routine health management has significantly boosted egg production.

Ms Prossy Nalumu, a poultry attendant at the farm, says proper feeding remains the foundation of successful poultry farming.

“I encourage anyone interested in poultry farming to prioritise proper feeding. Farmers should never underfeed their birds because good nutrition directly determines productivity,” she said.

Another employee, Ms Florence Tusiime, attributes the farm’s success to its emphasis on cleanliness, adequate ventilation, regular monitoring and continuous access to clean water.

According to farm management, Rona Farm collects more than 900 trays of eggs every day, which are sold at around Shs12,000 per tray, depending on market conditions and purchase volumes.

Investing in Quality Piggery

Beyond poultry, Rona Farm has established a modern piggery enterprise specialising in improved breeds, including Camborough pigs for breeding and commercial pork production.

The pigs are raised in well-designed housing units equipped with water systems and managed under strict biosecurity measures to minimise disease outbreaks. Visitors entering the piggery section are required to disinfect their footwear before accessing the facilities.

Once they attain market weight of between 100 and 120 kilogrammes, the pigs are sold for approximately Shs800,000 or more, depending on prevailing market prices.

The farm also supplies high-quality pig semen at approximately Shs40,000 per package to farmers seeking to improve their breeding stock.

Piglets sourced from different parts of Uganda, including Gulu District, are nurtured at the farm before being sold to farmers starting or expanding their piggery enterprises.

Supporting Uganda’s Coffee Industry

Coffee production forms another important pillar of Rona Farm’s operations.

The farm produces improved coffee seedlings, including KR4, KR5 and KR6 varieties, which are supplied to farmers across the country.

The seedlings retail at approximately Shs5,000 each, depending on the quantity purchased.

Mr Ssegawa believes that Uganda can significantly increase earnings from coffee by prioritising quality management rather than merely expanding acreage.

“Success in coffee farming is not about planting vast plantations alone. What matters is proper management and the income generated from every coffee tree,” he said.

Building a Practical Agricultural Training Centre

Beyond commercial production, Mr Ssegawa envisions transforming Rona Farm into a centre for practical agricultural education.

Plans are underway to establish training programmes targeting university students, secondary school learners, researchers and farmers interested in acquiring hands-on skills in modern agriculture.

“We want students, lecturers, researchers and farmers to come here and learn by doing. Agriculture should not remain confined to classrooms; it must be practised in the field,” he said.

The farm also processes and markets Buddu Pure Maize Flour, supplying households, schools and other institutions while promoting value addition and supporting local manufacturing.

Mr Ssegawa urges Ugandans to support locally manufactured products as a way of strengthening domestic industries and fostering economic self-reliance.

Agriculture as a Pathway to Wealth Creation

Rona Farm has further embraced environmentally sustainable farming through the production of organic fertiliser using black soldier flies. The insects are bred and processed into organic fertilisers while also providing protein-rich ingredients for animal feed.

According to Mr Ssegawa, agriculture remains one of Uganda’s most effective tools for tackling unemployment, increasing household incomes and driving sustainable economic growth.

“Our young people need productive employment instead of spending most of their time engaged in politics. Agriculture provides skills, creates jobs and generates income for families,” he said.

He also commended President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni’s continued emphasis on wealth creation through enterprise development and practical skills acquisition, saying the message remains relevant in encouraging Ugandans to invest in productive sectors.

“We should focus on practical investments that create jobs and improve livelihoods. Agriculture enables people to work, produce wealth and transform their communities,” he added.

As Rona Farm continues expanding its coffee nurseries, livestock enterprises, value-addition projects and agricultural training programmes, Mr Ssegawa hopes it will evolve into one of Uganda’s leading agricultural demonstration and learning centres.

His journey from government service to commercial farming illustrates the immense opportunities within Uganda’s agricultural sector and serves as a powerful reminder that, with innovation, discipline and commitment, agriculture can be transformed from a subsistence activity into a thriving business that creates jobs, generates wealth and contributes to national development.

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