This was witnessed last week at Bwikomba II parish in Mugiti Subcounty, during the launch of input distribution under Uganda Climate Smart Agricultural Transformation Project (USCATP) in Budaka District.The inputs included; Kenyan Top Bar (KTB) Hives 45 pieces,15 smokers,15 bee suites, bee brushes and elbow lengthy gloves.Speaking to the beneficiaries during the meeting, the Deputy RDC Mr. Steven Ogwang called upon them to embrace such projects such as UCSATP alongside other government programs like PDM, Emyooga and Micro-scale irrigation to improve on their livelihoods.Deputy RDC warned the people who always mislead others in the implementation of government programs but rather urged them to accept the programs as they come."Bukedi Region has been second to Karamoja in terms of poverty, but when we utilize such programs, we are bound to move to the middle-income status," Mr. Ogwang said.Mr. Asuman Makuma Khawanga, the Acting District Production Officer Budaka, congratulated Bwikomba ll Passion Fruit Growers Group upon this milestone, being the first in the district and in the entire Bukedi sub region to redeem and receive inputs under the project. He also thanked Government Of Uganda, MAAIF, and World Bank for considering Budaka DLG to benefit under the project.He alluded to members forming more groups, especially under the crop value chain.DPO implored the Extension staff and the service provider to ensure that the farmers benefit from the delivered inputs.He concluded his remarks by taking the members through the process of joining a group before redeeming the inputs, among which included; formation and registration, profiling, preparation of production plans and co-funding, validation by M-CASH, creation of e-wallet and then finally redeeming.According to the Acting Entomologist for the project, Mr. Higenyi Siraji, he encouraged people not to fear the bees since they are domestic in nature.He boosted their confidence by asking them to create a good environment for the bees through planting forage to ensure continuous availability of food for them to produce honey.He noted that farmers in Bukedi can harvest honey twice depending on availability of food for the bees.He tasked the communities to create more UCSATP groups to boost production and ensure collective marketing and alternative livelihood sources.He informed members that in addition to beneficial insect value chains, dairy, fish and crop value chains are also in place.Mr. Onyango Lawrence, DISO Budaka said that redeeming of inputs from UCSATP signals that they have embraced government programs.He asked them to own the project and warned them against rumors that cause confusion in the groups.He encouraged the members to always consult the technical staff to be able to manage the project and benefit more from it.Mr.Tegule Emmanuel, the service provider, appreciated Bwikomba II group for their commitment and pledged his support to the beneficiaries.The beneficiaries appreciated the government for the support rendered to them and promised to ensure the project grows to another level.