Kikondo, UG – Building mutual trust starts in the garden – 15 May 2021

The GJM family has been developing mutual trust with our partner Wamukisa since 2017 because of how they have cared for, and been able to eat from, their organic vegetable garden. They have also earned trust by regularly saving with the Zinabala Village Community Banking (VICOBA) group that was established by Wamukisa.

This trust has led to qualifying for a VICOBA loan to invest in a small shop outside their home.  They were able to combine personal savings with the loan and invest US$139 / 500,000 UGS in establishing a home goods store that mainly sells charcoal for cooking to local school teachers.  It assists the teachers because they cannot afford electricity and gas, or wood that has been scarce and expensive due to the recent rainy season.

GJM uses mental accounting to manage his family business, like many other families in the area.  The business has been earning US$11 / 40,000 UGS per month from charcoal sales, increasing their income by 27% over their previous US$41 / 150,000 UGS per month.  The family is now thinking about how to expand the shop’s sales, so Wamukisa’s manager Michael is advising GJM and other families to start using ledger books to track revenues and expenses.  GJM and his fellow Zinabala VICOBA members are interested and are looking forward to receiving book keeping training from Michael.