Kasaka, UG – Wamukisa’s small sustainable steps expand Kasaka programs – Apr 2024

During April Wamukisa used the last part of Uganda’s dry season to continue expanding Kasaka-Gomba operations by improving its headquarters farmhouse with plastered exterior walls, added covered patio, expanded rainwater harvesting system, and paint. A solar panel provides electricity for team member Henry to charge the phone he reports with, as well as light to read by. The modular building now has sleeping area for Henry and his wife and two small children, storage area for harvested crops, and sitting area to host Wamukisa’s local and international guests for training and meetings. Outside are two demonstration gardens, each with 12 beds sized 1 meter x 7 meters, 200 banana trees, and 300 coffee trees, all demonstrating organic growing.

In addition to building the farmhouse and agricultural areas, Wamukisa has built relationships important to its programs in Kasaka.

After seeing sustained growth at Wamukisa’s headquarters, with the village chairman’s encouragement ten local families have enrolled in the FAITH gardening program. Since the beginning of last year, Henry has worked full time for Wamukisa, making compost, developing the demonstration gardens, growing seedlings, and mentoring each family to build and maintain, (and some eventually expand), a three-bed FAITH garden using raised beds, compost, and mulch. Because of Henry’s hard work and steady income, the family now can afford costs for their well-nourished son John to attend primary school.

Because Wamukisa collects rainwater from the farmhouse roof, the demonstration garden can grow a wide variety of vegetables including carrots, beans, beets, cabbage, and greens, even in dry seasons. But few families can afford rainwater collection systems and must rely on planting drought-tolerant kale and bitterberries supplemented by some rain and carried water. Families growing food with FAITH gardens will save money otherwise spent for food, money Wamukisa will encourage them to spend on their children’s education.

The ten families with FAITH gardens also have decided to form a Village Community Bank (VICOBA) named Basooka (“Pioneer” in English). Basooka leaders have traveled to Kikondo to learn from Zinabala VICOBA leaders. Every Monday Basooka members meet on the farmhouse patio to support each other and to plan their first mutual investment in a pig pen and piglets for sale. The members hope to meet after Christmas holiday pig sales to decide how much profit to distribute and how much to re-invest together in another income earning venture.