Kikondo, UG – Family’s long-term nutrition and earning continuously improve – May 2024

In the seven years since the SOS family planted its first 3-bed FAITH garden, their nutrition, education, and earning have benefited greatly from Wamukisa’s mentorship. They have tried new things to continuously improve, becoming successful entrepreneurs.

Before SOS joined programs, Wamukisa used to check with the family or buy some books and pencils for the two SOS children. In 2017 the family joined Wamukisa programs by first opening a small garden. They later expanded to have a FAITH garden with more beds. After two years operating a large FAITH garden they made extensions to grow vegetables for sale on land the family borrowed from its neighbor. But earnings were low and unpredictable with variable weather. They returned the land and realized that they couldn’t continue with extension gardening. All this happened while the family was saving with Zinabala VICOBA.

The family attended all trainings Wamukisa offered, which helped it explore and design different business ideas. This helped them discover the broiler rearing business. The business has greatly improved the standards of living of the family with improved income and savings. The family now sells 100 broilers per month making a profit of 400,000 Ugandan shillings / US$ 100 in an average month. SOS mother spends 250,000 shillings to buy day old chicks, 340,000 shillings on feeds, 100,000 shillings on vaccines, 100,000 shillings on labor. She sells each bird aged four weeks at 12,000 shillings, making a profit of 400,000 shillings (about $111) per month. She repeats this cycle monthly by arranging purchases and sales 1 week after receiving the chicks. Instead of having to buy and transport soil improvement materials, she uses the poultry manure in her staple crop and vegetable gardens.

She has decided not to rear more birds than she can afford inputs for in times of increased prices. The price of bran changes which affects her income. This risk management and planning helps her contain her business. She dreams to continuously learn new techniques which will help her expand her business.