Kasaka, UG – Family uses VICOBA loan for FAITH garden water– July 2026

SDN family joined Kasaka Basooka VICOBA, the first group activity in the village, at about the same time they first prepared their FAITH garden. With Wamukisa’s mentorship the earning and growing programs taught the benefits of saving and investing loaned funds and growing organic vegetables in raised beds using a system. As the family began saving some money with the VICOBA they realized that to enjoy growing vegetables, a water barrel could be used in the dry season to store fetched water for their vegetables. Then they also could use it for harvested rain water collected during the rainy season.

Because the family is active in meeting and saving with the VICOBA, they were able to secure a loan of 120,000UGS (about 34USD) to buy a 240 liter water barrel. By paying 2,000 shillings at each weekly VICOBA meeting, the family plans to pay off the loan in a year, and then be able to buy another barrel. Children Joyce and Rachel attend Kasaka Secondary School and belong to the Agriculture Club there, and John who attends primary school, will make fewer trips to the local spring to fetch water for their father to irrigate.

The family sells their FAITH garden’s surplus vegetables at a stall located in the Kasaka town market. Vegetables have not been a big part of Kasaka village families’ diet and SDN family’s sales income is still small. As other families begin to enjoy eating vegetables and learn their health benefits, the SDN family hopes their sales will grow. As their income grows, their loan payments can increase, and they will be able to buy a second barrel sooner.