The 2020 lockdown as a result of the high rate of the spread of the coronavirus broke the financial backs of many people. Lule Amir Joshua, a resident of Kirombe, a suburb of Kampala, was among those not spared by the destructive effects of the lockdown.

It is at that point that Lule attended an agriprenuership bootcamp, whose role was to teach the participants ways of earning money through urban agriculture and backyard gardening.

He did not leave whatever was discussed at the training venue. When Lule went back home, he started seeing urban farming as a gateway to him earning a daily income. However, there was a challenge – space. Where would he set up his garden from?

The 24-year-old approached his grandmother, who is equally passionate about urban farming. He was lucky to be offered space to grow vegetables. Currently, Lule grows sukuma wiki, spinach, tomatoes, spring onions, carrots and red pepper. He sells the vegetables to neighbours, nearby markets and schools.

“On a given day, I am able to make about sh2,500 from selling the vegetables, especially sukuma wiki and spinach,” Lule says. He added that the proceeds from his garden are then invested in his liquid soap business.  

Lule has been able to reach out and motivate more youths from his area to engage in urban farming as an income-generating venture. This has attracted more support from other development partners, such as the Kampala Capital City Authority, which has given him seeds and seedlings.

“I hope to use this support to expand my garden and increase production of the different vegetables,” Lule said. Additionally, Lule said he collects plastic bottles, which he later reuses as containers for his liquid soap business and as planters in his garden.

By Hope Mutesi 

Community Journalist.

Picture: Lule harvesting vegetables in his garden