Bright project turning Uganda’s highlands into food baskets

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In the highlands of Kabale district, where infertile soils and poor farming practices once left families hungry and hopeless, an agricultural revolution is taking root.

Thanks to the Building Resilience and Inclusive Growth of Highland Farming Systems for Rural Transformation (BRIGHT) project — an initiative by the International Fertiliser Development Centre (IFDC) — farmers like Sarah Tushabomwe are seeing change.

They are turning barren fields into productive farms, boosting both food security and household incomes.

Two years ago, Tushabomwe’s household in Nyabyumba village, Kamugangusi sub-county, Ndorwa West County was living hand-to-mouth.

Despite having over five hectares of land, poor agronomic practices and depleted soils left the family with little food and minimal income.

“We practised subsistence farming using poor methods, without considering soil conservation or sustainable agriculture,” says Tushabomwe.

Her story mirrors the struggles of many families in Uganda’s highland regions, where infertile soils and erosion have led to widespread food insecurity and poverty.

Turning point

The tide began to turn with the arrival of the BRIGHT project, implemented by the IFDC.

The initiative targets highland communities in Kigezi, Rwenzori and Elgon, promoting smart farming practices to improve crop yields, food security and household incomes.

Tushabomwe, now a farmer innovator and member of the village project committee, says the project has trained residents in sustainable farming techniques, including soil and water conservation methods like building terraces and planting grass strips to trap soil on slopes.

During a recent tour of project beneficiaries in the Kigezi sub-region, she showcased how her family now grows a variety of crops.

These include cabbages, sorghum, beans, bananas, fruits, Irish potatoes and pumpkins and keeps livestock, including cattle and pigs.

“The training changed our mindset. We now understand the value of sustainable farming,” says her husband, Denis Mwesigire.

Community-wide impact

Local leaders have also noted the transformation.

Bismark Kobusheshe, the chairperson of Nshansaare town council in Rubanda district, praised the project’s impact.

“Farmers now understand the importance of practices like terracing, trenching, and crop rotation, which help in conserving soil and reducing erosion.”

Helen Ninsiima, BRIGHT’s market and value chain development lead, emphasised that highland communities require tailored interventions to ensure sustainable land use, access to agri-finance, market linkages, and improved nutrition and income.

Mwesigire added that practices such as trenching, mulching and tree planting have significantly improved soil fertility and crop output.

The farmers are also taught the importance of growing pasture crops like napier, calliandra and setavia that they feed their livestock.

Relatedly, through project partner Agri Terra, farmers have received training in bookkeeping and commercial farming, along with extension services.

Mwesigire notes the importance of quality seed.

“Previously, I would plant a sack of Irish potatoes and harvest just four bags. Now, with better seeds and practices, I get over 10 bags.”

Charles Byarugaba, a potato seed multiplier in Nyabyumba, agrees.

He says farmers were once unaware of the importance of seed quality, leading to poor yields and widespread malnutrition.

Supported by IFDC with sh115m in 2014, Byarugaba has grown his enterprise into one of Uganda’s leading seed potato suppliers, distributing 800 to 1,000 bags annually.

Accountability and planning

Shamim Nalubega, BRIGHT’s communications manager, says the project promotes participatory integrated farming, targeting households rather than individuals. Each village committee and family develops a vision and seasonal plans, which guide activities and ensures accountability.

“These plans help us track performance, identify income sources, labour needs and expected output,” says Mwesigire.

Access to finance and inputs

Farmers also benefit from soft loans through partner savings groups, which provide agricultural loans, as well as inputs like Irish potato seed, pesticides, and fertilisers.

Examples of the groups include Rukiga SACCO and Nyabyumba Farmers’ Cooperative and farmers repay after harvest if they lack cash upfront.

The project has also linked participating SACCOS to Pearl Capital Partners, which offers low-cost funding to lend to farmers and cooperatives.

Market linkages

Irish potato growers working with BRIGHT are assured of ready market. The project has connected them to buyers such as Sumz, an agro-processor.

After harvest, farmers deliver sorted potatoes to cooperatives, which supply Sumz.

“Linking farmers to value chain actors ensures sustainability,” says Ninsiima.

“We also connect them directly to input suppliers to eliminate middlemen and reduce the risk of counterfeit products.”

Empowering youth, women

The Nshansaare Emikaago Association, a youth group in Rubanda district, is among the beneficiaries.

The group transitioned from small-scale potato trading to building a demo store for post-harvest handling, thanks to support from BRIGHT.

“We secured a loan of sh4m from Rukiga SACCO and built a cost-effective store that benefits the entire community,” says SACCO chairperson Didas Katungye.

“We store potatoes and sell when prices are favourable, increasing our profits,” adds secretary Julius Turyahikayo.

Clare Atuhaire, a member of the association, says women have become self-reliant.

“I sell my potatoes to the association at good prices and earn a share of the profits, which I use for household needs.”

Improving transportation

The Nshansaare–Ndeego– Kitahurira road is currently undergoing repairs under the BRIGHT project, improving transportation of agricultural produce from Nshansaare town council.

The sh1.6b rehabilitation of the 13.5km stretch is being implemented through a 50-50 cost-sharing partnership between the Rubanda district local government and the project.

According to Bismark Kobusheshe, the chairperson of Nshansaare town council, the poor condition of the road previously forced potato buyers to abandon produce by the roadside overnight, as they struggled to find alternative transport routes.

Partnerships driving change

The Building Resilience and Inclusive Growth of Highland Farming Systems for Rural Transformation project is funded by the Embassy of the Kingdom of the Netherlands and implemented by the International Fertiliser Development Center in collaboration with Agri Terra, the agriculture ministry, and various district local governments.

These partnerships are central to delivering sustainable agricultural transformation in Uganda’s highland regions.