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HARVEST MONEY EXPO

KAMPALA - A Ugandan-made yoghurt brand that was started five years ago is steadily changing the lives of over 20 local Ugandan women fending for their families, thanks to Lydia Awad, a Dutch entrepreneur who founded the project from the suburb of Najjera, Kampala city. 

“We are a charity organisation, and we employ vulnerable women,” Awad said, as the yoghurt in her fridge seemingly appeared to run out due to the high turnout at her exhibition tent. 

The yoghurt that Awad frequently gets from the fridge at the Harvest Money Expo at Kololo Airstrip for hungry clients is labelled Revival East African Ladies (REAL) yoghurt. We supported women because when they get a few shillings, they spend it on the family,” Awad said.

In the tent, a woman selling similar smaller packets effortlessly balances the products, holding a crying baby and selling to a client who wants flavoured yoghurt. 

Somehow, she is successfully handling both tasks. The exhibition, which attracted hundreds of farmers ended on Sunday.

Awad argues that yoghurt has health benefits like reducing diarrhoea, stomach ulcers, constipation, skin rashes, good immunity boosters, and provides an internal cleanser for the stomach.

The yoghurt project has provided employment to women, who also get extra training in all aspects of their lives. 

“We recycle some of our proceeds back into the community,” Awad added. According to her, the yoghurt has many attributes, like being lactose-free and having honey, cinnamon, and organic vanilla flavours. “We buy all the ingredients from Uganda,” Awad said.

Florence Mugamba, one of the women earning a living from the yoghurt project, says it has helped mostly single mothers. “We are paying school fees for our children,” Mugamba added.

The process of making yoghurt is elaborate, where milk is heated to be pasteurised, which is then reduced to a certain temperature. 

It is then left overnight, and the following morning the yoghurt will be ready to be consumed. 

“Those who want to take the natural one can try out our brand,” Awad said.

REALprobiotic yoghurt can be found in most of the major supermarkets in Kampala.

Themed, “Farming as a Business: Post-Harvest Handling and Innovations,” the expo was organised by Vision Group in partnership with the Netherlands Embassy, with other sponsors being National Agricultural Advisory Services (NAADS), Ministry of Agriculture, Animal Husbandry and Fisheries (MAAIF), Tunga Nutrition, Engineering Solutions (ENGSOL), Techo Serve, Uganda Investment Authority (UIA), Uganda Warehouse Receipt System Authority, KOICA-K-ABIC, dfcu Bank, Private Sector Foundation Uganda, AKVO International, Pepsi, and State House.