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Norman Kimuli is an experienced gardener and landscaper. He says plant science is important for future generations.

For instance, every plant lover must know how to make a seed bank, how to germinate and propagate plants, and the like. 

He says with growth in capital and the continued presence of NGOs, the future is bright for greening projects.

“I don’t think there is a market for a big European-style garden centre here, so from the beginning, I had to open a simple plant store. Mostly, people here want to hire a beautiful garden like this one for their marriage ceremonies, and there is revenue to be generated that way. 

But these moments are fleeting, captured by a wedding photographer who chooses one of the pretty spots like here,” he says, pointing to a beautifully sculpted bush. When asked, Kimuli is clear on what a good garden can offer Ugandans.

“It is a place where family and friends can feel safe to relax and discuss important things. And it is something to invest in for the future,” he says. 

As he leads along paved pathways to the nursery, where hundreds of plant cuttings grow in compost bags surrounded by a protective hedge, he is keen to stress that the salary of a market gardener in Uganda is limited. 

“The salary is not big; you only earn money when you sell plants and flowers, but during the rainy season, many people come because that is the time to plant. Probably 80% of my revenue comes in this way through plant sales and about 20% from garden design,” he points out.

Returning to the house, he stands by his extensive bookshelf and points up the racks of journals and big reference books.

“I have many journals and correspond frequently with fellow gardeners in the UK. Research is very important after talking to the garden’s owner. That is when you can understand their personality and whether they have a specific purpose for the garden.

Harriet Bagonza, who loves nature and needed to maximise limited space for receptions, has benefited from Kimuli’s advice.

Upon visiting his garden, she felt inspired to establish her own. Kimuli asserts that in order to continue admiring their beauty in gardens of our own design, we must sometimes carry plants across borders and carefully nurture them from one generation to the next.