Uganda: Field Update from Our Biodiversity Project Monitoring and Evaluation Mission

Our team leader Suzanne Akulu Okao is conducting the final Monitoring and Evaluation (M&E) mission with clients of partner financial institutions in Mbarara, Nakivale, Ntungamo, Masaka, Lwengo, and Mbale. This mission is part of the East African Development Bank's (EADB) Biodiversity Finance Facility (BFF), a pioneering credit line supported by KfW that provides wholesale lending to Finance Trust Bank and Opportunity Bank Uganda. These loans support climate-smart investments by small farmers, fostering both economic and environmental sustainability.

Jimmy Katumba Diversifies His Business

Jimmy Katumba, a BFF client, shares: “The BFF funds have enabled me to maintain my banana plantation despite the prolonged drought because of using organic manure and mulch on my plantation. In addition, I was able to venture into bee hives after being trained about the benefits of keeping bees in my plantation.”

Zabron Kunika Improves His Plantation Yields

Zabron Kunika, another BFF client, has a diverse farm with banana plantations, cows, goats, and sheep. He has benefited from the line of credit through mulching his banana plantation, acquiring a machine for making silage for his cows, and purchasing larger quantities of manure. Zabron says: “The BFF funds have enabled me to reduce on the cost of silage, I’m able to harvest grass for my animals and improve on the yields of my banana plantation”.

Justine Nyomwiza’s Income Increases

Justine Nyomwiza, a BFF client with cows, has utilized the credit for paddocking her farm and digging a dam to reduce the distance her animals walk to drink water. Justine notes: “The BFF funds have enabled my milk production to increase thanks to the amount of water the dam is able to store and my income has increased”.

Deus Tumuhimbise Improves the Quality of His Yields

Deus Tumuhimbise, a BFF client with cows, used the credit to purchase organic manure, dig trenches, and mulch his coffee garden. Deus states: “The BFF climate proof training enabled me to learn the dangers of using artificial fertilizers. I have realized that the use of organic manure in my coffee garden produces better quality yields and is not harmful to the environment. One of my neighbors enquired about the change in my coffee garden and I taught him about the use of organic manure.” Deus is grateful for the knowledge gained during the loan appraisal and vows never to return to harmful fertilizers that affect the environment and his coffee yields.

Through initiatives like the BFF, we are witnessing firsthand the positive impacts of climate-smart investments and the empowerment of small farmers in Uganda.