Fred Bikaba, a UDS farmer

We thought we'd like to introduce you to a few of our beneficiaries. Over the next few weeks, we'll bring you stories of some of our farmers in Kamuli District. 

The first is Fred Bikaba.  Fred lives and works in Kitikuro, and is one of a group of 15 farmers trained by UDS in 2012.

Fred and family in their banana grove

Fred was initially given five suckers for his banana plot, but now he has over 300 banana plants. The bananas are well managed and they produce good fruit which attract a good price. Banana are highly valued in the local market, and customers often buy the fruit before they are ripe.

Fred has now  started growing other crops in order to build an income. These include African eggplants, onions, tomatoes and cabbages. His cabbage plot contains over 1000 plants,  and he plans to sell them at an average price of 500 Ugandan shillings (about 12 UK pence).

Fred tends his cabbage crop

This is how Fred described his change in fortunes to us: “I am grateful to UDS for all the knowledge and skills given to me. Before UDS’ intervention, I was practising traditional farming where I was planting mainly maize and rice as food and cash crops, and I would only get income every end of season (June and December). After gaining skills in better farming methods and production of short income crops my life has greatly improved, because currently I get money on a weekly basis. In addition to this, I learnt how to use my land profitably. For example I have a swamp and for long I was growing only rice which is seasonal. The knowledge I got from UDS opened my understanding that I can grow short term crops throughout the year regardless of whether it is a rainy or dry season and here I grow cabbages which I harvest every two and a half months."

Fred's life has been transformed by the skills given to him by UDS. To enable us to help more farmers like Fred, please donate to UDS by texting  UDSF14 £5 to 70070. 

International Literacy Day

As the world prepares to celebrate International Literacy Day on 8th September, now would seem a good time to tell you about progress in our literacy programmes in the last year. 

We've put a lot of work into our reading project for primary schools. School administrators in Kamuli do not place enough emphasis on reading, as it's not examinable. So UDS has stepped in to provide books, train teachers and get children reading. And it's working! 

Children show off their new books from UDS

Teachers in one of the schools involved told us that younger children, who have benefitted from our help, are reading better than the older children, who sadly missed out on the reading project. 

We started off in two primary schools, giving them 158 books each. And we trained four teachers in library and book management.Now four schools are involved - not only do they have extra books, including dictionaries, but they run reading events and clubs And classes stage "reading aloud" sessions, which helps the children build their confidence.

Rose, a teacher who is in charge of reading at Bezzallel Primary School, told us this: " Since we were given books last year, we have seen a tremendous change in our pupils, they can now read and write in English. Apart from that they have also developed the habit of reading on their own. This has never happened before, pupils are now self-driven, and we no longer need to force them to read during their free time."

Reading aloud in class builds confidence

The students can borrow books to take away and read in their spare time - and the teachers report that they are doing so, with enthusiasm, and at their own initiative.

The principle of Kasambira Public Day and Boarding School told us: "‘Our prayers are being answered, we have been crying out for this for a long time."

With such swift progress being made in such a short time, this project has really proved its worth. With your support, we can make it bigger and better in the coming year.  Just £5 would buy two reading books for a class which would help children get the start they need in learning to read.   Text UDSL14 £5 to 70070 to donate to UDS and make a difference today. 

A pupil shows his appreciation