The Landscape

Along the steep mountainsides of Southwest Uganda, DIG is working with a number of non-traditional farmer groups.

While the area is blessed with two rainy seasons per year, accessing water is a major obstacle. Collecting groundwater often involves traveling long distances. Extreme deforestation has left topsoil bare and, during heavy rains, hillsides are prone to landslides.

The communities DIG serves here are uniquely marginalized. While we primarily teach restorative agriculture to improve nutrition and enable livelihoods, our advocacy also fosters productive relationships between these farmer groups and the government, the broader community, and other resources providers in the region. The non-threatening nature of our program allows us to build trust while having a positive systemic influence.

DIG’s Commitment

In 2016, a generous grant from Together Women Rise (formerly Dining For Women) enabled DIG to expand our work to include the mountains of Southwest Uganda. What started as a pilot project has grown to have regional impact.

Here, along the edges of the Bwindi Impenetrable Forest, DIG has adapted our approach to serve three distinctly marginalized groups:

The Batwa, a tribe of conservation refugees – Exiled from their indigenous home in the early 1990s, with no tradition of agriculture, the Batwa had struggled to secure livelihoods and food security outside the forest. They have a life expectancy reported as low as 28 years old and are often the victims of physical and sexual violence.

People Living with Disabilities – Due to the rugged terrain, poor transportation, community neglect and stigma, the barriers for people living with disabilities to live healthy, productive lives are great.

People Living with HIV – HIV stigma in the region coupled with an isolating mountainous landscape create unique barriers to quality care for people living with HIV. DIG has learned this population is widely underserved and has chosen to prioritize HIV community groups in our expansion plan.

DIG has been working diligently to build trusting relationships with these unique communities, and we’ve adapted our programs to best meet their specific needs.

We are committed to growing our impact in this region for years to come and invite potential partners to contact us with interest.

Program Highlights

Forest Conservation & Food Security for the Batwa

People Living with Physical Disabilities & Community Allies

Perspective

“I’ve gained so many friends from supplying these vegetables, as well as an income. I feel pleased. People have come here and found good things in me and it makes me feel proud.”

~ Parfura, group leader for Nyakabungo Group

DIG's Uganda Team

Gloria

Uganda Country Director

Gloria is the Country Director for the Uganda DIG program. She first joined the DIG team as a facilitator in 2017 after graduating with a diploma in business from the Uganda College of Commerce. Using lessons her mother taught her from childhood, Gloria’s skill and knowledge of organic agriculture made her a natural teacher. She has grown along with DIG and now leads our Uganda programs with passion and vision, bringing robust technical knowledge, extensive community engagement experience, and a commitment to high quality work. Through it all, she maintains a love for the field and is always ready to get her hands dirty alongside her facilitators.

Jane

Lead Facilitator

Jane is the Lead Facilitator, directly supporting the facilitators with technical mentorship and ensuring top quality program delivery. Jane first joined DIG as a facilitator in 2018, after serving as the chairperson for her village and receiving training in organic agriculture. She brings extensive knowledge in agroecology, an ability to work in diverse environments, and a creative mindset to honing DIG’s curriculum and pioneering new approaches. She currently serves as the Women’s Councilor and Speaker for her town council and maintains an impressive home garden. She is a proud mother and grandmother, and passionate about serving future generations.

Amos

Farmer Field School Facilitator

Amos joined DIG in 2018 after graduating with a certificate in agriculture. He works primarily with the Batwa and excels at building trust through his friendly energy, good humor, and dedicated support. He is passionate about building a more equitable future for marginalized communities and goes above and beyond to ensure that his groups reach their goals. Amos is always ready to take on the next challenge and has helped pioneer DIG’s expansion into new areas and communities. He has a young daughter and loves teaching his family and neighbors how to grow nutritious, thriving gardens. and focuses his work with the Batwa, learning about the unique challenges they face and working at an individual and group level to support them in their progress.

Pacras

Indigenous Food Field School Facilitator

Pacras joined DIG as a facilitator in 2018 following a career in education. He primarily works with the Batwa and spearheads our Indigenous Forest Foods program. Pacras uses his teaching experience to lead engaging, interactive trainings and keep his group members motivated. He is also very patient and believes in forming a unique relationship with each and every farmer, often keeping in touch with groups long after they graduate. Pacras is a problem- solver and is always ready to talk through program challenges and develop creative solutions. He is a proud father of three boys and serves as a role model for his community.

Pafura

Indigenous Food Field School Facilitator

Pafura graduated from DIG's Farmer Field School in 2019. From the Batwa community of Nyakabungo, Pafura was the secretary for his group and quickly became an advocate for vegetable gardening. Pafura joined DIG as a Facilitator in 2022, leading our Indigenous Foods Preservation Project. In addition, Pafura represents the Batwa community through advocacy and human rights work with the United Organization for Batwa Development in Uganda (UOBDU). He is extremely dedicated to improving standards of living for the Batwa while preserving their unique culture and ancestral knowledge. He serves as a role model for his community and often shares his testimony with Batwa youth.

Roy

Farmer Field School Facilitator

Roy grew up farming in her village and has shown a passion for it from a young age. In 2000, she joined Compassion International as a store manager, where she worked for six years. She served seven years on her community's local council committee and in 2019, Roy joined DIG as a local facilitator serving PLWHA and PWDs. She has an exceptional ability to connect with farmers and often goes beyond trainings to offer psychosocial support, particularly for people living with HIV. She loves learning and is always eager to continue expanding her technical expertise. She is a mother and grandmother and has taught all of her neighbors how to garden.

Apollo

Farmer Field School Facilitator

Apollo grew up helping his father with his fruit tree business and graduated with a diploma in Agriculture. Previous to joining DIG, he was leading the family business and teaching agriculture at various schools. He became a facilitator in 2022 and works primarily with people living with disabilities. He is very hardworking and takes a patient, compassionate approach with farmers. Apollo also brings valuable knowledge and innovations to the team, and is always ready to spearhead new projects and initiatives.

Andrew

Farmer Field School Facilitator / Monitoring, Evaluation & Learning Officer

A farmer since age 12, Andrew joined DIG in 2019 after graduating with a degree in Crop Production and Management. He also received an internationally recognized certificate in Permaculture Design from Mainsprings, Tanzania. He splits his time between serving as a facilitator for groups of people with disabilities and managing DIG’s Monitoring and Evaluation processes. His robust technical knowledge in agroecology is an asset to the team. He has a thriving permaculture garden at his home and is father to a young daughter.

Sostine

Farmer Field School Facilitator

Sostine joined DIG as a facilitator in early 2023, after graduating with a degree in in Land Use Planning and Management from Kabale University. He is passionate about mitigating soil erosion and landslides in the Kigezi region through sustainable agriculture, and previously hosted radio talk shows promoting climate resilient practices. He primarily works with groups of people living with disabilities near his home community. He has studied organic methods extensively and loves putting his knowledge to practice in the field.

Stories from the Field: Uganda

Community Transformation

Growing Indigenous Forest Foods with the Batwa

June 20, 2023

Many Batwa youth couldn't access their ancestral forest foods until DIG started working with the elders to grow them in their gardens. Today people are coming from all over the area to try these nutritious fruits and vegetables and learn how to grow them right outside their doors.

Income Generation

It’s All About the Grandchildren

November 18, 2022

Serina's joy is hosting people in her home. Her DIG garden has enabled her to not only offer her guests beautiful meals when they visit, but she's also become an important resource for fresh diverse produce in her community.

Climate Resilience

DIG’s Farmer Field School

October 26, 2022

DIG's foundational program prioritizes uniquely marginalized people. They learn to grow nutrient-rich gardens using regenerative agriculture as a way of improving theirs and their family's nutrition, food security, and income.

Climate Resilience

Celebrating the Batwa’s Indigenous Foodways

November 2, 2021

DIG's journey with the Batwa is only beginning. We have so much still to learn from this remarkable community. Together, we are embarking on a discovery project to identify and cultivate the Batwa's indigenous forest fruits and vegetables in their gardens.

The Landscape

DIG’s Commitment

Program Highlights

Forest Conservation & Food Security for the Batwa

People Living with Physical Disabilities & Community Allies

Perspective

DIG's Uganda Team

Gloria

Uganda Country Director

Jane

Lead Facilitator

Amos

Farmer Field School Facilitator

Pacras

Indigenous Food Field School Facilitator

Pafura

Indigenous Food Field School Facilitator

Roy

Farmer Field School Facilitator

Apollo

Farmer Field School Facilitator

Andrew

Farmer Field School Facilitator / Monitoring, Evaluation & Learning Officer

Sostine

Farmer Field School Facilitator

Stories from the Field: Uganda

Growing Indigenous Forest Foods with the Batwa

It’s All About the Grandchildren

DIG’s Farmer Field School

Celebrating the Batwa’s Indigenous Foodways

Program Partners

Help Plant Seeds That Reap Life