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 of impact.

Here, along the edges of the Bwindi Impenetrable Forest, DIG has adapted our approach to serve two 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 Physical Disabilities – Due to the rugged terrain, poor transportation, community neglect and stigma, the barriers for people living with physical disabilities to have healthy, productive lives are exponentially increased.

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.

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

Current Programs

Forest Conservation & Food Security for the Batwa

People Living with Physical Disabilities & Community Allies

DIG's Uganda Team

Gloria

Uganda Country Director

Gloria is the Country Director for the Uganda DIG program. After graduating with a diploma in business from the Uganda College of Commerce in December 2017, she joined the DIG team as a facilitator the next month. Using lessons her mother taught her from childhood, Gloria’s skill and knowledge of organic agriculture made her a great teacher. Her ability to engage communities personally, commitment to high quality work, and strong leadership at staff meetings made her a standout choice for coordinator. She has seen 20 groups through farmer field sc hools and she is motivated to continue expanding the reach of the program to more communities

Jane

Program Assistant

Jane is the program assistant, directly supporting the Country Director and facilitators. Jane received government training in organic agriculture in 2009. She comes from one of the communities DIG serves and maintains an impressive home garden. Jane uses her network and good will within the community to serve both the Batwa groups and people living with disabilities there.

Sylivia

Facilitator with the Batwa

Sylivia is DIG’s newest team member, having j oined July 2019. Sylivia has a certi ficate in Agriculture from Kisoro Technical Institute . She also was a vast amount of experience in sustainable agriculture through part of Mutolele Hospital’s Education Training Centre . Sylivia previously worked as a volunteer at the hospitals’ garden, whe re she used to lead trainings for children during the weekends

Amos

Facilitator with the Batwa

After graduating with a certificate in agriculture, Amos joined DIG in 2018 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

Facilitator with People Living with Disabilities

Formerly a teacher within the community, Pacras joined DIG in 2010. While working with several groups he is especially involved with our programs serving people living with physical disabilities. He uses his talents as an educator to support community trainings and adminstrative work.

Roy Arineitwe

Facilitator with People Living with HIV/AIDS

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 2017, Roy joined DIG as a local facilitator serving PLWHA.

Andrew

Monitoring, Evaluation & Learning Officer

A farmer since age 12, Andrew joined DIG in 2019. He comes from a community DIG serves and recently studied Crop Production and Management at the University level. He has used DIG to advance his own learnings and strengthen the DIG training experience for people living with disabilities. He also managesDIGs data system and has received an internationally recognized certificate in Permaculture Design.

News from the Field: Uganda

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.

Income Generation

The MBA Aggies Sponsorship Garden

September 27, 2021

Community Transformation

A Milestone to Celebrate ~ DIG Reaches 50% of all Batwa in Uganda

March 2, 2021

Building trust, confidence, and hope is key to our program’s success; and no where is that more important than with the culturally displaced Batwa of southwest Uganda. DIG has made a long-term commitment to this uniquely marginalized community. The Batwa have experienced terrible poverty and poor health since their eviction from their ancestral lands in the early 1990s. (Read more about DIG’s work with the Batwa here.) After four years of engagement, DIG is celebrating having reached half the Batwa

Community Transformation

Serving the Most Vulnerable in Uganda

November 2, 2020

DIG prioritizes uniquely vulnerable populations that are often left out of other development opportunities. The Batwa, and People Living with Disability in Uganda are some of the most vulnerable groups we serve. See how we've adapted our program to restore health, wealth, and a sense of belonging.

The Landscape

DIG’s Commitment

Perspective

Current Programs

Forest Conservation & Food Security for the Batwa

People Living with Physical Disabilities & Community Allies

DIG's Uganda Team

Gloria

Uganda Country Director

Jane

Program Assistant

Sylivia

Facilitator with the Batwa

Amos

Facilitator with the Batwa

Pacras

Facilitator with People Living with Disabilities

Roy Arineitwe

Facilitator with People Living with HIV/AIDS

Andrew

Monitoring, Evaluation & Learning Officer

News from the Field: Uganda

Celebrating the Batwa’s Indigenous Foodways

The MBA Aggies Sponsorship Garden

A Milestone to Celebrate ~ DIG Reaches 50% of all Batwa in Uganda

Serving the Most Vulnerable in Uganda

Program Partners

Help Plant Seeds That Reap Life