Building food security in Uganda's Nakivale Settlement

In Nakivale Refugee Settlement, southwestern Uganda, mothers like Riza walk miles daily searching for food. A refugee who fled conflict in the Democratic Republic of Congo after losing her husband and son, Riza represents thousands facing an impossible choice: survive on dwindling aid or farm land without the skills or resources to succeed.

Through Youth Initiative for Community Empowerment (YICE) Uganda, we're transforming this reality. We teach refugee and rural farming communities regenerative agriculture—organic food production, water harvesting, composting, and climate-smart techniques—while building financial literacy and savings groups.

The impact is remarkable. Within six months, families harvest their first vegetables. By year one, degraded plots become thriving farms with healthy soil and fruit trees, producing food even during droughts. Communities earn income from surplus crops, children eat more nutritiously, and refugees and local farmers build peace through shared prosperity.

What began as a response to hunger has become a movement toward dignity and resilience. YICE now partners with local leaders, volunteers, and community groups across Kassanda District and Nakivale, proving that when people lead their own transformation, lasting change takes root—literally and figuratively.