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October 5, 2023 39Views 2Reactions 0Comments 4.5
How JESE is Promoting Nutrition in Rwenzori

Joint Effort to Save the Environment (JESE) over the years has been engaging farming households in Kabarole, Kyenjojo and Kamwenge to improve incomes and nutrition security through dairy farming with a focus on zero grazing. To address the nutrition challenges in the region, JESE has also focused on engaging and supporting the primary schools and vulnerable youth in Fort Portal City to implement horticultural activities.

Our Work on Horticulture with Primary Schools  

Horticulture is unique to JESE and has created opportunities to engage young boys and girls and patrons in the primary schools to ensure school environment supports both health, wellbeing and learning about safe food production and consumption both at school and in their homes. 

This intervention has increased the children’s nutrition and knowledge among young children, attitude and practices to optimize their healthy lifestyle by encouraging them to eat healthiy and stay physically active, demonstrating practices for safe production and pupils’ interaction and discussion on nutrition and safe foods through debates.

The intervention has created opportunities especially in the new government curriculum for school teaching to link the theory and practical lessons using the set demonstrations.

Members of Nyakagongo Primary School Agriculture Farming Club (Left ) with members of the farming club of Kagote Primary School Agricultrue farming club weeding their demonstration garden (Right)

Our Work on Horticulture with Refugee Households

JESE work with refugee households in Kyaka II refugee settlement to improve incomes, food and nutrition security. Currently, JESE is engaging 1,000 refugee households in horticulture using the key hole method (see photos below).

A beneficiary refugee household in Kyaka II refugee settlement

Our Work on Horticulture with Youth

JESE supports vulnerable youth in horticulture through urban farming to create employment for the youth, improving livelihoods and strengthening sustainable food systems. JESE is currently supporting 200 vulnerable youth in Fort Portal city to use small spaces in growing and management of horticultural products including sukuma wiki, onions, cabbages, spinach, zucchini, beetroot and amaranthus among others.

Youth undergoing training in horticulture (left) with a youth supported in urban farming (Right)

Our Work on Dairy with Small Holder Farmers

JESE supports small holder farmers to integrate livestock (dairy) in their farming systems. Currently, JESE is working with 450 households in Kicwamba in Kabarole district under this intervention to enhance incomes and nutrition security at household level. JESE is using this as a complementary interaction between the livestock and crops whereby the dairy units are able to provide manure to the farm to enhance soil fertility and crop remains as fodder for the animals and for nutritional purposes at the household.

Members of beneficiary households in Kicwamba under the Mpanga Super Farmers Programme that have been supported with zero grazing units
October 5, 2023 14Views 0Reactions 0Comments
Twikirize Medius: My story as a community Leader



Through the work of JESE, I became civically empowered. When I was mobilising and forming groups, many people embraced it and were happy to join because I convinced them that it would work out. I later contested to be the District Woman Councilor and was elected unopposed both at party primaries and general elections.

There was no other woman who dared to challenge me and this really encouraged me. I was successful because of hard work, diligence, mentoring and support of JESE.

My involvement with women groups and community voluntary work endeared me to the people, resulting in my election as women leader at the Local Council.

I have used my position and women’s groups as platforms to influence the government to provide safe
and accessible water through construction of boreholes and protected springs. I am glad that the burden of moving long distances to fetch water has been relieved for women and children.

I was trained in the VSLA Approach by JESE and assigned to share this knowledge and approach with fellow women. After successfully mobilising women for natural resources conservation, I challenged them
to begin thinking about saving money alongside the duty and passion to conserve the environment.

While women expressed fear about saving money because they had no clear source of income, I thought to myself and consulted other women about the idea of making crafts from the material resources available in the wetlands. The idea came so strongly that we embraced it. After securing the source of income, the women mobilised for the VSLA and started saving every week.

Today, our SACCO is one of the biggest in Butunduzi/ Rwibale Villages.
In the VSLA training by JESE, I was introduced to making saving plans and upon return, I passed on the
knowledge to fellow women, whom I trained in making their own and as a result, each woman developed a saving plan and a vision map. The women began to work to achieve a shared vision of their homes.

Contact Us


Kitumba Cell,

P.o.Box. 728 Fort Portal

Western, Uganda

Tel: +256 772492109

Off: +256-483-425 253

Email: jese@jese.org

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