agriculture 5 June 2026 Daily Monitor (Uganda)
Kigezi Residents Embrace Kitchen Gardening for Enhanced Food Security and Savings
In the Kigezi region, women are adopting kitchen gardening to cut down on household expenses for vegetables and improve food security. This initiative, supported by the Common Ground Project, not only provides fresh produce but also generates income through surplus sales. Source: https://www.monitor.co.ug/uganda/news/national/kigezi-turns-to-kitchen-gardening-for-food-security-5486476
Residents in Kabale, Kisoro, and Rubanda districts are increasingly turning to kitchen gardens as a practical solution to reduce their daily spending on vegetables. These small-scale gardens, cultivated close to homes, are yielding fresh produce for meals and improving household finances.
Ms. Innocent Kyarisiima, a leader from the Nyamiyaga-Kaforero community, reported that about 100 individuals have embraced this practice, facilitated by the Common Ground Project. “I used to spend about Shs50,000 monthly to buy vegetables… After establishing the kitchen garden… I now save the money for buying other manufactured household items,” she shared.
Beyond savings, the initiative is seen as a way to reduce domestic friction and malnutrition. Ms. Loyda Tushabe, another community leader, highlighted the challenges of water scarcity during dry seasons but expressed optimism that with support for irrigation or water harvesting, consistent production could be achieved.
Mr. Gilvazio Byaruhanga noted a positive impact on household finances, stating, “After my wife established a kitchen garden at our home one year ago, I immediately started saving the money I used to spend on buying vegetables.” He plans to reinvest these savings into expanding their farming activities.
Mr. Rogers Mfitumukiza from the Common Ground Project explained that the kitchen garden concept was introduced following a 2023 survey that identified widespread poor nutrition and limited incomes due to suboptimal farming practices. To date, approximately 40,000 households across the Kigezi Region have been trained, with role model farmers acting as Integrated Farm Trainers to disseminate modern techniques.
To ensure the sustainability of the project, the Common Ground Project is providing water harvesting tanks and improving water spring access. They are also connecting farmers with agro-input dealers and seed companies to enhance skills in disease control, seed selection, and overall crop management, thereby boosting household food security and income generation.