From One Nursery Bed to a Thriving Community

In 2018, a small group of refugee farmers and local residents in Kyebitaka village gathered with a shared concern: how to address environmental land degradation while improving household food security for displaced families. What began as a single community tree nursery bed operated by the Mukarange Community Tree Nursery Association (MCTNA) has today grown under IGRAO into an integrated agricultural livelihood program managing 7 active community fish ponds, Matooke banana plantations, and local tree seedling distribution.

Starting from the Ground Up

When Mukarange Community Tree Nursery Association first began, land access in Kyangwali Refugee Settlement was strictly constrained. Farmers worked with limited hand tools, raising indigenous tree seedlings to supply local households interested in agroforestry and windbreak planting around homesteads.

Recognizing that environmental conservation succeeds only when paired with immediate household self-reliance, IGRAO integrated MCTNA’s nursery operations into the broader Shalom Sustainable Agricultural Initiative in Africa (SGA). This expansion introduced small-scale fish farming and banana crop cultivation alongside nursery operations.

Milestones Achieved (2018 to 2026):

• Established 7 community-managed fish ponds supplying fresh protein to settlement children twice weekly.
• Cultivated 8 Matooke banana plantation blocks providing food staple security for participating families.
• Trained over 200 refugee and host community members in nursery grafting, soil conservation, and VSLA micro-credit.

Today, the Kyebitaka farm hub is an active learning site where local farmers, women’s groups, and youth learn practical agronomy. By proving that small-scale community plots can deliver food security and environmental protection, IGRAO continues to expand sustainable self-reliance across Kyangwali Settlement.