Last year’s severe drought confirmed the need for secure water sources and irrigation in Ngora and Kamuli, for our tree and bamboo planting projects. We are trying to access funding for a solar pump and irrigation system, to be able to use river water on our land near the Nile in Kamuli. In Ngora a well is being dug and a hand pump will be used to water the proposed nursery site. Timber trees of many indigenous types will be raised for distribution and demonstration, as will fruit trees, especially mango, orange, jack-fruit and avocado as well as fodder trees for livestock, and trees of medicinal importance. For the new bamboo venture, we are very fortunate to have the advice of Andrew Ndawula Kalema, the Ugandan Coordinator for INBAR, the International Network for Bamboo and Rattan. Bamboo has huge potential, as yet untapped in Uganda, for replacing timber in construction, furniture and craft-making, fuel and charcoal making, and also food.
