THE LIVELIHOOD OF FAMILIES IN KABALE DISTRICT OF IKUMBA

SUBCOUNTY IN NYAMABALE VILLAGE

BY

MS. ASIIMWE JACQUILINE

08/ U/12883/EVE

A FIELDWORK REPORT SUBMITTED TO THE FACULTY OF ARTS

DEPARTMENT IN PARTIAL FULFILMENT OF THE AWARD OF BACHEALOR

OF DEVELOPMENT STUDIES

SEPTEMBER, 2009

DECLARATION

I, ASIIMWE JACQUILINE, do hereby declare that this is my original work and that it has

never been published and or submitted to any other institution of learning or university for an

award.

Signed:-------------------------------------------

Name: ASIIMWE JACQUILINE

Reg. No. -------------------------------------------

Date:------------------------------------------------

Submitted with the consent of the supervisor.

Signed:------------------------------------------------------

Date:---------------------------------------------------------

DEDICATION

This research would not have been possible without the support of so many people; in this

regard I dedicate this work to my entire family for supporting me.

Through this great work, I will never forget friends from School; Bob, Sophie, Rukia,

who made my life so well with great fun.

Lastly, I dedicate this work to mama for her generous contribution which made me

what I am today.

ACKNOWLEDGEMENT

This report has not been the product of my own effort alone, but of several persons whose

contribution I am pleased to acknowledge. First, I am grateful to my supervisor, MR.

Mugamba Joshua, for the time he spared to offer guidance during the assignment.

I also wish to thank ………….for accepting to sacrifice their little time to help me come out

with much more organized report. I will also choose to honour the great role played by my

mother Miss Nakandha Elizabeth the financial support she has offered in helping me produce

this report.

Lastly, I would also consider acknowledging the contribution of the House Holds I visited in

the field especially in accepting to sacrifice their time to avail me with the relevant information

needed to conduct the study which finally made it possible for me to come out with this report.

ABSTRACT

This study examines the livelihoods of families in Ikumba sub-county of Kabale district in

Mbarara Region.

The colonial and post colonial periods raise indisputable beliefs that the area of kabale is

suffering from the effects of overpopulation that will, should no interventions be made,

experience severe environmental damage to the serious detriment of its population (Uganda

Government 1999). And because the land is a densely populated area of intensive agricultural

production, land shortage has been perceived to be the major constraining factor of production

for many years. This has continuously put the livelihood of families in this area into bounds,

since they majorly depend on agriculture.

TABLE OF CONTENTS Declaration ……………………………………………………….i Dedication ……………………………………………………….ii Acknowledgement ………………………………………………iii Abstract ………………………………………………………….iv Table of contents …………………………………………………v CHAPTER ONE: INTRODUCTION Historical background ……………………………………………1 Background to the study …………………………………………2 Statement of the problem ……………………………………… 2 Objectives of the study …………………………………………..3 Scope of the study ……………………………………………….3 Significance of the study ………………………………………...3 Hypothesis ……………………………………………………….3 Research questions ………………………………………………4 Variables ……………………………………………………… 4 Operational definitions of variables ……………………………. 4 CHAPTER TWO: LITERATURE REVIEW Literature review …………………………………………………5 CHAPTER THREE: METHODOLOGY Research design …………………………………………………7 Study area ……………………………………………………….7 Study population ………………………………………………..7 Sample selection ………………………………………………...7 Data collection ………………………………………………….7 Data analysis ……………………………………………………8 CHAPTER FOUR: FINDINGS Introduction …………………………………………………….9 Activities carried out …………………………………………. 9 Table and graph (fig. 1&2) …………………………………….12 CHAPTER FIVE: SUMMARY AND RECOMMENDATIONS Summary ………………………………………………………..13 Conclusion …………………………………………………… 17

CHAPTER ONE

Introduction

1.1 Livelihood of families in ikumba of Kabale: A historical background.

This place is situated in Rubanda, Kabale, Uganda, its geographical coordinates are 1° 6' 58"

South, 29° 52' 10" East and its original name (with diacritics) is Ikumba. The mean annual

rainfall is 1000 mm. The murram road that cuts through the village is full of potholes and is

almost impassable during the rainy season. The village residents depend on a protected spring

in the neighboring village for drinking water and their children go to a primary school five

kilometers away.The district is made up of undulating hills with steep slopes. The nearest

health centre is located 10 kilometers away while the people depend on an open market for

their household needs.

The soils of Kabale are derived from the Karagwe-Ankolean series and are largely deep red

loam soils (Harrop 1960; Jameson 1970). Many of the valley bottoms were once papyrus

swamps, although most have been drained during the last 50 years, and are now cultivated or

used for pasture. Kabale has experienced an extremely long history of human settlement and

in-migration. Clearing of forests in the Kabale area started more that 4800 years ago, with

further clearing around 2200 years ago (Hamilton et al. 1986) and agriculture concomitant with

more permanent settlements was probably established around 2000 years ago (Taylor 1990;

Schoenbrun 1994). Kabale is densely populated, as a result of both in-migration over a

sustained period and high natural increase, and the population more than doubled between

1921 and 1959 (Lindblade et al. 1996 1998)

The main crops grown in Ikumba are sorghum, peas, beans and sweet potatoes. In addition

bananas, English potatoes, tobacco and vegetables are also grown. Sweet potatoes, eaten with

peas and beans, make the largest contribution to the diet. Sorghum is mainly grown for beer,

and in the past beer was also made from millet, although today millet is rarely grown. This is a

labour intensive agricultural system and most of this labour is that of women, a fact recognized

but given little attention by most colonial officials (Carswell 1996). Food crops, and peas and

beans in particular, have long been traded and Ikumba was intricately tied into wider flows of

salt and livestock in the region.

1.2 Background to the Study

Kigezi, in the south-western corner of Uganda, is a densely populated area of intensive

agricultural production. Land shortage has been perceived to be the major constraining factor

of production for many years. The region has a clear reputation of being an area suffering from

the effects of overpopulation that will, should no interventions be made, experience severe

environmental damage to the serious detriment of its population (Uganda Government 1999).

This report examines how agriculture being the major source of household income in Ikumba

Sub County has changed over a 50-year period and thus placed the livelihood of families to

their present standing.

1.3 Statement of the Problem

The colonial and post colonial periods raise indisputable beliefs that the area of kabale is

suffering from the effects of overpopulation that will, should no interventions be made,

experience severe environmental damage to the serious detriment of its population (Uganda

Government 1999). And because the land is a densely populated area of intensive agricultural

production, land shortage has been perceived to be the major constraining factor of production

for many years.

Despite the governmental concerns, which provide families in Ikumba with necessary

information and likely disaster to the area, the people have continued to live in the area with

their own means of livelihood characterized by diminishing household incomes, poverty, poor

infrastructure, few schools among others.

This has constantly placed the livelihood of families here at stake. A further look at the

scenario pauses fears that should nothing be done, families are in trouble. But how the families

have survived these 50 over years is hard to explain in the midst of all these predictions.

1.4 Objectives of the Study

1.4.1 General Objectives

To investigate the livelihood of families in Ikumba subcounty of Kabale district.

1.4.2 Specific Objectives

• To investigate the effectiveness and efficiency o f activities carried out by households

in Ikumba Sub County with the view improving on their livelihoods.

• To examine the challenges encountered by households in carrying out its activities.

• To suggest recommendations on how to improve the livelihood of families in the area

of Ikumba.

1.5 Scope of the Study

The study took place in Ikumba Sub County of Kabale district, specifically in busharara

village. The study population comprised the 20 households all located in the same village.

1.6 Significance of the study

• The study will enable the policy makers to design more strategies which can help

promote livelihood of households even in areas that are by nature in a threat.

• The study will enhance the researcher’s skills in conducting research.

• These findings will provoke other researchers to carry out further investigation in the

related areas of the study.

• It is hoped that the results of this study will add to the existing literature on the subject

with such provocative thoughts that warrant governmental attention.

• The study will be important for development partners, civil society organizations and

other players; they will find it very useful and a new chapter in enhancing good

livelihood of households in the country.

1.7 Hypothesis

• Challenges encountered by households as they carry out their activities.

• Efficiency and effectiveness by households that leads to better livelihood.

• The implementation of recommendation that promotes better livelihood.

1.8 Research Questions

• Are there challenges faced by households while carrying out their activities to ensure

better livelihood in Ikumba?

• How effective and efficient are the households in carrying out their activities to

promote better livelihood of families in Ikumba of Kabale district?

• Are there any considerable recommendations as regards the households in Ikumba in

implementation of better livelihood of families?

1.9 VARIABLES

Challenges of households … Difficulties in implementing better livelihood.

Effectiveness and efficiency ………promotes better livelihood.

Implementation of recommendations …… promotes better livelihood.

2.0 OPERATIONAL DEFINITION OF VARIABLES

“Challenges” in this study refers to difficulties faced by the households at work.

“Difficulties in implementing better livelihood” refers to the absence of a favorable

condition to help households carry out their activities easily.

“Effectiveness and efficiency” refer to the ability of the households to carry out their

activities to their very betterment.

“Better livelihood” refers to the improved state of household incomes.

“Implementation of the recommendations” refers to taking positive actions and

acceptance of the findings in order to enforce the principles of better livelihood in

Ikumba Sub County

2.0 CHAPTER TWO: Literature Review

Many scholars have since colonial times written on the wide and narrow of factors affecting

Ikumba and Kabale in general. Most of the work shows that the area is facing degradation due

to deforestation. These works have shown that embedded within Western interpretations of the

livelihood of people is the perception that local people and communities are responsible for

degradation due to poverty, increasing population sizes, poor farming practices, and

irresponsible extraction of natural resources, but that these perceptions are often false (Leach

and Mearns 1996; Dove 1986).

Rebecca Ashley however argues that one era’s solutions become the next era’s problems. Her

findings significantly enhance our understanding of the colonial influence in Africa, and may

help to minimize support for the belief that African agriculturalists are primarily to blame for

the current state of their environments. (Rebecca Ashley, Yale University 2005)

Grace Carsewell says Kabale is just an example of an area where there has been ‘remarkable

historical continuity in received wisdom about environmental change. But the issues actually

facing the area are; the high population density and the nature of the terrain in Kabale district

that have led to excessive soil erosion. There is continuous cultivation of land without rest

leading to soil degradation and exhaustion thus soils have low values of infiltration and soil

water retention capacity. The end result of this has been highly leached soils that have

consequently lost fertility. All these problems have been aggravated by land fragmentation and

inadequate soil conservation measures such as terracing, mulching, contour strip planting,

especially on hill slopes.

Predictions of major environmental catastrophe, food deficit and the un sustainability of the

agricultural system have not manifested themselves. Rather, it appears that the district has

successfully avoided such problems and has absorbed an increasing rural population. These

two factors taken together would lead us to suggest that local farmers have found ways of

managing their land in such a way that productivity is maintained, whilst serious degradation is

avoided. This could explain the reasons why the livelihood of families in the area has somehow

fallen to unspeakable levels as the rural people go in a bid to help themselves out of the

“impending catastrophes” as predicted. The people of Ikumba have in many ways diversified

their activities to improve on their livelihood.

This paper thus shows that despite the colonial and post colonial predictions of disaster

concerning the region, it has continued to survive.

3.0 CHAPTER THREE: Methodology

3.1 Research Design

The study is purely a case study research. And it employed both qualitative and quantitative

methods. Under qualitative method information were derived using individuals in depth

interviews.

3.2 The Study Area

The study took place in Ikumba Sub County of Kabale district, specifically in busharara

village.

3.3 The Study Population

The study population comprised the 20 households all located in the same village

. These sample population was chosen because of the knowledge they have in relation to the

study. This population was appropriate since they handled the issues of the households.

3.4 Sample Selection

The sample was derived using both simple random and purposive sampling. These methods are

chosen because the study population is small and clearly defined. All households were in the

same village so they became the target population.

A total of 20 informants were used in this study. 6 women and 14men. This number has been

chosen because the study will concentrate on the livelihood of families in Ikumba of Kabale

district.

3.5 Data Collection

Data was collected from primary sources using interview guides and questionnaires with both

closed and open ended questionnaires. Residents of Ikumba sub county gave views on the level

of there efficiency and effectiveness, challenges encountered in the effort to promote better

livelihood in the sub county.

Some data was collected from secondary sources including records, annual reports,

recommendations, journals and handouts. Relevant documents from library searches containing

information related to the topic were used.

3.6 Data Analysis

The quantitative data collected were presented in a table. It contains responses expressed in

percentages. This was tested statistically to establish whether there had been a significant effort

by residents in enhancing better livelihood in Ikumba. Analysis of the qualitative data was

done under the themes of the study and was descriptive as well as narrative. Quotes which

substantiate the results were also used.

4.0 CHAPTER FOUR: FINDINGS

4.1 Introduction: The total number of people in the village is 737 and there are 107 households in the village.

And has two dry seasons, (December - February and June - August) and two wet seasons,

(March - May and September to November). Mean annual rainfall is 82.9 mm. The mean

annual temperature is 16.7° C.

Of the 20 households I visited separately, their responses were quite helpful in getting the

findings. The questions that the researcher asked were meant to determine what activities the

households carry out to improve on the livelihood of their families.

4.2 Activities carried out in Nyamabale village in Ikumba Sub County

4.2.1 Cattle keeping Grazing is not a big activity and it is done on any piece of land that is not cultivated. This area

also is not suitable for cattle keeping because of steep slopes and naturally the people are not

pastorists. Only few own a number of cows, goats, sheep which are kept mainly for paying

dowry and for selling during critical times of need like paying Poll-tax, slaughter for traditional

sacrifices; or in the near past for paying children's school fees. Five families rear their cattle

together because they are related. Each one knows the number of cattle he or she owns. Mugisha being

the eldest son is the head of the other four families, his inclusive.

Mugisha explains that besides providing ghee, milk, and meat which they take to the market and sell so

that they are able to take their children to school, the cattle at times get infected with disease and

transporting them for treatment is a major problem because the distance from home to the medical

centre is about 21/2 km -The costs for hiring trucks are every high approximately 200,000/=.

The rest of the Households had 2 or 1 animals reared in their compound and others in the grazing lands.

4.2.2 RABBIT REARING Rabbit rearing is on a very small scale. Three households carry out rabbit rearing, which they have

continually used first for home consumption and also in certain times when one gets lucky, they could

be sold to make some money. Karuhanga's family is one of the households that carry out rabbit keeping

and he explains that one of the problems they face is lack of medicine. This could be partly contributed

by the lack of such facilities as veterinary doctors in the area due to its inaccessibility.

4.2.3 Piggery Piggery is one of the other activities carried out and although it could do so much to improve on the

livelihood of families in the area, if carefully considered it could turn out to be one of the most

productive activity because of the cheap costs involved.

Mrs Kachwamba one of the people carrying out this say that the major challenge they face in piggery is

poor hygiene which has many times led to loss of animals. And because of this, she has to work so hard

to carter for them, so that she is able to for provide for her family with basic need and she is a female

headed house hold.

4.2.4 Lumbering

This though nowadays much criticized by both policy makers and environmentalists, it is

another activity that goes along way in improving the livelihood of families in this area. The

households that carry out the carry out the felling of trees are able to make furniture and shades for

shelter both for domestic and commercial purposes

4.2.5 Crop Farming Ikumba Sub County’s soils are derived from both volcanic and pre-Cambrian rocks.

Therefore, they have moderate to high capacity of productivity. Yields good crops of sorghum,

peas, millet, and beans; but also allows for; onions, Irish potatoes, Rice, banana growing, coffee and

tea growing. In fig. 1 and Table 1 we see that this is the major activity carried out by households in the

village.

Visiting one Matsiko who is carrying out crop farming on a large scale; the student ascertained farmers

in the area face two major challenges namely; bad weather and pests.

He added that though the land is hilly, the residents have utilized the idea of terracing which is

helping out a lot in rain seasons.

4.2.6 Poultry Poultry keeping is another activity carried out in the area, though its important to note that the way or

methods used here are very local and that the village has no clear poultry farms. Afew house holds keep

poultry simply to get eggs and as food. When poultry fall sick catch a cold they easily die because they are not exposed to good methods of

maintaining poultry or lack of experienced professionals to treat the poultry

4.2 7 Brick making

Brick making in Nyamabale village has not yet become partly because of the poverty situation that

forces the families to continue living in mad and grass thatched houses with just countable families

living in permanent houses. This leaves them with the choice of making bricks only for commercial

purposes.

One household carries out brick making which they use to build houses or build small shades.

Brick makers face a challenge of weather changes especially during rainy seasons, they make loses due

to destructions of bricks by heavy rains.

4.2.8 Transport

Talking about transport, the murram road that cuts through the village is full of potholes and is almost impassable during the rainy season. Their children have to go to a primary school five kilometers away which makes everything hard. I used a bodaboda to get to Ikumba sub county. The presence of the motor bicycles is to ease transport

but some times also expensive because they asked for 15000/= to get to lkumba. Boda Boda provide services to individuals who use them hence an activity

4.2.9 Leisure Individuals spend time drinking local brew, or sit in their compounds and gather one by one gossiping

about each other, others visit their friends, but Mr. Karuhanga explains that people in the village are not

really into leisure activities. As some go to fetch water, of recent Mr. Karuhanga told us of an incident

of ladies gossiping and its out thus limiting socializations.

4.2.10 Table showing activities carried out by HH in Nyamabale village of Ikumba Sub County

Activities Crop farming

Piggery Poultry Lumbering Rabbit keeping

Brick making

Cattle

No. of house holds

20 3 9 8 6 1 20

Fig. 1

chart showing activities carried out by families in Nyamabale village

0

5

10

15

20

25

Crop farming Piggery Poultry Lumbering Rabbit keeping Brick making Cattle

activities

num

ber o

f HH

No. of house holds

Fig. 2

CHAPTER FIVE

5.0 SUMMARY AND RECOMMENDATIONS Not many years ago, Nyamabale village of Ikumba subcounty was an area well endowed with

good climate and covered by plenty of vegetation of trees and papyrus swamps; plenty of water

in river valleys and swamps and above all deep fertile soils. Visitors called it the “Switzerland

of Africa”. But for the last 80 years or so, there has not been appreciable social and economic

transformation in the area. The endemic problems of high percentages of rural poor to cover all

population, inadequate incomes, under-nutrition, illiteracy and their attendant consequences of

high mortality rates and high child/adult ratio which implies a high consumer/earner ratio, have

not been solved.

Food shortages problem started way back in the 1920s with the influx of Banyarwanda into the

area. There was a great famine in 1927/28 caused by shortage of food produce in relation to the

big numbers of people to feed. The beginning of environmental degradation is also associated

with the coming of the Banyarwanda.

Forests were destroyed to give way to cultivation of food crops. Population increase was very

high. It is recorded that between 1931 and 1948, population increased by 17% during those 17

years. Again in 1994 to 1996, there was another devastating famine which claimed thousands

of lives.

The policy makers had started to respond to the problem of food shortages. The policy of soil

reclamation from the swamps was aimed at creating more land for food cultivation and to

relieve the already exhausted soils on the slopes.

Resettlement schemes were also initiated to move peasants from the heavily densely populated

areas

But all these measures did not solve the problems of food shortages and over-all backwardness.

What then, is to be done? In this paper we have pointed out some of the causes of food crisis. It

is possible now to prescribe some remedies. Yet with all these eventualities, there is still lack

of appropriate Government policies on food security and nutrition which are responsible for the

crisis.

Our task is, therefore, to ask the government to formulate policies that will avert the disaster.

The reforms which we are proposing could go along way in helping the area if given high

priority by policy makers. These reforms proposals cover a wide range of activities, like land

use re-organisation, income generating programmes and structural measures necessary for the

development of the district.

5.1 LAND USE RE-ORGANISATION

The term “land use re-organisation” is used to refer to what is known in Economic theory - as

comparative Advantage”. The allocation of land for food production following a pattern

whereby production is maximised at relatively low cost with no adverse effect on the

ecology.23 The main objectives are to stimulate a surplus production for the market and to

secure permanent subsistence of the people by practising ecologically oriented agriculture.24

This means that people in various locations have special needs which are rooted in their

traditional know-how and can be adopted to new technologies. For example, the growing of

sorghum among the Bakiga is deeply rooted in their tradition. What can be done is to improve

the techniques of sorghum production to increase the yield. Sorghum can then be both a food

crop and a cash crop.

Another guiding principle behind land use re-organisation is both economic and political

whose basis aim is to devise maximum land use for the benefit of the masses of the population

and for trans-generation heritage. In this connection land use reorganisation must be preceded

by ideological Mobilisation of the masses along the following lines:-

One, the aim of land use re-organisation being to maximise Agricultural production; Two, to

raise incomes and the equitable distribution of these incomes; and

Three, to shape the political and social structures aimed at uplifting the general wellbeing of

the people. This type of education must be made because we are aware that land, its possession

and control is so intimately tied up with the peasants’ social life and land use re-organisation,

must also be intimately connected with the ideology of what the government desires that

society.

5.2 RE-SETTLEMENT

Before concluding this part, let us say something about re-settlement. During the research

process, most of the Administrators I discussed with on the problem of food shortage were

emphatic on re-settling people from Kabale district to other parts of

Uganda. This seems to be an immediate solution. But there are many obstacles involved which

would make the whole exercise is very difficult:

First, the Administrators are sharing the belief that land remains freely available for any

peasant who needs to grow crops or keep livestock, but it is becoming increasingly scarce.

There are many cases in some districts of ethnic violence whereby those whom we call settlers

have been violently evicted from their settlements by those who call themselves traditional

inhabitants. A case in point is in Bugerere County in Mukono district in 1986. The Baganda

(traditional inhabitants) wanted to evict the non-Baganda

(Settlers) Skirmishes ensued and called for Government intervention. Also in many parts of

Uganda land is now a crucial factor in socio-political development as large tracts of land are

privately owned by registration and land titles contained in the 1975 land reform decree.

Therefore, since a policy on resettlement requires existence of large areas of uninhabited and

fertile land. It is impossible to carry out a systematic resettlement. In short, this calls for a

national land reform to give the majority of the nation access to the land.

A second difficulty arises from the fact that resettlement policy has been the concern of no one

decision making body. Whether development, Ministry or planning unit. It has involved

District Administrators only who have no resources to effect a resettlement policy. This needs

a national approach. Thirdly, there is the problem of recruitment of settlers. Under normal

circumstances one would expect the young people to take the lead because they are energetic

and can easily adopt themselves to the new environment. But this would create an imbalance in

the population with the middle aged and elderly people staying behind. It becomes impossible

to develop the district.

5.3 THE NEED FOR STRUCTURAL TRANSFORMATION

The solution to land hunger and poverty calls for complete, alternation of the mode of

production, that is, development of the forces of production (land and people) and relations of

population (interaction of people in producing material wealth). The first necessitates complete

structural reforms of land tenure. The second requires a structural transformation of the

Economic base to create an integrated rural development. In this case there is urgent need to

create facilities for other activities both agricultural and non-agricultural. Establishment of

small local activities and organisations may be both the means and the pre-requisite for local

development. The key to successful agricultural development is proper utilisation of land and

improved agricultural techniques and technologies. The other factor is proper selection of crops

or crop diversification and properly organized markets.

On crop diversification, we have examples of crops that have gained access to the markets and

may be funded by some international organizations. The following examples are illustrative:

“Vegetable Production: this is one way of crop diversification. In China farmers used to grow

grains. Under the "Chinese rural Economy Boom" vegetables were adopted with the UNDP

support, the Beijing vegetable research centre, now breeds of the disease resistant vegetables

were developed, cucumber, cabbages, aubergine and tomatoes. These new breeds could also

withstand higher and lower temperatures. A vegetable production project which already has a

foundation under Kigezi vegetable growers cooperative union, could solicit international

support and even establish vegetable extraction industries.”

Fish farming: In Bangladesh, Fish ponds were introduced especially for the landless.

UNDP and UNCDF provided funds for dredging the ponds, buy fish fingerlings and tree

seedlings. The first harvest of fish brought US $ 1,200 to the villagers.

The cooperative was able to build six houses for the members who were landless and

homeless. They re-invested US $ 600 in rehabilitating other ponds. In Kabale

District, fish farming started in 1956. Quite a good number of peasants responded and opened

up fish ponds. In one parish (Karujanga parish) in Rubaya sub-county, Ndorwa County, there

were twenty fish ponds. In early 1960s, people could have regular fish on their meals. But for

reasons not yet investigated, this project was abandoned. Mr. Pio Byabagambi, who was the

supervisor at the time, stated that the government failed to pay the workers and many of then

left for other jobs. But since this was a self-help project with full support of the villagers, the

government, considering the need for proteins in the diet of the people, should not have

abandoned the project. It is now time to revive the project with the help of international

organisations like it is being done in Liberia under the UNDP support for self-help

development Programme in the village of Cavalla located in Maryland county.

Potatoes: The fourth important crop in Africa and Latin America after rice, wheat and maize.

Potatoes grow under a very broad range of conditions yield more food energy per hectare than

cereals. Potatoes have a high yield per unit of land area and are important as proteins and

vitamin source. In Kabale potatoes were being grown in the reclaimed swamps by the peasants

either individually or cooperatively, by groups, like Young Farmers of Uganda and National

Union of Youth Organization. The yield was more than enough to feed the schools, Hospital

and Kabale town. There was also a big surplus for the Kampala Markets. We have already

mentioned how this land was grabbed by the rich people who have introduced cattle rearing.

We have already recommended the land use re-organization of the area. Other types of crops

like beans, sorghum, wheat and millet were elaborated on in Chapter III and there is no need to

repeat them here. The main requirement is for the government to invest more in research to

continue improving the seeds and to control disease and pests. International

5.4 NON-AGRICUTURAL ACTIVITIES Concerning small non-agricultural activities, the establishment of these activities highly

depend on: feasibility studies, availability of local raw materials, the credit facilities in various

skills, individual initiatives and private/government organizations' support. There are other

non-agricultural activities which though associated with land use but require very little land

space should be encouraged: Poultry duckery, piggery and aquaculture. All these measures can

be achieved by people themselves. The people must be mobilized for self-reliance. Food

production targets must incorporate these social and infrastructure measures.

5.5 CONCLUSION In this paper we have explored in broad terms of poverty and backwardness, their causes and

especially those endemic factors that have brought about general deterioration of HH

production leading to the poor livelihood of families. Each of the factors could be analyzed

broadly again in the context of long term development of the area. Recommendations (land

tenure, creation of self-help activities both agricultural and non-agricultural) have been made.

These will go a long way in aiding Policy makers to speed up the formulation of policies

geared to implementation of the measures recommended for the overall development of the

district. It can be done!

References

African Highlands Initiative (AHI) C and D Uganda Team 1998 Natural resource management constraints and prospects in Kabale District. Unpublished report Kampala, Uganda November 1998

Carswell G 1996 African farmers in colonial Kigezi, Uganda 1930-1962: opportunity, constraint and sustainability Unpublished PhD thesis Department of History, SOAS, University of London

Forthcoming a Food crops as cash crops: the case of colonial Kigezi, Uganda Journal of African History

K. Lindblade, J.K. Tumahairwe, G. Carswell, C. Nkwiine and D. Bwamiki, ‘More People, More Fallow – Environmentally favorable land-use changes in southwestern Uganda’, (Report prepared for the Rockefeller Foundation and CARE International, 1996). G. Carswell, ‘African farmers in colonial Kigezi, Uganda, 1930-1962: Opportunity, Constraint and Sustainability’ (PhD, SOAS, 1997). National Environment Management Authority (NEMA), State of the Environment Report for Uganda 1998 (Kampala, 1999), 55.