Tribert Rujugiro Ayabatwa’s approach to corporate social responsibility (CSR) in Northern Uganda continues to empower communities to uplift themselves. Ayabatwa’s CSR in this case is based on food security, income-generation, afforestation and access to clean water.
1. FOOD SECURITY
Ayabatwa’s company based in Northern Uganda established the Arua Organic Agricultural Centre (AOAC) which demonstrates to communities best practices in food production.
Crucially, AOAC teaches farmers continuous farming even where rains are scarce. Solar-powered irrigation is now operational, which permits the growing of over 15 different food crops.
A key aspect is to keep these crops well mulched helping the soil to retain more moisture, keeping the temperature low and increasing the soil fertility.
Overall, encouraging and supporting farmers not only to improve food security but also to generate incomes is central. For example, a small farm can produce more than required to sustain a family. By adopting good agricultural practices farmers produce excess food thereby helping to improve Uganda’s food security.
2. INCOME-GENERATION
Farmers are continuously sensitized to expand their income portfolio and not depend only on cash crops. These are several initiatives in this regard. In the case of bee-keeping, 9 apiaries were installed in all regions where farmers learn best practices in bee-keeping. Second, farmers are assisted to grow their own mini forests. A small forest can produce enough wood for domestic consumption and provide extra income every year by selling construction material and charcoal.
3. AFFORESTATION
In the area of afforestation, 2.4 tree seedlings per year are given to farmers free of charge. Farmers are taught that tree planting goes together with cash crop growing. Tobacco. Native tree species and fruit trees are supplied to the farming communities.
4. PROVIDING CLEAN WATER SOURCES TO COMMUNITIES
Shallow wells are constructed for communities – providing clean water access to over 15,000 people in the Arua region. This also ensures that children don’t travel long distances to fetch water from rivers thereby undermining their education and their future.
Tribert Rujugiro Ayabatwa and his companies remain fully committed to the CSR path they have practiced over the years, namely, giving a hand to local communities as they lift themselves from poverty.