I chose to settle for farming and retired from my corporate job

Kakande can never look back at this point only the sky is the limit to his progress and love for farming which makes him more satisfied. He believes that the best choice he made was to retire from his ‘prestigious’ office job to join organic farming.

Driven by his passion for farming, Mr. Albert Kakande a KHEA Multiplier retired from his corporate job with one of the leading telecommunication companies as Human Resource Personnel in 2012 to pursue his dream of being a farmer at the age of 30.

Many of his colleagues failed to come to terms with the choice he had made and believed he was leaving prestige for discomfort while others thought it’s a joke that went too far. However, for the last six years now, Kakande has no regrets forever quitting his ‘prestigious’ job to join farming. Kakande is currently practicing Agroecology on his farm which is located in Mende, Wakiso district. After trying out to do both organic and inorganic farming, he saw the difference in the yields and costs of doing business.

“I had it at the back of my mind that organic farming was the best for the environment and crop yields, but I went with the bandwagon as this was what every other farmer I knew was doing,” said Kakande.

Through the Balandiza Kimeze Farmer’s Group which he is part, subscribed to Agency for Integrated Rural Development (AFIRD) where he was identified as a Multiplier under the Knowledge Hub for Organic Agriculture in Eastern Africa (KHEA) Project.

Kakande dreams of no other life as he has evolved more in skills, and a wide range of farmers networks all over the country, and abroad. He is now a prominent speaker on both local and international farmer’s forums.

Kakande has a demonstration urban farm garden that he uses to train farmers as a multiplier. As a result of the KHEA project, Kakande has also been able to create an association called Mende Agroecological Group (MEMAGO) which plans to manufacture organic products branded with the ‘MEMAGO’ label. This he believes will help all the farmers in the association through the KHEA project by creating market for the products.

This group was inspired by various multipliers from various member groups to create an organization that not only teaches Agroecology interventions but also to have love for their work.

Additionally, Kakande prides a lot in being a part of the changing society promoting Agroecology. He believes he has become a role model to his society and his health has been transformed. As an ecosystem enthusiast, he claims that the ecosystem is interdependent thus healthy soil means healthy plants thus nutritious food for our bodies and the environment.

Kakande can never look back at this point only the sky is the limit to
his progress and love for farming which makes him more satisfied. He believes that the best choice he made was to retire from his ‘prestigious’ office job to join organic farming.

For more information visit; https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j9kBXeafjoo&t=5s

Success story collection – done by Ezra Kalule – KHEA Project Officer – PELUM Uganda,

Edited, reviewed&uploaded by Magino Pamella-KHEA Communications Officer-PELUM Uganda and Biovision Africa Trust Kenya

Author: Pamella Magino

Ms. Magino Pamella joined Participatory Ecological Land Use Management (PELUM) Uganda on 1st October 2021 as a Communications Officer for the KCOA-KHEA Project. She comes with over 9 years’ experience as a Communications and Marketing professional in the area of Public Relations, Business Development and Marketing. Pamella offers her clients a visionary and holistic approach to developing communication strategies that are both effective and efficient. Pamella holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Mass Communication majored in Public Relations and a Certified Member of the Public Relations Association Uganda a recognized umbrella body of all private and public Public Relations professionals, Communication Specialists, Brand Managers, Mass Communication & other related disciplines’ in Uganda. She previously worked with different organizations; The Nile Basin Initiative Secretariat Entebbe, Victoria University Kampala –Uganda, MK Publishers Limited, Monitor Publications Limited, School Times Newspaper, Prime Radio, Africa Youth Leadership Forum, League of Young Professionals Uganda, Volunteer Evolution Arica, Eliham Girl Child charity house.