Another 20 acres purchased for KAASO!

One of the most significant projects we have done with KAASO over the past couple of years has been purchasing land in KAASO’s name to strengthen the school’s long-term sustainability.

In 2024, KAASO secured 9 acres of land at Kabaseke near Kyotera town. This year, we are absolutely over the moon to have been able to purchase a further 20 acres at Lwanga in Kabira village for KAASO, located just 1.5 kilometres from the school, thanks to our generous supporters.

The land at Lwanga is split into two pieces of 11.5 acres and 7.5 acres as shown by the diagram below. There was also a block of 1 acre owned by another landowner that we were able to secure as part of the same purchase.

Land at Lwanga

As part of the purchase process, a land survey was completed and Title documents secured to ensure that the land would be suitable for KAASO’s projects and that it would officially belong to them.

Both Lwanga and Kabaseke sites are being used to grow cash crops, particularly coffee, alongside food crops including bananas, cassava, maize and sweet potatoes.

At the Kabaseke site, coffee seedlings have been planted and intercropped with bananas, while cassava has been established around the boundaries. During the previous season, KAASO harvested 2.2 tonnes of beans and 3.4 tonnes of maize, generating substantial savings for the school. Water ponds created on the land have also enabled crops to survive dry periods successfully, and both the coffee and banana plants are thriving.

Dominic inspecting the coffee intercropped with beans at Kabaseke

At the Lwanga site, 6.7 acres have already been planted with coffee, with further expansion planned in the coming seasons. New planting areas are also being prepared for crops including maize, beans, passion fruit, watermelon and green peppers. Fencing work is currently underway, and importantly, this land will provide students with practical agricultural learning opportunities close to the school.

KAASO staff members working in the new Lwanga garden

Water tanks installed in the Lwanga garden

As KAASO continues to expand its coffee-growing programme, reliable access to water has become essential to protect crops during increasingly difficult dry seasons.

With support from Unity Is Strength, a full irrigation system has been installed in the garden, including water storage, pumps, pipes, sprinklers, and a water collection pond. This will help to ensure that crops can continue to thrive throughout the year, reducing the risks associated with unpredictable weather conditions.

Irrigation system installed at the Lwanga garden, May 2026

Enabling KAASO to purchase these gardens is reducing their reliance on expensive rented land while creating opportunities for education, food security and long-term community resilience.

Income-generating projects continue to grow

Alongside investment in land and agriculture, KAASO continues to strengthen a wide range of income-generating projects designed to support staff livelihoods, improve school sustainability, and build stronger connections with the local community.

These projects include brickmaking, pig farming, poultry keeping, coffee nurseries, livestock rearing, event equipment hire, and a staff microfinance scheme. Together, they are helping to create greater financial stability for both the school and the families connected to it.

The brickmaking project currently involves nine members of staff and has already produced over 63,000 bricks. As well as generating income, the project also provides employment opportunities for young people within the local community.

KAASO Brickmaking Project

The piggery and poultry projects continue to grow steadily, supplying food for the school while also generating profits through the sale of piglets, eggs, and chickens.

KAASO Poultry Project

One of the most successful initiatives has been the coffee nursery project, which expanded dramatically during 2025 from 6,000 seedlings to over 42,000. Thousands of seedlings have already been planted on school land or sold within the community, providing both environmental and economic benefits. KAASO hopes to continue expanding this work in the coming years, with a long-term vision of supporting students’ families through coffee growing projects at home.

KAASO students learning about the Coffee Nursery Bed

Additional initiatives, including goat and rabbit rearing, are also proving valuable educationally and socially, giving students practical experience and responsibility while supporting the needs of families from different backgrounds and faiths.

KAASO Goat Project

At the heart of many of these activities is the staff microfinance programme (the KAASO Staff Development Association), a revolving loan fund that enables staff members to access affordable financial support when needed. This scheme has become an important source of stability and encouragement for staff and has contributed significantly to improved staff retention at the school.

There are currently 17 active loans, which required a total of £6,630 in loan funds to be withdrawn to start the projects. So far, £2,580 has been repaid.

We won an award!

We were delighted to be nominated for an award in the 9th annual UK Enterprise Awards 2026. It is very exciting to announce that we have been recognised as the Ugandan Community Support Charity of the Year 2026!