Kaharo Tree Planting and Food Multiplication Programme (KTPFM)

The Reverend Canon Guster Bashaija was one of the original connections that led to the start of Afrinspire as a charity.  He now lives and works in the Kaharo Parish of the Church of Uganda and runs the Kaharo Tree Planting and Food Multiplication programme. 

Food Multiplication
A recent problem in Uganda is the arrival of ‘banana wilt’.  This disease is decimating the banana plantations.  The plants are already dying in Kaharo, and at some stage the government will force every banana plant to be destroyed.  It will affect every banana grower in Uganda.  This is a national disaster unfolding because Matoke, a green banana native to Uganda and similar to plantain, is the staple food of many people and a cashcrop providing an income for many thousands of people across the country.  The strategy of the Kaharo Tree Planting and Food Multiplication Project is to plant and cultivate many seed potatoes.  The aim is to have seed potatoes ready for the people of Kaharo so that when the bananas are cut down they can be supplied with seed potatoes for planting.  To help KTPFM in its plan a grant of 1,000,000 Uganda shillings (£358) has already been given so that potato multiplication could begin immediately. 

Tree Planting
The idea for tree planting came about after the tree shortage was noticed in Kaharo. This was evidenced by a carpenter having to move to follow new sources of timber.  Thousands of small trees are being taken from seed beds into small potting bags and then nurtured. Guster uses his knowledge of grafting to bring forward the first fruiting time for trees to about three years. Trees currently in the nursery are 400 Apple, 1,200 passion fruit and 300 avocado for food to consume and sell, 1,500 carrriandra for nitrogen fixing and for timber, and 50,000 pine patula for timber. Trees are also used for firewood, making brooms and furniture or to prevent soil erosion and improve land management. The first trees have been distributed in three localities. The tree planting programme goes alongside education and environmental awareness so that each homestead improves its quality of life and management of its surroundings. In rural Kigezi the families live on their own land often with all the generations of grandparents, parents and children in adjacent houses. These families are the target beneficiaries of tree planting assistance. The aim of KTPFM is to encourage improvement of each homestead with water supplies, grafted trees, poultry, bee hives, environmental management, and better animal husbandry. 

20,000 trees were used to improve the community and surrounding areas. It targeted every school and church in the Kaharo District. The trees were planted on the church and school land to improve the environment. The first planting of 2000 trees created a much needed barrier between the main road and Kaharo School to shield the school from noise and pollution. This road is the main highway which takes all the traffic from Kampala to the south west, Rwanda and the Congo. It is early days for this project but there are good signs of progress. Afrinspire is supporting the programme with the aim of it becoming self sufficient once established. Our support currently pays for labour, potting bags, sand, fertile soil and nails for making sun shades to protect the seedlings. 

School Sponsorship
Afrinspire has provided school fees for Guster’s children and supported them through University. Sarah is Guster’s oldest daughter she was been sponsored since she was 12.  She has been sponsored through her A levels a law degree and Law Development school. She has been helped through her time as a trainee solicitor when you are required to work to gain experience often without receiving enough financial payment to live off. It has not always been easy for Sarah even with help there was not always enough to make ends meet. But finally Sarah was licensed as a solicitor during 2007 and in mid-January 2008 she received an appointment as a Magistrate Grade 1. There are only a few hundred magistrates in the whole of Uganda and this is a notable appointment. She has been posted to Mpigi, which is near Kampala and is building a reputation as a fair and honest magistrate. 
Mariam is the second born girl in Guster’s family and she is about to graduate from her degree in Computer Science at Uganda Christian University. Moses Guster’s son works for the Development studies centre in Mbarara, having studied development at University.  He is also involved in further training courses. 

Guster also looks after a number of orphans and vulnerable children in the local community and Afrinspire assists with the provision of school fees for these children who would not otherwise be able to receive education. 

Vehicle
Guster has received a used vehicle which has been invaluable in his work and has helped with all aspects of his ministry not least the transport of materials for his tree planting and food multiplication program. The truck can also be used for many things within the community and would self sustain on an on-going basis once initially purchased. Without assistance from a charity like Afrinspire it is unlikely that the funds could have been raised. 

Working with Afrinspire
Guster has hosted numbers Afrinspire trustees and visitors. He has also been dependable and reliable distributing type writers, sewing machines, books, and tools to those most in need in his local community. Guster has shared Christian fellowship and preached to many. He has also opened his church to preachers from Afrinspire and benefited from resources that they have brought to him to assist in his ministry in the church. Guster has visited and shared knowledge with MIDPRO, Sirouko district and UDS projects in Kamuli, Rwanda. Guster introduced Anne Kobusingye to Afrinspire and also his son Moses is working for the  DSC in Mbarara. Guster hopes to work full time with and for Afrinspire when he retires from active service in the Kiocese of Kigezi.