Urban farming: KCCA equips schools with gardening tools

Kampala –In a bid to promote sustainable learning and skills development schools, Kampala Capital City Authority (KCCA) has donated gardening equipment to ten schools under their mantle for urban farming.

Through the building sustainable, learning and inclusive cities (SLICKS) project, KCCA aims to promote gardening in schools as part of the learning curriculum to empower children with farming skills.

This initiative, a collaboration between the cities of Kampala and Strasbourg; a city in France, focuses on three priority areas of urban agriculture, green spaces, and education. The project is funded by the French Development Agency (AFD)

The launch event was held on Tuesday at Nakivubo Primary School, which is one of the beneficiaries. The other beneficiaries  include, Kitante Primary School, Mpererwe Primary School, Kisaasi Primary School, Mutundwe CoU Primary School, KCCA Busega Community School, Kibuli Demonstration School, St. Paul Demonstration School, Ggaba Primary School, Kyambogo Primary School and St. Paul Primary School Banda.

The schools received gardening equipment such as hoes, wheelbarrows, spray pumps, leaf-rakes, watering cans, garden pruners, among others.

The project’s underlying philosophy is project-based pedagogy, which emphasizes learning through practical experience with the goal of promoting sustainable education through practical learning.

Juliet Namuddu, the Director of Education and Social Services at KCCA, expressed her delight at the project, saying that involving children in gardening will teach them important skills and promote a healthy lifestyle while nurturing a love for nature.

“Children will learn how to measure, weed, and take care of the gardens, and they will be encouraged to continue gardening even after they leave school. The project aims to produce skilled learners who can produce food and benefit their communities in the long run,” Namuddu said.

The project also aims to inculcate a culture of environment conservation, greening and the promotion of urban farming among the city’s young people.

Under the project, schools will establish kitchen gardens, where children can plant vegetables, cook them at school, and eat them.

Working with the Directorate of Gender, Community Services and Production teachers, and parents from the benefiting schools were also trained on gardening by experts from Kyanja Agricultural Center.

Namuddu said involving children in gardening will teach them important skills and promote a healthy lifestyle while nurturing a love for nature.

She challenged the school heads not to abandon the gardens, but nurture and ensure continuity of the project.

Unveiled in September 2022, the Building Sustainable, Learning and Inclusive Cities – Kampala and Strasbourg (SLICKS) is a two-year joint project between the cities of Kampala and Strasbourg.​