“As a breastfeeding mother, I used to struggle to get vegetables for myself and my household. I would wait until I got money or sometimes borrow from others. But right now, because of my kitchen garden, I can get any kind of vegetable I need. I no longer struggle to buy vegetables from the market,” says Queen Harriet
A few steps from Queen Harriet’s home in Zone 8 of Rhino Camp Refugee Settlement, rows of healthy vegetables grow in carefully prepared garden beds. Cowpeas, tomatoes, eggplants, collard greens, and okra now provide a steady source of food for her family, reducing household expenses and ensuring that nutritious meals are always within reach.
For the 22-year-old refugee mother of two, this simple kitchen garden has changed daily life. Instead of travelling long distances to purchase vegetables or waiting until money becomes available, she now harvests fresh produce directly from her compound whenever her family needs it.
Rebuilding Life in a New Home
When Queen and her family arrived in Uganda from South Sudan in July 2025, life looked very different. The land allocated to newly arrived refugee families was rocky and covered with bushes, making cultivation challenging. Markets were located far from their settlement area, forcing families to travel long distances to access food and other necessities, but the cost of food was difficult to manage on a limited income.
“The markets were very far, and food was expensive. Even vegetables were very expensive; we could buy only three tomatoes for UGX 1,000,” she says.
Like many refugee households in Rhino Camp, Queen’s family also faced difficulties accessing healthcare services, while unpredictable weather conditions made farming increasingly difficult. Extended dry spells affected crop production, while strong winds and heavy rains frequently disrupted daily life.
For a young mother caring for a five-year-old and a six-month-old child, meeting basic household needs was often a challenge.
Climate Challenges Affecting Refugee Communities
Across Uganda’s refugee-hosting districts, many families face similar challenges. Uganda currently hosts approximately two million refugees, mainly from South Sudan and the Democratic Republic of Congo. The growing population places pressure on natural resources and social services, while climate-related shocks continue to affect agricultural production and livelihoods.
In districts such as Yumbe, Obongi, and Madi Okollo, refugee and host communities face challenges ranging from environmental degradation and limited access to financial services to declining agricultural productivity. Women, youth, and smallholder farmers are particularly affected due to barriers such as limited access to productive resources and persistent gender inequalities. Rising temperatures and erratic rainfall further increase food insecurity and reduce communities’ ability to cope with climate-related risks.
Learning Practical Solutions for Food Production
Queen’s situation began to improve after joining a community group supported through the Uganda Refugee Resilience Initiative (URRI), a five-year programme designed to strengthen climate resilience and promote inclusive development among refugee and host community farmers across West Nile, with funding from Danida through the Danish Embassy in Uganda.
Implemented through a consortium led by DRC, alongside CEFORD, DCA, PALM Corps, and PICOT, the programme supports households to adopt climate-smart agricultural practices, restore ecosystems, improve access to markets and financial services, and strengthen the participation of women and youth in decision-making processes.
Uganda Refugee Resilience Initiative (URRI)
Transforming vulnerable communities in the West Nile region
- Period: September 2024 – December 2028
- International Partner: Danish Refugee Council (DRC)
- National Partners: CEFORD, PALM Corps & PICOT
- Donor: Danida
Through regular training sessions facilitated by CEFORD, Queen learned practical techniques that enabled her to produce food despite the challenging environment.
“Before, I used to plant crops anyhow,” Queen explains. “I would simply clear the land and plant. But now I know how to prepare the garden properly, use manure, make half-moons, double-dug beds, mulch, and create water-harvesting structures that help crops grow better, improve soil fertility and conserve moisture.”
Alongside the training, participants received seeds at the group level and technical support to establish kitchen gardens around their homes. Equipped with new knowledge and practical skills, Queen began cultivating vegetables using methods that conserve soil moisture and improve productivity.
Better Nutrition and Reduced Household Costs
Today, Queen’s family has direct access to fresh vegetables throughout the year, reducing dependence on market purchases and ensuring more nutritious meals at home.
“The vegetables I used to buy from the market, I now get them from my own garden,” she says.
The benefits are particularly important for her as a lactating mother. “Before, I struggled to get vegetables for my children and myself. Sometimes I had to wait until money was available while the children needed food. Now, whenever I need vegetables, I simply pick them from the garden.”
By growing vegetables within her compound, Queen has reduced household spending while improving her family’s access to healthy food.
Building Stronger Families Through Shared Responsibility
The programme has also influenced the way families work together. Through the Gender Action Learning System (GALS), households are encouraged to make joint decisions, plan together, and share responsibilities within the home.
For Queen, one of the most valuable lessons was understanding the importance of partnership between spouses.
“One important lesson I learned is that my husband and I should always work together,” she says. “Before, I didn’t know that a man and a woman could work together on everything. Through the training, we learned to support one another, and now we work together.”
The change is reflected not only in their relationship but also in their living environment.
“I have seen changes in my homestead. It used to be very disorganised, but it is now more organised.”
Sharing Knowledge with Others
The progress in Queen’s garden has attracted attention from neighbouring households.
Women from nearby homes frequently visit her compound to learn how she established her kitchen garden and why her crops are performing well despite the challenging conditions.
“Some mothers come and ask me how I learned to plant like this,” she says. “I tell them that it is through the training from CEFORD under URRI.”
By sharing the skills she has learned, Queen is helping other families discover practical ways of producing food using the small spaces available around their homes.
New Skills and Opportunities
Queen believes the knowledge she has gained will continue supporting her family long into the future.
“The URRI project is one of a kind because they want to see people able to grow their own food and improve their lives,” she says.
She encourages other refugee families to actively participate in the programme and apply the lessons in their own households.
“I encourage my fellow refugees to embrace the training that is being offered under URRI. The knowledge and skills we are learning can help improve our families and reduce the struggles we face.”
Today, the vegetables growing outside Queen’s home tell a story of a family finding practical solutions to everyday challenges. Through knowledge, cooperation, and the opportunity to learn new skills, Queen is creating a healthier future for her children while inspiring others in her community to do the same.
