Kulika Uganda in 2016 ...

Over the years, Kulika Uganda has gone through a number of changes in an effort to becoming a stronger and more effective organisation that contributes to the national, regional and international strategic goals. The focus remains working with the most vulnerable communities in the fields of education and community development through a combined approach that has brought these two departments together. The Kulika Training Centre at Lutisi is the hub of the operations being the centre for training, demonstrating good agricultural practices and organic farming, production of organic produce and the place where we carry out processing and packaging of Kulika Organic Products.

Susan Amede is one of a network of small holder farmers that live in rural Uganda making a living from farming small pieces of land of 2 - 4 acres sometimes even smaller. Susan was able to increase the yield of her land through undertaking training in integrated sustainable organic farming with Kulika Uganda. Susan and many farmers like her are able to double their farm yields and increase their household income by at least 75% and more in a period of 1- 2 years after training and support from Kulika Uganda. They are however, challenged with marketing their products as access to markets is difficult; markets are often a long distances away, road networks are poor and the local prices are low.

Juma Waiswa dropped out of secondary school due to lack of school fees. He comes from a big family and is the eldest of 16 siblings. His parents expected him to help look after the family from farming the less than half acre of land that they own. Juma attended vocational training with Kulika Uganda sponsorship and recently completed a certificate course in agriculture. He is actively using the skills he acquired to provide affordable services to his community in Kamuli and helping farmers improve their livestock and crop production.

Juma represents the many young people who have been supported by Kulika to gain skills that make them employable or able to begin their own small businesses. Kulika supports farmer networking, farming together in cooperatives and groups and bulking their produce for volume to fetch better prices.

Kulika Uganda has taken the next step forward with small holder farmers and is purchasing the farmers products, processing them and packaging them for sale on the local market and beyond. The Kulika products speak about the network of small holder farmers working hard to better their lives and that of their communities through practicing sustainable organic agriculture.

Partnering with Kulika Uganda means partnering in the life of a small holder farmer whose farming methods address climate resilience and adaptation, environmental conservation, and inclusiveness of the most vulnerable in society, the women and children. It is investing in the life a youth who will use the skills they gain employment by providing services in their community.

Success is when small holder farmers have food security, their children are in school and are healthy and when they are able to improve their livelihoods. It is when youth are able to bring much needed services closer to their communities and are learning skills that make them employable. Success is when we can make available on the local market Kulika Organic Products that are healthy and are affordable.

We shouldn't let technology block our lives from what is real and all around us.

Driving to work one morning

I was minding my own business driving to work one morning through the hectic Kampala traffic right by Makerere University when a boda boda rode dangerously close to me. I was forced to look at it but would have glanced away immediately save for the passenger on that boda boda. Tell, me is it normal for young men to wear hot pink trousers and lime green shirts?

Its all about love

I tried my hand at writing emotional poetry and now I've given emotional prose a try.  Check it out  - been in love?

God's Promise of restoration

The Day of the Lord

The prophet Joel prophesied about a terrible day - the day of the Lord - and even though it seems like a long time ago and for a different generation.  When you read Joel 2 you cannot fail to see us - today's generation right there.


Joel 2 (King James Version)


1 Blow ye the trumpet in Zion, and sound an alarm in my holy mountain: let all the inhabitants of the land tremble: for the day of the LORD cometh, for it is nigh at hand;
2 A day of darkness and of gloominess, a day of clouds and of thick darkness, as the morning spread upon the mountains: a great people and a strong; there hath not been ever the like, neither shall be any more after it, even to the years of many generations.
3 A fire devoureth before them; and behind them a flame burneth: the land is as the garden of Eden before them, and behind them a desolate wilderness; yea, and nothing shall escape them.
4 The appearance of them is as the appearance of horses; and as horsemen, so shall they run.
5 Like the noise of chariots on the tops of mountains shall they leap, like the noise of a flame of fire that devoureth the stubble, as a strong people set in battle array.
6 Before their face the people shall be much pained: all faces shall gather blackness.
7 They shall run like mighty men; they shall climb the wall like men of war; and they shall march every one on his ways, and they shall not break their ranks:
8 Neither shall one thrust another; they shall walk every one in his path: and when they fall upon the sword,  they shall not be wounded.
9 They shall run to and fro in the city; they shall run upon the wall, they shall climb up upon the houses; they shall enter in at the windows like a thief.
10 The earth shall quake before them; the heavens shall tremble: the sun and the moon shall be dark, and the stars shall withdraw their shining:
11 And the LORD shall utter his voice before his army: for his camp is very great: for he is strong that executeth his word: for the day of the LORD is great and very terrible; and who can abide it?

God is so merciful, so full of grace and love.  He promised to always make a way out for us when we are in trouble.  All we have to do is turn back to Him. 
Joel continues:
 
12 Therefore also now, saith the LORD, turn ye even to me with all your heart, and with fasting, and with weeping, and with mourning:

13 And rend your heart, and not your garments, and turn unto the LORD your God: for he is gracious and merciful, slow to anger, and of great kindness, and repenteth him of the evil.
14 Who knoweth if he will return and repent, and leave a blessing behind him; even a meat offering and a drink offering unto the LORD your God?
15 Blow the trumpet in Zion, sanctify a fast, call a solemn assembly:
16 Gather the people, sanctify the congregation, assemble the elders, gather the children, and those that suck the breasts: let the bridegroom go forth of his chamber, and the bride out of her closet.
17 Let the priests, the ministers of the LORD, weep between the porch and the altar, and let them say, Spare thy people, O LORD, and give not thine heritage to reproach, that the heathen should rule over them: wherefore should they say among the people, Where is their God?
18 Then will the LORD be jealous for his land, and pity his people.

We HAVE to turn to Him and He promises never to let us down.  What is wonderful about our God is that He restores all that we have lost and more.  Much, much more than we ever expected or dreamed. 
Joel says it all:
 
19 Yea, the LORD will answer and say unto his people, Behold, I will send you corn, and wine, and oil, and ye shall be satisfied therewith: and I will no more make you a reproach among the heathen:

20 But I will remove far off from you the northern army, and will drive him into a land barren and desolate, with his face toward the east sea, and his hinder part toward the utmost sea, and his stink shall come up, and his ill savour shall come up, because he hath done great things.
21 Fear not, O land; be glad and rejoice: for the LORD will do great things.
22 Be not afraid, ye beasts of the field: for the pastures of the wilderness do spring, for the tree beareth her fruit, the fig tree and the vine do yield their strength.
23 Be glad then, ye children of Zion, and rejoice in the LORD your God: for he hath given you the former rain moderately, and he will cause to come down for you the rain, the former rain, and the latter rain in the first month.
24 And the floors shall be full of wheat, and the vats shall overflow with wine and oil.
25 And I will restore to you the years that the locust hath eaten, the cankerworm, and the caterpiller, and the palmerworm, my great army which I sent among you.
26 And ye shall eat in plenty, and be satisfied, and praise the name of the LORD your God, that hath dealt wondrously with you: and my people shall never be ashamed.
27 And ye shall know that I am in the midst of Israel, and that I am the LORD your God, and none else: and my people shall never be ashamed.


What a blessing! And He continues;
 
28 And it shall come to pass afterward, that I will pour out my spirit upon all flesh; and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, your old men shall dream dreams, your young men shall see visions:

29 And also upon the servants and upon the handmaids in those days will I pour out my spirit.
30 And I will shew wonders in the heavens and in the earth, blood, and fire, and pillars of smoke.
31 The sun shall be turned into darkness, and the moon into blood, before the great and terrible day of the LORD come.
32 And it shall come to pass, that whosoever shall call on the name of the LORD shall be delivered: for in mount Zion and in Jerusalem shall be deliverance, as the LORD hath said, and in the remnant whom the LORD shall call.

Now is the time to call upon the name LORD ...

from deep within

The water was calm and blue on the lake
And the wind whispered softly in its wake
The sound of rippling waves chattering endlessly
As the dipping sun caressed it wistfully
The aura stirred a whiff of romantic anticipation
A heart beat of warm tender yet agonizing expectation

The trees stood tall and straight around the lake
A towering shield a castle wall rock cake
Their shelter crumbling failing unnoticed
A passion slips stealthily through unvoiced
In the depth of the lake, at its centre, its core
Rhythmic tremors like the earth drums rapport

The turbulence begins a rumbling in the deep
The calm turns to turmoil and a charm slowly sweep
Emotions try to surface, so strong and so sure
No attempt can contain their breach of the demure
Bubbling, a volcano, an eruption presumed
Sensations once dormant, can now be consumed

Fear spreads its venom in a sly mulish way
Anxiety, apprehension, and anguish display
Nature won’t be stopped, the explosion begins
Its intensity and sound a million violins
Its pleasure an ecstasy, rapturous colours delight
Pure love, intense, delicate bursts of passion bite

A calm returns to the innocent still blue lake
Soft pleasure, content, satisfaction in its wake
The winds gentle touch an intimate embrace
A comfort, an affectionate warm loving place
A mutual pinnacle of euphoria coy and demure
The ardour remains profound and secure

©2009 Christina Sempebwa

from the heart

Song of Solomon 6:1

Where has your lover gone,

most beautiful of women?

Which way did your lover turn,

that we may look for him with you?