MPIGI LIVELIHOOD IMPROVEMENT PROJECT (MLIP)

Mpigi District in Central Buganda, Uganda hosts a number of wetlands and patches of forests that have been under threat from reclamation by a population that has been highly ravaged by poverty and disease such as HIV/AIDS and TB. Many families are headed by a mother or a child, after the loss of parents due to the HIV/AIDS scourge. Most of the people are still living with AIDS, hence weak, and as such unable to till their land for a livelihood. The only option left is to use forest and wetland resources for profits. MLIP came in to promote sustainable use of forest and wetland resources by organized women and youth groups. With support from Whitley Laing Foundation-UK, The Global fund for Women- USA, Trees For Life- USA, Voluntary Services Overseas- UK, the EC funded Forest Resources Management and Conservation Programme, Aid to Artisans, USA, The International Rivers Network (USA) and the American Embassy in Kampala, MLIP established an ecotourism site, a women’s craft making enterprise, and a nutritional crops growing programme for community. Through the project, many families were able to plant Moringa oleifera, Vanilla and Ocimum Suave for nutrition and enterprise. The Nabukongole Wetland Ecotourism Site was also established through support from MLIP, whose beneficiaries stand at 2100 families.

 

 A volunteer from UK showcasing some of the Vanilla plants he helped plant at Mpambire village, Mpigi District, Central Uganda.

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