Engaging stakeholders in our community projects was at the heart of a successful inception meeting organised by the Soil Health and Climate Action Network (SHCAN). The meeting was held on July 7th, 2025, at Bulyango Parish Office in Kitoba Subcounty, Hoima.
The event brought together 17 key local leaders, including LC1 chairpersons from 10 villages, one LC2 chairperson, and several parish and sub-county government officials. The primary objective was to introduce SHCAN’s mission, align with local priorities, and foster collaboration for effective project implementation across the region.
Stakeholders expressed a shared commitment to supporting SHCAN in planning, implementation, monitoring, and evaluating our activities
The discussion highlighted the importance of engaging stakeholders in our community projects at an early stage. Especially at the grassroots like Kitoba where smallholder farmers face challenges such as poor soil health, limited access to farming inputs, and weak support systems. The stakeholders praised SHCAN’s timely interventions and committed to supporting the planning, monitoring, and evaluation of its projects. Their contributions set a strong tone of shared ownership and trust, key ingredients for long-term success.
Throughout the meeting, participants offered practical recommendations based on community realities. They emphasised the need to train farmers in responsible beekeeping and animal care, citing past incidents of losses due to poor practices. Other recommendations included boosting SHCAN’s visibility through community branding, organising annual project evaluations, and engaging recognised farmer groups for accountability. These discussions reflected the importance of engaging stakeholders in our community projects in Hoima, in order to ensure that our interventions are inclusive and shaped by local experience.
Government representatives played a crucial role in guiding strategic collaboration. The Kitoba Sub-County Community Development Officer, Mrs. Elizabeth Achobu, stressed the need to involve extension workers at every stage to prevent issues seen in past NGO-led projects. The Sub-County Agricultural Officer, Mr. Barongo Vicent, welcomed SHCAN’s focus on soil health and pledged technical mentorship for the field team. These partnerships are essential for strengthening local capacity and enhancing the quality of project delivery through consistent stakeholder engagement in community-led development projects.
Mrs. Elizabeth Achobu, the Sub-County CDO of Kitoba, stressed the need to involve government and extension workers at all stages of our projects.
Our long-term goal is to help smallholder farmers grow their way out of extreme poverty. We believe that by promoting sustainable agriculture, enhancing climate resilience, and supporting sustainable livelihoods, we can empower rural communities to thrive for the long haul. Most of the farmers we work with in Uganda are hardworking individuals and families who depend on the land for their survival—but they often lack access to the tools, resources, and training needed to succeed.
Through stakeholder engagement in our community projects, we’re ensuring that local leaders, extension workers, and the farmers themselves are active partners in creating solutions that meet real needs. We focus on soil health, organic farming, agroecology, and access to markets—because we know that when farmers are equipped and supported, they can transform their lives and uplift their communities.
Our vision is simple but powerful: a sustainable world where healthy soils and resilient farms support life for generations to come.
This vision drives every action we take and every partnership we build. We want to see rural families not only survive but truly flourish, and be able to feed their children, invest in their futures, and steward the environment. That’s why we invest in long-term impact, not just short-term fixes. Stakeholder engagement in our community projects makes this possible by creating shared ownership, trust, and accountability at every level. Whether it’s planting trees, raising bees, or introducing climate-smart farming techniques, we do it together—with the people, for the people. This is how lasting change begins: with connected communities, empowered farmers, and a common purpose to protect our land, our food systems, and our future.
As a grassroots organisation working in rural areas, we continue to work hard on engaging stakeholders in our community projects to achieve sustainable outcomes. The strong turnout, active participation, and shared vision among stakeholders have laid a firm foundation for impactful collaboration.
With community voices guiding the process, our initiatives will not only support smallholder farmers, protect natural resources, but also help drive lasting change in Hoima district, and Uganda at large.
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