Mr. Kajumbi John is a level five graduate of Integrated community learning for wealth creation (ICOLEW) aged 40 years and a member of Tulyesiima Community empowerment group Katula with 42 participants. He Is one of the successful graduates who used to attend ICOLEW sessions, which equipped him with a wide range of skills to address challenges related to low household income.

In the small community of Nalubega LC1, Kyebe subcounty in Kyotera district of Uganda, diversification of Income in the community is happening as a result of the ICOLEW program. John is a member of Tulyesiima Community Empowerment Group comprising of 42 participants who have attended a 2 year course and graduated with knowledge and skills to enable them address challenges regarding low household income.

John’s greatest challenge, like many of the members of Tulyesiima, was low income. After 2 years of attending the ICOLEW sessions, the skills they gained became a turning point for all the members. John used his savings of two hundred thousand Uganda shillings (about €50) together with a loan of another two hundred thousand shillings from his group which he then supplemented with three hundred thousand shillings from his coffee project harvests to construct a pigsty. He states that the veterinary doctor helped him to understand the benefits of constructing a proper pigsty for a piggery project since it reduces the risk of disease. He started with two piglets and now owns nine. His goal is to have a minimum of twenty pigs and he is very determined and committed to achieve his goal.

John’s involvement in the ICOLEW programme has an impact that goes beyond his immediate household. Members improved their existing sources of income through adopting better management practices as well as setting up new income sources to ensure diversity. Since lack of capital was identified as an obstacle, members decided to start saving as way to accumulate capital. With capacity building sessions initiated by Unbound, members of Tulyesiima Community Empowerment Group acquired new farming and management skills which they diversified by adding piggery and poultry projects .

Adult education in Uganda has shown itself to be important for diversifying income sources and improving household wellbeing by giving people skills and knowledge for different livelihood opportunities.