Muliliba Brian, a 24-year-old farmer from Nakirubi village in Kayunga District, has faced life’s hurdles head-on. Raised in a family of five siblings, Brian’s childhood was marked by separation and hardship. His mother and father parted ways when he was in primary three, leaving him to live with his father in Bugweri District. Two siblings stayed with their grandmother, while Brian and his brother remained with their father.
In 2020, with no hope of returning to school due to unpaid fees, Brian moved to Nakirubi to stay with his paternal aunt. Life was tough—he owned two shirts and two trousers, working casual jobs that earned him just 25,000 shillings (USD 6.8) weekly. With this scant income, he burned tree stamps to make 13 bags of charcoal, which he sold at 30,000 shillings each, earning 390,000 shillings (USD 106) . This was his stepping stone.
Turning Points and Entrepreneurial Spirit
With the earnings from charcoal, Brian ventured into tomato farming on a quarter-acre piece of land provided by his aunt. At first, he earned 2.8 million shillings (USD 767), but poor management and fluctuating prices led to a loss of 1.6 million shilling (USD 438). During COVID-19 in 2021, the price of a carton of tomatoes plummeted from 300,000 (USD 82) to just 30,000 shillings (USD 8.2), making his business increasingly difficult.
Feeling overwhelmed, Brian sought help from a friend that introduced him to TechnoServe’s Vines project, where he received three months of entrepreneurship training. TechnoServe and the VINES project — was a youth entrepreneurship initiative. VINES was a United States Department of Agriculture-funded Food for Progress project working to transform the vanilla sector in Uganda. The project was led by Catholic Relief Services and implemented by a consortium of partners, including TechnoServe. This program transformed his perspective—he learned how to manage his business, keep records, budget, save, and cultivate self-awareness.
Rebuilding and Expanding
Brian reinvested his savings to replant tomatoes. He planted 60 vines on a quarter-acre, using a land grant from TechnoServe. His resilience paid off: today, he has expanded his farm to one and a half acres, growing tomatoes, cabbage, and maize.
In December last 2024, Brian bought a motorcycle to help irrigate his crops and transport produce, reducing the exhausting task of fetching water and moving crops manually. His hard work has started to pay off, earning an average of 450,000 shillings (USD 123) monthly. He also saves 40,000 (USD 11) weekly in a local group called Kadifa.
A Bright Future
With his increased income, Brian’s ambitions are clear. He plans to purchase his own land valued at 4 million shillings (USD 1,095) and build a permanent home, as he currently rents. Today, Brian is not just a farmer; he is an empowered entrepreneur who can support his family and siblings, transforming his life through resilience, education, and determination. Brian’s story exemplifies how perseverance and access to training can turn adversity into success, inspiring others in his community to pursue their dreams despite hardships.