The Sisters´ Ambitious Sunflower Enterprise in Uganda

Nyondo, a small but resilient community in Uganda’s Mbale District near the slopes of Mount Elgon, is a region known for its striking natural beauty. The area is predominantly rural, with fertile lands nourished by the volcanic soils of Mount Elgon. “The people of Nyondo rely heavily on subsistence farming, growing crops like maize, beans, and bananas. However, over time, soil nutrient depletion has resulted in declining yields and rising food insecurity. The community grapples with the harsh realities of poverty and the constant challenge of sustaining their livelihoods. Amid these difficult circumstances, the Sisters of Mary of Kakamega are deeply committed to serving the local community.”

Founded in 1932 by Bishop Brandsma in Mukumu, Kenya, the congregation has expanded its population to approximately 400 sisters across Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania, Sudan, and the United States. Rooted in the redemptive mission of Jesus Christ as the great teacher and healer, the congregation dedicates itself to serving vulnerable communities through work in schools, hospitals, and social services. To further their mission, they have turned to sunflower farming to earn extra income to support their mission.

Their decision to venture into sunflower farming and processing in the Nyondo area reflects more than just economic motivations. Guided by their charism of participating in Christ’s redemptive work, they selected this social enterprise to align with their commitment to community service. Sr. Mary emphasizes, “We are deeply dedicated to helping those in desperate need of support. By engaging in income-generating projects like sunflower farming, we can better sustain ourselves and extend our support to the community. Evangelization takes many forms, and through this enterprise, we can provide both spiritual and material assistance.”

The Sisters of Mary of Kakamega participated in both Leadership and Social Enterpreurship Programme (SEP) start-up of the Sisters Blended Value Project (SBVP) implemented by Strathmore Business School in collaboration with the Association of Consecrated Women of Eastern and Central Africa (ACWECA). “The training has been invaluable, equipping us with the knowledge to initiate and sustain projects, engage the right stakeholders, and manage resources effectively,” reflects Sr. Mary. “Our social enterprise has now garnered participation from nearly everyone in the congregation, leading to significant advancements in our approach to managing the sunflower farming project.”

After receiving a seed grant from Strathmore University, the sisters acquired a huge sunflower processing machine. This pivotal acquisition will allow them to locally process sunflower seeds into cooking oil for sale. This capability not only eliminates the need to transport seeds to another district for processing but also reduces transportation costs and enhances the overall efficiency and profitability of the enterprise.

However, acquiring the processing machine was faced by a major hurdle: the need for a three-phase power line to operate it. “Our congregation currently operates on a single-phase power line, which has hindered our progress,” Sr. Mary explains. “However, we have been in continuous communication with UMEME Power Company, and our efforts are beginning to bear fruit. We are optimistic that the three-phase power line will be installed soon, allowing us to begin processing sunflower seeds,” emphasized Sr. Mary. “This enterprise means a lot to us,” Sr. Catherine Nabuteka, the regional superior in Uganda, explains. “Our sisters are not medically insured, many of our young sisters need education, and some of the congregation´s important structures have stalled due to a lack of funds. Once the project is running, we can address these issues and support our mission more effectively.”

Hope runs high as the sisters eagerly anticipate the operation of their plant. Once it is up and running, they plan to expand their sunflower plantation in Sironko District to 50 acres, expecting to harvest approximately 1,000 bags of sunflower seeds per cycle. This yield would allow them to produce approximately 20,000 liters of cooking oil, potentially generating $40,000 in revenue per harvest at the local market price of $2 per liter. Additionally, they aim to establish extensions in Mbale City and Sironko District to offer local out-growers access to a sunflower processing plant at a cost. These initiatives promise a bright future for the Sisters of Mary of Kakamega, aligning with the SBVP’s mission to transform social ministries into sustainable social enterprises.