Stories
March 7, 2025 • 3 min read
In Kamwenge, Uganda, Macline Natukanda is reshaping opportunities for young agricultural entrepreneurs. As chairperson of the Katibani Youth Farmers Group, Macline transformed a struggling collective into the leading Quality Declared Seed (QDS) actor in the Toro subregion. With the support of GOAL’s Markets for Youth Programme, Macline has not only secured financial stability for her group but has also become a source of inspiration for young entrepreneurs across the region.
The Katibani Youth Farmers Group
Macline Natukunda is the Chairperson of the Katibani Youth Farmers Group in Kamwenge, a collective of 35 members involved in bean seed and maize farming. The Katibani Youth Farmers Group began their journey in 2021, focusing on gathering maize grain and producing bean seeds for agricultural use. While driven by ambition and a strong understanding of the sector, the group faced significant challenges in scaling their agricultural efforts. Like many young farmers in Uganda, they struggled with limited access to capital, technology, and resources necessary to enhance their production. This made it difficult for them to compete in Uganda’s competitive agricultural market until Macline sought opportunities to increase their success.
Growth through Partnership
In 2022, Macline connected with GOALs Markets for Youth Programme, in partnership with the Mastercard Foundation. The programme seeks to increase young Ugandans’ access to dignified and fulfilling work. Through the programme, GOAL Uganda linked Macline’s group to Yield Harvest, an agribusiness dealing in produce aggregation. Produce aggregation entails collecting large amounts of crops from different farmers for selling. As a result of this partnership, Yield Harvest trained the group in good agronomic practices and offered them affordable and high-quality maize seeds. A demonstration garden established by Yield Harvest allowed them to practically apply and refine their agricultural skills. Yield Harvest later introduced Katibani Youth Farmers Group to the National Agriculture Research Organisation (NARO), which mentored them in seed multiplication and certified them as licensed seed producers. With this expertise, Macline successfully guided her group to produce and sell quality seeds at higher prices than the prevailing market rate, due to the scarcity of high-quality seeds in the region.
As a result, the Katabani Youth Farmers Group is now considered one of the top bean seed producers in the Toro subregion. Macline praises the role that the partnership with NARO has played in helping her to achieve this success by providing access to various private farmers “NARO recommends us to everyone who needs seed in this region. People know us for having quality seed” Macline shares. In 2023, Macline’s participation in GOAL’s learning conference allowed her to expand her network of customers in Uganda and increase the group’s market reach, “In 2023 when I attended GOAL’s learning conference, I interacted and secured three customer leads from Northern Uganda. We have been supplying seed to them as well.”
Youth Financial Security
By the first season of 2024, spanning January to June, Katibani Youth Farmers Group had sold seven tons of bean seed to Yield Harvest, earning UGX 57,672,000 (approx. $15,600). This was shared amongst members depending on the quantity of seed produced by individuals. Macline made an individual profit of UGX 4,700,000 (approx. $1,271) from the seed sales and an additional UGX 1,418,000 (approx. $383) in commission as an aggregator for Yield Harvest. With her earnings, Macline reinvested in her seed business and opened an input shop to meet the growing agricultural needs of her community.
A Model for Youth Empowerment
Under Macline’s leadership, Katibani Youth Farmers Group has grown into a model for youth-led agribusiness success in Uganda. Today, the group is recognised as a leader in quality bean seed production in the Toro subregion. By leveraging strategic business partnerships and unwavering determination, Macline has not only improved her own economic opportunities but has paved the way for other Ugandan youths to cultivate their own success.
The Markets for Youth Programme
In partnership with the Mastercard Foundation, GOAL is increasing youth access to income in Uganda under the Markets for Youth programme. The programme tackles Uganda’s high youth unemployment rate, which stands at 13.5%, one of the highest in sub-Saharan Africa. To date, the programme has helped over 300,000 young Ugandans to access dignified and fulfilling work – including 70,000 women and 30,000 refugees.
The programme works through private sector actors, including financial institutions like banks, input and output market actors, ICT solution providers, business development service providers, and formal and informal training providers and government institutions, to achieve the following outcomes:
- Improved access and utilisation of financial services and products.
- Improve access and utilisation of skills training information.
- Improve access and utilisation of inputs and output markets.
- Amplify youth voices and engagement.
