Busaino fruit trees and herbs, a company owned by Ms. Judith Bakirya, member and Country chairperson for AAA Uganda Chapter launched a National Agro-Tourism Institute in Jinja on the 5th July, 2017 under the theme “Herbs for Animals, Crops and Human Wellbeing.” The major objective of launching Busaino Agro-Tourism Institute was to bring together multiple stakeholders in agro-tourism and to make agro-tourism an annual agenda.

Busaino Fruit Trees and Herbs is an Agri-Heritage fruit farm, blending agriculture, nature and culture. It produces fruits and herbs and keeps sheep and poultry on its 1064 acres of land with an estimated asset base of $1.5 million.

There are two Branches of the farm namely;-BUFRUIT –Jinja Branch (62 acres) and BUFRUIT –Bugiri (1002 acres). BUFRUIT -Jinja Branch is the main branch where the main celebrations took place on Wanyange hill overlooking Lake Victoria and neighboring Kakira Sugar Works, Busoga College Mwiri, Wanyange Girls and Busoga Kingdom headquarters. The previously degraded land at Bufruit-Bugiri land has been transformed into fruit forest with 4 camping and training sites for farmers, youth and tourists.

The farm also works with the youth in school to acquire interest and skills in agriculture. It also works with out of school youths by enabling them to acquire marketable skills in agribusiness that generate income, for example, juice making, honey/apiary making, Nursery/seedlings making, rolex/chapati snack making where they can earn a living.

The event was successfully organized in partnership with Africa Agribusiness Academy. This is a Dutch funded organization whose major aim is in building the capacity of SMEs in Agribusiness by creating linkages to finance, access to tailored trainings, supporting members to attend exhibitions, among others.

AAA Director Mr. Karama Farid and the host encouraged youths from the different schools that were present on that day to change their mindset in regards to employment by looking at agriculture as a source of income not as a dirty job.

The chief guest H.E. Henk Bakker the Ambassador of the Netherlands graced the occasion by encouraging farmers to be innovative in order to earn an extra income from their farms. He marked his speech by planting a tree, Lemongrass and African basil at the newly launched Agro-Tourism Institute.

The event attracted various stakeholders such as agribusiness companies like UWEPO Limited which participated by exhibiting tree seedlings, vegetables and onions hence marketing their products to the people in the vicinity. Tourists, New Vision Uganda’s leading news reporter, other AAA members from the Eastern Business Club were also present on that day to support the host in making the event a success. They also congratulated her for the goal achieved which they were to emulate as an example. Several best farmers from the region were present which provided a good networking ground amongst the members.