How Love and Flies Transformed Bogere & Susan's Life and Community

In the heart of Kawempe, a slum in Kampala, Uganda, life for Bogere Muhammad took a transformative turn after he met Susan during the COVID-19 pandemic. Amidst the challenges of slum life...

“When my dad passed away in 2006, I was just a kid. My mom did everything she could, working as a food vendor at building sites around Kampala. She worked so hard, but it was never enough. We lived day-to-day, and I had to drop out of school as a teenager to help out. Life in the Kawempe slum is tough, and there were so many times I felt hopeless. There were times I did things that I was not proud of just to survive. Hardship sometimes brings out the worst in us.

Then I met Susan during COVID-19. It was a rough time for everyone, but she was the first real relationship I ever had, and she changed everything for me. She believed in me even when I didn’t. Sometimes I wanted to give up, but she was always there, lifting me up. She became my rock and my hope. I don’t know where I will be today without her.

Things took a turn when we got involved with Ento Organic Farm Uganda. We got trained by Martin Tenywa (Roots Africa Changemaker). He is known all across Uganda as “The Maggot King.” Martin developed a way to help youth like me in the slums to make money by turning waste into value. The Sustainable Access Foundation, led by Dr. Danika Tynes, funded this project and also made sure to support Martin with technical resources to execute the Black Soldier Flies (BSF) Farm in Uganda. Also, thanks to the Roots Africa Inc initiative in the changemakers program, we learned how to farm Black Soldier Flies (BSF).

At first, the idea of farming flies and Maggots seemed strange and weird. But Martin, through his passion, showed us the potential opportunities. We could turn organic waste (which is abundant in the slums) into something valuable – protein for animal feed and organic fertilizer for crops. Poor waste management and unemployment are huge problems here. 

The training wasn’t easy. We had to learn a lot, and there were times we struggled. But each setback taught us something new, and we grew stronger and more determined. We saw other young people in our community getting excited about what we were doing. The sense of shared purpose kept us going.

Today, we have a son named Abudr Rahim, lovingly nicknamed "Africa." His presence has brought even more purpose to our lives, and he’s become an integral part of our "Garden of Eden," - our home.

Now, we produce fertilizer from the BSF project and share it with young farmers in our area. We are making something out of nothing. They tell us it works wonders for their crops. We’ve seen the difference it can make. We’re also slowly changing the way people think about waste management in our community. People are starting to see that waste can be valuable. Despite the challenges, we keep teaching and spreading what we’ve learned.

We host regular workshops in Eden, the safest and greenest space in the Slums. We are showing others how to start their own BSF farms. The interest has been amazing. Seeing others succeed because of something we taught them brings us so much joy.

This training changed our lives. Turning waste into value has created jobs and is putting money in our pockets. We’ve inspired others to learn BSF farming, and it’s becoming a movement. More and more young people are getting involved. I never knew waste could be so valuable, but now we’re making it happen. We’ve gone from feeling hopeless to becoming changemakers in our community. All of this wouldn’t have been possible without the support and belief of Susan, Martin, the Sustainable Access Foundation, and the Roots Africa Changemaker Program Initiative

Every day, we wake up with a renewed sense of purpose. We know that we’re not just improving our own lives, but also making a positive impact on our community. It’s a long journey, and there are still many challenges ahead, but with each step, we’re creating a better future for ourselves and those around us. And that’s something worth fighting for.”

Bogere Muhammad, Kawempe, Uganda.

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