By James Ntupanyama, Site Leader

Gumulira is a stand alone village whose initial development needs were jointly assessed by the Millennium Villages project and the Ministry of Local Government. The project was launched in October 2006 to address a major challenge of food insecurity caused by limited access to improved hybrid maize seed and inorganic fertilizers. The project also faced the challenge of limited access to medical services, with the nearest clinic over 10 kilometers away. A poor learning environment for pupils, with inadequate classrooms, also beset the project. Access to clean water was another challenge, with a majority of the people using unsafe water drawn from shallow wells. Deforestation due to tobacco production threatened the area and remains a key challenge for the project.

The cluster implemented a number of interventions to close these development gaps, including provision of hybrid maize seed and inorganic fertilizers. As a result, the project realized increased maize production and created a food surplus which has been used as both a source of income and as a contribution to the school feeding program.

Although the project has had no physical structure in the form of a clinic, access to health services has also been significantly improved by conducting integrated outreach clinics twice per week and a school health intervention. The project also drilled six new boreholes and repaired sixteen; improving community member access to potable water.

As progress is made, the cluster’s priorities evolve. Current priorities include irrigation farming through the construction of a dam and the development of 90 hectares of irrigated land which will allow the cluster to expand food and cash crop production. Construction of a physical clinic to enhance the provision of health services remains a high priority. And, the provision of potable water to the entire cluster population and surrounding villages through a gravity-fed system of piped water is a major focus area. Another priority for the project is to extend the grid into the cluster, which will greatly enhance the lifestyle and livelihoods of the residents. The community also recognizes that a sustainable school meals program is critical to maintaining high school attendance and performance, ultimately building a stronger future for Gumulira.