Browsing by Author "Addo, Isaac Yeboah"

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    Experiences of Participants in An Agricultural Livelihood Support Initiative for People Living With HIV In Central Uganda.
    (Kabale University, 2024) Tumwine, Christopher; Addo, Isaac Yeboah; Zakumumpa, Henry; Seeley, Janet; Oucul, Lazarus
    This study aimed to assess the experiences of people living with HIV who participated in an agricultural livelihood support initiative in selected districts of Uganda. The initiative, implemented from 2017 to 2018, involved the provision of agricultural inputs such as beans, cassava cuttings, goats, chickens, and pigs to participants. In-depth interviews were conducted with 37 people (28 women and 9 men) from the districts of Kampala, Masaka, and Wakiso (specifically Entebbe) in central Uganda, who had participated in the project. Data were analyzed thematically focusing on facilitators, challenges, and outcomes from the project. The following themes emerged as facilitators: access to land and animal feed, prior farming experience, and supportive family and friends. Some participants experienced challenges including animal/poultry diseases, livestock theft, “low quality” agricultural inputs, unfavorable weather conditions, limited finance and land to support livelihood activities, and difficulties working in groups. Several participants reported positive livelihood outcomes including improved food security, better nutrition, increased income, and improved mental health. However, some participants reported negative outcomes which took the form of a loss of money and time invested when their livestock died from disease. Although participants in the agricultural livelihood initiative faced challenges that reduced the profitability of their projects, the initiative was regarded as beneficial and worthwhile. These findings have relevance to the broader field of livelihood programming. Future interventions can draw from the experiences of our participants while also taking seriously into consideration the different circumstances of individuals in a targeted population so as to increase the chances of producing more positive outcomes.