When he lost his father at the age of three years, Douglas Mirembe’s mother thought that her children would not make it in life. However, through hard work and determination, Mirembe’s mother and his maternal grandmother who were both peasant farmers from Rwengaju Subcounty in Fort Portal City struggled to raise him and his siblings.

“They could grow maize and do odd jobs to ensure that we stayed in school and had something to eat. Through the grace of God, I was able to study up to university,” he says as he recalls the dark days.

Upon graduating, Mirembe chose to concentrate on small-scale agriculture. He reared goats, rabbits and practiced poultry farming. He says that he never bothered to apply for jobs, since he knew that it was not an easy task. At that time, Mirembe did not think of taking farming to another level, probably because he had no one to guide him. Besides, his practical skills were limited. It was after he got the opportunity to participate in the Work Readiness Programme that he came to appreciate that he could utilise the skills acquired to take on agriculture as a lucrative business.

“The training sessions were hands on. I fell in love with my profession, and I realised that it was time for me to concentrate on agriculture, “he says.

Mirembe is gradually expanding his business empire. He has established a farm in Kamwenge, where he grows coffee and maize. He has also purchased two cows, twenty hens and three goats.

“Agri- business is the way to go. Agricultural products have ready market. People eat food on a daily basis. It is a lifetime job that other young people should try out. The training has been an eye opener to me,” Mirembe says.

Before attending the training, Mirembe says he kept both animals and birds in the same structure. However, the skills he acquired have helped him to construct separate standard structures. He says that he has no plans of applying for jobs elsewhere because he believes that it is hard to get a job without paying a bribe.

“For now, I want to concentrate on agriculture. I have a big business plan and skills. The challenge is that I lack capital but I’m sure that when I get a financial boost, my business will grow,” Mirembe says.