Uganda Refugees Farm Insects to Feed Families, Fight Hunger

When Kanane Bikanyale fled violence in the Democratic Republic of Congo, he left behind his chickens and the life he knew. In Uganda's Kyaka II refugee settlement, he found something unexpected: a way to raise livestock again using bugs instead of expensive feed.

Bikanyale now farms black soldier fly larvae in modified jerrycans near his home, feeding them to chickens and fish while using their waste as fertilizer. The larvae eat household scraps and crop leftovers, turning trash into nutrition at almost no cost.

For Kavira Musabingo, who arrived at the settlement in 2018 with her daughter and five grandchildren, insect farming meant the difference between hunger and abundance. Her family had almost nothing when they fled the DRC, struggling to secure even basic meals.

Today, she provides chicken, eggs, and vegetables for her family while earning income from selling the surplus. She started by joining a women's group learning to raise black soldier flies, selling her first larvae to cover urgent expenses before building her own home operation.

The transformation comes at a critical time. Kyaka II houses nearly 140,000 refugees, most displaced by years of conflict in neighboring DRC. As more people arrived, land plots shrank to just 30 by 30 meters, forcing families to grow food and build homes on spaces smaller than a tennis court.

About 500 people now work in 32 insect farming groups across the camp. The insects require far less space and water than traditional livestock, with trays stacking vertically to maximize limited land.

The Ripple Effect

The benefits reach beyond individual families. More than 10 schools now run insect farms, including Bukere and Kako primary schools. A trial involving 342 children who ate mealworm-enriched porridge showed remarkable results: the children grew taller and showed improved body composition.

Dorothy Nakimbugwe, a professor at Makerere University, explains that insects offer crucial nutrition for vulnerable groups. Some species pack high levels of protein, iron, and zinc, nutrients often missing from refugee diets.

The project, called RefIPro and organized by Danish nonprofit Raise, has trained farmers since 2018. Edward Ssebbombo designed equipment from recycled materials, including a pedal-powered sieve and sorters made from motorcycle wheel spokes, keeping costs low for struggling families.

Challenges remain, particularly finding enough organic waste to feed the insects in a food-insecure setting. But the families pressing forward prove that even in displacement, innovation and determination can create pathways out of hunger.

What started as a survival strategy is becoming a model for sustainable food production in one of the world's most challenging environments.