WAKISO, Uganda, April 17 (Xinhua) -- Every morning Flavia Munaba Nabugere tends her bamboo nursery. She gives each and every seedling in the bed the care needed for it to grow into a mature tree.
The former politician told Xinhua in a recent interview at her farm, which is some 8 km west of the capital Kampala, that bamboo farming is the new money making tree in Uganda that farmers must embrace.
Nabugere discovered her passion for bamboo farming after a trip to China in 2011 where she attended a Bamboo Forest Fair. She was then a minister of state for environment.
"While at the fair in China, I realized that a huge four-story exhibition center was all full of bamboo products. I was surprised," she said.
"When I was growing up, my teachers used the young bamboo stems to cane us whenever we went to school late. Years later, I have discovered that there is so much treasure hidden in those canes. "
Back from China, Nabugere took a keen interest in growing bamboo. She engaged the National Forestry Authority, a state agency charged with managing central forest reserves and supplying high quality forestry-related products and services to government, local communities and the private sector.
Determined to push on, Nabugere also formed the Uganda Bamboo Association, which brings together interested organizations and community members to share information, resources and technology in growing and adding value to bamboo in order to boost national wealth and improve ecosystem.
"The best thing to do was to mobilize people to plant bamboo at the village level. That is why we had to form an association," she said, noting that the association has attracted 300 members.
The association organizes demonstrations for members on how to plant bamboo. It also sensitizes them about the economic benefits of the plant.
"We tell them that the root system of bamboo binds the soils, protects landslides, purifies water and since it grows very fast, it helps in absorbing carbon dioxide and releasing oxygen."
In her home town, in the eastern district of Kaliro Nabugere, there is a bamboo forest. She transfers the seedlings from her demonstration farm near the capital Kampala.
At the demonstration farm, Nabugere has set up machinery for making bamboo vinegar, which is used in the making of body lotion, liquid soap, medicine and cosmetic cream.
"The byproduct we get while making vinegar is tar, gas and biodiesel. However, we still lack machinery to purify these byproducts," Nabugere said.
She said bamboo is a source of raw material for construction poles and fodder for animals, among others.
Nabugere has inspired other people into the bamboo farming. Government officials and scholars in top universities in the country visit her demonstration farm to understand what bamboo farming entails.
She said recently government gave her 10 acres of land in the central district of Nakasongola to set up a better demonstration farm.
Her greatest success has been the restoration of a wetland in eastern Uganda which had been completely destroyed by the residents.
"Within seven years, I was able to plant enough bamboo on about eight acres to restore the depleted wetland."
Ezra Ibanda, the proprietor of Ezzy Bamboo Crafts Centre in Kampala, drew inspiration from Nabugere. Ibanda specializes in making all forms of crafts out of bamboo.
"Bamboo is the real deal. The products from bamboo stems such as key holders, ear rings, table organizers, table mats, beds, chairs, phone holders and many others sell like hot cake," Ibanda noted.
"I'm not regretting taking this choice. I am earning from bamboo and at the same time I am saving the environment. I am also not job-hunting," he said, urging unemployed youth to make use of any idle land in their home villages.
Abraham Musobya, another member of the association said he received training from Chinese experts on how to make carpentry products from bamboo.
"At first the competition was too high in the carpentry industry. Without enough capital some of us could not start up a good business," Musobya said.
"Right now I am doing very well. There is good business in bamboo products. The raw material is available and the products from bamboo have ready market. We sell to both local and international buyers," he added.
In recent years, bamboo products continue to gain prominence in Uganda. Some private companies have started adding value by packaging bamboo shoots, which is a traditional delicacy among the Bagisu people in eastern Uganda.
Other innovating entrepreneurs are making bamboo bicycle frames which fetch revenue on the international market.
