Nancy Mugimba Walimbwa, raised in a farming family, developed a passion for agriculture early. Now the ESAFF Uganda’s national coordinator, she empowers smallscale farmers, especially women.

Born as a fifth child out of seven to the late Dr Stephen Ludaaga, a veterinary doctor, and Ms Eugenie Ludaaga, a retired statistician, now practicing farming in Kamuli District, Ms Nancy Mugimba Walimbwa was exposed to farm work at an early age. Her parents, she says, nurtured her interest in agriculture.
She recalls: “We used to travel to the village for Christmas holidays and my parents ensured that we were involved in weeding, harvesting coffee, picking eggs, feeding cows and goats, and since we were many, these were fun activities that we always looked forward to taking part in.”
Looking back at her school life, Ms Mugimba believes her interest in agriculture was evident from the onset.
She explains: “I always looked forward to the agriculture classes while at school and I remember I once scored 100 percent in an agriculture test and people wondered who gets all the marks in an agriculture test. But I just really loved the subject.”
Ms Mugimba is today the national coordinator at Eastern and Southern Africa Small Scale Farmers’ Forum Uganda (ESAFF – Uganda) with work experience spanning more than 15 years. Her interest and love for farming did not stop at home but followed her to school.
She attended Nakasero Primary School, Gayaza High School where she served as a farm prefect, and Makerere University where she pursued a Bachelor of Community Forestry. She later enrolled for a masters in Development Studies at Uganda Christian University.
She adds that her mother played a crucial role in preparing her for today. “Despite her busy schedule, she tutored us and ensured that we got good grades at school later exposing us to the working environment.”
Ms Mugimba’s contribution in the field of agriculture is evidenced by her work with women in rural areas, girls and men of diverse backgrounds and age groups to constructively redefine “farming with nature.”
She admits: “I feel fortunate to be working with vulnerable farming communities through ESAFF Uganda, where I can make a tangible impact on their lives and consequently contribute to national development.”

Role models
Reading a good book is one of those hobbies that Ms Mugimba indulges in. The author, John Maxwell, she says highlights teachings on leadership that stir meditation and a desire to become a better leader.
Her parents, however, were her first mentors. They depicted virtues of, “hard work and service to others,” she says, adding that they initiated her into the work culture and believed in her potential to achieve anything as a girl child. Her father always presented equal opportunities for the boys and girls.
In her work journey, she has crossed path with professionals such as Ms Stella Grace Lutalo, the programme coordinator for Humundi, Pastor June Lutwama, the executive director at Appointed Anointed Accomplished Woman (AAAW) and Pastor Betty Kamugira, the founder of Families of Valor Ministries International. Ms Mugimba says she has received invaluable lessons from them through their lifelong wisdom and guidance.
Ms Mugimba believes that if one is to become an exceptional leader, they should build a network of meaningful relationships.

It is not all rosy
Ms Mugimba states that challenges are an inevitable part for most leaders and their ability to address them professionally is key.
She notes: “As a leader, I have learnt that challenges are part of life and that one should face them as they unfold.”
The leader recognises that global and national events sometimes present challenges that were originally unforeseen.
Ms Mugimba particularly recounts navigating the harsh times that were brought by the Covid-19 pandemic: “Our work was slightly affected since there was reduction in funding, we were not able to carry out our activities as planned within the target communities and we had to maintain meaningful connections with farmers’ virtual platforms.”
Farmer leaders she says had to learn to use online conference platforms such as Zoom.
The staff had to work remotely, and since this was the first time they were doing so, she had to trust the team’s commitment to complete tasks while working remotely.
“We used the time to learn and explore new possibilities of remote working,” she says.
In addition to that, community volunteers came in handy in supporting farmers with running projects.
She has learnt to process such challenging situations as opportunities for growth and learning. She shares: “I have learnt to keep my head up, seek advice from other professionals and pray over issues that seem beyond me.”
She advises women leaders to always seek knowledge and wisdom in order to make effective decisions through reading and interacting with seasoned leaders.
Every leader she adds faces unique situations, and no amount of preparation can make one predict those challenges. What truly matters is developing essential skills, cultivating a growth mindset, and maintaining awareness to navigate leadership roles with confidence.

Keeping on
Mugimba’s biggest desire right now, is to see more rural women and farmers improve their livelihood.
“There is a deep sense of fulfillment in witnessing tangible improvements such as a household rising out of poverty and hunger.”
Working closely with rural women farmers has also shaped Ms Mugimba’s perspective on life.
“I have developed a deep respect for small-scale farmers who work tirelessly to produce healthy food for the population, often without relying on harmful chemical pesticides and fertilisers,” she says.
She looks at their commitment to providing safe healthy food as admirable and it has strengthened her commitment in advocating for better agricultural practices, policies and solutions that are environmentally friendly.

Mentorship
Ms Mugimba says has supported countless women both at her workplace and beyond to gain confidence to be the best version of themselves and actively participate in leadership.
She also says she has nurtured women farmers and there is visible transformation from increased collaboration within households leading to reduced conflicts. They now have a better understanding of their rights, which she explains has empowered them to make informed decisions.
At the workplace, Ms Mugimba encourages women to be confident in their contributions, take on leadership roles and be the best they can be at any given time.
She shares: “I endeavour to communicate to my staff about opportunities of coaching and mentoring, and assist them to improve their skills and realise their full potential. I encourage them to step out of their comfort zones and take on new challenges.”

Career achievement
In 2015, Ms Mugimba was selected as an African Women in Agricultural Research and Development (AWARD) fellow.
She was among the five representatives from Uganda to attend this prestigious, competitive fellowship for women in agriculture across Africa.
She highlights the AWARD fellowship as a pivotal moment in her career stating that, “it provided me with training in leadership, conflict resolution, research and mentorship which enhanced my professional development.”
During this fellowship, the leader resolved to bridge the gap between farming communities and research entities and to advocate for the recognition of farmers’ indigenous knowledge as part of the solution to issues of hunger and malnutrition.

Managing teams
Working with a large and diverse membership of 12,000 small-scale farmers across 54 districts at ESAFF Uganda is not a simple task.
Ms Muginba says teamwork, self-evaluation and effective management practices, while empowering, and providing resources and support to other leaders at community level help her manage the team.
She cites emotional intelligence as a crucial part in leadership explaining that, “as a leader, you need to be self-aware and understand how your emotions influence others and respond to situations with empathy.”
Ms Mugimba also says that team building, conflict resolution understanding strengths and weaknesses of the team, are ways to foster collaboration, growth and innovation.
She emphasises that leaders should always work towards self-improvement in areas where they fall short and continue learning.

ON A LIGHTER NOTE…
Birthday wishes for this year An uninterrupted quiet vacation and shopping.

High heels or pumps?
Pumps in any colour.
Last time you had a good night’s sleep Maybe during the Christmas break.

How do you spoil yourself when you feel you deserve it?
I would definitely go out and eat good food. I love roasts.