Monica Tumusiime, a 63-year-old retired headteacher from Bushenyi-Ishaka Municipality, has found a new lease on life through mushroom farming, a venture she credits for sustaining her family.
Tumusiime, a beneficiary of the Emyooga program under the Bushenyi-Ishaka Municipality Women Entrepreneur Sacco, transitioned from the classroom to agriculture after her retirement.
With the seed capital she received from the Emyooga program, Tumusiime launched her mushroom-growing business, Siima Organic Produces, which has since become her family's main source of income.
"I received Shs 2 million from the Emyooga Fund. I used one million to construct a mushroom house and Shs 350,000 to buy mushroom gardens. I started it as a small project, but now it has expanded, and I'm even adding value to my mushroom produce," she said.
Tumusiime began with just 100 mushroom gardens but quickly expanded to about 400, allowing her to reap substantial profits.
"I started with 100 gardens, which cost Shs 350,000 each. At the end of three months, I earned Shs 2 million. After deducting expenses, I was left with Shs 1 million, which I reinvested. Now, I’m approaching Shs 6 million in three years because I consistently make Shs 2 million after expenses," she explained.
Regarding the market for her produce, Tumusiime confidently noted that mushrooms have a steady demand. She sells fresh mushrooms to local residents and customers outside her village. "I sell fresh mushrooms locally; each kilo is Shs 10,000, and half a kilo is Shs 5,000. For dried mushrooms, which I sell outside the area, a kilo costs Shs 70,000. I also supply local markets like Pick Hotel," she added.
Tumusiime's remarks came during a visit to her farm by Sacco leaders from the Kigezi Sub-region, organized by the Microfinance Support Centre (MSC) to train emerging Saccos by benchmarking against well-performing Saccos in the Ankole region.
She emphasized that mushroom cultivation has improved her financial status and enhanced her health due to the medicinal benefits of mushrooms.
"When I retired, I joined the Emyooga program, introduced by President Museveni. I started this venture to improve my health, and now it has expanded. I am sharing mushrooms with others and improving their health too," Tumusiime said.
Looking ahead, Tumusiime plans to expand her farm to 2,000 gardens and add value to her products by developing mushroom-based items, including wine. She believes this expansion will create job opportunities in her area.
"I'm targeting about 2,000 gardens. I want to add value to my mushrooms, such as making wine, which will increase the number of workers from two to around 20," she stated.
She also encouraged retirees, especially teachers, to engage in various projects to ensure their sustainability, starting small and growing over time.
"I urge retired people not to remain idle. Start small, and you can grow big. I started with 100 gardens, and now I have 400. In the next five years, I hope to have 1,000 or more gardens," Tumusiime advised.
Tumusiime's granddaughter, Acacia Murungi, noted the positive impact the mushroom business has had on their family.
She shared that the business has strengthened their bond with their grandmother, who now has more time to spend with them.
"When granny was still a teacher, she had less time for us. Since her retirement, she seems more relaxed, and we've learned how to grow mushrooms. I’m also planning to start my own garden because it's a profitable business," Murungi said.