Top 40 Under 40: Matovu helps urban dwellers to grow food in small spaces

Paul Matovu, 32, lost his parents at seven years. He grew up with his grandparents deep in Kassanda district. 

While there, he fell in love with agriculture. When he moved to Kampala for his university education, he was touched by how urban dwellers struggled to get food. 

He devised Vertical and Micro Gardening (VMG), a space-saving way to grow food in urban settings. 

In four years, this social enterprise has scooped 10 international awards and Matovu, a 32-year-old has grown it from 1,000 dollars to a worth of 50,000 dollars.

His farms and extension services have so far impacted over 1,000 homesteads around Kampala and Wakiso districts.

He also employs 11 permanent youths including gardeners, extension workers, an accountant, sales and marketing personnel, administrator, machine operators and manager.

Matovu has initiated and implemented various projects in agribusiness to impact more people. 

He says they have been an opportunity for him to reassure communities and leaders that with combined effort, societies can solve their problems. 

“I have used the knowledge and skills to support fellow young people to start and run their ventures,” he adds.

At VMG, Matovu provides overall direction for the enterprise. He makes major business decisions, creates strategic partnerships and fundraising, manages the overall operations and resources of a company, and ensures growth for all employees.

What makes Yiga tick?

“I have built my profile and company to a global face,” he notes adding that he has been to many countries, facilitated at business and innovation conferences and won international awards all while expanding his social networks.

“I have learnt a lot of things and skills to help me succeed in life,” he stresses

Education background

Matovu went to Kyamasansa Primary School in the current Kassanda district and St. John Bosco Katende for his primary education.  

For his O levels, he attended St. Maria Goretti SSS Katende from where he moved to St. Joseph’s SSS Naggalama for A’levels.  

He graduated with a bachelor’s of forestry from Makerere University.

Career ladder

During his senior six vacation, Matovu traded in agricultural produce. 

He would buy beans and maize from farmers in Kassanda and sell them in Kampala.  

He later managed his uncle’s farm before joining a construction company as a casual labourer.

In 2011, while at campus, Matovu co-founded IDEAS For Uganda, an environmental non-governmental organization.  

It later spread to eight other universities where this organization still operates. Each chapter has over 100 members, mostly foresters. Over the years, it has brought together thousands of volunteers. 

Their activities include; Tree planting, environment conservation and proper waste management.

 In 2014, Matovu founded VMG and in 2015, he worked as an agricultural extension officer with Caritas Kiyinda Mityana Diocese. 

In 2017, he co-founded SPOUTS Uganda, a project through which they donated and installed filters in rural schools around the country. 

Matovu has also served on several boards for small NGOs and Small and Medium Enterprises in Uganda.  

He has worked with international social ventures like Kinosol to help them set up in Uganda.

On the other hand, Matovu has scooped awards including; 2016 Winner of the Social Impact Award; United Social Ventures, 2017 Popular Choice Award Winner of Climate CoLab Contest; Massachusetts Institute of Technology and 2017 McGinnity Family Foundation grant.  

In 2018, he scooped Tony Elemelu Entrepreneurship Program award and Young African Entrepreneurs Competition award among others. 

What makes him tick? 

“I believe in researching and learning. Secondly, I study trends which help me to make informed decisions and more concrete long-term strategies,” he says

Matovu adds that he doesn’t make rushed decisions but avoids procrastinating. 

Inspiration 

If given 20 minutes with anyone in the world, Matovu would spend it with Bill Drayton because he believes in social entrepreneurship and public service. 

“I am also inspired by his creativity and inter-disciplinary approach to social problems,” he shares.

However, If he is to choose to come back to life as someone else, that would be Thomas Sankara for his charismatic leadership style and efforts in boosting the literacy rate of the people in his nation.

Sneak peek into the future

Matovu looks at dedicating more of his time to building VMG to be the leading innovator in urban farming in Africa. 

“Within the next 10 years, I see VMG breaking urban farming barriers in major African cities and beyond,” he says.

He also plans to mentor and coach over 500 young leaders and connect them to education opportunities.