Our Story
When I bought this land, the soils were tired and overworked, and most of the trees had long been cleared.
I allowed nearly an acre to regenerate naturally, leaving it untouched since 2009. Slowly, life returned.
Today, the space has its own living rhythm — a cool, shaded ecosystem filled with the hum of insects and the songs of birds. Anyone who passes by can feel the difference.
Each time I stand quietly there, I am reminded how much can return when we simply give nature a chance.
As the land changed, so did the relationship between the farm, the surrounding community, and myself.
At first, some neighbours worried that I had simply grown a bush that would harbour snakes. I would jokingly tell them I had set it aside for the snakes — unless they preferred to host them in their own houses.
But with time, concern turned into appreciation. The forest became part of the community landscape. Today, if I even suggest cutting it down, there would likely be resistance.
Some neighbours now collect firewood and medicinal herbs from it, and the community has even given it a name: Balikuddembe Forest.
The name Balikuddembe loosely translates to "they are at peace." That is exactly what the forest has become — a place of quiet balance between people and nature.
This small forest is now both a shared resource and a living classroom.
It has shaped one of my central ideas: the Tree Billionaire Generation — a future where people grow wealth by growing trees, nurturing them because they sustain life.
They provide oxygen, food, medicine, fiber, shelter, fertile soils, and habitat for countless organisms, while restoring ecosystems and capturing carbon dioxide.
Like Balikuddembe Forest, your trees become sources of life, learning, and prosperity for generations.
When we care for the land, the land cares for us.
My Journey Through Science Journalism
My journey in science journalism began in 2002 through environmental reporting short courses at Makerere University, and the mentorship of Dr. Elizabeth Birabwa, then Chairperson of the Environmental Journalists Association of Uganda.
That same year, an article I wrote about the Nakivubo Channel for The Sunrise newspaper became a runner-up in an international journalism competition jointly organized by the World Bank Institute and the Government of Japan.
In 2003, this recognition took me to Kyoto, where I covered the World Water Forum.
Later that year, I received the Best Reporter on Water and Sanitation award from the African Ministers’ Council on Water (AMCOW) for another article on rainwater harvesting.
In 2005, we founded the Uganda Science Journalists Association (USJA), and I was elected Chair. The following year, I was elected Chairman of the Environmental Journalists Association of Uganda (EJAU). Over time, the two associations naturally merged under USJA, which evolved into a broader platform that also encompassed environmental journalism.
Since then, science journalism has taken me into communities across Uganda, Africa, and beyond.
Through this work, I have contributed to the growth of science journalism locally and globally, including through the World Federation of Science Journalists (WFSJ).
I have engaged with farmers, researchers, policymakers, and civil society actors — translating complex ideas into knowledge that communities can use.
These experiences shaped not only my skills as a journalist, but also my understanding of the deep connections between people, agriculture, and the environment.
In many ways, BOS is a continuation of that journey — a place where knowledge is put into practice.
Where the BOS Idea Was Born
Between 2006 and 2008, I worked as a Scenario Researcher with FAONILE, a project of the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), under the mentorship of Bart Hilhorst, a water and natural resources management specialist.
This work deepened my understanding of water and food systems, and laid a strong foundation for my work in sustainable agriculture.
In 2014 and 2015, while working as Africa Producer for Wild Dog Ltd, I contributed to a media consultancy for the Global Water Initiative East Africa (GWI-EA), alongside documentary filmmaker Andrew Johnstone.
It was during this work that I encountered the concept of the “Champion Farmer” — an individual whose practices can inspire and guide others.
A key focus of the project was producing more food with less water — what we called Water Smart Agriculture (WaSA).
Lessons from communities in Otuke (Uganda), Dera (Ethiopia), and Same (Tanzania) were particularly influential.
Under the mentorship of Dr. Alan Nicol, I co-authored a paper highlighting critical water management challenges in Uganda.
In 2019, I joined the Danish Development Research Network (DDRN) and began engaging with research initiatives at Gulu University.
It was there that I met Dr. Agatha Alidri, whose work on indigenous knowledge and vulnerable communities left a lasting impression on me.
These experiences reinforced a belief that modern science and indigenous wisdom can — and should — work together.
BOS – Bill of Senga is the embodiment of that belief, bringing together science journalism, environmental awareness, and hands-on sustainable farming.
What This Platform Is About
BOS – Bill of Senga is a living platform where I share lessons from my journey — combining science, experience, and experimentation on the land. It is a space for practical ideas and real-world insights on:
- check_circleSoil health and regenerative farming
- check_circleWater management at the farm level
- check_circleEnergy efficiency
- check_circleClimate-smart agriculture
- check_circleZero-waste systems
- check_circleTree nurturing and environmental restoration
- check_circleSmart and sustainable villages
- check_circleUrban agriculture and greener cities
BOS is about learning from the land, learning from each other, and using that knowledge to build more resilient and sustainable communities.