Forming Leaders in Integral Ecology for Rural Transformation in Uganda
Who Are We?
Bethany Land Institute provides Uganda's rural poor with a two-year, residential integrated education program in regenerative agriculture and economic entrepreneurship.
Inspired by Pope Francis' 2015 encyclical Laudato Si', BLI employs the notion and practice of Integral Ecology to empower local students and communities to combat three major challenges in Uganda: environmental degradation, food insecurity, and poverty.
BLI works within the
Laudato Si' Action Platform, actively pursuing the seven
Laudato Si' Goals. We recognize the inherent connection between the cry of the Earth and the cry of the poor, and our program equally recognizes the importance of education, environmentalism, and sound economics.
"Strategies for a solution demand an integrated approach to combating poverty, restoring dignity to the excluded, and at the same time protecting nature."
Laudato Si' 139
Our Three Pillars
“I want to be a part of the change I want to see, mainly the restoration of Mother Earth.”
- Paul Muzalugamba, BLI Commissioned Caretaker
BLI News and Information
It was a busy and exciting summer at BLI. We hosted visitors from across the world to engage in our next five-year strategic plan; we commissioned our second cohort of Caretakers; we hosted students from Notre Dame for an immersive study abroad experience; and so much more. Click below to read the full recap.
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This summer, 38 seminarians from across Uganda joined the current Caretaker trainees on BLI’s campus to learn about integral ecology and creation care. The seminarians lived alongside the trainees for the entire month of June, joining in the trainees’ work in Mary’s Farm, Martha’s Market, and Lazarus’ Forest. Their modules ranged from Pastoral Leadership and…
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On August 16th, 2017, Mike Ssegalunyo walked onto BLI’s Kiwumpa campus, changing his entire life’s trajectory. His uncle, the late Father Anthony Rweza (one of the three BLI founders) had invited him. Mike remembers Father Anthony telling him BLI was building a farm based on an entirely new model, using only organic principles. Mike said…
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BLI continues to forge new partnerships with local communities. Most recently, BLI hosted individuals from C-Care Uganda, a speciality hospital located in the country’s capital city, Kampala. The C-Care team was thrilled to travel out to BLI’s campus, many bringing their young children along, to see a campus that is increasingly becoming a regional hub for…
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“Always stand back up when you fall.” Paul Muzalugamba, a BLI Caretaker officially commissioned in July 2023, shares this lesson as he reflects back on his first year operating his own integral ecology farm. While this first year has included numerous difficulties–including unpredictable weather and original hesitancy from the surrounding community to embrace a new…
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Flavia Nabaggala, a BLI Caretaker commissioned in July 2023, grew up as one of twenty-two children. After graduating from middle school—the first in her family to do so—Flavia had to drop out of school to help her mother manage the household. While she yearned to continue to go to school with her classmates—many of whom…
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Read the official newsletter in its original formatting here. Dear BLI Family, We are excited to update you on the continued growth and activity happening at BLI. With Cohort I Caretakers having graduated and started their own integral ecology farms across Uganda, we are starting to see BLI’s mission embraced by communities across the country.…
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Cohort I has officially graduated from BLI. They were commissioned on July 29, 2023. All 8 Caretakers have started their own farms in various villages across Uganda. Each Caretaker is a member of the SACCO (Savings and Credit Co-Op) and received a small loan to begin their project. Check out Caretaker Alice Nanfuka’s project here…
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BLI was recently featured in Notre Dame Magazine’s Summer 2023 issue. The story follows Caretaker Alice Nanfuka while also sharing in-depth information about BLI’s founding, journey, and mission. We are thankful for the entire Notre Dame team for sharing this great piece of journalism. You can read or listen to the story here: https://magazine.nd.edu/stories/start-small/. The…
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Dear friends and partners of Bethany Land Institute (BLI), I have been thinking about you over the Thanksgiving weekend. We at BLI have a lot to be grateful for this year. As I reflect on what has been an extraordinary year for BLI, my heart is filled with gratitude for all that has been realized and…
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