Knowledge fuels change
For over a decade, Energypedia has shared free, reliable energy expertise with the world.
We’re now facing a serious funding gap.
Help keep this platform alive — your donation, big or small, truly matters!
Thank you for your support
Hodari Foundation
- Year Founded: 2020
- Location: Kyaka II Refugee Settlement, Western Uganda
- Energy Solutions and Services: Solar drying for mushroom value addition, nutrition-focused food production (porridge flour, mushroom powder, and juice)
- Thematic Areas of Focus: Solar energy, food security, agriculture, sustainable livelihoods
- Website: https://hodarifoundation.org/
- Contact: info@hodarifoundation.org
Hodari Foundation's Impact Story
Hodari Foundation was founded by refugee practitioners from Congolese and Rwandan origin who share a deep passion for agriculture, nutrition and sustainable livelihoods. Having fled their homelands due to ethnic persecution and mineral-related conflicts, they have lived in Kyaka II Refugee Settlement in Western Uganda for over a decade. Their long-term engagement with both refugee and host communities exposed critical nutrition challenges-particularly among pregnant women, lactating mothers, and children under 12. These groups often rely on diets dominated by carbohydrates and lack adequate protein, iron and folate.
Recognizing this, Hodari Foundation is a sustainable, nutrition-driven enterprise created to address these challenges. The organization identified oyster mushrooms as a promising local solution, high in nutrients but often lost to spoilage due to poor handling and a lack of preservation technology.
Hodari solves this problem by harnessing solar energy. Using a solar dryer capable of drying up to 500 kilograms of mushrooms at a time, the foundation significantly reduces post-harvest losses while ensuring year-round availability. Dried mushrooms are then processed into porridge flour, mushroom powder, and mushroom juice – affordable, nutritious products designed to improve maternal and child health. These products deliver essential proteins, iron and vitamins, bridging a critical dietary gap for vulnerable households.
Hodari’s growth has been supported by Ashden, which provided an interest-free loan payable in phases to fund the purchase of the solar dryer and expanded production capacity. This has better positioned the foundation to meet increasing community demand. The partnership with Ashden has been catalytic, enabling Hodari to transition from a small-scale initiative to a growing social enterprise with tangible community impact.
To date, the initiative has made measurable progress on several fronts:
- Reduced post-harvest waste: Solar drying has minimized spoilage and stabilized mushroom supply throughout the year.
- Job creation: Employment opportunities have been created in mushroom collection, processing, and distribution.
- Improved nutrition: Affordable mushroom-based products now provide accessible protein and micronutrients to women and children.
- Increased farmer income: Local mushroom growers benefit from reliable market access and fair prices.
Together, these outcomes demonstrate a model that balances social impact, environmental sustainability and economic viability.
Success Factors
Hodari’s success is grounded in three major strengths:
- Value addition and innovation: The strategic use of solar drying technology has transformed mushroom production from a subsistence activity into a viable enterprise.
- Community alignment: Solutions were designed around the community’s real nutritional needs, ensuring local acceptance and trust.
- Partnerships and technical support: Collaborations with organizations such as Ashden have provided both financial and technical momentum to scale operations.
Future Plans and Support Needs
Looking ahead, Hodari Foundation aims to scale up production and diversify its product line into fortified blends suitable for porridge and institutional feeding programs. Strengthening distribution networks within and beyond the refugee settlement is a key priority.
To realize these ambitions, Hodari seeks additional capital investment, technical expertise in food processing, and strategic partnerships with NGOs, health agencies and government institutions. Such support will help the organization expand its reach, enhance food security and improve community nutrition outcomes across Uganda’s refugee and host populations.
