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Dorine Oyella, 42 years old, a mother of seven children turned Gulu City, Lumumba Road joining Pece Stadium from criminal hub to modern urban city farming, just in one year, she has been recruited.
Twenty years ago, Gulu City was a living theater of horror between Uganda People Defense Forces (UPDF), and the Lord’s Resistance Army rebels (LRA), military campaign. However, Dorine Oyella who hails from Tee-Lugile village, Adilang Sub County 173.81 kilometers East of Gulu City. got land where she planted Groundnut and Beans to greenly beautification.
GULU CITY-WED. October 1, 2025.
(By Okumu Livingstone Langol-our Correspondent)
East or West, home is the best. At 7:00AM local African times, Dorine Oyella arrives on her daily road gang work on Lumumba streets, one and half kilometers East of Gulu City to sweep and maintain a road which used to be a criminal hub for street gangs usually called Aguu.
Born to family of peasants, Dorine Oyella realized the abandoned looming fertile two meters that stretches a distance of two hundred meters long on both side of Lumumba road in Gulu City is available, she moves quick to tilled it, later she planted Ground Nut, Bean and Green Vegetable, to a dismay of her boss Ogwang head of road gang in Pece Division.
Oyella’s luck in urban farming, in the bustling heart of Gulu City, attracted the attention of a group of women once known for breaking stones and mending roads to discover a new way to survive in urban farming. When asked what propelled her to realize the dream of urban farming. Her narrative is that farming in the middle of the city, for years, she and these Women worked as casual laborers on road gang, surviving on meager pay that often came late or not at all.
Adding that many of them were widows on the road, single mothers, and war survivors trying to rebuild their lives. However, when contracts ended and road construction projects showed, their income dried up. Faced with hunger and daily burden of caring for their families, the women regrouped and turned to urban farming. Vacant plots of land, once littered with plastic and debris, have been transformed into green garden sprouting beans, Maize, Vegetables, and even fruit trees.
“I decided not to wait for handouts and more” says Oyella Dorine, who owns three plantations along Lumumba road next to Gulu Vanguard Police Primary School in Pece Division. If I can plant food here in Gulu City, at least my children will not sleep hungry” Oyella observed.
Dorine Oyella, sweeping Gulu City street
Oyella’s constraint is among the many Gulu City dwellers, one day she woke up to find some people had sprayed chemicals in her Bean plantation, she did not know who those people were. But, from nowhere two boys showed up and told her that they are the ones who sprayed Jik and BBT chemical.
When she integrated them, and they introduced their names to me, one was called Wupe and the other one was called Josser. I have arrested them and taken them to Local Councilor of Holy Rosary called Joyce Oryem. But unfortunately, the LCI was going for cancer treatment in Koro Cancer Institute.
Joyce Oryem, the Area Local Council I confirmed that two boys have been arrested for spraying chemical substances in the garden of Dorine Oyella, her office is handling the case.
“Dorine Oyella, one of the road gangs in Pece Division arrested two youths and brought them for dispensary measures, only that I am not feeling well, we are going to solve the matter soon.” Local Councilor of Holy Rosary confirmed.
Oyella also decried that some people have turned to up-rooted her Grand Nut which is not yet ready for harvest.
“Today when I came to work, I found some of the Ground Nut had been up-rooted, the footmarks of the person who carried out the incident.” She told our Correspondent.
Dorine Oyella stand in her new found urban farm, where earn a million Uganda Shillings from her food items
In Gulu City, there are many women who have resorted to fetch water in Jerricans to earn a living. Those are not able to get plots of farm land in Gulu City.
Margret Adong, in her mid-30s she is among the women now sharing responsibilities: As some dig and plant, while others fetch water for irrigation using Jerrycans and recycled plastic containers. The small harvests not only put food on their tables, but also earn them some money from sales in Gulu City’s busy markets,
This was deserted road, was home to Aguu youths who terrorized people in the night, she says her problems emanated from road users who help themselves by living feces on the road
Okot Kolong Jr. medical officer in Gulu District is one of the local leaders when contacted who praised the initiative, noting that it provides food security, cleans up the city and creates employment.
Thus, Okot Kolong argued that the women face challenges such as limited access to land, lack of farming tools, and threats from landlords who want to reclaim the spaces they cultivate.
“As you told me that you come from Adilang Sub County, why can you go back home and cultivate bigger land rather than this small.” Okot questioned her.
Dorine Oyella, still her determination is unwavering. She revealed that what looked small she began as a survival tactic has grown into a symbol of resilience. A story of a woman who refused to be defined by hardship and instead turned barren two 2 meters by 200 meters spaces into sources of life.
Michael Tebere when contacted to comment on urban farming he referred our Correspondent to the National Regulation Planning Authorly of Local Government which says Local and city-level authorities are responsible for implementing the specific rules that govern urban farming. Their responsibilities include:
“Creating ordinances: Cities develop specific ordinances or bylaws that legalize, control, and regulate urban agricultural activities, including crop farming, animal rearing, and fish farming.
And permitting licensing Urban farmers are often required to obtain a permit for domestic use or a license for commercial purposes from the city council. The license specifies the regulations they must follow for production and sales.”
Francis Otim, City Councilor IV for Gulu City Layibi -bardege City Division when contacted for comment acknowledged urban farming in Gulu City because we encourage urban farming because the land in the City the population is big, we allow them to plant vegetable and fruit because when they plant Maize and Groundnut they don’t earn much. Majorly vegetable and fruits, poultry, piggery.
“We do permit and license Gulu City Urban farmers because Gulu City is one of Agricultural City, but and Agricultural activity should not be in wet land. You are not going to destroy the wetland because you are in urban farming.” Bardege-Layibi councilors warned.
Mike Ochan, Gulu City Environment Officer supported Gulu City Roads Gangs in their work for beautification and urban farming, as Dorine Oyella she is embracing urban farming. argues that let other roads gangs in Gulu City also plant crops as she is doing. Her Grand-Nut adds value to her family and part of food supplement.
“She doing well by beautifying Gulu City, when you walk along Lumumba road, you she her work as the worked of God, that is good, I implore her urban farming, it in line with Uganda National Regulation Planning Authority.” Mike Ochan acknowledged
Dorine Oyella urban farming in Gulu City today, the road gang women are no longer just seen with hoes and wheelbarrows on dusty roads. They are also seen in gardens, hands in the soil, growing hope one seed at a time.
