Denied education led Masaba to his dream field

At dawn, as the first rays of sunlight break through the cloudy horizon, 35‑year‑old Masaba climbs onto his tractor—ready to plough hope and income into his family’s future.

During planting season, his workday stretches from 7:00 AM until 6:00 PM, serving tens of farmers who book his services to prepare their land. “I plough over 10 acres of farmland a day,” he explains. “Sometimes it’s one client with 10 acres, other times it’s several clients with smaller plots.”

Masaba, a father of four, has become a household name in Nankoma Sub‑county. His reputation rests on the heavy vehicle and tractor operation skills he gained through a two‑year course sponsored by World Vision in 2017.

His journey was far from easy. Masaba’s dream of formal education ended abruptly when he could not afford to sit for his Primary Seven national exams.

Growing up in a family of 17 children, with parents who were smallholder farmers struggling to raise school fees, education was often out of reach. “We were always sent away from school for fees and other requirements,” he recalls. “Sometimes we stayed home for weeks, waiting for our parents to raise the money.”

Only two of his siblings made it to Senior Four. Most dropped out, and many of the girls were married off early, as is customary in his community when education becomes unaffordable.

In 2017, World Vision introduced the Skills for Transformation programme in Nankoma to address rising school dropout rates and their consequences—teenage pregnancies, substance abuse, and the cycle of poverty. Masaba was among those selected. “My mother and I prayed daily to be chosen,” he remembers. “When the final list was released, I was overjoyed. I knew the Lord had heard our prayers.”

Recognising the demand for tractor operators in the sugarcane‑rich Busoga region, Masaba chose to study Heavy Vehicle and Tractor Operations. He excelled in the course and quickly found opportunities, as few in his community had formal training in this field.

Immediately after completing his training, Masaba was entrusted with operating and managing a new tractor in his village. “That job was my chance to help my family live a better life. Completing the course made me the hope of my household,” he says.

His dedication and skill earned him trust and a growing client base. As his business expanded, he trained and mentored two of his brothers, who now operate tractors in the community.

From his earnings, Masaba has built a home for his family and ensures his children receive the best education available. “My dream is for my children to become professionals and responsible citizens, everything I once hoped to be but couldn’t.”

Masaba is one of 50 youth supported by World Vision through the Skills for Transformation initiative in Nankoma Area Programme. “With this youth skilling initiative, we’ve witnessed firsthand the transformative power of providing the right opportunities to vulnerable communities,” says Janet Namutosi, World Vision’s Area Programme Coordinator for Nankoma.

Story by: Mungu Jakisa Brian- Communications Officer