Meet Susan Adong, Gulu University Alumna TAGDev 1.0 Participant

Susan Adong, the eldest of six children, comes from Igulu Village in Akokoro sub-county, Apac district, located in the Lango sub-region, Northern Uganda. Raised by a single mother, Susan’s journey to higher education was marked by perseverance and resilience. In 2019, with the unwavering support of her mother, she graduated with a Bachelor of Agriculture and Community Development from Kampala University.

However, the path to this degree was not easy. “The journey was tough,” Susan recalls. “I was often sent home due to unpaid fees, and the stress on my mother and me was immense. My mother had high hopes that I would secure a job immediately after graduation to help support our family.”

Her Journey with TAGDev in Transformative Education at Gulu University.
Despite her degree, Susan struggled to find employment in her field. With her focus on supporting her siblings, furthering her education seemed out of reach. “I wanted to help my mother, but job opportunities were scarce,” she says. Her fortunes changed when she came across a call for applications for the TAGDev 1.0 scholarship, a partnership between RUFORUM and Gulu University, for the 2021/2022 academic year. Encouraged by the focus on young women from economically disadvantaged backgrounds, Susan applied.

“It felt like a dream come true,” she added. “I didn’t know anyone, but I was awarded a fully funded scholarship to pursue a Master’s in Food Security and Community Nutrition at Gulu University.” The scholarship not only covered her tuition but also provided a stipend, which Susan and her colleagues wisely saved. This financial discipline allowed them to start a business while still in school.

In January 2023, Susan graduated with her master’s degree, but her journey had already taken a transformative turn long before that.

Adong the Co-Founder of Gordon’s Agricultural Organization Uganda Limited (GAO-UG).
At 27 years of age, Susan is now an entrepreneur and co-founder of Gordon’s Agricultural Organization Uganda Limited (GAO-UG), based in Lira with operations across northern Uganda. No longer searching for a job, Susan is now creating jobs—her company employs over 40 young people within the agricultural value chain.

GAO-UG supports farmers by providing market access, climate-smart agricultural inputs, and technical services, including borehole drilling, extension services, and credit support. “We focus on empowering young women and differently-abled individuals across the agricultural value chain,” she proudly states.

Susan’s entrepreneurial success has also enabled her to support her siblings financially, ensuring that they can pursue their own educational goals. “I’m happy with our progress,” Susan shares. “One of my brothers has just finished senior six and is on track to join university this year. I’m comfortably supporting my mother and siblings, thanks to RUFORUM’s support.” Her gratitude is palpable as she reflects on the impact of the TAGDev program on her life.

Sharing Her Story at the RUFORUM Triennial Conference

Susan sharing her story during the RUFORUM Conference in Namibia

Susan’s inspiring journey was highlighted at the RUFORUM 2nd Triennial Conference, held from 12th to 16th August 2024 at Mercure Hotel in Windhoek, Namibia. The conference celebrated RUFORUM’s 20 years of contributions to research, community development, and transformational agricultural education in Africa.

Susan is one of the 27 percent of TAGDev 1.0 graduates who have started their own businesses, collectively employing 1,600 people. Her story exemplifies the potential of the TAGDev program to drive meaningful change in Africa, and it also offers hope for the newly launched TAGDev 2.0, which will expand its reach to 12 African universities from the original partners, Gulu and Egerton Universities.
TAGDev 2.0 is set to continue fostering an inclusive educational environment, empowering students from diverse backgrounds to contribute to Africa’s growth and development.