Ten-year-old Neula Namisi Nandutu was among the 20,000 people who attended the Harvest Money Expo 2025 from February 14-16 at Mandela National Stadium, Namboole.
Nandutu is a primary four pupil at St. Kizito Primary School in Bugolobi, Kampala.
However, the youngster wasn’t a showgoer like many children. She was an assistant exhibitor, helping out her aunt at her stall.
Nandutu was the face of Darling Coffee stall which was close to the Netherlands village. She welcomed visitors with a wide smile before taking them through the products they had, ranging from different kinds of processed coffee, cereals and cookies.
Thereafter, she would offer them samples while sharing with them the irresistible benefits.
Nandutu’s enticing words left most visitors with no choice but to buy her products. At times, she would get out of the stall and hawk the coffee around.
One of her clients who preferred anonymity said; “This girl is amazing and I have learnt a lot from her about coffee preparation. Her passion and business acumen are unequalled.”
And at the end of the three days, Nandutu says, most of their products had sold out.
Meanwhile, she says she loves farming, particularly coffee growing and for that, she aspires to become a successful coffee farmer in future.
No wonder, she knows much about coffee planting, weeding, post-harvest handling and processing; things she keeps learning from the family farm in Bududa district where she spends most of her holidays.
“We have a big coffee plantation in the village and I enjoy spending time there, learning different things,” she says.
“Coffee is sweet and healthy. It also has a big market since many people love it. We have made money at this expo and I will keep coming back,” she says.
Nandutu has attended the expo three times and she says; “I encourage parents to engage their children in what they do especially in farming because it’s fun.”
On how she balances business and books, she says she only helps out her aunt on weekends and during holidays. That aside, they also make and sell pumpkin seeds and different nuts.
