Turning trash to cash with Black Soldier Flies, Marula Proteen Farms

Every day, Kampala produces 3,800 tons of waste. Seventy percent of that is organic material, rotting food scraps, market refuse, and agricultural byproducts that traditionally end up in landfills, polluting the environment and creating health hazards. The Kampala Capital City Authority can only collect 40% of this organic waste, leaving a massive gap in waste management.

But what if this “trash” could become treasure? That’s exactly what Marula Protein is proving possible.

The Problem Turned Opportunity

Founded in 2018 as a research project, Marula Proteen has grown into a groundbreaking company with three operational centers. Their mission is captured in a simple but powerful slogan: “Cleaning cities, feeding millions, and employing the future.”

At the heart of their operation is an unlikely hero: the black soldier fly. These insects are nature’s recyclers, capable of breaking down organic waste and transforming it into valuable products that Uganda’s agricultural sector desperately needs.

The Triple-Win Solution

Luswabi Joseph, the 23-year-old special project manager with an agricultural background, explains that Marula Proteen was born from observing three critical problems:

First, the waste crisis. With thousands of tons of organic waste generated daily and limited collection capacity, Kampala was drowning in trash.

Second, unreliable agricultural inputs. Farmers struggled to find consistent sources of quality fertilizer and protein feed. What was available, often silver fish adulterated with sand, was expensive and unreliable.

Third, youth unemployment. Young people needed opportunities in growing industries that wouldn’t displace existing jobs.

Marula Proteen’s black soldier fly operation addresses all three challenges simultaneously.

From Waste to Wealth: The Process

The magic happens through a carefully orchestrated process that works with the natural lifecycle of the black soldier fly, not to be confused with common houseflies. These beneficial insects don’t spread disease and are incredibly fertile, with each female laying 500 to 1,000 eggs.

Step 1: Collection and Preparation Organic waste is collected from markets and brought to the facility. It’s processed and placed in drums where it ferments. The fermented waste is then mixed with agro-byproducts to create a uniform “rearing substrate.”

Step 2: Feeding the Larvae The substrate is introduced into rearing crates where black soldier fly larvae go to work. In just one week, yes, only seven days, these tiny creatures completely consume the organic waste, breaking it down with their enzymes and excreting nutrient-rich frass (insect waste).

Step 3: Harvesting and Separation On day eight, the larvae are separated from the frass. The frass becomes the base for organic fertilizer, while the larvae move on to further processing.

Step 4: Creating Pro-Feed. The larvae are thoroughly washed and blanched in hot water to eliminate microorganisms without damaging the protein content. They’re then dried in industrial dryers, producing a feed with 42% crude protein and 23% crude fat, the full-fat pro-feed.

Step 5: Oil Extraction Some larvae go through an oil expeller machine, which extracts the fat and creates two products: pro-oil and a defatted protein concentrate with over 50% protein content.

Step 6: Fertilizer Enhancement The frass undergoes further maceration, allowing microbial activity to generate heat that naturally eliminates pathogens. The fertilizer is then enhanced with trichoderma (a beneficial fungus) and chitin (a natural biological pesticide derived from the insect exoskeletons), creating a uniquely effective product.

Three Products, Endless Possibilities

Marula Proteen’s three main products each serve critical needs in Uganda’s agricultural sector:

• Pro-Feed: Currently serving pig farmers as their biggest client base, the feed is also attracting interest from feed mixers. The full-fat version provides excellent nutrition, while the high-protein defatted version offers flexibility for different livestock needs.

• Pro-Oil: With proven antibacterial properties, this oil is being used by pig farmers and feed manufacturers. Its natural health benefits make it particularly valuable for animal nutrition.

• Pro-Fertilizer: While suitable for all crops, Marula Proteen has focused particularly on the coffee industry, where farmers have both the resources and land area to benefit from bulk fertilizer purchases. The addition of beneficial fungi and natural pesticides makes this fertilizer stand out in the market.

Impressive Production Scale

Currently operating with equipment that’s nearing the end of its lifecycle, Marula Proteen processes 350 tons of waste monthly, producing four tons of feed and 60 tons of fertilizer. But this is just the beginning.

With new machinery being installed, the company expects to double these figures immediately. Looking ahead to their planned expansion into a larger 2,500 square meter facility, their projections are ambitious: 200 tons of fertilizer, 30 tons of feed, and 7 tons of oil monthly, while diverting 95 tons of waste every single day from Kampala’s landfills.

The Breeding Innovation

At the heart of the operation is the high-tech breeding center in Namanve, managed by Kayanja Nathan Cornelius. This climate-controlled facility ensures consistent production of larvae through careful management of the fly lifecycle.

Pupae (the inactive stage before adult flies emerge) are housed in “love cages”, specially designed enclosures that encourage mating. The cages feature colored cloth that attracts the flies and containers with “attractant substance” that encourages egg-laying nearby. A fogging system maintains optimal temperatures for breeding success.

Once eggs are collected, they’re carefully weighed to track the performance of each cage, then placed on “hatchling showers”, metallic frames that hold the eggs over starter feed in incubators. Within four days, all eggs hatch, and by day five, the larvae are ready to be introduced to the bio-waste at the treatment facility.

The company also runs an outgrower scheme in Kangurumira, empowering farmers to produce larvae themselves and obtain fertilizer for their own use, creating a distributed production model that spreads the benefits beyond the central facility.

Why Black Soldier Flies?

The choice of black soldier flies is strategic. These insects are native to Uganda’s environment and, unlike houseflies, have never been associated with disease transmission. Their high fertility rate means rapid reproduction. They’re efficient converters of organic waste, and their larvae are packed with protein and healthy fats.

Perhaps most importantly, they’re creating an entirely new industry that generates employment without displacing existing workers, a critical consideration in a country where job creation is a constant challenge.

Youth at the Forefront

What makes Marula Proteen’s story particularly inspiring is its commitment to youth employment. With a 23-year-old project manager and young people throughout the operation, the company is proving that environmental solutions and economic opportunity can go hand in hand.

The company isn’t just creating jobs; it’s building a new industry that young Ugandans can lead and grow.

The Road Ahead

Currently, Marula Proteen sells directly from their warehouse, though they’re beginning to work with agents to expand distribution. They’re actively seeking investment to scale up operations and move into their planned larger facility.

The vision is clear: transform Uganda’s waste problem into a thriving industry that cleans cities, supports farmers, and creates sustainable employment.

A Model for Sustainable Development

Marula Proteen represents the kind of circular economy thinking that Africa, and the world, desperately needs. Rather than viewing waste as a problem to be buried or burned, they’ve recognized it as a resource waiting to be unlocked.

Their approach creates value at every step: reducing environmental pollution, producing high-quality agricultural inputs at scale, generating employment for young people, and building a financially sustainable business model. It’s proof that environmental responsibility and economic success aren’t opposing goals, they’re complementary forces that can drive transformative change.

As Kampala continues to grow and waste management challenges intensify across African cities, Marula Proteen’s black soldier fly solution offers a blueprint for turning problems into prosperity. One larvae at a time, they’re proving that Uganda’s trash truly can become cash.