ADRA Uganda - 30 Years of Service in The Pearl of Africa Flipbook PDF

30 Years Commemorative Magazine

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ADRA 30 YEARS OF

CHANGING LIVES IN THE PEARL OF AFRICA ADRA: 30 YEARS OF CHANGING LIVES:

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Dr Matte Daniel, ADRA Uganda Board Chairman (centre) with the ADRA Board Members

Former Country Directors

Steven Kabuye

Doris Jorgensen

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Leon Trupp

Goran Hansen

ADRA 30 YEARS OF CHANGING LIVES

Barry Chapman

Niels Rasmussem

John Palmer

Edward Ddamulira

Thore Karlsson

Milton McHenry

Solomon Kateregga

Contents

PICTORIAL ADRA in History

ADRA Uganda at 30 An overview

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20 ADRA’s Psychosocial Program in Agago 29

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ADRA Profile SUCCESS STORIES Paul Lomoe, a Role Model for the 9 Karimojong

ADRA Strategic Framework 2017-2022

United by ADRA to Form a SACCO

MESSAGE Word from the Program Director

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ADRA Transforms the Social Economic Lives of Kamwenge Residents

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Congratulatory Message from the Minister of State for Education 19 ADRA saves Trauma Victims

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ADRA, helping disabled children, to secure their future through Agriculture 40

PICTORIAL

ADRA Promoted Education in the Country

22 Batwa Livelihoods Improve After ADRA Resettled 25

12 ADRA 30 YEARS OF CHANGING LIVES

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Dr Matte Daniel Chairman of the Board, ADRA Uganda and Archbishop Seventh-day Adventist Church Uganda Union

ADRA UGANDA at 30 YEARS

AN OVERVIEW Uganda serves all people equally regardless of their sex, gender, faith or political affiliation.

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DRADRA Uganda is a Seventh-day Adventist Church national registered NGO. It was registered with the government of Uganda on 24th July 1986 and effectively started working with the communities in 1987. Even though ADRA Uganda is an independent national NGO, it is part of an international ADRA Network which was established in 1956 by the Seventh-day Adventist Church now operating in more than 130 countries. ADRA Uganda receives inspiration and motivation from this international network with its rich history and capacity in humanitarian development. The organisation helps people without regard to age, ethnicity and race, political or religious association. Over the years the activities of ADRA Uganda have been carried out in response to the felt and identified community needs. Our mandate and mission is to work with people in poverty and distress to create just and positive change through empowering partnerships and responsible action. Areas of Intervention For the past 30, ADRA Uganda has implemented humanitarian, disaster relief and development interventions in various communities. Key sectors include: livelihoods and agriculture, disaster and relief interventions, water, hygiene and sanitation (WASH), community health, economic and financial empowerment, hunger and nutrition interventions, programs helping children, gender equality and social justice. ADRA Uganda has helped construct decent homes for the poor. In the area of education, it has built more than 141 schools with 1128 classrooms, 420 school pit latrines, 250 teachers houses, 30 school administrative blocks, among other things. ADRA 4 4

ADRA 30 YEARS OF CHANGING LIVES

ADRA Uganda does its work in collaboration with donor agencies as its partners, the government of Uganda and local government leaders in areas of operation. Governance ADRA Uganda operations are superintended over by a governance board composed of various professionals who bring into the organisation a wealth of experience, skills and background. The board is further broken into various technical sub-committees to look into the various aspects of the organisation to ensure that operations are on course and ensure that the various program managers manage finances and program priorities very well. The organisation management and project committees ensure the coordination of the various internal operations of the organisation. Quality assurance is further ensured through specific program donor evaluation and auditing, peer review evaluations and overall administration annual audits. The organisation observes a strict code of conduct and operational values which inform its organizational culture and behaviour. The Future of ADRA Uganda As long as the need for humanitarian work and social development exists in Uganda, the services of ADRA Uganda will remain relevant and needed. What ADRA Uganda must build in its operations is the capacity to adjust to the ever-changing social political and economic dynamics both at national and international

levels. The need to strengthen internal self-support is an area which needs to be carefully studied, explored and systematically pursued now that government is opening up to allow NGO to engage in income generation. Appreciation and Acknowledgements It is my honour and joy to appreciate and acknowledge the support our donors and partners have given to ADRA Uganda through the past 30 years. Thank you for standing with us. I recognise the leadership of all the various country directors and all the members of the management teams throughout the past years. I acknowledge the commendable and selfless services of our staff throughout the 30 years of ADRA Uganda service to the people of Uganda. I extend my congratulations to the current Country Director, the current members the management team and current staff for being the current flag bears of ADRA Uganda. Last but not least my congratulations go to the former and current board members. Let us all join hands to steer ADRA Uganda to greater heights. I extend my congratulations to the current Country Director, the current members the management team and current staff for being the current flag bears of ADRA Uganda. Last but not least my congratulations go to the former and current board members.

Curent Country Director, Charles Ed II Aguilar, looking at the picture of the ADRA Uganda staff

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ADRA PROFILE

he Adventist Development and Relief Agency (ADRA) UGANDA is a humanitarian organisation of the Seventh-day Adventist Church that demonstrates God’s love and compassion. ADRA UGANDA is a professional, learning and efficient network that embodies integrity and transparency. ADRA reaches across boundaries, empowering and speaking out for the at-risk and forgotten, to achieve measurable, documented, and durable changes in lives and society. Since 1987, ADRA Uganda has been actively implementing Programs in Education, Livelihood/Food Security, Economic Development, Primary

Health-HIV/AIDS, Water and Sanitation, Humanitarian Aid and Disaster and Emergency Responses. At present, Food Security and Livelihoods, Education, and Disaster Relief/Resilience building are ADRA Uganda’s largest portfolios with a presence in Karamoja, Acholi sub-region, West Nile and Western Uganda (Kisoro and Kamwenge districts). ADRA Uganda is active in interventions supporting South Sudanese refugees in West Nile including in Bidibidi settlement considered the largest in the world.

ADRA 30 YEARS OF CHANGING LIVES

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Longest Serving Staff

Ruth Nsibambi who joined ADRA at the age of 20

WORKING WITH ADRA IS A DREAM COME TRUE RUTH NSIBAMBI

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joined ADRA Uganda at the age of 20 as a receptionist after completing my studies in secretarial studies at Nkumba College of Commerce. At that time, this office had about 40 men and one lady Rachel Babirye. The organisation has nurtured me, professionally, spiritually and fulfilled my inner person. The place was full of men because we had a wood workshop that was used to make furniture that we donated to schools. We had only one manual typewriter and two old-fashioned laptops: one was used by the country director, and the director of finance used the other. As time went by, the organisation kept on growing. I love working with ADRA because I feel at home and we are one big family, the solidarity, devotion, sisterhood and brotherhood has kept me around for this entire long.

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ADRA 30 YEARS OF CHANGING LIVES

And besides, ADRA’s mission aligned with my personal interest and passion. Caring for the needy and giving a helping hand. It was not about the money and huge salary but helping those in need that has made me stay around. I have no regrets for having spent my entire careers at ADRA and seeing our work making a positive impact and changing people’s lives gives me satisfaction. My memorable experience is when I visited Mabuyemeru in Kisoro 1994. As we were going to Kisoro, I had never seen such corners, and I was terrified. In fact, I said my last prayers and I told myself that I would never go back and indeed I have never gone back to Kisoro because of that experience.

President Yoweri Museveni greeting Booker, one of the longest serving staff of ADRA Uganda

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ooker Ajuoga is a living witness and testament to the Adventist Development and Relief Agency (ADRA) evolution and revolution in Uganda. “I have has seen it all. I have seen ADRA grow from a small agency in Uganda to the big organisation that it has become today”, he says. Born on November 28, 1947, in neighbouring Kenya, Booker started working for ADRA Uganda since 1985 as a volunteer but rose through the ranks to a household name and the face of ADRA Uganda in many aspects. He has been a regular employee since 1992 until his recent retirement. He is easily the longest-serving employee at the organisation. He has a story to tell, espe-

THE

RESILIENT BOOKER

cially regarding the several interventions that ADRA has undertaken since its inception in the country. He has been a part of almost all the crucial interventions the organisation has made in the last over 30 years. His unique character and sense of humour made his a darling to the people of Kamwenge to the extent of naming two villages after him, and if one goes to the office of the Prime Minister and Ministry of Gender, name it, Booker, does not need an introduction. Booker has been very instrumental in relief work, logistics work, communication and public relations of the organisation. In periods he has been managing development projects, attended meetings and any other duties where an extra hand was needed.

Booker Ajuoga has excelled particularly in logistics, especially in the clearing, handling and forwarding. In this, he is a specialist often called on by various partners, as this is not a simple job given the complicated nature of the African environment, especially in responding to the different catastrophes experienced in this part of the world. He particularly coordinates with the immigration office, which is under the Ministry of Internal Affairs, in passport renewal, work-permit renewal and other documents and paperwork needed by volunteers and ADRA’s expatriate workers. ADRA has a close working partnership and relationship with several government offices, and Booker always handled these partnerships and represented the organisation on various occasions.

It is because of this kind of personality, with a willing and patient attitude that Booker Ajouga has a flair for penetrating the government offices and bureaucratic settings. His stable and persistent nature, coupled with a Christian mind, makes him a great and reliable friend of the people he does come across. He is always interested in learning and improving his skills for better performance. Booker’s great attitude explains why he has been in the position to work in ADRA from its inception through the years. Although the 70-year-old has retired from active service from ADRA, he is still contracted from time to time to do what he knows best. He is the true storyteller to what ADRA has achieved in the last 30 years.

ADRA 30 YEARS OF CHANGING LIVES

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SUCCESS STORIES

KARAMOJA

Many parents in Karamoja preferred their children to grazing instead of education

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ADRA 30 YEARS OF CHANGING LIVES

MEET PAUL LOMOE A ROLE MODEL FOR THE KARAMOJONG WHO HAS BEATEN ALL ODDS TO ATTRACT, MOTIVATE AND RETAIN CHILDREN IN SCHOOL

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narrow, muddy meandering road; punctuated with deep slopes and beautiful deserted hills, leads you to Lomodokocho Primary school in Lobalangit sub-county, Kaabong district. This is Paul Lomoe a role model for the Dodoth people the inhabitants of northern Karamoja, who has beaten all odds to become a successful head teacher. Born on August 25th, 1982, to poor and peasant parents, Lomoe went to Karenga Primary School. He later joined Kaabong Secondary School in 1997 where he emerged the best student in the entire Kaabong district in the 2001 UCE after scoring 28 aggregates for the best six subjects. His is a tale of perseverance and joy. “After my O level, my father declared to me that I had finished my education and expected me to get a job”. Lomoe recalls. Left with no option, he went home and started herding sheep and goats with faded hopes of continuing with further studies. As fate was on his side, Kakwanga, a primary school in the neighbouring village had lacked teachers as most staff had fled in fear for their dear lives due to intensified attacks from heavily armed warriors. “The school’s headteacher, John Bosco approached me to volunteer as a part-time

teacher, for science and math subjects. This was an offer I unconditionally accepted”, he narrates. Turning Point The turning point in his life later in 2003 is still fresh in his mind when ADRA, under its program code named Karamoja Integrated Education Programme (KITENEP 2) advertised for 200 scholarships for Karamojong students who were willing to be trained as grade 3 teachers. “This was a golden opportunity for me. I applied and was subsequently admitted to Kotido Core Primary Teachers College”, Lomoe proudly recalls. He hastens to add: “ADRA gave us everything right for scholastic materials like books, pens, rubbers. They even donated 200 beds and mattresses to Kotido PTC just for our sake. This raised the number of Karamojong students in the teaching profession who later got jobs”. He says ADRA used to slaughter for them a bull each weekend which significantly boosted their morale. He graduated in 2005 as a Grade III teacher after garnering 23 aggregates. Lomoe was later appointed a classroom teacher in Komkuny Girls near Kaabong town in 2007. His quest for Education made him join National Teachers College Unyama in 2012 in Gulu where he graduated with a diploma in Primary Education majoring in Maths and Science. ADRA 30 YEARS OF CHANGING LIVES

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SUCCESS STORIES

KARAMOJA This earned him a promotion to as deputy headteacher at Lomodoch Primary School in 2013. His enthusiasm and hard work two years down the road promoted him as a full head teacher. Having assumed office, Lomoe also the patron of the advocacy club supported by ADRA embarked on community mobilisation known as back to school, stay in school which saw enrollment shoot from 577 to now over 1000 pupils. “Our campaigns yielded fruits because, for the first time in the history of Lomodoch, we got 6 in Division I and 12 in Division II”, boasts Lomoe. Sisto Akol, A member of School Management Committee, has praises for Lomoe. “He has exceptional leadership and music skills which has attracted many children to school”. She says. Despite all the achievements, this is coupled with challenges. Veronica Awar, the SMC secretary, says parents have a negative attitude towards Education, especially for the girl child.

Dickens Owiny; the Abim district Inspector of schools

“Can you imagine we now have only seven girls in Primary 7 yet we registered 207 of them in Primary 1 in 2010. Where have the 200 gone? They are now married”, he sarcastically says. He adds: “When there is hunger, and World Food Program is giving food, the classes are full, but as soon as there is no food or when harvest time comes, parents withdraw their children”, He says. Despite this the children’s advocacy club have embarked on a door to door campaign to have children back to school, stay in school and complete a full cycle of primary education. With Lomoe at the steering wheel, the sky will be the limit. The club has registered success stories of some of the pupils who had dropped out of school but came back after the school advocacy clubs.

Members of the school advocacy club - Nakoreto Primary School in Kotido District 10

ADRA 30 YEARS OF CHANGING LIVES

IKIMORIKIS NGICAN WOMENS GROUP

SAVES ORPHANS IN KARAMOJA

The insecurity exacerbated by armed Conflict that rocked Karamoja for decades in the 19th and early 20th century did not only rob them of decent livelihoods but also left them counting loses. Many young and productive women were rendered widows and dozens of children orphaned. Anna Mary Atyanga, who is the group’s chairperson, says many male youths lost lives in the conflict characterised by cattle rustling that left just married girls widowed. She adds that this led many girls into polygamous marriages through wife inheritance. “Due to the shortage of men, one man could have between five to 12 women who put this ladies at high risk of contracting uncurable diseases such as HIV/AIDS”, Atyanga recalls. The similarities in their tribulations, therefore, brought them together in 2014. With the capacity building in income generation and a humble donation of 500,000UGX by ADRA triggered the development paradigm in them. This is Ikimorikis Ngican (loosely translated as: Poverty Has United Us) women’s group in Lopotha Village, Napumpum Parish in Panyangara sub-county, Kotido District who have championed Education of children especially orphans. They have also diversified their livelihoods to obligate a decent and healthy living.

scholarship”, says Lotimong Wori, one of the member. “However, this is now history after learning from ADRA that we are change agents and we now sponsor 10 of our children especially orphans in Napumpum Primary School, Panyngara and Kotido Secondary School in boarding section, using part of the profits of the group income-generating activities”, Lotimong boasts. She says the group sometimes liaises with local authorities to mount operations on parents keeping children at home which has made enrollment in Primary schools to shoot up. Grace Akulo, says with the seed money donated to them by ADRA, the group began buying millet and sorghum within Kotido and transported them to Lira and Soroti District for sale. “Within two months, our money rose from 500,000UGX to 1.5million UGX and now we have a capital of 7.5million UGX part of which we used to pay for five orphans in Napumpum Primary School whom we picked from the kraals. We also offer scholastic materials such as books, pens and pencils to disadvantaged children”, Akulo narrates.

She says ADRA’s training in agriculture has also enabled them to have various gardens for vegetables, onions, tomatoes, maize and cereal fields plus staple food that has improved the nutrition of their families especially for children and pregnant mothers. She adds that as per now they have 20 bags of grain in their community store as a measure of food security. Moses Orwao, the ADRA Community Support Officer for Kotido says that Action for Social Change Programme is focused on empowering communities rather than giving handouts has yielded results. “Communities in Karamoja have been used to handouts, but because of our interventions they have changed their mindsets and now demand for services and skills from duty bearers”, Orwao says. Hon. Freicho Lotimong, the District Councilor representing Panyangara sub-county is all praises for ADRA for empowering communities in Karamoja. “I thank God for ADRA because it has supported Karamoja for long from the time of insecurity where no NGO could step in Karamoja, but they stood with us. They have built the capacity of our communities through training and women empowerment. They are really true friends of the Karamojong and God bless ADRA”, Lotimong said.

Formed in 2014, after peace returned to Karamoja, their togetherness has dramatically raised the enrolment of children in their communities and also enabled them to pay school fees for orphans in boarding school. “Whenever our children reached Primary 7, they could come back home due to lack of school fees and others could repeat Primary 7 two to three times even after passing with the hope of getting a Ikimori kis Ngican women’s Group harvesting maize from their garden. ADRA 30 YEARS OF CHANGING LIVES

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Pictorial

ADRA has Promoted Education in the Country

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ADRA 30 YEARS OF CHANGING LIVES

Daniel Ntegyrejimaana, one of the Batwa graduates

Turkana women water donkeys at Kobebe dam in Moroto district.

ADRA 30 YEARS OF CHANGING LIVES

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Karamojong women carry traditional food for elders during a cultural gala

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ADRA:30 OF CHANGING LIVES ADRAYEARS 30 YEARS OF CHANGING

LIVES

We were

UNITED

BY ADRA TO FORM A SACCO

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akaseke Community Empowerment Savings and Credit Cooperative Society Limited is one of the best performing SACCO in Nakaseke District. The group started as a FAL (Functional Adult Literacy) Instructors Association and later Community Based Organisation (CBO) in 2008. “We dealt in sensitising people to live a healthy lifestyle, prevent HIV/AIDS/malaria and take children to school and other community engagements”, says Jimmy Migadde, the chairman of the board. It was in 2010 when the CBO transformed into a SACCO and has since seen its membership grow from 46 members to over 800 now. Migadde says they have savings amounting to 78 million UGX having grown from less than 200,000UGX in 2010. The group members also have over 32 million UGX in shares. Every share costs 10,000UGX.

“As FAL instructors, ADRA gave us bicycles and trained us on income-generating activities, like mixed farming, entrepreneurship, and skills development. We have used these skills to transform our lives”, he says. Peruth Nabilyo, the SACCO manager, says, “the SACCO has enabled members to come together and save their money and invest in productive enterprises. We have bought two pieces of land for the SACCO, one is a plot located in town where we shall build our offices, and another piece of land is where we want to do various activities like farming”. Currently, the members are reaping big from the SACCO, and many have been able to raise money to send their children to school, build houses, startup enterprises like cattle rearing among others.

Julius Owori in his coffee plantation where expects to get shs 3million UGX when he harvests. He got the farming techniques from ADRA

boost the SACCO operations. “ADRA first gave us a grant of 15million UGX which we used very well. They later gave us a loan, and we are paying back very well. ADRA has aided us very much, and we are excited to celebrate with them these 30 years”, Migadde says. Lilian Namaganda, urges more people in Nakaseke to join the SACCO and be able to develop economically. She notes that as members of the SACCO, they command respect in the community because of the productive things they are doing.

“Personally, from the SACCO trainings, I have learnt to save and invest appropriately. I get advice from the SACCO and a lot of my financial support”, Migadde says. Because of being a well-managed SACCO, the members were able to secure a loan of 34 million UGX from ADRA to ADRA 30 YEARS OF CHANGING LIVES

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SUCCESS STORIES

LUWERO

Sarah Nakiranda with her cow which she bought with savings from the SACCO

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arah Nakiranda is a resident of Musale village in Luwero District she rears cattle and on her small piece of land to enhance her income. Despite her old age, she can earn a living from milk. She is also knowledgeable about farming especially vegetables which she grows behind her house. “I no longer need to worry about where to get money to buy medicine, and scholastic materials for my children because I get 16

ADRA 30 YEARS OF CHANGING LIVES

MUSAALE REAPS BIG AS A RESULT OF ADRA INTERVENTION money from the milk sale. I’m now looking forward to enlarging the project”, Nakiranda says. Like her fellow members from Musaale Farmers Development Group, in Lukoge sub-county, Luwero district, Nakiranda believes her life has changed since she joined the group. The group was formed with support and guidance from ADRA, and the members were trained in income-generating activities.

“As members, we were trained on how to keep animals like cattle, growing crops, Village and Savings and Loans Association which has united us as a group”, Nakiranda said. “I saved money and bought this cow. I know how to keep books of accounts after being trained by ADRA. I was also trained in vegetable farming, and now I have planted some which enabled me to sell in the market and also feed my family”, Nakiranda says.

According to Julius Owori, the chairman of Musale Farmers Group, they have been in partnership with the ADRA from 2006 to date. “They sensitised us on health and sanitation and in this village majority of the people sleep under mosquito nets, drink boiled water and keep their houses clean. We all have latrines because of ADRA’s sensitisation”, Owori says. As an individual, Owori has been able to learn the best farming practices and is involved in coffee, maize, tomato and fruit farming to enhance his income.

Margaret Nalwogo beside her old mud house. Margaret Nalwogo beside her newly constructed brick house.

“My life has changed since ADRA trained us, you can see my coffee field has improved, my matooke is looking good. I am getting good money which I use to send my children to school and cater for my family needs”, Owori says. The members of the group have also invested in tents and chairs which they rent out to the locals and the money is kept on the group account for other income-generating activities. The group has 50 members.

HOW NALWOGO 62 CONSTRUCTED HIS THREE BEDROOM HOUSE FROM SACCO SAVINGS

“It is not about the numbers of people in the group but what we are doing. All our members are involved in income-generating activities and living an exemplary life, some have started a business, and others are engaged in farming. At least everyone is doing something productive”, says Ronald Kafeero, a group secretary. He notes that the skills acquired from the training by ADRA have helped him draw work plans and proposal writing. “We have been able to write proposals to get money, and our group is growing. Lasting over ten years is not simple”. The group has an office where members meet to discuss and give guidance to each other.

Margret Nalwoga, 62, lives in a small village of Nakaseke sub-county. Together with her three grandchildren, they live in a mud and wattle iron-sheet roofed house. She has been residing in this house for over 20 years, struggling to make her life and that of her family, better. Although the old woman’s house is rickety, she has hope that by next

year she will be moving into a new house. “Some people don’t believe that I am using my own money to construct this house. They think the government has supported me or sponsored. But the fact is, I use loans and part of my savings from my saving group”, Nalwoga says. She has already roofed her house, installed doors and

windows. Nalwoga is a member of the Nakaseke Community Empowerment Savings and Credit Cooperative Society Limited where she has been a member for the last seven years. Not only has Nalwoga used the money from her savings to build her house, but she has also been able to educate her grandchildren who are all in school.

ADRA 30 YEARS OF CHANGING LIVES

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ADRA Strategic Framework 2017-2022

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DRA’s Strategic Framework serves as a guide to help ADRA respond to major external and internal challenges that impact on the lives of people living in poverty or vulnerable to disasters and injustice. The Strategic Framework 2017-2022 includes several adjustment in our vision, mission, identified values, our definition of well-being and five change goals. Vision: A just and sustainable world where people can attain well-being and live life to the full, physically, psychologically and spiritually Mission: ADRA acts a catalyst for change, inspiring, engaging and empowering people to strive together to overcome poverty and injustice, and managing the risks and impacts of disasters. Identity: The Adventist Development and Relief Agency is a global humanitarian organization that demonstrates God’s love and compassion. Values: Connected - Courageous - Compassionate ADRA’s Well-being Triangle ADRA’s approach to programs, humanitarian response and advocacy is holistic. For ADRA, ‘holistic’ refers to spiritual, social and physical dimensions, addressing the multi-faceted causes of poverty, and to the emergency relief – reform dimension of our work. ADRA exists to enable people to live life to the full, physically, socially and spiritually. We associate this fullness with the concept of well-being, ADRA’s long-term over-arching aim. In its most tangible forms individual well-being derives from access and opportunities in relation to education, health and sustainable livelihoods. They shape what is described as ADRA’s Well-being Triangle. ADRA believes that a life lived to the full is marked by an active concern for others. A life lived to the full is one where our abundance – to whatever extent that may be – of health, knowledge, resources, relationships, and spirituality, is exercised through generosity towards others. ADRA’s holistic integrated approach to programming is consistent with the Sustainable Development Goals. ADRA’s 5 Change Goals Change Goal 1 Greater well-being in the lives of women, men and children living in poverty and 18 18

ADRA: 30 YEARS OF CHANGING LIVES ADRA 30 YEARS OF CHANGING

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distress by increasing collective focus on holistic health and education programs, underpinned by programs for secure and sustainable livelihoods.

Focus on well-being: ADRA will promote well-being through integrated and complementary interventions that bring together and strengthen the foundations of good development; education, health and sustainable livelihoods. This approach reflects the current global shift towards more holistic responses to poverty and injustice, particularly through the adoption in 2015 of the Sustainable Development Goals. It builds on ADRA’s unique development expertise and integrated ways of programming, which at its heart, is about enabling people and communities to gain access to resources and to solve their own problems. ADRA’s role is to help open-up the space for such change to occur. Well-being frames development programs in terms of changes in real people’s lives, the felt experience of women and men and their children, whom ADRA seeks to serve. It puts people at the centre of programs and advocacy, not at the end of a technical process. The Change Goal 1 programming will focus on SDGs 1,2, 3 & 4 Change Goal 2 Greater capacity to prevent, mitigate and respond to humanitarian emergencies; i.e., programming for greater resilience of people and communities vulnerable to conflict and natural disasters, including forced migration and the impact of climate-related weather events. ADRA has its global network and access to the Seventh-day Adventist Church and associated institutions, which includes human and other resources. This means that ADRA and the Church are often present before, during and after a humanitarian crisis and can have deep roots into affected communities. The same applies to slow onset emergencies. ADRA has technical capacity in food, WASH, protection, gender-based needs, education, psycho-social support and shelter. Change Goal 2 will focus on SDGs 2,3,4, &6 Change Goal 3 Rejuvenation of ADRA as a contemporary and effective faith-based organization, as a catalyst for social justice, drawing upon its Biblical mandate and maximizing the synergies in the relationships between ADRA, and the Seventh-day Adventist Church.

Charles Ed II Aguilar Country Director

ADRA aspires to be a contemporary and effective faith-based organization, relevant to a wider range of people, not just within the Church and …’should see Jesus in every person’… ADRA strives to appeal particularly to younger people, to upcoming generations who are attracted to the values of the Seventh-day Adventist Church. ADRA and the Church need a bottom-up community-based approach to the partnership. Change Goal 4 Transforming ADRA International’s governance, country-level partnerships, membership, and structure to increase impact. ADRA needs to transform itself into a more effective organization with a tighter operating model to achieve greater focus for greater impact. Change Goal 5 Achieve greater collective independence and organizational sustainability by investing and innovating to change the business model for financing ADRA’s work; develop a coordinated and targeted approach to leveraging funds and other resources through strategic partnerships. ADRA needs to change its business model to be truly independent; i.e. for an innovative programming approach, an effective advocacy agenda and the ability to be flexible. To diversify income sources is ambitious but possible and requires a longterm commitment by each ADRA office of resources and time, plus a willingness to take risk. It also requires new skills and capabilities among our staff.

Hon. Rosemary Seninde Woman Member of Parliament Wakiso District, poses with students

CONGRATULATORY MESSAGE FROM THE MINISTER OF STATE FOR EDUCATION

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would like to congratulate ADRA Uganda for making 30 years of service in Uganda. I came to learn of ADRA through their activities especially in the education and health sectors. They have not only promoted literacy levels in Wakiso but in other parts of the country.

At the time of their intervention, literacy levels in the region were too low, that is why ADRA intervened to reduce the high levels of illiteracy, improve educational facilities, and provide access to clean drinking water. By the time ADRA Uganda intervened, the illiteracy rate in Karamoja was at 88.5 percent.

ADRA has been supporting a rural education project in Karamoja, in which they renovated some primary schools, constructed dormitories, built houses for teachers and staff, in addition to providing water harvesting systems.

As a ministry, we cannot support all the education needs in all parts of the country. When such organizations come in to help, we are grateful.

They have also trained communities in areas of food and nutrition security through demonstration gardens. To further promote inclusive education, they further supported adults to learn through the Functional Adult Literacy (FAL) programs.

I was particularly impressed when I visited Karamoja and found parents involved in the education of their children that was very impressive. That has been possible through their structures that have been rooted in the community.

upon and pledge our continued support towards their service in Uganda. I recently launched an education crusade and declaration was signed by all stakeholders present. This was to show their commitment to address the factors that affect children education as was presented by students in school clubs working with ADRA. I congratulate them upon making 30 years in Uganda, on behalf of the ministry, I pledge our continued support. Hon. Rosemary Seninde Woman Member of Parliament

That is why as a ministry we have always support their activities when called ADRA:OF 30 YEARS OF CHANGING LIVES: ADRA 30 YEARS CHANGING LIVES

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ADRA IN HISTORY

Bunya project in Mayuge

Bugema Vocation School students in class

Cake making in Butanza in entrepreneurship training After making gas

Biogas made by community members

Kabale Adventist Parents School

Kitovu dispenary maternity in Mayuge

Ntandi Secondary Scho

ol in Bundibugyo

Mwerelwe Primary School in Matuga 20 20

ADRA: 30 YEARS OF CHANGING LIVES ADRA 30 YEARS OF CHANGING

LIVES

ADRA IN HISTORY

Niel Rasmussen a former Country Director handing over bicyles to instructors

Officials from ADRA touring Bugema Vocational School

Hajusi posses with her calf Karamajong youth empowered in business

Village health team of Bunya undergoing training

One of the FAL classes in Bussi

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Members of the Byabasambu group in Kahunge sub-county with some of the projects supported by ADRA.

Members of the Byabasambu group in Kahunge sub-county with some of the projects supported by ADRA.

Miyoora Group and some of their projects.

Now We Have Food!

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unger and malnutrition are killing more people each year than AIDS, malaria and tuberculosis combined. With nearly one billion people in the world facing starvation, ADRA Uganda partnered with farmers to promote agriculture with the aim of ending hunger and malnutrition in Kamwenge district. Kamwenge District suffers from widespread chronic food insecurity. A study of chronic food insecurity in Uganda

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ADRA 30 YEARS OF CHANGING LIVES

in 2015 found that in Mid-Western sub-region, where Kamwenge District is located, almost two-thirds (62%) of the population suffers from mild (28%), moderate (17%), or severe (17%) chronic food insecurity (FAO Uganda 2015). Margret Kakyo, a community coordinator, said since 2007 several families have benefited from various project interventions. Demonstration gardens were established

in communities of Kahunge sub-county and other areas in the district to impart knowledge and skills. ADRA Uganda also spearheaded the campaign of distributing seedlings to individual farmers as a measure to promote food security and fight malnutrition. “We were given seedlings to plant, and ADRA encouraged us to have small gardens for vegetables to have food and feed our children on a balanced diet to mitigate the

challenge of malnutrition” ,Kakyo said. Kakyo and other members that were sensitised by ADRA Uganda then mobilised over 4000 people in Kahunge sub-county also to get involved in commercial farming to improve on their income at a household level. “People had land most of which was not in use. Many families had malnourished children while others were going without. The situation has now changed. We have food”, Kakyo says.

Kwesiga said some of ADRA’s biggest tools to fight poverty and hunger come in packages of chicks, goats, or lambs from an animal bank, as well as seeds and agricultural training. According to Kwesiga, ADRA Uganda also played a big part in the disaster risk reduction programmes that assisted households set up farms up and revived the traditional way of stocking food for the hard times in granaries.

Nariseriyo Byarugaba, a resident of Kakinga, also appreciates ADRA’s intervention.

“Many people had abandoned granaries which were essential in sharing food for future consumption. With the help of ADRA Uganda, we now keep food to avoid hunger in times of drought and famine”, she said.

According to Byarugaba, ADRA also linked them with other organisations and the district which provided them with assistance in agriculture especially inputs and tools.

According to Gertrude Tuhairwe the Kamwenge District Community Development Officer, ADRA helped the district in reducing the number of children who were stunted.

“We were mobilised in groups, and each group was given goats which have multiplied, and each member has more than ten goats”, Byarugaba testified.

Tuhairwe also said ADRA focused farmers on increasing food supply, income and savings for food purchasing.

Molly Kwesiga, another resident of Kakinga, could not hide her joy because of 40 members in her group that took part in setting up demonstration sites and learn good farming practices.

“ADRA helps women and children identify, prevent, and treat malnutrition before it impacts their long-term health. At the community-level they promote nutrition awareness using strategies that help households achieve diverse and nutrient-rich diets”, she said.

Communities United for Development

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esidents of Kahunge in Kamwenge district were empowered and formed Village Savings and Loan Associations (VSLAs) which have transformed their socio-economic lives. In Mpanga Parish, Kahunge sub-county over 80 members has been mobilised and formed Byabasambu Twimukye association. “We were mobilised by ADRA which trained us on the importance of savings and financial literacy, and we were given startup funds”, Godfrey Moni the group’s advisor said. Moni said the group which started with only 16 members in 2004 currently has a

membership of over 80 active members. “The group has been able to encourage coffee farming as a cash crop and bananas for food, we are advocating for the rights of the children and supporting the orphans as well as conserving the environment through tree planting with the tree seedlings which we got from ADRA”, Moni said. He says that with the training they got

from ADRA they have been able to raise funds to the level of constructing a permanent house in the trading centre of Kyakanyemera which houses their office. “ADRA opened for us the way to other different non-government organisations which have also provided us with a lot of support such as a solar dryer for drying

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ADRA, A Key Player in Uganda’s Resettlement Exercises

C cassava and sweet potatoes and money for advocacy activities”, Moni says.

losely working with Ministry Office of the Prime Minister, ADRA is one of the first responders to emergencies in Uganda. Since April 2003, ADRA has reintegrated over 7500 homesteads in Kamwenge district mainly Ugandans who were expelled from Tanzania. This was a special assignment the government of Uganda entrusted to ADRA with the involvement of other humanitarian and development partners.

Moses Kamugisha, the secretary of the group, said they are now able to pay school fees for their children as well as contribute some money for some needy students within their community.

The people were reintegrated in Kahunge and Kamwenge sub-counties where returnee families were given supplies such as tents, cooking utensils, and farm tools as startup materials.

“We have six students for whom we are paying tuition at the university. We also support many other community engagements with the assistance from ADRA”, Kamugisha says.

Phionah Kwesiga, one of the beneficiaries, said when she was settled by ADRA a lot has changed in her life.

Kakyo Margeret the Cordinator

Edward Musingye, a former District Chairperson said, ADRA did not only promote Village Savings and Loans Association in the district but also did a lot of work in education and health. “ADRA constructed schools in some of the areas we used to know are hard to reach and taught adults how to read and write”, he said. Men were often in police cells for battering their wives According to Musingye, this had a great and positive impact in fighting ignorance and prevention of domestic violence. “An ignorant community is hard to manage. However, the situation changed when people were enlightened. It changed their mindsets, and they started getting involved in income-generating activities. It is amazing to see men who were often in police cells for battering their wives as a result of alcohol and domestic violence, but now are productive. This is not a small achievement, and I want to thank ADRA for giving us a hand in this regard”. 24

ADRA 30 YEARS OF CHANGING LIVES

“I have seven children, and I did not have any source of income because I lost all that I had when I was coming back to Uganda, but when ADRA came in they supported us in very many ways, and I have managed to buy land and start up a small business and currently am paying fees for my children”, Kwesiga says. Francis Byakatonda another resident of Kahunge said they were taught about the land rights and that acquiring land in Kamwenge was a very big problem. In general, Kamwenge District has a total area of 254.5km2 of tropical high forest cover representing 10% of the area. However, about 8% of this area falls in the protected area of Kibaale National Park. The Savanna woodland covers an area of 271.2km2 that is about 11% of the area of the district. These woodlands, unfortunately, are disappearing at a very fast rate due to population increase and expansion of land for agriculture purposes. “As leaders, we appreciate the intervention of ADRA Uganda in the economic empowerment and resettlement of

ICT Minister Frank Tumwebaze

refugees in Uganda. Most of them came when they had no hope of living but they are now happily living, and their children are in school”, Sunday Ayebazibwe a community leader said. Frank Tumwebaze, the Member of Parliament for Kibaale East County, said ADRA was very instrumental in the resettlement of Ugandans who were displaced from Tanzania. “They helped a lot in the early days of the resettlement where people needed much of humanitarian assistance. They also supported a number of community projects in the resettled area of Kyakanyemera and Mpanga”, Tumwebaze who also doubles as the Minister of Information, Communication, Technology and National Guidance said. Tumwebaze also said the many projects ADRA Uganda supported in communities changed people’s lives and also supplemented on government intervention to fight poverty at household level. “We celebrate the transformation that ADRA Uganda has been able to achieve, and I also want to salute ADRA for the community projects they have implemented towards improving the lives of people. There is no doubt ADRA has touched many lives and continued to do so”, he said.

Batwa Livelihoods Improve SUCCESS STORIES KISORO

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he livelihood of Batwa communities is steadily improving following their resettlement in Kisoro district.

The Batwa were originally forest dwellers in the Great Lakes region of Central Africa. In Uganda, the Batwa are said to have migrated from Ituri forest in the Democratic Republic of Congo. In 1991, they were evicted following the establishment of Mgahinga and Bwindi Impenetrable National Parks. They thus became squatters living on the edges of other communities. ADRA is one of those NGOs that have contributed to the improved livelihood of Batwa communities in Kisoro district. According to Abel Bizimana, the Kisoro District Chairperson, ADRA bought land in, Kanaba, Bukimbiri, Busanza and Nyabwishenya sub-counties where some Batwa have settled. “With the new settlements, the Batwa have started adapting to modern ways of living, and they are now seen and recognised in the community like any other human being”,

said Bizimana. Bizimana credits ADRA for helping the Batwa in learning some important life skills that have improved their welfare and standards of living. “The Batwa are now earning a living from some of the skills they were trained in by ADRA like Music, Dance and Drama, modern farming, art and craft, tour guidance among others”, says Bizimana. ADRA has also helped some of the Batwa to rent land for agriculture. Muyove village, Buhozi parish in Busanza Sub-County is one of the villages that have the Batwa settling on it. Antelli Gasambi, the Moyove village LC1 chairperson said Batwa have contributed to the development of the area due to the various activities they carry out. “When ADRA hired land for them to cultivate, they planted crops that helped in feeding our communities and also bringing some money in the area”, said Gasambi. Gasambi also credits ADRA for improving the tourism potential of the Batwa in the district. “ADRA has been bringing a lot of visitors to the Batwa in this area to appreci-

ate some of the works they are doing. This has improved the tourism potential of this village. When tourists come they buy some of the things Batwa are producing thus improving their lives”, said Gasambi. “If you go to any community that has Batwa in Kisoro district and talk about ADRA everyone will tell you that these people have saved them”, he noted. Godfrey Turinawe, one of the successful Batwa agriculturalists, says that ADRA’s agricultural training helped him to get a job at the Mutolere Hospital Food and Nutrition project. “When I applied for training in the project, I displayed enormous skills that led to my employment immediately after my training. I attribute all this excellence to the good guidance and mentorship I got from ADRA”, said Turinawe. Pascazia Nyiraburonde said: “I am proud to say that I can now manage to eat a balanced diet and also live in an iron-roofed house like other people because of ADRA’s efforts”.

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BATWA COMMUNITY

ADRA Helps Batwa to Access Health Services

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ood health is a prerequisite to healthy living. This is undoubtedly an important reality for every mankind.

To the Batwa communities in Kisoro district, good health became visible after the intervention of ADRA.

BATWA COMMUNITY ASKS GOVERNMENT FOR LAND

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he Batwa communities living in Kisoro district asked the government to give them land for settlement.

The Kisoro Batwa community chairman Francis Sembagari said when the government evicted them from their natural habitat in the forests of Mazinga, Echuya and Bwindi in 1990, they were left homeless. Sembagari stated that they depended on honey, medicine and game meat from forests and since they were eviction, life has become hell, they are starving and dying of diseases. He accused the government of treasuring the gorillas living a better and cared for life than the Batwa. “They chased us from our homes (forests) where we had peace, food, shelter and good health. The government has made us vulnerable, and all the prestige is now given to gorillas”, he said. He said that due to lack of land for settlement and cultivation, they had been left out on the government programmes like Operation Wealth Creation (OWC).

Solomon Katerega the ADRA Programs Director looking at the Batwa settlement

before eviction”, he said. According to ADRA’s Programs Director, Solomon Kateregga, the agency will continue to advocate for the rights of people living in poverty and distress and uplift the standards of living of Batwa. “Batwa should be integrated into government programs, and the issue of Batwa being landless should be solved”, said. The Kisoro Municipality MP Sam Byibesho decried the number of Batwa dying of HIV and malnutrition-related complications. However, the Kisoro LC5 chairperson Abel Bizimana said the district would ensure that Batwa are settled and benefit from all the development programs of the government like any other community. “They are human being who should be treated with dignity, and their rights should not be abused because of their ethnic background”, he said.

“If the government cannot give us land, then they should take us back to the forests so that we live our normal lives as we used to be 26

ADRA 30 YEARS OF CHANGING LIVES

Francis Sembagari

Having realised a great need to have more Batwa people embrace health facilities, ADRA introduced a Health Priority card for the Batwa. With this card, the Batwa were able to receive quick attention from the health workers whenever they visited their facilities. Doreen Dushmana, the Busanza Health Centre IV in charge said when the Health priority cards were introduced; more Batwa started appreciating the special attention they got from health workers. This made them embrace health facilities whenever they needed medical attention. “They used not to like getting medical services from health centres. They believed in traditional medicine, but after the introduction of Health priority cards by ADRA we started giving them special care. This has led to more Batwa visiting our centres for medical attention”, said Dushmana. Dushmana also hailed ADRA for the introduction of the Motorbike ambulance which saw more Batwa with emergencies get health care quickly. “The motorbike ambulance was always available to respond to any emergencies reported in the Batwa communities. These would be automatically rushed to health centres as soon as it was reported without any charges”, said Dushmana. Annet Dusabe, the Kisoro Deputy District Health Officer, said interventions by ADRA in improving the Batwa health standards have not been in vain.

BATWA COMMUNITY

Batwa to benefit from MasterCard scholarship

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he Regional Universities Forum for Capacity Building in Agriculture (RUFORUM) in partnership with The MasterCard Foundation, Gulu University and Egerton University, Kenya set to sponsor vulnerable and marginalised students to attain higher education.

Pascazia Nyiraburonde displaying her health card

“We have received reports of increasing number of Batwa visiting health centres to access treatment and to have deliveries in hospitals. There are also more Batwa getting immunised. We credit this to efforts of organisations like ADRA that did a lot of sensitisation among the Batwa”, said Dusabe. 89 years old Modest Nyirabantondo recalls how she survived acute malaria when the Motorbike ambulance was called to her rescue. “I was sick and unable to get out of bed. My neighbours called the Motorbike ambulance which rushed me to Mutolere hospital where I was able to get the best health care from. I think if it were not for this Motorbike ambulance, I would have died already”, said Nyirabatondo. “I usually visit Busanza Health Centre IV for my medical care. This has kept me strong, and the advice I get from there helps me to live a healthy life.Thanks to ADRA for encouraging us to use health centres”, said Nyirabantondo.

“We shall work with organisations like ADRA and people like Nyamihanda to identify the beneficiaries for the scholarship”, he said.

The forum which works with 65 universities in 25 countries identified Batwa as one of the indigenous minority groups to access education through their sponsorship programs. Reacting to the New Vision published on November 2, 2016 regarding ADRA’s education works with Batwa which highlight the plight, struggle, dilemma and decimation the landless Batwa go through to acquire education, the Regional Programmes Coordinator of RUFORUM Dr Anthony Egeru said they would ensures that Batwa students who have completed their studies from secondary onwards attain higher education. “I almost cried when I read the story of Alice Nyamihanda and other Batwa who are stigmatised due to limited education. This story came at the right time when RUFORUM has funds to help such communities”, he said. He added that “the scholarship will also offer the beneficiaries a special orientation aimed at changing their mindset about the real life”.

Francis Munyarubanza, the Kisoro District Education Officer, commended ADRA for not only supporting the education of Batwa children but for also ensuring the improvement of literacy of adults through the Functional Adult Literacy Education programme. “The Functional Adult Literacy programme has greatly equipped the Batwa communities with skills of good living especially in areas of agriculture and life skills”, said Munyarubanza. Munyarubanza said that the education department of Kisoro District feels proud of ADRA’s support which has seen more Batwa people get educated. With support from various partners including, ADRA International, Danish Children Fund, International Business Machine (Sweden), The City of Vienna and the entire ADRA Network membership, Batwa people; one of the most marginalised communities in the world, have received various forms of support for improvement of their lives. While Batwa still needs a lot of support to realise full transformation, a foundation has been made upon which further development shall be hinged.

Alice Nyamihanda

Pascazia Nyiraburonde praised the ambulance saying: “If it weren’t the motorbike ambulance, my daughter would have died. Getting her to the health centre was impossible for us without quick transport means. When we sought the intervention of the motorbike ambulance, it was made fast and reliable. We are grateful to ADRA for this ambulance”, said Nyiraburonde. ADRA 30 YEARS OF CHANGING LIVES

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He attained his Primary education at Mabuyemeru primary school before joining Kisoro High School where he completed Ordinary level from. In his academic life, Jomana said that ADRA contributed 100% to his education. “I would get my school fees and other scholastic materials like stationery, beddings and others in time. ADRA made me feel so special while at school”, said Jomana. Jomana said that the guidance and mentorship that ADRA accorded him has given the green light to his life and he feels more determined to achieve a lot in life. Mabuyemeru Primary School, constructed by ADRA to promote Batwa education

Giving Batwa children an education

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ince their eviction from the forests, ADRA has helped Batwa in Kisoro district to access education. Like other Ugandans, the Batwa communities were expected to attain formal education. The challenge to avail this kind of education to the Batwa was not an easy one since most of them still had the “bush feeling”. The ADRA Public Relations Officer James Bisheko Byaruhanga said they have been working with Batwa to improve on the quality and enrollment of education for Batwa. “When they were evicted from the forests, they did not know the value of education, but now over 1200 Batwa children can have access to education’, he said. He pointed out that one Alice Nyamihanda, the first Ugandan Mutwa graduate with support from ADRA. According to Nyamihanda, ADRA’s intervention saw her becoming the first Mutwa to reach University level. Nyamihanda is a graduate of Diploma in Development Studies from Bugema University. She is currently the Education Officer at the United Organization for Batwa

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ADRA 30 YEARS OF CHANGING LIVES

Development in Uganda (OUBDU. Nyamihanda’s success is majorly attributed to ADRA’s education support for the Batwa. “ADRA took care of my education right from Primary level to University. I don’t think I would have made it without them”, said Nyamihanda. Nyamihanda hails ADRA for not only supporting her education but also for helping other Batwa children in attaining various forms of education. “ADRA has equipped some Batwa with vocational skills and also startup capital to help them in running their businesses”, said Nyamihanda. ADRA is also hailed for constructing Mabuye Meru primary school where Batwa pupils have attended their primary education from. ADRA made me feel so special while at school Daniel Jomana, 21 is a student of Kihihi Polytechnic institute in Kanungu district. He was supported by ADRA right from Primary one to the end of the Ordinary Level.

As a special school dedicated to us made us comfortable and determined 23 years Old Godfrey Turinawe is an agriculturalist working with Mutolere Hospital Food and Nutrition Project. His success in life has been greatly attributed to the good academic background set by ADRA. He attained his Primary Education from Mabuyemeru Primary School before joining Kisoro Vision Secondary School for Ordinary Level. At Mabuyemeru, Turinawe felt at home studying with his fellow Batwa in the same class which made them survive the would be teasers. “Our school was dominated by Batwa, and thus we would not be bullied by other pupils since we were many. When I joined the secondary school, my comfort was so realised after finding my fellow Batwa in the same school,” said Turinawe. Turinawe who initially had intentions of becoming a tour guide developed the love for agriculture after undergoing training from the Mutolere Hospital Food and Nutrition Project. He has since then worked on the project and does not regret joining the agricultural field. Turinawe’s current interest is to upgrade his studies in agriculture to become a fully-fledged agricultural officer.

SUCCESS STORIES AGAGO

ADRA psychosocial programme in Agago

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ustainable Change and Livelihood Enhancement (SCALE) Program is being implemented by ADRA UGANDA to best promote sustainable livelihoods for impoverished communities through advocacy and capacity building. ADRA Uganda is working closely with local leaders, community-based groups, and civil society organisations. Alfred Ayor, the programme coordinator in Agago, said following the extended period of insurgency, many people in the region are traumatised and lost hope. To address this, ADRA trained reflect facilitators - religious leaders, cultural leaders, civil leaders and groups to give psychosocial support. Ayor said following their intervention; the situation has significantly improved. He mentioned Wol sub-county which was prone to suicide with about three cases reported per month now has eleven cases reported since June last year.

Edward Okwir, the LCIII chairperson of Omot sub-county, said the people trained by ADRA are now very instrumental in conflict management among the community. “Many youths were redundant and engaged in over drinking, but through advocacy, many have changed their way of life and are involved in productive activities”, Okwir said. Okwir said some youths had formed drama groups to sensitise the community. Peter Oola, 52, Head Catechist, Geregere Chapel is a trained facilitator. Oola is doing psychosocial to some people. He also noted that parents tend to quarrel with their girls when they get pregnant from school forcing the girls to commit suicide. The last term, seven girls dropped out of school at Geregere Primary School, three of them got pregnant while four were married off. Oola said they are talking to the parents to treat their girls who erred politely instead of shouting and quarrelling with them.

He said he helped a woman who had a misunderstanding with her husband and had planned to kill him. The mother of six had crushed bottles which she intended to mix with the food of her husband and children and later she would commit suicide. After getting this information, he counselled the woman, and now the couple is living happily together. Oola said there is much to be done in the region but few counsellors in place. “In this community, when someone tells you that I will kill you, don’t take it for a joke”, he said. Cause of Conflict The leaders attribute most of the causes of conflicts in the area to land disputes and over drinking which has contributed to domestic violence, child abuse, separation, murders, and divorce. Tonny Ocaya, the LCIII of Lamiyo sub-county said the situation is improving after intervention by ADRA. “The rate of drinking has reduced, and people are now more engaged in farming and active participation in group activities”, he said.

Tonny Ocaya, LCIII of Lamiyo sub-county ADRA 30 YEARS OF CHANGING LIVES

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SUCCESS STORY FROM CBO ADVOCACY INITIATIVE

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he poor health service delivery in Kaabong District Hospital was an advocacy issue identified by two CBOs (Biafra Atousutu and Kapilan bar Atasioma) in Kaabong town council that are supported by the ASC Program. The hospital hygiene and sanitation had deteriorated significantly as it was bushy thus breeding mosquitoes, dirty inside and this led to other issues like bedbugs. “In fact, one time we had to go to the hospital to clear the bush”, says Nakong Rose, the chairperson of Atasioma Kapilan bar Women’s Group. Besides hygiene and sanitation, the hospital also had corruption scandals, poor attendance to duty, the sale of medicines and other medical accessories, sexual harassment, especially to the female staff and patients. The CBOs through their campaigns raised awareness to the communities in the town council and a Baraza facilitated by ADRA Uganda early 2016, Biafra Atousutu mobilised communities and engaged authorities including the Members of Parliament. This Baraza went on up to 8:00 pm in the night where all the rot in the hospital was unearthed. “This Baraza is something that brought us enmity with the Hospital administrators that some people started threatening to

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ADRA 30 YEARS OF CHANGING LIVES

set the house of the chairperson ablaze”, says one of the members of Atousutu. “I lived in fear as every time they scared me that they were going to burn me so that my lips can shout no more and then be quiet forever”, says Nakoima Cecilia the Chairperson Atousutu. These issues coincided with the election period, and the very issue of Kaabong hospital was politicised. For instance, the chairperson of Kapilan bar stood for district councillorship and promised the public to bring those issues of the hospital to the floor of the council and succeeded. She is now an honourable member of the district council. Results of the above advocacy initiatives: The District Council instituted a committee to investigate all the allegations concerning the hospital including conducting a forensic audit of the transactions. The committee was tasked to submit a report to the District Executive Committee. The committee has laid its report on the administration and the audit report is yet to be released. Pending that, so far a new Hospital Management Committee has been established, a new hospital in-charge has been appointed, the Village Health Teams (VHTs) who had not been paid for the 2015 and 2016 have been paid, the hospital that had one doctor has now got two more so they are three doctors.

The hygiene and sanitation have drastically improved as the Chairperson of Biafra Atousutu won the tender to be cleaning the hospital, and the issue bedbugs have drastically subsided. The lights in the wards have been reinstalled, and the hospital is relatively well lit. Although the hospital still has some challenges, the advocacy has yielded fruits and especially the use of Barazas and media houses. The hospital is now attracting assistance from different partners since there is improved mutual trust for the Hospital administration. For example, Baylor Uganda last year in September, donated medical equipment worth Shs400m which included; 40 beds, 40 cupboards for patients, 10 packets surgical gloves,12 dozens of dressing bandages, ten packets of dish/silver wear, 40 Adults diapers, orthopedic items among others. Mercy Corps also is facilitating medical students to come to Kaabong for their internship to reduce the manpower gaps in the hospital. A staff house has also been constructed this year to accommodate student nurses and doctors on internship. Apparently, the hospital has 16 student nurses on the internship sponsored by Mercy Corps.

A student smiles after recieving lunch under ADRA’s feeding programme.

Mungula Primary School students wash hands from the tap provided by ADRA

ADRA supported feeding programme improving school attendance ocally initiated school feeding programme in Adjumani is changing the face of academic performance in Adjumani district.

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Just like Dima, most of the stakeholders in the district believe that the project is sustainable since the land is available and what is needed is a change of attitude.

The feeding programme launched through a partnership with ADRA and district local government is implemented in five schools in refugee-hosting areas.

The project has taken off in Miniki, Mungula, Alere, Aliwara and Boroli primary schools, where the community donates land on which the schools cultivate their crops.

Robert Dima, the Adjumani district education officer, said the project that involves schools growing their food is locally sustainable.

Started in 2014 to curb rampant absenteeism in the area, the project is credited for increased enrollment in the five pilot schools of operation.

“If you give them food and they have participated in the production, they will always want to produce more”. Dima said

World Food Programme (WFP) at the time only gives food to households leaving out institutions such as schools. Continued on page 34 ADRA 30 YEARS OF CHANGING LIVES

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ADRA PROJECTS IN PICTURES

Members of Byabasambu group in Kahunge subcounty with some of the projects supported by ADRA

Godfrey Turinawe attending to one of the animals at the Mutolere Project

Karamojong children mining

Some of the youth from Karamoja region who turned up for the training organised by ADRA 32 32

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Some of the pupils from their classroom

Miyoora Group

Children looking after animals

Miyoora Group and some of their projects ADRA: 30 YEARS OF CHANGING LIVES LIVES: ADRA 30 YEARS OF CHANGING

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“It has always motivated them to stay in school rather than coming home to look for what to eat”, Gogo says.

Pupils of Miniki Primary School transporting the harvested Maize from school garden From page 31

In response, ADRA partnered with school management committee and parents-teachers associations to start this project.

ADRA has also constructed modern storage and kitchen facilities in the five pilot schools to support the programme.

“Initially, we were only helping in opening up the fields, but later as the need arose, we also thought it wise to supply the planting material”, an official from ADRA said.

Martine Amaza, the head teacher of Miniki Primary Schools in Adjumani district, says the intervention supported by ADRA is behind the good performance of his school in last year’s PLE.

The feeding programme which had been running for three years has increased school attendance, mainly among the refugee community in the district.

Silas Gogo, a parent of two children in Mungula Primary School, says the feeding programme kept the children in school even when rations had been cut.

Through the project, parents and the students are expected to provide part of the labour required to grow the crops as ADRA hire labour for tilling the land. Gogo says this has sometimes become hard to manage as the planting period can be hectic and fears could scare children out of School. Adjumani DEO Dima said it is important that the children are involved in the cultivation as they practice what they also learn in class.It gives them the practical aspect of the subject of agriculture, according to Dima ADRA has also intervened in the areas of water by installing solar-powered wells with a mini-pipe system. The organisation also implemented sanitation through school sanitation clubs.

REFUGEES ADAPT ENVIRONMENT-FRIENDLY SOURCE OF ENERGY Concerns have been emerging over environmental depletion due to population pressure, owing to arrival of Refugees in the West Nile region. However in Bidibidi Refugee Settlement in Yumbe District, refugees are embracing the use of energy saving stoves to curb environmental depletion. Trained by ADRA, the stove is turning out to be a lucrative business venture for the youth groups. The refugees say upon arrival, wood fuel was a challenge, and they had to sell part of their food rations for buying Charcoal as they were not allowed to collect firewood by locals. Lilly Kujang, 19, says they used to move long distances for firewood, but could not get firewood since the population is overwhelming. “I missed classes to look for firewood with my Mother. The stove has transformed our lives significantly”, Kujang said. 34 34

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The refugees also use the knowledge they have acquired for making the energy stoves in large quantities for sale. A medium-size energy stove is sold at 5,000UGX while the big size is sold at 10,000UGX at the current prevailing market price in the area. According to the members, each of them at least makes ten stoves in a day, out of which, five will be sold for the group and the other five for individuals. UN agencies are one of their biggest clients. Alex Towongo, 25 and a father of two, says his wife cooks using the energy saving stoves and he helps her to make the briquettes. Towongo says it is easy to get fuel as the briquettes are made out of readily available material. “We collect rubbish, mainly dry grass and burn them to make the briquettes which men can also do to help their wives”, Towongo said.

A woman in Bidibidi settlement drying briquttes

According to Florence Ropani, one of the members of the group, they make at least two basins of briquettes daily and sell them alongside the stoves. The arrival of refugee, especially from South Sudan, has significantly impacted on the on the vegetation cover in the region. Therefore, this intervention by ADRA has helped in addressing the fuel crisis. The Project of making the energy saving stoves has also created cohesion among the refugee community.

ADRA has changed attitudes towards education and the girl-child Lokeris Samson - Dodoth East County, Kaabong (NRM)

I

want in a special way congratulate the Adventist Development and Relief Agency (ADRA) on their 30 years of operations in Uganda.

I wish you many more years of prosperity and ability to empower more communities in Uganda and Karamoja in particular. I thank you for prioritizing my area in terms of both social and economic interventions. As someone from the northern half of Karamoja, our region has not been at the forefront of social interventions as has been the case in the southern half of the sub-region. However, one blessing that has consistently been there for us is ADRA. The organization has stood with us in the areas of agriculture, especially food security, education, rights of the girl-child and water. ADRA has been the most reliable and dependable organization in the education sector in Kaabong area. I recall very well that during the difficult times of food scarcity, ADRA came into the region and started distributing food. It enabled our people to survive during a period which they could have perished. Shortly after that, they started on capacity building.

They sponsored over 100 students to enroll at the primary teachers college to meet the need of scarcity of teachers. ADRA also constructed several classrooms in the area to help meet the acute shortage of learning space. This greatly helped in changing attitudes towards education in our area. School enrollment has now shot up by large percentage and parents are more responsive to educating their children. In addition, many organizations such as IrishAid have been inspired by the boldness ADRA took to invest in the social well-being of the people of Karamoja. They have now also followed suit and together with many others are spearheading the redemption of the region. I also want to applaud ADRA for their water programme in Kaabong. The project has seen several boreholes drilled and a wind pump installed in the area, and they have had a big impact on the lives of the population. This has particularly been a profound impact because Karamoja is a pastoral region and watering of livestock is a major economic activity. The water programme has seen many people flock to the area to benefit from the services. I think going forward; this is a programme that should be emphasised to impact livelihoods even more.

We have come a long way with ADRA, and I don’t want to forget what they have done in agriculture and food security for my people. They have helped put in place model gardens to help our people learn from so that they replicate their own. This has profoundly increased their understanding of farming methodologies and hence food security. This has also involved training on how to store cereal, grow and eat vegetables. My people are now better nourished as opposed to the past where malnutrition had become a chronic problem. In conclusion, I am grateful regarding what ADRA has done in the area of empowering the girl child. Their advocacy programme has been able to change attitudes towards girl child education. In the past, many parents looked at girls as a conduit for cows, but things are quickly changing, though much remains to be done in this area. There have also been many scholarships given out to this effect. Thank you very much and congratulations on your milestone.

ADRA:OF 30 YEARS OF CHANGING LIVES: ADRA 30 YEARS CHANGING LIVES

35 35

ADRA SAVES PADER RESIDENTS OF TRAUMA

M

y brother’s son just committed suicide yesterday after his uncle declined to give him the money he was saving for him.

He had wanted to go and see eye surgeons at the hospital. After the uncle’s decision, he said he was going to kill himself. Everybody at home thought it was a mere joke. It only took a few hours from morning to evening to hear that he had died”. This was the first statement Rose Aneno, 42 years said. Asked whether there is a suicidal tendency in their clan, she quickly responded yes adding that at least five people have committed suicide in the last 40 years. Aneno, a mother of eight children, was also planning at one time to kill her co-wife who is accused of reporting her to the Lord’s Resistance Army rebels in 1995 leading to her gruesome torture.

Oola attending to his cows that he bought through farming.

After the torture, Aneno who is a resident of Wiraa West village, Otong parish, Ongom sub-county in Pader district was hospitalised for three months at Kitgum hospital. When she was discharged, her mind kept telling her to revenge. “All along I always thought of how to get rid of my co-wife) because all I had gone through was because of her”, the former primary teacher added. Change of Mind However, her mind started changing when Adventist Development and Relief Agency (ADRA) introduced her to psychosocial training in 2015. She explained that from then, her attitude changed and felt a free woman not until her co-wife just died a natural death in 2016. She is now a community counsellor and a member of Tem Gumi drama group that has 33 members.

Rwot Oweka has initiated Iketo Wa Kwene where the majority are women. After saving their money, he addresses them on issues that affect society.

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ADRA 30 YEARS OF CHANGING LIVES

They aim to reach out to those with trauma as a result of land wrangles and gender violence. Cultural Leaders Trained Rwot Dermoi Oweka Ajao II, the cultural leader of

Aneno with her daughter attending to their garden.

Paibwor clan in Dure parish, Latanya sub-county said through ADRA’s intervention; all cultural leaders were trained to handle issues that require psychosocial help.

opment Officer (CDO) of Latanya sub-county where the psychosocial project is being implemented commended the intervention adding that suicide cases have drastically reduced since 2015.

Oweka adds that they have formed Iketo Wa Kwene group (which is translated as “Where do you put us?”) that brings together over 460 families whose relatives are still missing due to the war insurgency.

Olweny attributed this to the collective efforts by the cultural, religious and political leaders who were trained by ADRA to sensitise the masses and identify the survivors who are equipped with startup capital as part of livelihood support.

“People have a lot of questions on whether they will see their relatives coming back. The situation worsens when they see the remains of bullets and human bones”, he added. The group is now registered as a community-based organisation, have developed a saving culture of which they congregate every Wednesday, and after that, they share amongst themselves the problems they are facing. Ray Olweny, the Community Devel-

“From 2015, at least ten people would be reported to have committed suicide every month which has now reduced to two since the beginning of the year”, he added. Fearless Kilama Wod-Acholi, the LC III chairperson Pader town council acknowledged that as leaders they lacked enough skills to mediate on critical issues within the community. Kilama cited a backlog of 39 land-cases that had been registered by his office in

2016, and he had achieved less in mediating them. “I am happy that since ADRA trained us, these cases have now reduced to only two. Of those mediated, none went to the court an indicator that they were satisfied with our advice”, he added. Pastor Pece Boniface of Seventh Day Adventist church in Acoro parish, Pader town council asked for the extension of the operation areas so that more people benefit. The project implementation falls under the Social Change and Livelihood Enhancement program of nine years supported by ADRA Sweden with funding from Swedish Mission Council. Enock Byafaki, the ADRA area coordinator Pader district said at the start of the program in 2013, the psychosocial component was silent and yet most of the people they dealt with, manifested a high level of trauma. ADRA 30 YEARS OF CHANGING LIVES

37

Programs Director’s Message

A

DRA Uganda was registered as a national Non-Governmental Organization on 24th July 1986, at the time of national rehabilitation and recovery soon after the National Resistance Army (NRA) took charge of governing Uganda. From 1987, ADRA Uganda embarked on relief, recovery and development programs throughout Uganda working in partnership with UN agencies, International donors, the government of Uganda, the SDA church, and other NGOs and faith-based organisations. As we celebrate 30 years ADRA Uganda development and humanitarian work in Uganda, we are glad to inform you that millions of Ugandan, refugees and other people living in Uganda have benefited through ADRA’s interventions a few highlights of which include: • In Education, ADRA Uganda has: constructed, rehabilitated and furnished over 740 classrooms; 240 teachers’ houses; trained 2,723 teachers and school managers; sponsored pupils and students and trained thousands of adult literacy participants countrywide. • In food security and livelihoods, ADRA Uganda has organised and empowered over 1,000 community-based organisations with literacy, knowledge, skills and

start-up capital to engage in agriculture, business, value addition, VSLA and savings and credit cooperatives. They have also been empowered to form networks to advance their interests through advocacy and other means. • In health, over 300 community health workers and counsellors have been trained and equipped to offer service; health centres have been constructed/ rehabilitated, and medical equipment supplied to health units; MCH, HIV and AIDS, and malaria control projects have been implemented in various parts of central and eastern Uganda benefiting thousands of people. ADRA Uganda has for the last 30 years been a very active player in responding to emergencies and disasters throughout the country ranging from landslides, floods, refugees and IDPs. In such situations, the organisation has always intervened with food and non-food items, WASH, protection, and resettlement of affected communities depending on the needs. • WASH and environment protection have always been integral parts of ADRA Uganda’s interventions, and through these, shallow wells, boreholes and solar wells have been constructed for schools, communities and refugee settlements; hygiene kits have been supplied to schools and communities; hygiene promotion campaigns continue to be done; tree planting and other environmental protection technologies and activities are a key feature of ADRA Uganda’s projects and programs.

Solomon Kateregga: ADRA Uganda, Programs Director addressing Batwa Graduates in Kisoro

38 38

ADRA: 30 YEARS OF CHANGING LIVES ADRA 30 YEARS OF CHANGING

LIVES

Looking forward, ADRA Uganda’s strategic focus is on improved secure and sustainable livelihoods and economic opportunities for all vulnerable people and communities – especially the youth and women - with better and fairer access to quality inputs, markets or employment. Increased access to quality and equitable primary health care services for vulnerable people and communities. Increased access to quality and equitable formal and non-formal education for vulnerable children and youth and strengthened the capacity of households and communities to be more resilient to natural and human-made disaster shocks and stresses. ADRA Uganda extends her gratitude to the local and international partners that have supported her work for the last 30 years, these include: Government of Uganda, district local governments wherever ADRA Uganda has operated, individual local and international Private donors, the SDA Church, the world-wide ADRA Network, European Union, DANIDA, SIDA, CIDA, USAID, City of Vienna (Austria), Lakarmissionen, Foods Resource Bank (USA), WFP, FAO, UNHCR, IBM (Sweden), Mennonite Central Committee, LDS Development Services to mention but a few. You have been such a blessing to ADRA Uganda and her constituency, and our prayers are that you may receive abundant grace and blessings from the God Almighty.

Booker Ajuoga handing relief items

ADRA changing lives in Wakiso District

A

ccording to Frank Sekagiri (Wakiso District Community Officer), the first activity was to mobilise the community in Sisa sub-county and Kajansi town council, Kasangye and Bussi Islands. Through this kind of mobilisation, many groups were created which were later used as a means of delivering ADRAs messages. Through those groups, many underwent Functional Adult Literacy (FAL) sessions.

Before FAL was implemented

“The situation in the district was bad, according to Sekagiri. You may think you have 100% literate people in Wakiso but you will be surprised to find someone in a market in an urban centre who cannot read and write,” said Sekagiri. To promote FAL, this was done through an integrated management approach, where adult classes were integrated with skills in financial literacy, resource mobilisation, savings and advocacy programs among others.

Under Health

They promoted HIV/Aids awareness campaigns by, sensitising the community about the dangers of HIV/AIDS, also, to encourage them to go for voluntary counselling and testing. They have gone ahead to support some health centres with some equipment. That time, there was a challenge, in particular on the Bussi islands. That time the population at Bussi was mobile, but the trend has changed with more people settling down.

In Kajansi town council

ADRA has been carrying out community mobilisation through the PREP and SCALE project. PREP came first, also into community mobilisation to driving, the same message of change and improving the welfare of the communities.

SCALE Project

This is the most recent project supported by ADRA to empower communities so that when ADRA pulls out the district can own the project and continue with its administration. At the end of such projects, groups were

formed and are still operating. One such program is in Nakawuka, where communities are encouraged to save and borrow, and this has inculcated a culture of saving among the local communities.

initiatives, there is a positive change. This has been noticed through improved health, education, financial literacy where communities have been empowered to save but also to find solutions to their problems.

In all their projects, ADRA has not been giving out handouts but have been supporting the steering committee which I have been chairing to reach to the grass root communities. But the most significant impact is the establishment of a financial institution called Advance Microfinance, operating in Nansana and neighbouring areas.

About Advance Microfinance

Advance Uganda Microfinance Ltd (AUMF) is a faith-based microfinance institution (MFI) based in Nansana near Kampala. AUMF was set up by ADRA Uganda. The aim was to support disadvantaged rural entrepreneurs to reduce poverty and improve self-reliance, particularly among women. Through its branch in Entebbe, on Lake Victoria, AUMF is the only Ugandan MFI to offer financial services to the residents of Bussi, Koja and Zinga islands, where 70% of its clients are women, most of whom are involved in farming and fishing. AUMF is an established and competitive MFI, with a varied product portfolio, excellent growth potential and a strong presence among female entrepreneurs. They are expected to benefit AUMF’s 2,850 current borrowers, more than 2,500 new clients and 36 staff.

Message to ADRA

We as Wakiso district want to appreciate their services in the district. Through their

Frank Sekagiri

ADRA: 30 YEARS OF CHANGING LIVES:

39

Student practicing hair dressing at Kireka home for the handicaped

Tailoring sessions in class

ADRA helping disabled children to secure their future mainly through agriculture, to give alternatives on what to choose as a sustainable income generating activity.

T

he saying that disability is not inability is one of the statements that keep persons with disability going. Much of the majority would like to get skills that will enable them to be self-reliant, yet few get access to institutions like ADRA that are willing to lend a hand, to make those people’s lives better. Those that have been lucky to benefit from ADRA include Kireka Home for the Handicapped children, which gave birth to a similar place in Lweza, Kigo road. The organisation is currently training about 50 disabled children In these facilities, children with disabilities are trained in various practical sessions to equip them with skills, in addition to those being offered by the government. Under the ministry of education, disabled children are supported to acquire skills in carpentry and joinery for boys while girls are taken through tailoring.

How ADRA started supporting disabled children

To supplement on government’s program, ADRA Uganda introduced other topics 40 40

ADRA 30 YEARS OF CHANGING LIVES

The main activities under agriculture include vegetable growing in a small space and this is being promoted mainly in Kireka, where there is less space. The other bigger farming projects including banana growing, sweet potatoes, maize, cassava, including vegetables are being done at the Lweza School, which has more space. This has been supplemented with marketing skills. “The idea is that when students complete their one-year training and are going home, they have an idea on how to start a life of their own”, explained David Kiyingi, the coordinator of the project. The aim of all the above activities as per ADRA’s vision is to ensure that disabled children and adults acquire a long-term skill. At the end of their training sessions, graduating students into agriculture are given some seeds as capital to continue practising from home. These are later followed up by the instructors and the project coordinator, to help them succeed with whatever project they would have started with.

How students get the skills

At Lweza, Kiyingi explained that students are taken through theory in class and later taken

to the field to put into practice what they have learnt. Practical sessions are carried out twice a week with experts from the National Agriculture Research Organisation in a particular area, like Mushroom growing, vegetables, and bananas. Sometimes experts in the financial sector are called in to teach them how to manage their finances after selling what they will have harvested from the farm.

What happens to all the food produced at school?

Some of the food that is generated by the school is eaten to supplement the rice, posho and beans offered by the government, some of it is sold, and other is given to instructors.

Future plans

To further provide an alternative source of employment, Kiyingi added that they had secured some 49 million UGX through ADRA to include other courses like hairdressing, and facilitating experts who are called on different projects to skill students. This will not only equip students with skills but will act as another income, generating activity. Part of the money is to provide the saloon with some machines like dryers, chairs, basins some starting chemicals among others.

ADRA GIVES BACK TO THE COMMUNITY

O

ver 1270 residents of Kiganda-Kasokoso turned for a free health camp. ADRA organised the Health Camp ahead of her 30 years celebrations. The ADRA Uganda Public Relations and Resource Mobilisation Officer, James Bisheko Byaruhanga said they would have annual health camp across the country to fulfil the organisation’s mission of helping the needy. “We are giving back to our community because a healthy community is what the country needs to develop. There is no way one can work, improve on his/her livelihood when one is not healthy”, he said. The health camp attracted residence from Kasokoso, Kiganda, Kireka and the surroundings.

Annette Nabawanuka, a resident of Kiganda Zone interacting with the Mayor and ADRA Country Director

Medical personnel from Mulago Hospital treated the health camp’s beneficiaries of malaria, infectious diseases, dental check-ups, Hepatitis B, HIV among others. The Kira Division Mayor Julius Mutebi Nsubuga said there is a need for a government hospital in the areas, saying that the majority of the people there cannot afford medical services.

ADRA 30 YEARS OF CHANGING LIVES

41

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ADRA 30 YEARS OF CHANGING LIVES

4 NEW VISION, Tuesday, October 25, 2016

UN urges countrie Batwa s munity adopt Uganda SDG to ask govcom model land, thrteatforen to reoccupy NATIONAL NEW S

ADRA IN THE PRESS

By David Lumu

forest

If the integration of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) into the National

Plan II is implemeDevelopment By Hope Mafaran nted by the Government, the and Kate Atuzari ga, Job Namanya (UN) says UgandaUnited Nations rwe the first countrie will be one of s to achieve the The Batwa commun global targets. ities living in Kisoro have asked the district Calling upon countrie Government to give them land settlement. the Uganda model s to adopt for The Kisoro Batwa on SDGs, the UN resident community chairman Sembagari, said Uganda, Rosa co-ordinator in when the Governm , Francis Malango them ent evicted from , said: their “Uganda was one of the first Mgahinga, Echuyanatural habitat in the forests countries to of and Bwindi in 1990, integrate SDGs left homeles they s. were in the National Sembagari said Development Plan. A total of they depended 69% of the SDG medicine on and game honey, targets are now integrated in the they were evicted meat from forests and since National Develop starving and dying “life has become hell; we are is a big achievem ment Plan. This ent. He was speaking of diseases”. are only five countrieI think there of Batwa commun during a graduation ceremon s that have achieved this. y Other countrie district yesterday. ity at Mayor’s Garden in Kisoro s should emulate Uganda.” Functional Adult Over 346 Batwa got certificates in Malango was Literacy after two years of training. speaking at The graduands Imperial Royale were supported Hotel in Kampala Develop by ment and Relief Adventist during the 71st Agency (ADRA), government organisa a nonthe UN, which anniversary of Catherine tion working with Lopuka (left) and communities. vulnerable 1945. Yesterday’s was formed in Karimojong Kitui (right) from Karamoja adornin also coincided commemoration yesterday. earrings at the 71-17 Goals g Malango with United Photo with by Nations the Miriam Namute traditional first anniversary of Day 2016 at Imperia bi the SDGs, which l Royale Hotel world leaders pledged to achieve by 2030. nSembagari accused the Government Under the diploma treasuring the National Develop of gorillas living ment Plan is of foreign affairs tic midwifery in forests more than the Batwa. now at 76%. minister. Sam Kutesa, who for settlement, He said due to lack of land However, Gideon was the 69th president of the on the Governmthey have been left out executive director Badagawa, the ent programmes of Private Sector Assembly, world UN General Operation Wealth such as Foundation Uganda, leaders Creation. rolled out 17 SDGs in said although the integration is Kutesa year and urged September last challenge facing at 76%, the main governments, civil “If the Governm the Government society and other pledging to is linking the impleme should take us ent cannot give us land, then they the implementationactors to start of impleme enhance means that the back to the forests ntation to evaluatio SDGs are impleme ntation, includin the normal lives in October. According to nted in executio n on one hand and the as we did before so that we live eviction,” he said. Malango, the making the execution of theg a timely manner.” The ADRA program n of institutional challenges that Uganda SDGs one of reforms Kutesa, however said they have been mes officer, James Bisheko, the core targets faces in its for , singled out on the other. quest to impleme working with Batwa ministers during the need to mobilise One the quality and to improve the review especiall resources, Karamojof the participants from be overcome if nt the SDGs will period. enrolment of educatio y from the private the Government people. n of the little taps into the sector. HIV-pos a, Mwatum Kitui, who is “We also need This multi-sec “When they were itive, called on to enhance approach, and population, the swelling youth domestic the UN evicted from the Kutesa said, will tor the revenue, vibrant did Governm not know the value forests, they enable the UN private investme ent expand mobilise sector in the country of education, but women in Karamoj to ensure that nt, rally 1,200 Batwa children now over ensure gender equality, and also reform procuremthe private sector, needed $1.8 trillion, which is are a sub-region have access to supporte today,” oil ent the implementation to education especially d and empowered laws, he said. by providing public-private-pa enrich of the SDGs. to start businesses opportunities to the Bisheko also rtnership, so that they can women and girls. presented Alice empower the local “The support SDGs the their can truly transform Nyamihanda, first Mutwa governments families. For the youth, the and increase “We have been the Government to get a degree. He requeste monitoring and our world, but we must avoid left behind as for quality educatioUN is rooting evaluation processe d and NGOs to employ the pitfalls that faced that they can transform s,” he said. the Millennium women from Karamoja. We need them, so laced with vocationn, which is On the other Development their society and more support so themselves. Goals (MDGs) sustain that we can also so that the untappe al training, “The task we hand, Kutesa said: he said, ,” own have land, undersco ADRA’s d talents of now is to ensure educate our children acting country youth can be explored integration of SDGsring that the and live a director, Solomon Kateregga, said . The 2014 meaningful life,” in Uganda’s population census they will continue she said. rights of people to advocate the THE 17 SUST 78% of Uganda’ revealed that AINABLE DEVE standards of livingliving in poverty and uplift the people comprise s 34.6 million of n Goal 1: End Batwa. LOPM s youth below 35 The Kisoro Municip ENT GOALS poverty in all its years. forms everywhere decried the number ality MP, Sam Byibesho n Goal 10: Reduce “There is also , n Goal 2: End of Batwa dying need to tackle malnutrition-rela hunger, achieve of HIV and among countrie inequality within and poverty, ted food security and improved climate However, Kisoro complications. nutritio n Goal 11: Make s effects and inequalit change sustainable agricult n and promote cities said the district LC5 chairperson Abel Bizimana y. Social ure settlements inclusivand human accountability is will ensure that n Goal 3: Ensure and benefit from Batwa are settled e, safe, resilien sustainable implementation also key to the t and well-being for healthy lives and promote of of the Governmentall the development programmes n Goal 12: Ensure UN has documen the SDGs. The like any other commun n Goal 4: Ensureall at all ages inclusive and equitab ity. and production sustainable consumption in Uganda and ted all wetlands quality pattern le educati s on n Goal 13: Take everyone to respectwe call upon learning opportu and promote lifelong urgent action to combat climate change Malango said. the wetlands,” n Goal 5: Achieve nities for all She praised gender equality n Goal 14: Conservand its impacts* Uganda, which empower all women and she oceans, seas ande and sustainably use the and girls an “island of peace” described as n Goal 6: Ensure marine resourc in a turbulent availability and sustainable develop region, for its es for sustainable manage open policy to ment n Goal 15: Protect ment of water refugees. sanitation and sustainable use , restore and promote Speaking on n Goal 7: Ensure of terrestrial ecosyst access to affordab sustainably manage Government, the behalf of the reliable le, , sustainable and forests, combat ems, desertification, Dr Ruhakana Prime Minister, modern energy for all degradation andhalt and reverse land Uganda has Rugunda, said n Goal 8: Promot halt biodiversity laid down a e sustained, inclusiv n Goal 16: Promot foundation, which loss sustainable econom e peaceful and will enable societies for sustaina ic growth, full e and inclusive the country product and to harness the ive employment ble develop provide access demographic dividend and decent work for all to justice for all ment, . effective, account and Rugunda added n Goal 9: Build able and inclusiv build that Uganda resilient infrastr institutions at has taken ownersh e promote inclusiv ucture, ip of the n Goal 17: Strengtall levels ambitious, but industrialisatio e and sustainable relevant SDGs, n and foster innovat implementation hen the means of ion partnership for and revitalise the global sustainable develop Kateregga (holding ment a microphone) over a certific handing ate Photo by Miriam to one of the graduands. Namutebi

BETWEEN THE LINES: Grievan ces

“The SDGs can truly tran world, but we must avoidsform our that faced the MDGs.” the pitfalls

t 4, 2017 , Friday, Augus NEW VISION

KOTIDO

NEW VISION, Wednesday, November

MWALIMU

20 NEW VISION, Wednesday, November 2, 2016

The community that used to reside within the Mgahinga and Bwindi forests in southwestern Uganda are mostly an illiterate, landless people. Hope Mafaranga writes of their struggle to break into a society that has trouble accepting them

The Batwa STRUGGLE to get an EDUCATION Government Intervention

What is being done to help?

class because to be in a corner of the would say The Batwa are considered d of what other children one of the most marginalise This about me. called people on the continent. The nicknames they Igitwa, pigmy, marginalisation has hampered social me, such as called me made their access to various they , kafumbi quality services such as me unhappy,” she says. ve is the fi of education. The third-born of the Mutwa The Batwa are some first woman and only people d marginalise among the most their with a diploma in Africa, evicted from the community. She went to Gitovu ancestral land in 1991, when for and Mabuyemeru Primary Seseme forests became national parks School in Kisoro and and A’ level. She wildlife conservation. visited Girls for her O’ University, When the New Vision largest later joined Bugemaher diploma Kisoro the area with the attained she where Uganda, in 2010. population of Batwa in or in development studies suffer Batwa all many were found sleepingat a Luckily, not loitering on the streets are in the stigma Nyamihanda did. student time when other children John Maripazari, 21, a in school. at Bishop Stuart University The Kisoro Batwa community Mbarara district, has a better chairman, Francis Sembagari on story. Kisoro says their lives dependedgame “I worked as a porter in myself honey, forest medicine and town to pay school fees for n for Organisatio meat. United until small nt in Uganda Some have settled in outside Batwa Developme me and took polythene makeshift hats young (UOBDU) spotted Kisoro town. Women and water me to Kisoro Comprehensive girls are seen drawing that Secondary School for O’ and from trenches of sewage says. “In urban district A’level,” he not as flows from town and centres, the stigma is areas, rural the head offices. in is it as the much Upon their eviction from as so I survived it.” for her Trust, which paid forests, they were treated ed primary education and Adventist outcasts; they were discriminates, What kept her going Agency, 1991 to be Development and Relief against not just in communiti Nyamihanda wanted The Batwa were Batwa the which catered for her secondary of r but also in schools. ambassado an evicted from agenda. to university education. and push for their towards their ancestral works schools be in not on UOBDU could Humiliati this build land and remain 28, a She realised promoting the rights and Alice Nyamihanda, without education, a to land achieved through without one is Batwa the the capacity of resident of Kisoro town, were goal she pushed for beyond the claim as their own formal and informal education.in of the Batwa whose parents has humiliation. to date. She as “We also empower Batwa evicted from the forest. Nyamihanda now works by hiring to fight sector purpose life’s agriculture UOBDU, her the it at cer made an education offi 6,000 ate land for them and equipping for their rights. organisation that umbrella approxim an and The the of practical them with the Batwa in When she speaks number of Batwa in brings together all vocational skills in carpentry humiliation she suffered she Uganda. can in Uganda and handcraft, so that they school, it is a wonder her says. her sustain themselves,” she managed to complete in Factors that enabled The organisation also deals education. desire to change the are failures and I made up my The livelihood that nt, believes developme Nyamihanda people thinking this perception,” skills and health programmes way the perception of failures mind to change support were education is the only Batwa the that says. a to with Nyamihand and advocates the promotion Batwa can be empowered pushed her to continue She also got social and financial of their human the limited fight for their rights. such as and protection the school despite support from NGOs “The stigma of being too resources. Conservation rights. Mgahinga was Bwindi, class in we shortest person “I was tired of hearing that and much. I used to sit behind

Emmanuel Irinatwe 15, Primary Five pupil: “I am reading hard to become a doctor, hopefully the first in my community. I will not allow anyone stop me from achieving my dream.

2, 2016

25

Steps achieved

uate Nyamihanda: The first grad and clarity of spoken Her Western dress-sense pursue quite a different English suggests she will path to her fellow Batwa. educated. When they “I feel great because I am were afraid, and we we chased us from the forest go back. Now I want did not have a chance to Nyamihanda says. to work for my people,” Alice in their Like many other Ugandans graduate from 20s, Nyamihanda will unlike anyone university this week; but in a forest else, her origins lie deep and the where Uganda meets Rwanda of Congo, now Republic Democratic Park. known as Mgahinga Gorillaa few thousand Nyamihanda is one of and the first remaining Batwa in Uganda ed native ever to return to her impoverish diploma. community with a university

complete a full course children will be able to achieve this, President of primary schooling. To free primary Yoweri Museveni introduced education in 1997. a beneficiary of this Nyamihanda was not she places on policy, but the importance route from poverty education as the escape shared by many reflects an outlook Ugandans. to help my “After my studies, I have other Batwa people, I want to encourage says. she children to go to school,” you can work “If someone is educated, she says. in an office and get money,” Bugema Nyamihanda joined outskirts the on University is of Kampala in 2008 and graduated with a diploma in development studies real — a course with very relevance to her life. Her plan now is to return seek to to her village t in professional employmen this larger nearby towns, but will not be her first experience of the working world.

Watala By Paul Mafaranga and Hope women so that youth and unal technology, year Karamoja to comm to irrigation grow crops all only wayand have turned can as the communal we ,” said Lotukei. the farming their livelihood (Left) A group Kiberu, er round William improve r. manag farming a garden, George 40, programmended Action beat hunge s of 30 to weeding ADRA e) a hand DA-fu group In while (abov with short- and for the DANI Change (ASC) women members group of sorghum for Social currently being d on maize as ding as early mme, hoes descen s northern sprea Progra garden at it, until dry is d in sorghum seeds to implementesaid: “Karamojawith and keep oja, 7:00am the Karam the sub-regionsa food bedm. with during 4:00p e of ers, we use e our one tial to becom The memb ed around their water, which to irrigat the poten this country.” each meet other drought season t for sheets wrappwaists, till area has ate l and district baskesaid because the nment ” she said necks and s and celebr the to schoo in our households He Gover LC5 ced crops, Lotukei soils, the brew at Kotido modern other’s garden demands we have embra Ambrose ng local are fertile avail ify . by drinki day. because chairpersonleaders, they she added should and intens on community end of each ng ritual is meant agriculture,” said as of in technologies Wealth Creati The drinkimore members encouragingto get involved Operation , so that the region them wonya enges ers to attract unity to join Chall from Conop iation memb pment activities. faces programmes p. that Assoc the commng out agricultural Semi Akidi nt sub-region imes can develo r reported their develo somet “Karamoja in carryi Developme district said Kiberu furtheers have also ia the Our spells that memb s and activities. in Abim from Kokor li long dry dams to dry up. include cattle group Kache village saving they Anna Chilla challenges long dry spells cause the are mostly cross embraced ations, where group in district, such who orm, n’s e, to logy, associ for their wome armyw Kotido of technoes to water peopl rs, are forced and g for loan and access loans sub-county,onally, women and lack activities, keepe ts, lookin save men ion schem said. other distric e-generating said traditi as irrigat join the the , into and pasture,” he sinesses. the incom after to ing agribu youth would their crops.help from ADRA water raids, but se, they appeal provide includ “With been taught about “We in cattle to exerci t Now, nmen ns. have disarmament dant. we Gover e patter rs store became redunextension worke nt climate chang we tap and Chilla said tist Developme A) when it rains, g from Adven Agency (ADRher participatin ly after and Relief her because of n short district. approached villages and asked and wome Kotido the n so they A group of youth ulture in fame in t ise wome they unity agric group, her to mobil into developmen in comm Paul Watala d their harvest. The s by could get to forme first ded Photo ce men s. had their excited. The activities. time, we depen were so motivation to convin “For a long Food Programme journey our farming groupfor members big a the and was part of meals ers of call them ntly harvest on the World our daily imagined be had to other memb consta (WFP) for and I never to join. the for ce ADRA our on our cattle. actually produ s meetingsthem that it was m communitythe proceeds, ed in “From remind to solve the probleshe that we could and have surplu have invest as how food ,” members our own . It is amazing after only waye in the region sses, such have famin other busine Women for selling et has changed, ,” of isation roasting meat. mills,” Chilla said. our minds ised by ADRA the organ for grinding She said being organ with seedsthem bought on men es them she said. that the ding provid and has linked sell said. can now put food en ng childr they “We She noted as planti started respon ts, where , take our also tables marke lture, to have ce. to agricu they our positively them have started their produmonths after Seven some of h farming. not been a smoot “It has

Kateregga, says programmes, Solomon poverty and in Landless squatters they work with people and positive Batwa can Since their eviction, the distress to create a just ng them. outskirts of now be found on the change through empoweri pays school living in ions national park boundaries He says the organisat remain in schools. materials that they could not squalor, often inebriated. “Some Batwa told us fees and provides scholastic such as other teachers, male schools with At In common with many trust their children for Batwa children. the says the Batwa of sexual indigenous groups around especially girls for fear vulnerability. The Mabuyemeru, Kateregga in the boarding traditional ones world, the Batwa are harassment due to their to their call and children are the only have ion has been who Hope organisat erers responded the nt and hunter-gath Governme section he says. in the 21st (caretaker) and a Henry Neza from the United struggled to cope with life deployed a female teacher,” providing food, a matron Batwa ntary for suppleme Organisation provide century. We also plan to security guard. works have to live, we d group. Development (UOBDU) Their population numbers to “Since they had nowhere school, so that food for the stigmatise they do not have Unable at closely with the indigenous dropped dramatically. “Their case is special, decided that they sleep a’s rules own food and giving their needs,” he group. He says Nyamihand adapt, many violate the parkforest. land to cultivate their away in keeping we can provide for all step achievement is a small by poaching animals in the them food will go a long says. people. live to forest Batwa the of for allowed adds. group he forward though, They are, He says the other them in school,” Batwa the attention to gather in neighbouring “It is our intention that the enter their former habitat The Batwa have attracted NGOs across the Uganda border enough DR herbal educated for in eastern of various can one day be berries and small plants of their Rwanda, Burundi and and they such as Adventist to manage themselves — a key aspect medicine Congo. support , the Development and can begin to represent and ancient heritage. “In each of these countries inside or ethnic group Relief Agency themselves.” “There is no life for us neither Batwa exist as a minorityand Batutsi some of (ADRA), which It may seem unfair that outside the forest. We can nor are living among the Bahutuanza says. so close to have built schools the last people to live live in our original habitat own populations,” Munyarub with neighbours our and enroled nature are being confrontedworld. we are allowed to have In Uganda, their dominant Batwa adults in Bakiga. While the demands of the modern going land, ” a Mutwa who introduces are the Bafumbira and cult to people are Batwa gi. school to acquire the diffi if are But Kanyabikin as gures himself accurate fi a’s age, but that 6,700 basic literacy to survive, then Nyamihand It is difficult to guess his determine, it is estimated with their only skills. weathered by his way example may provide Kanyabikingi has a face Batwa living within Uganda, living in The ADRA women who have hope. tely half of them life. The only three Batwa school. Centre is of approxima shift tours of director tourists on She symbolises the rapid this gone beyond secondary Job Namanya He now guides curious Kisoro district. which we can life he once lived by towards development, Nyamihanda. Photos to demonstrate the lost other Batwa, he “This is not a small number has resisted we are supporting marginalised community in the forest. Like most his native ignore. For this reason, and other basic believes shall she we clear way is in it only me so hard. And know it is the communicates with them to attain education forward. we are education is the only way come out of this dilemma language through an interpreter. rights,” Katerega says. a struggle I ask Nyamihanda facing,” she notes. Basic survival has been Solomon Kateregga efforts, whether she feels As a result of her for the last 20 years, and now a proud of her origins. 306 Batwa children are 13 education has not been BATWA FACTFILE “I am proud of my attending primary school, in a priority for the Batwa. lly education, but I am not as part of a in secondary schools, one are are a minority numerica Now, They Sembagari says the Batwa up proud to be a Mutwa vocational institute and three community that has long and politically, making are not skilled to do any 0.7% of the because we have lost now at the university. feared the world outside between 0.02% and work apart from hunting. in where a our culture — the them “Having these numbers t the forest, Nyamihand population in the countries This makes it hard for culture has gone,” she due school is not a small achievemen is leading the way in her they live to adapt to modern life believed says. or for people everybody to embrace it. efforts cultivate to land of lack to The low-impact use would not amount to anything,” Many But the path has ways to earn a living. of forest resources Since 38% of Batwa says. mortality: precarious: she Child been age of factors, including stigma, meant the Batwa way Nyamihanda children die under the childhood of Ugandan on of life was sustainable forces many to drop out a with relied Challenge five, compared has constantly ed over thousands of school. of 18%. Apart from being discriminat benevolence of nonaverage the lack ns years. In today’s world against, the Batwa also the government organisatio of climate change, land and support from Life expectancy: 28, compared to carry her through each of 53 “I am an advocate of changeI Government. there is perhaps some with a Ugandan average academic year. many. t to wisdom to be drawn and an inspiration to “We want the Governmen “I finished my primary and action $25, from these ancient go to the Batwa community Average annual income: I put in place affirmative they education and I performed education. of gospel the tribes. preach for Batwa and ensure compared with a Ugandan well — but my family could But the rich heritage of $420 get scholarships to university afford secondary average not points,” no of her forefathers has and reduction of entry school fees. I had Mutwa family 0.5% a than for or almost vanished, and Less says. a shelter clothes rates: Nyamihand Literacy uniform, books, ru A typical makeshift ives has a it seems Nyamihanda headmaster of Mabuyeme They also want representat and Batwa of the Batwa population even food to eat,” she says. partners, nt Integrated developme compared , Adventist and her generation to get Seventh Day at all level to advocate full secondary education forests. We cannot farm work children still drop out of school. of the would now be as lost Primary School, one Ugandans other of route any address the Batwa issues. 15% do number, nor with Escape the of money, are Without giving Rodgers in the forest as anyone schools with a high numberlow and pay school Sembagari says the Batwa Education is valued highly nza attributes the the apart to earn a living Mfitumikiza 14, else. ent Batwa children, decried not skilled to do any work hard fees for our children, however Munyaruba among Ugandans. The From the Batwa Developm to lack of food, scholastic it Primary Seven: We to World rate of enrolment. from hunting. This makes life. much we want our children to go cause country is on track 209, Programme Study, UN, Adapted from are lucky because materials and stigma. “I have a population of Groups not for them to adapt to modern and school,” he says. meet its UN Millennium Batwa Bank, Minority Rights BBC Online “Some communities have big some NGOs have to but only 27 are from the girls International “We need sensitisation a Development Goal — 15 plain supported us to yet accepted them, while all Otherwise, community. We have training. dropouts ensure that by 2015, continue to . I pray they make us better candidates the world outside School Munyarubanza, the number of them four to and exposure other factors,” are solve Francis people. They have says drop out due to finish school because they what they know will not Kisoro district officer, says. said. Nsenga given us a chance he ns very intelligent,” the anything. despite several interventio John Nsenga Haba, to compete with the t and other “We only knew hunting, Governmen the by world. the in rest of collecting fruits and herbs Government has Munyarubanza says the whom Batwa deployed female teachersensure they to community demanded

THE DILEMMA

PRIMARY SCHOOL SAY WHAT BATWA PUPILS AT MABUYEMERU Viola Cyizanye, 17, Primary Seven pupil: The only way we can fight for our rights and discrimination is for us to stay in schools and complete. This will show the world that the Batwa can also be achievers.

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REGION

1

2 3

3

i hweriire empung Orumuri, ADRA ba

11 Orumuri

rch 11 - 17, 2013

Katumba/Ma

Empungi nizireeba

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Enkuyanja y’empung

ity Center kutunga

Kyempango Commun

E tano, muringo gw’omu ision Group Ahabwe asiimwe yo erikushohoza abantu aba abahaire orupapura n’omutima gumwe bahwera rw’Orumuri okureeba ngu ire oruehire enkumi abantu abairuk gi za yaabo. taro omunsi n’enkumi z’empun obuhwezi “ Ninyenda kusiima Rwamwanja abatuoresa. abantu a by’okuk tu munong bw’ebin uri Abraesente, eshaire ebintu, Edita w’Orum agizire ngu n’omutima gumwe haara hama Ahabwe ezi,” i weyo kuhwera empung ebintu ebi bikahab ri , agazizire. Ahabwe nikwo abashomi b’Orumu ngu ba Radio Ahabwe agizire abahurikiza obujune n’abareebo empungi zikine West hamwe nkye munonga buhango na ba TV west enshmi jo, omu bintu byaburii ehwezi. ebyokurya, amaizi Ebintu ebi bibairera yaterere a, n’ebindi kandi mu emwend gore , enkito, gavumenti n’ebiton ebw’okweshweka aani o kuhwera ebindi kurugay ebikoopo, amasuw bingi. empungi ezi. hamwe nebindi wa Omugambirizi Orumuri rukwak-be Booker ADRA Ajuoga watanisa n’ekigom zire omukugaasiimire abahagi ADRA-Uganda mukoro aha Group ebi ba Vision ba ebintu abaKyempago n’abantu boona i obu ogubire ahari Centre omu hireyo obuhwez emikoCommunity anja, ahabw’okubaaha kampu ya Rwamw Omu Kamwenge.

obuhwezi obu

Orumuri na ADRA

ebintu ebi Orumuri

na ADRA baretsire

baretsire

CLIFF ABENAITW

V

Sister Charity

Booker nakwatsa

eza Jovah Mwiran ra abantu owarugire omuky- mbe no omu kureebe ya anga kya Nyamite a abari omu kampu n’abaan abahungire omuri Congo Vision Rwamwanja nga bw 6, asiimire boona orutaro omw’ihamwaka Group n’abantu obu kanrya Congo omu ahabw’obuhwezi yasoguhwire. ngu Ajuoga agizire anja er- di hoona ayongire a abantu kwonger kampu ya Rwamw ngu nga haba kwenda zirikure i era imu empung abaning kubahwamagara marungi. bature omu 35,000 kandi a. n’abakazi n’abaan

Booker owa ADRA irriri kutuunga

Empungi omurung

owa TV West

nayakira ebintu

ahari Christine

empungi ebintu

Diocese Mbarara Arch Fr. Bukenya of w’Orumuri ebintu Ahabwe Edita

a ow’Orumuri

na Hope Mafarang

nakwasa Abraham

nibaha empungi

ebintu

ebintu

ADRA: OF CHANGING LIVES: ADRA 30 YEARS OF YEARS CHANGING LIVES

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ADRA: 30 YEARS OF CHANGING LIVES