Clare
A good number of women in the Rugoora and Nakahuka parishes of Butunduuzi Sub-County, Kyenjojo, are smiling with renewed confidence, credit to Caritas Fort Portal’s implementation of sustainable agriculture practices, funded by Manos UNIDAS from Spain.
About the project
This two-year project, which began in August, targets 180 women and aims to tackle significant challenges faced by vulnerable women, enhance household incomes, and improve health through better sanitation and hygiene.
At St. Peter’s Catholic Church in Nyamiirama, Miss Julian Yagala, the Project Coordinator, addressed Bishop Muhiirwa, local leaders, and six groups of beneficiaries, emphasizing Caritas’s commitment to boosting women’s incomes.
Yagala explained that the project followed a successful civic education initiative in 2015 that established a foundation for effective leadership and project coordination in Butunduuzi Sub- County.
“We are not new in Butunduuzi, were here in 2015, and had a successful project about civic education, that paved way for transparent and coordinated leaders. But we realized that good leadership without income is as good as not impactful so it was easy for us to design a project that would build confidence in women in matters to do with income, which commenced in August this year.” Said Yagala
Beneficiaries confess the Outcomes
The leaders of the women’s groups—including Karo Karungi BakyaraTuyambane, Nyamabaare Kweterana, Rugoobee Mothers, Nakahuma Twimuke Tukoore Hamu, Mukareere BakyaraTukundane, and Bitare women Farmers—expressed their gratitude Manos Unidas via Caritas for paving away for them financially.
Miss Anna, the leader for all these women groups in Butunduuzi, noted significant improvements in hygiene, with every household now equipped with clean pit latrines, updated dish drying racks, dustbins, and home vegetable gardens to enhance their diets, saying these have been achieved in a short period through the hygiene lessons from Francis Birungi, from Caritas FortPortal.
She urged Bishop Muhiirwa to advocate for better access to clean water to reduce their expenses related to waterborne diseases.
Other beneficiaries, including Mr. Owaruhanga Fulgence and Miss Roy Tukwasiibwe, shared their appreciation for the enhanced hygiene practices they learned from Mr. Francis Birungi, their trainer from Caritas. They demonstrated what they have learned to Bishop Robert Muhiirwa Akiiki in their homes.
Bishop Muhiirwa moved by Caritas Efforts
The Rt Rev. Dr. Robert Muhiirwa Akiiki praised Caritas for its positive impact on the Butunduuzi community, as seen during his home visits to project beneficiaries. He encouraged them to integrate the practices they learned into their daily lives not practicing them only a few days.
The Bishop, officially handed over agricultural materials, including watering cans, spraying pumps, and launched a demonstration nursery bed from which all groups will receive seedlings. He urged the women to make the most of these resources to boost their incomes but also to help on their diet.
