“How has poor land management contributed to food insecurity in your communities?” This is the theme for UCAA’s 72nd edition of the newsletter.
A research carried out by Godfrey B.A Bahigwa from the Economic Policy Research Centre on house hold food security. in Uganda published in December 1999, quotes United Nations defining a household as food secure when it has access to the food needed for a healthy life for all its members (adequate in terms of quality, quantity, safety and culturally acceptable) and when it is not under risk of losing such access (Von Braunetal, 1996).
The research report indicates that food security varied from region to region, gender of household head and the level of education of the household head. It summarises causes of household food insecurity as being inadequate rainfall, pests and diseases and excessive rain.
In my opinion, Land wrangle (conflict) is such a common thing today and it has greatly added to the list of the causes of food insecurity. If one visited the courts of law, you would be shocked to find that most of the cases are concerning land.
An example of a house hold that may fall food insecure according to gender of household head is picked from an article on Women and Land Issues in Uganda by Gloria Aciro Laker of Gulu, and documented by Institute for war and Peace reporting.
In Aciro’s article, she quotes Sarah Apio, the Gulu Legal officer of the federation of women lawyers in Uganda, FIDA Uganda saying “the situation is worrying and the majority of the cases are violence on women over land. Relatives want to strip these widows of everything despite them having children. Most of the widows
FOREWORD
have no income and they rely on agricultural activities for survival yet they are being thrown of the land”.
Sarah recalls visiting a victim in Opit sub county in May 2009 and reports that she was a mother of eight. They claimed that she was from Bugisu and since her husband who brought her had died, she was being chased from the land saying she is to go back to where she came from.
So many of such cases happen countrywide but they go unreported and undocumented. You therefore don’t expect such a household to be food secure.
What is most amazing is that people in Uganda struggle for land but they do not cultivate it or put it into any productive use especially in the rural areas. It is not uncommon to find that the people who own large chunks of land are the very ones who go hungry and are forced to labour in other peoples’ homes in exchange for food!
Culture is culture and must be respected but in this case, our culture is becoming detrimental. People simply enjoy dragging each other to court, killing themselves and creating enemies over land, because they want to feel rich with land, yet in reality, they cannot use the land to get themselves out of poverty and hunger.
In this regard, I do not know whether leaving land idle is also another form of land use. Fine. Somebody could say that they are fallowing the land. Five, ten, fifteen years and land is still fallowing! Interesting!
In my opinion, government should tax idle land.
I am glad that somebody was of the same opinion. In the New Vision of Friday 6th August 2010, Samuel Mabala, the secretary of the Uganda National Urban forum said owners of idle urban land could soon start paying tax on it. How I wish this would affect rural land, much as the article says the proposal will not affect rural land because it would ensure that people do not struggle for land because they fear to pay tax on the idle and they would use what they have to the maximum in order to be able to pay tax.
In total, we received 15 articles on
this theme. 6 from the UCAA board members, 6 from the UCAA regional programme officers, 2 from Change Agents and 1 from an intern student of Kyambogo University.
All the articles on this theme have been published and we have also posted them on the UCAA website where they will receive a global readership. We encourage you to access the following articles on the UCAA website by following these steps.
Access the internet and access the UCAA website: www. ucaa. or.ug
At the home page of the UCAA website click on “news”
At the news page click on “select category”. Select newsletter
Select the edition of the newsletter listed by theme
The UCAA programme officers have prepared updates of what is happening in UCAA in their respective regions, including news from UCAA branches, District Change Agent Associations and members of UCAA.
We also take this opportunity to inform you of the theme for the next edition (73rd) which will be the final edition for 2010. 73rd Edition-November 2010: “Rituals are a source of wealth in our community”. Is this statement valid?
To our dear readers and specifically our partners, we would be glad to always receive your comments on these topics which we shall endeavour to publish in the next edition. Your views are important because they enrich and widen the understanding of our dear change agents who are mainly rural men and women on different topical issues.
We thank you for your support and please enjoy reading this!
Dinah Akallo Advocacy officer
Please note that the views expressed in this newsletter are not necessarily those of Uganda Change Agent Association
POOR FARMING METHODS AND SELFISHNESS BY MAN HAS LED TO FOOD INSECURITY.
(By Luwaga Michael, an Intern from Kyambogo University)
Land Management is a concept used to describe how well land is used by a particular individual. So, poor land management can be taken to mean the unhealthy ways in which land is handled. I personally have no doubt, poor land management causes food insecurity in the rural house hold and the country at large.
The choice of what kind of crops to rotate in a given piece of land hasposed a big challenge to many rural farmers. For instance, some farmers after harvesting cassava may decide to plant grains which will not give good yields. Another proportion of farmers mix unfavourable tree species with food crops. For example, eucalyptus and pine need a lot of water, so mixing them with food crops mean that the food crops are left without any water for growth. This will definitely lead to poor yields.
In man’s selfish interest, in pursuit of setting up industries, Capitalists clear forests which contribute to the formation of rainfall. Without rainfall, the resultant effect is poor yields and definitely food becomes scarce.
MAN AND HIS ACTIVITIES HAVE LED TO FOOD INSECURITY
(Abur Joseph, Change Agent, UCAA Member Kalaki Central Branch)
A wide variety of our activities spoil the land and increase soil erosion. Many of these activities are related to agricultural practices and are unfortunately widespread in rural areas for example: Land fragmentation which is the breaking up of land into small pieces and is also another way in which soil degradation occurs.
Some poor rural farmers dig land and make it open to erosion, they fail to plant cover crops on land thus leaving it open to wind and rain. Other farmers cultivate crops in places where they can easily be damaged for example on steep slopes where they cannot endure the strain and therefore can easily erode away. People cut down trees for fuel and wood and clear land for cultivation.
Once trees are removed, soil is exposed to agents of erosion. No roots to hold the soil in place. As soil and vegetable cover are lost, the climatic conditions in an area may become slowly drier and the land becomes a desert.
This process of decertification by poor rural farmers is a major threat to food and water security and leads to poor standards of living in the communities. Fertile land and adequate climatic conditions are a prerequisite to food security. It is important for us to make
sure that the soil we use is always taken care of and remains productive. We need to use it sustainably to meet our needs today and in the future and it is our constitutional right to live in a clean and healthy environment and any bad actions we take may affect us all.
As a change agent, I am therefore requesting fellow change agents to continue sensitising the community on personal causes of poverty.
POOR FARMING PRACTICES HAVE LED TO FOOD INSECURITY.
(By Odongo Karlo, Change Agent, UCAA Member, Lira Central Branch)
Land Management refers to a system of how land is administered and utilized where as food insecurity refers to a situation where food is scarce or there is food shortage in a community. In Uganda, poor land management has been a major cause of food insecurity. This is so because of the following factors explained below.
First and foremost, mention must be made of over cultivation or over ploughing land. This eventually leads to soil exhaustion and when the soil becomes exhausted, it results in poor crop yields hence food insecurity will arise.
More so, in our communities, there is a system of numerous land divisions known as “Land fragmentation” which is a serious cause of land and environmental degradation. In this
practice, land is subdivided into many small plots among the family members or clan hence giving rise to soil erosion and soil exhaustion. If soil is eroded, then poor crop yields will result and as a result of poor crop yields, food insecurity can occur.
Most farmers don’t practice crop rotation. Crop rotation is a system where different crops are planted in the same piece of land on a rational basis year in year out, but most farmers prefer planting the same kind of crop in the same garden for many years. This may lead to soil erosion hence leading to famine and food insecurity in the end.
Another factor is deforestation, which is a practice of cutting down trees (logging), most especially for domestic purposes like fire wood, building, furniture, etc. this often leads to low rain fall hence making the soil dry and rendering it unsuitable for crop cultivation and planting thus affecting the plants/crops growth and resulting in poor yields and food insecurity sets in.
Finally, industrial development has also led to food insecurity. This is because some agricultural products are processed into ready products and are exported abroad to earn foreign exchange and leaving behind food shortage instead of food surplus hence food insecurity.
Besides the industrial waste from factories also pollute land thereby affecting the rate of soil fertility and reducing the crop yields and as such, food shortages may set in.
In conclusion, it would not be too wild to say that its poor land management that has led to high levels of food shortage because in Uganda, agriculture is the back bone of the economy and forms the bigger bulk of exports, but also the same land is utilized very poorly so food shortages becomes inevitable.
NATIONAL PROGRAMME UPDATES
Dinah Akallo, UCAA Advocacy officer is responsible for providing this information
PLANNING SEMINAR
Uganda Change Agent Association held its planning seminar for 2011 between the 8th and 9th July 2010 at Uganda Martyrs seminary Namugongo. There were a total of 27 participants including 10 UCAA staff, 9 board members and 8 representatives drawn from all the regions representing the whole country. The planning seminar was successful with good deliberations made for 2011.
SENSITIZATION BY UGANDA JOINT CHRISTIAN COUNCIL (UJCC)
to explain. It was good service to the participants.
Moureen Mboizi, the officer responsible for Advocacy, research and documentation in UJCC also had a fair day with the change agents as she took them through her areas of expertise. Now Change Agents know how to advocate, to research and to document the issues of concern.
Special appreciation goes to UJCC for their support to UCAA.
ADVOCACY RESEARCH
The secretariat normally conducts research on topics that are vital for the change agents. The research topics
UCAA works together with other partners in development to serve the community. For this matter, UCAA organized a sensitization by UJCC to the participants attending the planning seminar. The sensitization was mainly on Democracy and good governance and Advocacy Research and Documentation.
In her Presentation to the participants, Rachael Nyakecho, the Democracy and good governance officer UJCC, started by asking participants to brainstorm on what democracy is. This stirred the house into a heated debate but when she highlighted features of a democratic state, participants were able to gauge where Uganda is, in as far as democracy is concerned. Then later she asked participants what good governance is and went ahead
include among others the following; the negative effects of micro-finance lending institutions, farming as a business, and the energy saving stove as a strategy for environmental degradation. Findings from eastern region, whose sample was picked from Soroti indicate that most of the clientele used the loans to meet their day today responsibilities although the loan was meant to expand their businesses. This means that much as the microfinance institutions have resulted in the socio-economic improvement of their lives, they still remain indebted for long because they spend more time servicing the loan.
As a result, it is important for the rural poor to initiate and manage their own savings and credit scheme as it will ensure an all round development.
Findings from West Nile indicate that micro-finance institutions have improved peoples’ lives but there is a missing link that needs to be addressed. Micro finance institutions should carry out some simple survey to
determine the demand side of their services. Most often, financial providers think that money is the missing link and therefore once availed, then people will develop. This may be true but the context in the rural areas may not support this assumption.
In Northern region, the research focused mainly on the attitude of people who borrow money, how they use it and remedies to reduce borrowing. Report revealed that peoples’ attitude should be changed from the dependency syndrome and traditional thinking that big money comes from only banks. The community lacks business skills so they mis- prioritize the borrowed money. A training is therefore needed for the community in this aspect, the report revealed that the community also does not know how to keep record of how the money is used so they need book keeping skills to help them in their financial management. The attitude that only banks give large sums of money prevents the community from knowing the hidden sources of large sums of money. They need sensitization to help them know that misdirected priorities makes them lose a lot of money that could have been saved for development purposes.
In south western, Bushenyi being the sample district, research has revealed that the energy saving stoves have reduced women’s work load, it has relieved children from going to the bushes looking for fire wood and it can improve on the environment because less fire wood is used. However, despite these advantages, many families still do not know about them, calling for a sensitization programme on the use of energy saving stoves.
TRAINING OF TRAINERS COURSE (TOT)
UCAA has planned one training of trainers course this year. This course is expected to train 25 trainers with 20 trainees being partially funded by UCAA Those partially funded will be expected to . pay 200,000/- and five spaces for full sponsorship at 350,000/= each. The training is expected to commence on 17th September. The training venue will be Uganda Martyrs’ Seminary Namugongo.
WHAT IS HAPPENING IN UCAA WESTERN REGION
John Byamukarna Kisoke, Programme officer in charge of Western region is responsible for providing this information
FOOD INSECURITY SHOULD BE BLAMED ON UGANDA’S TAX POLICY AND CLIMATIC
CHANGE. (By Bwambale Christopher Kipako, Change Agent, Kisinga Branch, Kasese, BOD Representative Western Region).
Poor land management in my community-Kasese district has been as a result of a number of factors. Some of these include; poor farming methods, Lack of adequate extension services, an increasing population, unfavourable and unfriendly government policies such as the Uganda income tax and the Value added tax, selfish political motives that lead to low enforcement of policies that are pro-poor, corruption and land fragmentation. Poor land management has resulted in hunger and poverty thus food insecurity. On the whole, all this has been caused by escalating Climate change. Uganda National adaptation programme action (NAPA) report 2007, Observed that the melting of ice caps on the Kilimanjaro and Rwenzori mountains were posing serious consequences on the local and economic development through impacts on the local ecosystems. Yet, the snow caps are known to be a source of water for the communities on the slopes. This means food security is threatened. In Kasese district, food shortage contributed to 20% of the children remaining underweight according to the UNICEF 2001 Survey in Kitswamba, Kitholhu, Kilembe and Kyondo Sub counties as quoted in the Kasese 2007 report on the status of the Millennium Development Goals. This gap has not been closed yet, as we still have some
families depending on one meal a day.
According to the 2002 census, 53% of the population in Kasese was living below the poverty line. This gap is still persistent today because of the low supply of food in the District.
Kasese Community is also depending on foodstuffs from the Democratic Republic of Congo. The community lives on a hand to mouth type of life. The key staple food ‘BUNDU” which used to come from villages to towns, now comes from towns to villages as it is being sourced from other parts of the country and Congo.
Climate Change has resulted in lowering river water levels and that of lake George and Edward. During rainy season, there is a reverse; many landslides are experienced because the tree cover has been affected by Charcoal burning and timber. This results in poor land management and causes food insecurity in the region. The kasese Report on the Millennium development goals in 2007 observed that the 57.92sq km forest cover out of a total land area of 3,389.8 sq km was reducing.
High rates of Cutting trees for charcoal should surely be blamed on the Unfriendly Uganda’s tax policy which has resulted into increased electricity charges on the communities. Much as we rejoice of increased revenue due to high taxes, we may be ditching our future generation into problems of climate change which they may fail to control. A majority of people in all our towns in the country use charcoal instead of electricity for cooking. I am advising Ugandans to look into the issue of subsidizing electricity tariffs from the current domestic rate of UGX 426 to about UGX 100 per unit if our forests are to be relived of cutting for charcoal so that many people start cooking with electricity. Reduce taxes on other items too in order to avoid the nation from importing second hand computers, fridges and vehicles which are also contributing highly to climate change.
WHAT IS HAPPENING IN UCAA WESTERN REGION
John Byamukama Kisoke, Programme officer in charge of Western region is responsible for providing this information.
POOR LAND MANAGEMENT TRULY CAUSES FOOD INSECURITY.
(By John Byamukama, UCAA Programme Officer for Western Region)
It is true that poor land management causes food insecurity due to the following reasons; Deforestation is one way of mismanaging the land because it results in soil erosion and hence no crops can grow well on bare land.
Poor methods of farming is also a mismanagement of land for example lack of mulching may also cause soil erosion and therefore causing soil infertility.
Overgrazing on the land is another factor that can cause soil erosion that also makes the land to be unfavourable to crops hence food insecurity.
Some lands are naturally poor that one cannot grow crops on and get better yields. Therefore, as a way of managing better land you need to apply improved methods of faming like fertilization, mulching and applying organic manure.
In a nut shell, it is important to manage our land very well in order to avoid food insecurity in our homes, communities as well as our country.
CHANGE AGENT TRAINING COURSE.
One course has been planned for Kyenjojo district to cater for subcounties without change agents. More progress will be communicated later.
SELF RELIANT PARTICIPATORY DEVELOPMENT METHODOLOGY FOR COMMUNITY LEADERS
In the year 2010 no training of this kind was planned. However, Change Agents together with the Programme Officer can lobby for funds or contracts for this training or self-help groups can also sponsor the training for themselves and can be conducted in consultation with the Programme Officer.
MANAGEMENT TRAINING COURSES
A two day course will be conducted immediately after the second workshop of Kyenjojo Change Agent Training course.
ACCOUNTANCY TRAINING COURSES
A three day course will be conducted immediately after the third workshop of Kyenjojo Change Agent Training Course.
DISTRICT PROGRAMME REVIEW MEETINGS (DPRM)
These meetings will begin in August this year as follows:
Kibaale 04th August in Kagadi town, Masindi 18th August in Masindi town, Kabarole 23rd August in UCAA office, Kyenjojo 15th September in Kyenjojo town, Kamwenge 22nd September, Kasese 13th September in Kasese town,
Bundibugyo 20th October and Hoima 27th October.
DEVELOPMENT FORUMS
I wish to salute Bwera Branch that conducted a self-sponsored small development forum. We are also encouraging other branches to do the same and hand over the reports to the programme officer.
CONTRACT AND CONSULTANCIES
We are requesting our dear Change Agents to try and contact other NonGovernmental Organisations and Government departments which feel may need our services.
For any Organisation or Government department that needs capacity building courses for its staff or members, please contact us on Tel. 0772-547880 or 04834-22474 costs are -negotiable.
TROPHY
We want to congratulate Bukonzo East for emerging the best branch in the country in 2009. This is the sixth time this branch is taking the national trophy. I want also to encourage other branches in the region to work hard and also achieve.
WHAT IS HAPPENING IN UCAA SOUTH WESTERN REG/ON
Fulman Mushaija, UCAA programme officer in charge of south western region is responsible for providing this information
MESSAGE FROM BOD
(Bakama Alfred, Oruchinga Branch, BOD Representive, South Western Region)
Thanks to all Change Agents and UCAA staff for the work well done through the district coordinating meetings, Branch meetings and Branch activities. As per the theme poor land management has led to food insecurity, I say this has been brought about by several factors which include; not applying appropriate agricultural practices like mulching, crop rotation and terracing for land management thus soil erosion has led to loss of soil fertility. There’s also low productivity resulting from none use of artificial and organic fertilizers.
People just grow crops without carrying out soil test to determine which crops grow where. This leads to poor yields thus food insecurity.
The community should be answerable to land management by practicing modern techniques of agriculture, by growing crops that combat food insecurity, not encroaching on
the wet lands and bush burning. Man should not be against himself.
MANS LIFESTYLE HAS CONTRIBUTED TO FOOD INSECURITY IN THE COMMUNITY.
(Fulman Mushaija, Programme officer for South Western Region)
Land which is the custodian of all living and non living things provides for food for both human and non human creatures. The increasing population affects its carrying capacity which leads to food insecurity.
However, there are other senior causes of food insecurity that accrue from poor land management. These include, Forestation in areas where food production is potential. This especially started with enhancement of planting pine trees in south western Uganda.
Paddocking of land for daily farming and milk which is produced and sold in towns. This limits food production.
Cementing of graves in Uganda has created a significant loss of thousands of hectares of land which is a reduction on farm land.
Burning of land/soil during preparation of gardens reduces soil fertility and affects food production.
Overgrazing and bush burning that result into soil erosion reduces food production in our communities.
Distribution of land to especially boys by families result into land fragmentation which hinders improved farming methods like use of tractors.
All that is mentioned among others contribute to low food production which causes food insecurity in our community.
CHANGE AGENT TRAINING COURSE.
The change Agent Training for south. western is being organized in Bushenyi. Information dissemination was completed in May and more progress will be communicated in next edition.
MANAGEMENT TRAINING COURSE
Management training will be conducted in Bushenyi . Counties of Buhweju, Sheema, Igara, Ruhinda and Bunyaruguru are the target.
ACCOUNTANCY TRAINING.
Accountancy training will also be conducted in Bushenyi. Counties of Buhweju, Sheema, Igara, Ruhinda and Bunyaruguru are the target.
DISTRICT PROGRAMME REVIEW MEETINGS.
“The Greatest good you can do to another, is not to share with him your riches but to reveal to him his own”.
Extended compounds that even accommodate non fruit bearing trees This style of living has even penetrated rural areas.
Feeder roads maintenance by adding there marram quarterly has left many hectares of land unproductive.
The meetings will be conducted as follows: Bushenyi 12th August at Friends Hotel, Ntungamo 16thAugust at Canan Guest House, Kabale 25th August at Home Again, Kanungu 20th September at Kanungu Inn, Mbarara 27th September at MBADIFA, Kisoro 20th October at Mubano Hotel, Rukungiri 27th September at Hotel
Holiday. Branches will send their representatives to the meetings.
GROUP VISITS
Groups that won the UCAA monitoring forms lottery during 2010 district assemblies are the ones to be visited as follows:
Bushenyi-Butoha Catholic Women’s, Butoha Women’s in Bunyaruguru, Muzira Women’s in Sheema.
Kanungu-Samaria Bataka Mixed in Nyamirama, Samaria Bika Oguze in Nyamirama, Mukitusi Mbaho Group in Kihihi Kisoro-Jijuka Windows Group in Bufumbira East, Kigoma Savings and Credit in Bufumbira East, Bacyara Twifatanye in Bufumbira South.
Mbarara - Katyazo Group in Mbarara Central, Tukorerehamwe Group in Kashari, Kigarama Twimukye Group in Orchinga.
Ntungamo- Omugyenyi Turahe in Rushenyi, Nyamitooma Bakyara in Kajara South, lhanga Group in Kajara East.
Rukungiri-Kyanyamatsira Kwebisaho Group in Rukungiri Town, Omukikona Tukoregye in Bwambara, Nyekundire Women Group in Rukungiri Town.
WHAT IS HAPPENING IN UCAA EAST CENTRAL REGION
Persis Wagabaza Programme Officer, Central Region is responsible for providing this information. and fertilizers)
CARELESSNESS IN LAND USE BY MAN HAS CAUSED FOOD INSECURITY
(By Persis Wagabaza Programme Officer, in charge Central Region)
Land has been mismanaged by the community which has resulted into little or no yields at all. The people who occupy and use the land have used it with little responsibility. The practices below have been very rampant all over the country:
Overgrazing, tree felling/cutting (deforestation) -for timber, charcoal and baking bricks, over-cultivation (no rest) - due to over-population, brickmaking (top soil used), and over use of chemicals (pest control, weed control
As a result of the above practices, yields have become very low, resulting in food insecurity.
CHANGE AGENT TRAINING COURSE
Jinja Change Agent Training Course interviews and selection were conducted on 25th and 26th, May, 2010 at Kagoma Catholic Parish, Buwenge. The course commenced on 20th June and will end on 30th October, 2010 at Kagoma Catholic Parish. A total of 25 community leaders (13 , women and 12 men) are being trained. The Training Team is composed of Lucie Bamuhamye and
Nakasongola group receiving award of merit, during National Delegates Assembly
Abu Kataba as training facilitators; and Muzimba Fred, as Programme Assistant
MANAGEMENT AND ACCOUNTANCY TRAINING COURSES
A Management Training Course and an Accountancy Training Course are planned for the trainees of Jinja Change Agent Trainning Course at the end of the second and third workshop respectively.
DISTRICT PROGRAMME REVIEW MEETINGS
District Programme Review Meetings will be conducted in the third quarter of the year as follows:- Mayuge DCAA on 11th August, Bugiri DCAA on 18th August, Iganga DCAA on 30th August, Jinja DCAA on 2nd November.
Kamuli District Change Agent Association on 16th November. The Programme officer will visit the following groups in their respective Districts:-
Jinja District Change Agent Association -Twekembe Tulwanise Obwavu (Jinja Busedde), Nyenga Nabiwawulo Group (Jinja Busedde) and Akalya Amawa (Jinja Rubaga).
Bugiri District Change Agent Association -UWEAL Bugiri Chapter (Bugiri Town), Buswale Catholic Parish (Bugiri Buswale) and Namago Bulala (Bugiri Town).
Mayuge District Change Agent Association -Kyebaja Tobona Farmers Group (Kigandalo), Bwondha UCA Associate Farmers Group (Mayuge South) and Edhikolyoka Women Group (Kigandalo).
Iganga District Change Agent Association -women Alliance in Development (Iganga Town),Tufube Women Group (Iganga Town) and Buwambi Abaluwa (Namutumba)
Kamuli District Change Agent Association - Bakuseka Majja Women Development Group (Kamuli North), Nansion Women Development Savings (Namwima) and Basooka Kwavula (Kamuli North)
WHAT IS HAPPENING IN UCAA SOUTH CENTRAL REGION
Persis Wagabaza, programme officer in charge central region is responsible tor providing this information
CHANGE AGENT TRAINING COURSE
Masaka Change Agent Training course first workshop started on 18th April, at Jemine guest house and will end on 28th August 2010. The third workshop commenced on 4th and will end on 17th July. The last workshop will commence on 15th august and will end on 28th August. The certificate awarding ceremony will be conducted on 27th august, 2010 at the training centre. The training facilitators are Salongo Kayongo John and Namuddu Rose, assisted by Avito Ssegirinya.
MANAGEMENT TRAINING
A two day management training course was conducted at the end of the second workshop of Masaka Change Agent Training course for the Change Agent trainees on 5th and 6th June. We encourage branches and District Coordinating Committees to lobby for funds and organise the trainings for their self help groups.
ACCOUNTANCY TRAINING COURSE
One course will be conducted at the end of the third workshop for the Masaka Change Agent trainees and will run between 17th and 19th of July 2010.
DISTRICT PROGRAMME REVIEW MEETINGS
District review meetings will be conducted in the third quarter of the year as follows:
Rakai DCAA on 4th August, Mpigi DCAA on 13th, October, Ssembabule DCAA on 15th October and Masaka DCAA on 20th October.
GROUP VISITS
The following groups will be visited while the programme Officer is in their respective districts.
Rakai District Change Agent Association
-Munaku Kaama (Rakai Dwaniro), Bikalabo Zukuka Group (Rakai West) and Kisa Kya Mukama (Rakai Lwanda).
Masaka District Change Agent Association
-Buwunga SACCO (Masaka Central), Kwewayo Group (Kalungu County) and Kyondo Youth Group (Kalungu County).
Sembabule District Change Association
-Kewerimidde Women Piggery Group (Lwebitakuli),Buyonza Kweterana (Lwebitaakuli) and Akwata Empola Lujjula Group (Ssembabule Central). Mpigi DCAA - Agali Awamu Women Group (Mpigi Central), Atudde NAADS Group (Buwama Central) and Lwabenge Women Group (Buwama Central).
ORBITUARY
Luyiga Felista of Nkozi-Kituntu Branch, Mpigi District, passed away. May her soul rest in eternal peace. Amen.
WHAT IS HAPPENING IN UCAA CENTRAL REGIONAL PAGE Persis Wagabaza Programme Officer in charge of Central region is responsible for providing this information
MESSAGE FROM BOD
(Lubega John Hope, Change Agent Butuntumula Branch, Luwero District. BOD representive Centra! region)
Dear change agents, greetings to you all. I thank you for all the activities you are engaged in to support our association and your families, please keep it up. Special thanks go to central region who entrusted me to be their BOD representative by nominating me and voting me to board during the National Delegates Assembly. Please thank you so much. I pledge that together with fellow Board members and Staff, we shall do our level best to meet your expectations.
Condolences to all those who lost their loved ones especially to Sserute Pontiouse of Kiboga who lost his dear wife, and Zainabu Kasirye of luwero who lost her dear mother. May God grant them eternal Peace.
To contribute on the theme of the 72nd Edition “how has poor land management contributed to food insecurity in your community,” I want to say that this happens especially by the rich women and men who just buy land anyhow, not thinking of those they found on the land. I request the District land authorities to observe this situation otherwise communities will end up without land for cultivation.
CHANGE AGENT TRAINING COURSE
Luwero Change Agent Training Course commenced on 27th June and shall end on 6th November, 201C at Mirernbe Guest House. 1stworkshop began on 27th June and will end on 10th July at Miremebe Guest House, Luwero Town. A total of 25 (12 men and 13 women) community leaders are being trained. The Training Team is composed of Elsie Nabawesi and Leonard Ssengonzi
as training facilitators; and Joyce Nabatanzi Kizito, as Programme Assistant.
MANAGEMENT TRAINING COURSE
A two-day Management Training course will be conducted at the end of the second workshop of Luwero Change Agent Training course for the Change Agent trainees. We encourage branches and DCCs to lobby for funds and organize the trainings for their self help groups
ACCOUNTANCY TRAINING COURSE
A three-day Accountancy Training course will be conducted at the end to the third workshop of Luwero Change Agent Training course for the Change Agent trainees
DISTRICT PROGRAMME REVIEW MEETINGS
District Programme Review Meetings will be conducted in the third quarter of the year as follows:
Luwero District Change Agent Association on 4th August, Wakiso District Change Agent Association on 18th August, Kampala District Change Agent Association on 4th September, Kayunga District Change Agent Association on 14th September, Kiboga District Change Agent Association on 16th September, Mukono District Change Agent Association on 20th September, Mubende District Change Agent Association on 21st September and Nakasongola District Change Agent Association on 25th October.
GROUP VISITS
The following groups will be visited while the Programme Officer is in their respective districts.
Mubende DCAA Mityana Town Savings & Credit Scheme (Mityana Town), Kabuwanga Bisooka Group (Mityana Town) and Ttamu Banana Planters (Mityana).
Luwero DCAA - Lumu ‘A’ Wekembe Women Group (Luwero Town) Katale Women Group (Luwero Town) and Lukooge Kamu Kamu Savings & Credit Scheme (Wobulenzi).
Wakiso DCAA Kyosimba Onanya Gombe Farmers Group (Ssanga), Nabweru SubCounty SACCO (Nabweru) and Bugagga Ntuuyo Farmers Group (Nabweru).
Kayunga DCAA Togayanga Kyezinze (Kayonza), Bukadde Magezi (Kayonza) and Twekembe Farmers Group (Kayonza).
Mukono DCAA Magezi Bugagga Group (Mukono North), Nkokonjeru Centre -BRUWAYS (Nkokonjeru) and Bugga BRUWAYS (Nkokonjeru).
Nakasongola DCAA -Women’s Guild (Nakitoma), Migyera Angels’ Voice (Nabiswera) and Kalubanga Balitwewunya Group (Nabiswera).
Kiboga DCAA Wotayitidde Group (Bukomero West), Kidadda Farmers Association (Mulagi) and Eyeterekera (Kiboga Town)
ORBITUARY
Sserute Ponsiono of Bukomero West Branch, Kiboga DCAA lost his dear wife on 26th May, 2010. May her soul rest in eternal peace.
WHAT IS HAPPENING IN UCAA EASTERN REGION
Margaret Aduto, programme officer in charge of Eastern Region is responsible for providing this information
MESSAGE FROM BOD
(Lorna Mubogi, BOD Representative, Eastern region)
Fellow Change Agents, I greet you in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ. I urge you to work hard as goes our anthem. Please maintain that Spirit of voluntaryism forever.
Back to the theme of how poor land management has contributed to food insecurity, I want to say that cultivating crops especially along slopes has led to crops being washed away by heavy rains. These crops grown along the slopes are also easily thrown down by strong winds and are also easily affected by sunshine. These lead to poor yields hence food insecurity. There is a local slogan in the communities that “feed- me as I feed you, or that manage me well as I manage and maintain you”. People should apply this slogan on land if land is to sustain our livelihoods.
COMMERCIALIZATION HAS LED TO FOOD INSECURITY
(By Margaret Aduto, Programme officer Eastern region)
I would like to start by congratulating all the Change Agents especially those from the big Eastern Region upon the successful completion of the Branch and District Assemblies. I pray the Good Lord Blesses you in all your endeavors.
Considering the theme; “how has poor land management contributed to food insecurity in your community,”
I would like to comment that land management means different things to different people depending on who is defining and for what reasons they are defining it. ‘It basically depends on what side of the divide one
may fall in. On the other hand, food insecurity refers to the unavailability of food and lack of access to it.
Poor land management leads to land degradation that leads to low and declining food productivity and food insecurity. The ever increasing production for commercial purposes rather than subsistence is one other way through which poor land management leads to food insecurity. You find that much of what is produced is sold and nothing is left for family consumption. The ownership of land by the rich as opposed to the poor is also another way through which poor land management contributes to food insecurity. The majority of the poor are left with little land to cultivate and as such they are not in position to contribute to their own food security hence food insecurity.
Poor land management and food insecurity are increasingly becoming a threat to society there is need to go back to the drawing board to make realistic adjustments so as to ensure that land management matches food security.
BRANCH ASSEMBLIES
The Branch Assemblies of all the registered branches of Eastern region were successfully carried out between January and March 2010. The Assemblies were attended by a total of 181 participants; 93 Change Agents (51 males and 42 females), 8 working partners (7 males and 1 female) and 80 guests (40 males and 40 females). The Program officer would like to thank all those who turned up for these Assemblies and encourages them to keep up with the same spirit.
DISTRICT ASSEMBLIES
All the District Assemblies of registered District Change Agent Associations of Eastern region were successfully carried out between January and March 2010. The Assemblies were attended by a total of 143 participants; 108 Change Agents (65 males and 43 females), 6 associate members (males), 2 working partners (all male) and 27 guests (14 males and 13 females). The Program officer would like to thank all those who turned up for these Assemblies and encourages them to keep up with the same spirit.
DISTRICT PROGRAM REVIEW MEETINGS
The District Program review meetings for the year 2010 will be carried out as follows;
Sironko 17th August, Kapchorwa 26th October, Busia 13th October, Pallisa 23rd August, Mbale 3rd November and Tororo 16th September.
CHANGE AGENT TRAINNING COURSE
The 2010 Change Agent Training course was conducted in Busia District to increases the number of change agents and to strengthen the existing branches.
The first workshop began on 21st March and ended on 3rd April with the audit and with a total of 25 trainees (12 male and 13 female). The second workshop began on 2nd May and ended on the 15th May with the second audit. The third Workshop began on 6th June and ended on 19th June with the third audit. The fourth workshop began on the 18th July and ended on the 31st July with the final audit. The certificate award ceremony was carried out on 30th July with a total of 22 participants graduating as change agents.
The training facilitators for this course were Oola Grace and Mudenya Samuel assisted by Ouma Were as the program assistant. The training center for this course was Angel’s Hotel.
CHANGE AGENT TRAINING HAS TAKEN ME TO GREATER HEIGHTS
(Siu Aaron- Change Agent Mbale Central Branch)
I was trained as an Agent of change
in Mbale in 1996. I underwent the
WHAT IS HAPPENING IN UCAA EASTERN REGION
Margaret Aduto, programme officer in charge of Eastern Region is responsible for providing this information
Training of Trainers (TOT) course in 1997 and served as a program assistant during the Kapchorwa Change Agent Trainning in 1997. I have facilitated Village Change Agent Training contract courses through UCAA with the Christian Children’s Fund in Mbale, facilitated two Change Agent Training courses in 2003 and 2004. I have participated in fund raising campaigns in Belgium under VECO in 2007. I was a chief guest in Belgium for two weeks and the major task was to lobby for support to developing farming communities in Africa and Latin America.
I have been an active politician; I served as secretary finance LCIII at Busoba Sub County. As a model farmer, I am actively engaged in agro forestry, dairy farming, I have four exotic cows, one and a half acres of land and I am engaged in rice and beans production. All these are as a result of the Change Agent skills and methodology. The incomes I get have enabled me to educate my children and to sustain my family whose membership is twenty two. I have a permanent house, three storied, a manual water pump and planter, a coffee pulping machine and colonized bee hives. My wife is self employed and we now own nine acres of land which we acquired through the various production activities.
SUCCESS STORIES FROM BUSIA
operating a savings and credit scheme. In this scheme, they say it is easier, convenient and faster to get credit than when one goes to a bank. There’s no security and that the loans are given on mutual understanding. The group members also provide social support to each other.
Nasifuma Mwati reports having a total of Ush 1,665,000/= in credit and a total of 1,765,500/= in savings, Mean while, Nalwekomba reports having a total of 2,720,00/= in credit and 2,765,000 in savings. These groups expressed their gratitude to UCAA for training Egesa Richard whom they say is an asset to them. Some group members requested UCAA to carry out more trainings in Busia and they were informed that a CAT course was already taking place in Busia.(As shown
currently working with three groups. He said that before the training, he lacked awareness and was timid but after the training, he gained confidence due to the empowerment. He says he feels his life has changed and he has learnt that working in groups motivates people thus helping them to develop faster. Wafula reports that as a result of the training, he has been able to be admitted in Child fund as a volunteer, something that has earned his group a grant of 15 goats and 1 improved breed of a he-goat. He facilitates groups and collects information on enrollment of children in Buyengo Child Fund. He has been voted to the School Management committee of one the primary schools in his village, something that has earned him respect in his community. He concludes with a
Nalwekomba and Nasifuma Mwati, are both self help groups that Egesa Richard, change Agent trained in 2004 is working with. Nalwekomba has 45 members, while Nasifuma Mwati has 34 members. The groups are found in Sikada village, Bumba Parish, Dabani Sub-county Busia District and were founded three years ago.
These group members came together after being sensitised by Egesa Richard (famously known as Bambala) on group dynamics and the advantages of being in a group. Now they report that being together has helped them reduce the burden of School fees because since they formed groups, they have been
in picture)
Besides the savings and credit
scheme, some members engage in distilling alcohol (as shown in the picture) for income generation. Others engage in agriculture, farming mainly maize in order to generate income.
CHANGE AGENT TRAINING EMPOWERED ME
A Change Agent by the names of Wafula Steven strongly attributes his success to the change agent training. He recalls that he was trained in 2004 and is
smile saying “I am grateful to Uganda Change Agent Association for training me. I have seen light”.
CHANGE AGENT TRAINING HAS MARKETED ME
Egesa Richard, a change agent from Busia East Branch, trained in 2004 and now working with 34 self help groups largely attributes his achievements to the change agent training. He says that immediately after the training in 2004, Child Fund identified him as a community leader, where he worked for only a year and was promoted to be responsible for identifying Orphans and Vulnerable Children for training by Child Fund in a programme called
WHAT IS HAPPENING IN UCAA EASTERN REGION
Margaret Aduto, programme officer in charge of Eastern Region is responsible for providing this information
“journey of life”. He was also elected as a community health based distributer (village Health Team), responsible for distributing contraceptives, nets etc. He is a succession trainer, training people in WILL making and Memory Writing.
Egesa, (popularly known as “Bambala”) reports that he was elected unopposed as the LC1 of his village. He says that right now, the whole sub county is eyeing at him for the position of LC111 of Dabani Sub County. He attributes all these leadership roles to the leadership skills he acquired from Change Agent training.
CHANGE AGENT TRAINING WILL DEFINITELY CHANGE ME AND I WILL CHANGE OTHERS.
A trainee by the names of Mugeni Hamza says he is glad that he is being trained. He says he is going to help his organization keep funds better and ensure accountability. That now he feels empowered and can easily mix with people of different attitudes. Hamza says he has discovered himself and now he knows what he is. Hamza reports that now he is going to be able to use the available resources sparingly and even plan better.
In conclusion, Hamza says he will always report to UCAA the progress made because he is already seeing himself somewhere even before concluding the training.
NORTH EASTERN REGIONAL PAGE
Margaret Aduto, programme officer in charge of Eastern Region is responsible for providing this information
MESSAGE FROM BOD
(Okurut Dinah, BOD) Representative, North Eastern Region)
food insecurity, I say that poor land practices like felling trees or clearing bushes results in less vegetation cover and therefore, less rainfall. Less rainfall has a far reaching effect of poor yields hence food insecurity. Once there’s no vegetation cover, it automatically means soil is exposed to agents of erosion like wind and water. Erosion means that the top fertile soil is washed off leading to less fertile soil left for farming. This automatically leads to less yields hence food insecurity. I therefore appeal to every citizen of Uganda to get new ways of harvesting water so as to avoid poor land management.
BRANCH ASSEMBLIES
The Branch Assemblies of all the registered branches of North Eastern region were successfully carried out between January and April2010. The Assemblies were attended by a total of 115 participants, 69 Change Agents (48 males and 21 females), 4 associate members (3 males and 1 female) and
a total of 123 participants, 78 Change Agents (45 males and 33 females), 4 associate members (males), 20 working partners (14 males and 6 females) and 41 guests (32 males and 9 females). The Program officer would like to thank all those who turned up for these Assemblies and encourages them to keep up with the same spirit.
DISTRICT PROGRAME REVIEW MEETINGS
The District Program review meetings for the year 2010 will be carried out as follows;
Kotido 4th August, Katakwi 1st September, Moroto18th October, Nakapiripirit 20th October, Kumi 15th November and Soroti 24th November.
CHANGE AGENT TRAINNING COURSE
The 2010 Change Agent Training course is being conducted in Nakapiripirit district to increase the number of change agents and to strengthen the existing branches. The first workshop
43 guests (37 males and 6 females). The Program officer would like to thank all (hose who turned up for these Assemblies and encourages them to keep up with the same spirit.
DISTRICT ASSEMBLIES
Greetings to all change agents particularly my colleagues from North Eastern. Back to the theme, how has poor land management contributed to
All the District Assemblies of registered District Change Agent Associations of North Eastern region were successfully carried out between January and April 2010. The Assemblies were attended by
began on 18th March and ended on 5th May with the audit and with a total of 25 trainees (12 male and 13 female). The second workshop began on 23rd May and ended on 5th June with the second audit. The third workshop began on 4th July and ended on 17th July with the audit. Orientation was carried out on 15th July and the qualification exam was carried out on 16th July. The training facilitators are Aguma Mary and Lokolong Raphael assisted by
Losur Sisto. The training center for this course is Amaler Farm.
CHANGE AGENT TRAINING HAS TRANSFORMED ME
(By Aguma Mary, Change Agent Nakapiripirit District)
Before I underwent the Change Agent Training course, I did not know how to go about with the day today running of life. Most of the time, I was overloaded with domestic affairs, which always worried me. After the Change Agent Training course in 1996, I realised that I was depending so much on others. I decided to join some group but later formed mine with others for brick laying. There were many constructions taking place in my area and they could come and buy the bricks. This group also had another activity in agriculture and when NAADS came, we registered the group and we were lucky to get goats which members have sold for income. I have facilitated three Change Agent Training (CAT) courses since and i am glad that the self reliant participatory development methodology has taught me to begin on the very small resources that I have and not waiting till somebody wakes me to change.
WHAT IS HAPPENING IN UCAA NORTHERN REGION
Suzan Akite, Programme officer in charge Northern region is responsible for providing
POLITICAL INSTABILITY AND NATURE ARE THE ROOT CAUSES OF FOOD INSECURITY
(By Suzan Akite Program Officer Northern Region)
Food insecurity is the situation where everyone does not have adequate food for daily meal. The stages of food insecurity range from food secure situations to full-scale famine. “Famine and hunger are both rooted in food insecurity. Food insecurity can be categorized as either chronic or transitory.
Chronic food insecurity translates into a high degree of vulnerability to famine and hunger; ensuring food security presupposes elimination of that vulnerability. [Chronic] hunger is not famine. It is similar to undernourishment and is related to poverty, existing mainly in poor countries.
Poor land management is the cause of food insecurity in our communities today because of the following reasons:
Land degradation as a result of poor land management in that intensive farming in our communities often leads to vicious cycles of exhaustion of soil fertility and decline of agricultural yields. Approximately 40% of Ugandan’s agricultural land is seriously degraded. In Uganda, if current trends of soil degradation continue, the nation might be able to feed just 25% of its population by 2025. Land deals, where rich governments and corporations buy up the rights to
millions of hectares of agricultural land in developing countries in an effort to secure their own long-term food supplies. Ugandans should therefore stand warned because the controversial rise in land deals could create a form of “neocolonialism”, with poor states producing food for the rich at the expense of their own hungry people.
It should nevertheless be noted that numerous factors make the food security situation in Africa tenuous, including political instability, armed conflict and civil war, corruption and mismanagement in handling food supplies, and trade policies that harm African agriculture. An example of a famine created by human rights abuses is the 1998 Sudan famine.
Other than poor land management, there is the farmers’ attitudes towards this information some crops: for instance recently in karamoja, many beneficiaries were not interested in planting cassava with a traditional belief that ‘cassava grows on its own’ (Elomabon). Besides the dry spell, many farmers either rejected cassava cutting or ignored to plant after receiving. Ultimately, it is estimated that 60% of the cassava cuttings dried up.
There is need for farmer sensitization, setting up cassava production demonstrations and exposure tours to influence farmers to adopt cassava as an important food security (famine reserve) crop.
Secondly, lack of farmers’ knowledge of crop agronomy example Cassava and rice and also sweet potatoes with good potential in the areas of Abim and Namalu, are relatively new crops in the sub-region of which farmers have little or no knowledge of how to grow has led to food insecurity in our communities.
Therefore in order to combat food insecurity, Field demonstrations on integrated production technologies need to be established at community level preferably through farmer field schools (FFSs) to impart crop production knowledge and
WHAT IS HAPPENING IN UCAA NORTHERN REGION
Suzan Akite, Programme officer in charge Northern region is responsible for providing
skills to farmers. Training and equipping district and field technical staff is also critical.
CHANGE AGENT TRAINING COURSE
A Change Agent training course is to be conducted in Kaberamaido district to increase the number of change agents and strengthen the existing branches. More progress on preparation for this course will be communicated later.
BRANCH ASSEMBLIES
The branch assemblies of all the 28 branches in Northern region were successfully carried out between January and April 2010. The assemblies were attended by a total of 177 participants, 122 change Agents (71 males and 52 female), 23 Associate Members (8 males and 15 female), 10 working partners (6 males and 4 female), and 22 guest members (13 males and 9 female). The program officer wishes to thank and appreciate the change agents who participated and I encourage you to continue with the same spirit. I also wish you the very best of the year 2010 struggles.
DISTRICT ASSEMBLIES.
All the District Assemblies of the registered District Change Agent Associations of Northern region were successfully carried out and were attended by a total of 184 participants. Of these members, 119 were full members (67 male and 52 female), 16 associates ( 7 male and 9 female), 5 working partners ( 4 male and 1 female), 16 guests ( 28 males and 16 females) may you continue with the same spirit of voluntarism for the betterment of our community and the people in it.
NATIONAL EVENTS.
All the DCAA of Northern Region participated in the National Day celebrations which took place in their respective districts, we are so grateful for the spirit of cooperation among change agents please keep it up.
DISTRICT PROGRAM REVIEW MEETINGS
The district program review meetings will start in August 2010 with Apac
district on Tue 3rd August with DPRM and Wednesday 4th August group visit, Kitgum on Wednesday 1st September followed by group visit on Thursday 2nd September, Gulu on Tuesday 14th September and group visit on Wednesday 15th September, Pader on Tuesday 13th October and group visit on Wednesday 14th October, Lira on Tuesday 19th October and group visit on Wednesday 20th October, and lastly kaberamaido
minimum amount to be saved every Friday is Ush 5000= per member. The gospel is therefore being preached to all change agents in other districts to emulate the spirit.
CONGRATULATIONS LIRA DISTRICT CHANGE AGENT ASSOCIATION
Well done lira district change agent
on Tuesday 23rd November and group visit on Wednesday 24th/11/10. Be informed and please mobilise your branch representatives.
CHANGE AGENTS HELP COMMUNITIES.
Ocaka Bosco of Kitgum town branch reported that one of his self help groups called lubanga lapit kic is carrying a savings scheme which in turn helps them in the end to buy scholastic materials like books, pens, sugar, soap etc and distribute to war orphans and widows. The balance of the dividend is channelled on income generating activities like group piggery and poultry keeping, the group is also having a dancing club that helps raise income to supplement the savings.
CHANGE AGENTS SAVINGS AND CREDIT SCHEME LAUNCHED
The Change Agents of lira have organised themselves and launched a savings and credit scheme for change agents only. The scheme was launched on the 11th/ 06/ 2010 with 10 members subscribing that day. Membership fees is five thousand per member and the
association for emerging the best DCAA of the year 2009 nationally and Kioga west, Lira central, for being the second and third branches respectively nationally. Appreciation goes to all the members of lira district change agent association who made it possible through their tireless effort. Keep it up and let us excel again and again.
ORBITUARY.
Hajati Kulthume of Lira Central branch lost her two sisters during the month of March 2010. May their souls rest in eternal peace.
Emuny peter a change agent from Kioga east branch passed away in February 2010, we pray the good lord rest his soul in eternal peace.
WHAT IS HAPPENING IN UCAA WEST NILE REGION
Aguta James, programme officer in charge of west Nile region is responsible for providing this information
IGNORANCE RESPONSIBLE FOR FOOD INSECURITY IN WEST NILE
(By Hajat Zahara Abdullah, Change Agent, Arua town branch, BOD Representative,West Nile)Colleagues in development, it is
high time we improved on the way we use our land and the different physical features on it for example, swamps, rocks, hills name it.
In my Community of West-Nile in general and Arua in particular, poor land management has really contributed to food insecurity.
My fellow development workers and concerned readers, in my community, land is mismanaged in very many ways which makes it lose its fertility hence causing less production and of course poor quality and quantity of food. My community members engage in aggregate/stones sating by destroying most of the rocks and hills around them which is very destructive on the land and causes soil erosion and hence land loses its fertility. Pit sanding is another activity my community is engaged in. It takes place .-at the riverside or in swampy areas and this practice is done within the community which makes the land unproductive, breeds mosquitoes and no food crops can be grown in such an area. The end result is food insecurity.
More so, my Community still uses traditional ways of farming and planting crops, i.e mo re than one crop on the same piece of land at the same time
without taking into consideration the scientific aspects. Nevertheless, due to environment destruction, the weather is not reliable and hence leads to poor harvests and of course food insecurity is expected in such a case. Therefore it needs us, the Development Workers, Communities, Donor community and of course the Government to join hands in mobilizing trainings and providing technical assistance in order to improve on our food security as one community. Enjoy reading and please keep contributing to our Newsletter. Thank you all.
FISHING COMMUNITIES, CONGOLESE AND SUDANESE PRESENCE, TOBACCO
GROWING
HAVE CAUSED
FOOD INSECURITY. (By Aguta James, UCAA programme officer, West Nile Region)
Eradication of extreme poverty and
hunger is one of the first Millennium Development Goals of the eight that very many countries in the world have committed themselves to accomplish by the year 2015. Farmers everywhere are called upon to feed more and more people in their own nations and the fate of the growing segment of population is becoming dependant on the well being of the rural people and their communities. Eight hundred million people according to the recent report by Food and Agricultural Organization (FAO) go hungry daily and yet food is a basic need of human being. Very unfortunately, much of Africa’s policy making discriminates
against agriculture when almost all food is produced in rural areas by rural people. In my opinion, poor land management is not the solid reason causing food insecurity.
Very many factors contribute to food in security in our communities. Unreliable rainfall pattern and the abrupt change in seasonal pattern have affected food production greatly leaving farmers in confusion and dilemma. There is only one season experienced in West Nile with reliable rainfall and this is from July to early November unlike previously where the first season used to be from April to early June which these days is a dry spell.
Rural urban immigration of youths and men leaving the women, children and the elderly to produce food in the rural areas has affected adequate food production for family consumption. As a result, the urban life style of buying food in buveera from markets has crept in the villages which has not been in the culture of West Nilers.
And also the people along the belt of River Nile from Panyimur to Laropi in Moyo through Wadelai in Nebbi, Rhinocamp, and Obongi still think fishing is a lucrative business spending weeks away from home leaving women to struggle to keep families on petty business and buying food every time from the market.
The presence of thousands of Congolese and Sudanese refugees in the districts of Adjumani, Moyo, Yumbe, and Arua has impacted badly on the food security situation in West Nile though United Nations High Commissioner For Refugees (UNHCR) has been providing them food in refugee settlements. Those self settled refugees in urban areas depend on food produced locally in rural areas which isn’t adequate to feed the huge population settled in urban centres.
In the districts of Arua, Yumbe and Koboko, tobacco growing as the only
WHAT IS HAPPENING IN UCAA WEST NILE REGION
Aguta James, programme officer in charge of west Nile region is responsible for providing this information
cash crop has also contributed very much to causing food insecurity. Tobacco business is a hectic and demanding adventure, which takes almost eight months for one to reap its fruits hence leaving no time for those farmers to engage in food production consequently leaving the women and children to produce food for entire family.
Massive food exportation to Sudan for better price values is one of the latest practices which has hit the neighboring districts of Sudan like Adjumami, Moyo, Yumbe and Koboko where actors leave very little food for family consumption which sometimes does not take the family to the next season. Since the food sold is not the surplus but driven by greed for money, families begin to starve thereby buying food from markets and apparently there are very few stocked granaries in the region and yet granaries were storage facilities for surplus food in every family way back to colonial times
Another impeding disaster of which the communities must be sensitized is Global Warming which has resulted to climate change. Already 22 billion Euros has been pledged by European Union to developing countries to battle and deal with drought, disease and crop failures which climate change is forecast to cause and by bad luck leave us in permanent food insecurity.
Therefore, if agriculture is not intensified in an environmentally appropriate fashion, the expansion of population and its growing needs will lead to escalating food insecurity and destruction of forests. The world must work together to achieve food security for all hence avoid hunger in a world of growing population
DISTRICT PROGRAMME REVIEW MEETINGS SCHEDULE
This is the tentative programme for District Programme Review Meetings planned to kick off in August with group visits:
Nebbi on 3rd August at Red cross Centre while Yumbe’s District Programme Review Meeting shall take place on 24th August at Yumbe Resource Centre. Moyo’s DPRM shall be on 15th September at Diplomat’s Quest Lodge while Adjumani Branch Visit will be at Zawadi Hotel on 20th October 2010 and Arua’s DPRM shall be on 19th November at the Regional Offices.
CHANGE AGENT TRAINING COURSE
or lecture to the gathering on Self Reliant Participatory Rural Development Methodology.
Arua DCAA is in the process of striking a deal with community empowerment for Rural Development (CEFORD) to promote Savings and Loan Associations in the rural communities and also to promote the culture of savings.
Moyo DCC participating in International Labour Day Commemoration in Mayor’s Garden - Moyo District 2010
This years’ Change Agent Trainig Course shall be hosted by Arua District with the Training Centre identified at Ocoko Rehabilitation Centre, some 7Km on Arua -Kampala high way. The training facilitators are Gladys’s Edonia and Charles Ozimati with Adalla A John as the Programme Assistant. Information Seminar took place in April and the participants shall be from Nyadri and Arua District since the purpose of the Change Agent Training Course is to strengthen the branches of Arua.
NEWS ABOUT DISTRICT CHANGE AGENT ASSOCIATIONS
Moyo DCAA participated in Labour Day celebrations at Mayor’s Garden Moyo town Council. The DCAA Chairperson Zema Zachary gave a keynote address
