Amuria

Amuria is a north eastern district of Uganda in the Teso Region. the area has suffered many hardships in recent years with much of the population being displaced by LRA aggression which was exacerbated by Karimojong raiding and the impact of the severe flooding in 2007. Many of the people of this area are barely returning to their homes to begin again to work their farms and find a way of making a living for their families.

It is a beautiful farming community with a variety of crops: Cassava, Sweet potatoes, Groundnuts, Sorghum, Millet, Peas, Simsim, Cotton, Sunflower, Rice, Maize, Beans, Soybeans, and oranges .

Along with the farming of crops there is the raising of cattle and goats. Seems prosperous enough but today they are struggling with a severe drought which the government now predicts will turn into a famine in a few months. Hard to believe since just south of Amuria is the wetlands where there is water in abundance.

Life is difficult - poverty is common. Seems like they just can't get a leg up before something else hits them to push them down.

Back in January we received a request from Minister Ecweru, Minister of Emergency, Disaster Relief and Refugees, to have a water project in Amuria. Easy enough request but a hard project to get organized and started as the area is very remote and

many of the roads are not roads but trails making it difficult to work in the areas. Homes are very spartan in that as soon as you leave the town proper everyone lives in a mud hut with a thatched roof.

Interesting sites with in the city limits - a view of a bygone street light and yes that is a little tiny light bulb dangling from the fixture.

A school bus loaded with children, Actually we have seen 50 children in the back of a truck just standing and hanging on to the sides so this bus at least has seats.

It is not unusual to see goats sitting in the median of main street or cows walking down the middle of the road downtown. (Whose cows are they anyway?)

Taxis in this area are a bit different also, after all we are out in the country.

Some taxis are more familiar looking but in Amuria they are always loaded and you never know what you will see riding on top, a goat, chickens.

Now you have a picture of Amuria. A little bit of contemporary but a whole lot of country.

Seems Amuria does things a little bit different on these water projects and instead of getting right down to business you have to have a FLAG OFF to get the project started. (Flag off? What is that?)

We printed a banner as requested and headed to the Flag Off celebration. But since the ceremony was suppose to start at 10:00 AM we decided to visit a few of the schools we are going to be working on.

Old latrines will be replaced with new latrines along with each of the 15 schools getting a rainwater catchment system.

As a mission farewell gesture we have decided to give each school a tree to commemorate the project. We planted a Mango tree at two schools this trip 

Senior girl Perfect (note the headband Ryan which we gave her for helping us plant the tree.)

and gave a soccer ball (oops, football) to the school just for fun since most children play with a ball made of plastic bags and string.

At the second school we visited we found all the girls crocheting.

With a safety pin! Who would have thought. They were quite adept at it too. They were using a very stiff thread and it made a very tight stitch but very pretty how they were doing the color weave.

Bright eyes full of hope and joy. African children are good at finding ways to be happy and joyful.

Well, it was12:00 pm and we decided it must be time for the 10:00 am Flag Off (Ugandan time)..

As we drove into the clearing in the village there was the banner and several people peering through the brush. As soon as they saw us coming they started to dance and sing.

We got out of the car and they led us in with singing and dancing, yelling and warbling.and the waving of leaf bouquets, a sign of good fortune and celebration.

We sat under a very large old hardwood tree

while we listened to the music and singing of the local band. The music was very good especially considering it was made on local homemade instruments.

Harriet asked if she could translate the ceremony for me as it was in the local language. Nearly every village in this area of Uganda has their own language. Most people end us speaking about 5 languages in Uganda including English and Lugandan

The man who donated the land for this borehole welcomed us and thanked the church for giving his community water to relieve their suffering.

He was dressed in his best suit and danced for us in celebrating the beginning of the drilling

It wasn't long till Betty our community Hygiene/Sanitation trainer was so into the celebration that she pulled us up to dance with the group

Then everyone was up dancing and celebrating including all the district officers who had come to speak at the Flag Off.

Each song that was sung reinforced the joy of getting clean water, improving the sanitation of the community and helping families to be healthy and avoid disease.

Another song was sung by the village group

" One day God will ask what you have done.

We will all be judged by what we have given.

We pray to God to take care of all the people.

Who can save the world?

The one who can save the children,

Who can save the women,

Who can save the men.

Everyone has to be accountable for what they do while living."

The Deputy Commissioner of Amuria guaranteed that Amuria will own this project. He said that the district had 61% clean water coverage and 58% sanitation coverage. The church's water project would improve these statistics considerably with the wells, latrines, family latrine slabs and hygiene and sanitation training.

Ssimbwa (project monitor), Robert (Minister Ecweru's brother and our community liason), Francis Kalema (drilling company), Hannington Kihuntu (Latrine construction ) Betty (Hygiene/Sanitation Training)

Elder Barlow introduced the team to the community. He explained that this was the team that would be working in their community to make the project happen. It was important for each community to work with the team for a successful project.

Minster Ecweru's representative, Moses recognized Ssimbwa as a good liason for the church as he has worked to establish the borehole sites with the district. He stated that the gift from the church far exceeded what the district had budgeted for the year. He acknowledge the impact such a project will have on the health of families. He also explained the uniqueness of the project in providing things that the District had never included in their budget but would now like to make standard for projects in the District such as the girls washroom in the latrine and the clothes washing stations at the water sites. He stated that the community should appreciate the practicality of the project and the thought that went into the planning to make the most of the project.

The District chairman Alumee LC5 talked about the history of suffering in the area with the wars and unrest along with the fluctuating flooding and drought. Much of the population have recently returned to the area and have started to reestablish their homes. The need for clean water is great and the project is very timely. He directed the new Disitrict Team to take advantage of this opportunity and work to gether to deliver the proper services to the community such as roads, well staffed health centers and additional water resources.

He declared the drilling officially launched.

2011 District Budget

9 school latrines

9 boreholes

Church project

15 school latrines with hand washing stations

15 school rainwater catchment systems

600 family latrine slabs

10 new boreholes

10 refurbished boreholes

10 clothes washing stations

20 communities Hygiene/Sanitation Training

15 schools Hygiene/Sanitation Training

They turned on the drilling machine and immediately there was water (staged a little but still an impressive site.

We planted trees to commemorate the Flag off and to leave the community a symbol of the growing change coming to their community.

The owner of the property for this first well obviously was suffering from cataracts as was his wife.

We had with us some glasses (magnifiers) so we gave them each a pair with a high power. They were elated as was all those around them who cheered their good fortune.

Time to leave we had a long ride home, 6 hours to Kampala.

Three stops on the way home. Farrell had to gas up at the TOTAL Station for our long trek home.

I had to visit the Thursday market and buy some baskets I couldn't live without

Ssimbwa had to stop and buy some newly harvested rice to feed his school children.

A great trip to Amuria.

The water project has begun.

A Flag Off!

That was a first for us.

This is Uganda

We have been holding back on our blog about our trip to Kamuli and the water project turnover (see blog Aug 15th).  We have talked about the trip and the adventures but not the turnover ceremony held at one of the schools that benefited from the project.

As we pulled into the school yard of Lwanyama Primary School we were greeted by hundreds of children, at least it looked like hundreds.

Some were playing instruments, some where dancing, all were pretty excited to see the Muzungus

Many parents and community members had started to gather.  We greeted the mothers and this grandmother, all of who were dressed in the Ugandan national dress.

The children gathered on one side of the yard all dressed in their school uniforms even though school is in recess for the term.  They were very polite and organized, sitting together in anticipation of the festivities.

It was a big occassion apparently as Her Honorable Rebecca Kadagu,Deputy Speaker of Parliment came to be a part of the ceremony.  Rebecca is from Kamuli and is their representative in Parliment but she has also been appointed as the Deputy Speaker, a prestigious position especially for a woman.  She is a "doer" working very hard to help the people of her district.  She was present to acknowledge the value of the gift given to 19 schools in her district and to say thank you to us for bringing the project to her area.

We cut the ribbon on the latrine, we washed our hands at the washing station and we assessed the work done on the rainwater catchment system for the school.

The LC5, Steven Mubiru was also there representing the area.  He is the highest ranking, elected officer in the district.

We were escorted to seats in the yard and seated next to Her Honorable Deputy Speaker.  She is a delightful woman who obviously loves the people she serves and it is obvious that they love her.  In fact she is known through out Uganda as a very active official working hard to improve the lives of the people of Uganda.  When ever we mention that we met the Deputy Speaker Rebecca everyone knows her name and says only good things about her.

           

We sang the Ugandan National Anthem.  It is a beautiful song about hope and good things to come.

Ugandan National Anthem

1.
Oh Uganda! may God uphold thee,
We lay our future in thy hand.

United, free,

For liberty

Together we'll always stand.

2.

Oh Uganda! the land of freedom.

Our love and labour we give,

And with neighbours all

At our country's call

In peace and friendship we'll live.

3.

Oh Uganda! the land that feeds us

By sun and fertile soil grown.

For our own dear land,

We'll always stand:

The Pearl of Africa's Crown

The anthem is sung on every occassion and everyone knows the lyrics.  They sing it with heart felt enthusiasm.  We can't help but sing along as it is a great anthem.

Her Honorable Rebecca asked me why the new latrine only had 2 stances for the girls while the boys had 3 stances plus a urinal.  I told her I had asked that same question of Hannington, our monitor.  Seems someone was thinking like a boy. but be assured, that won't happen again.

The program was long but very entertaining with the children singing songs and reciting poems about hygiene and sanitation, about being strong and studying hard, about being clean and pure.

 

Over half of the children were without shoes.  Most all of the children had on uniforms but many were very worn, missing buttons or in disrepair.  They were clean and neat and very well mannered.  They performed with great gusto and always with a wonderful smile.

 

A young woman came out on the field and danced while the children sang about even though you may be disabled you still can dance and sing.

She performed the traditional Ugandan dance with a wrap around her hips which accents the movement of the hips.  The dance looks quite difficult and is very energetic.

It is tradition that when the children dance that you give them coins (small denominations ).  You tuck the coin in the wrap around the dancers hips and then you can dance with them showing your enjoyment at their dancing.

Elder Barlow was so touched by the message that he jumped up and placed some money in her hand and then he couldn't contain himself and started dancing with her.  It wasn't long before the LC5 was up dancing and a lady came and wrapped a scarf around Elder Barlow's hips so everyone could see his hip action.  I was filming the scene and never did get a still picture of the dancing but you can see the dance on Youtube at Kamuli water project turnover ceremony

Her Honorable Rebecca had us stand up and presented us with presents, A purse made from natural plant fibers and then theyproceeded to dress us in the Ugandan national dress.

A Gomesi for Sis. Barlow

 

 

and a Kanzu for Elder Barlow

Traditional dress and traditional bow from a woman to a man, actually you are suppose to kneel and wait for the man to take your hand and lift you up.  That got a great roar from the crowd with much warbling and cheering.

Not  very flattering outfits on Muzungus but traditional and seen where ever you go in Uganda. 

Betty is the community mobilizer that makes sure the community takes care of the gifts given them through water and sanitation and she also trains the community in good sanitation practice.  Hannington is our project monitor or our eyes on the project when we are not there.

Music for this occassion was very unique and included a wooden xylophone, drums and an interesting fiddle/guitar instrument.  The music was different, very African and surprisingly loud, well they did have a couple of amps to help the volume.

An exciting part of the entertainment was when a character dressed as a woman came out on stilts to dance.  they had on an interesting wooden mask but my, how that character could move on those stilts.  His feet were tied to a bar on each stick allowing him to raise his legs and dance.  If he fell he had no way of jumping off or catchining himself.  But, he didn't fall and he put on quite a show.

He ran towards the children and they all took off like a shot, screaming.  He was pretty scary and larger than life on those stilts.  Pretty amazing!

Of course you can't go to such an affair with out eating and we were given quite a feast of goat, chicken, beef, rice, irish potatoes, matoki, pasta, cabbage and pumpkin. 

                      

We took only a taste of each thing and the server came up to us and told us we were "cheating the meal" by not taking a healthier portion.

The missionaries were given a plate and utensils but everyone else just got a plate.

Two students were assigned to watch out for our every need and they brought us water to wash our hands before we ate.  They were so sweet to all of us and stayed right with us through out the visit.  After eating dinner there were some more speeches in the room where we were eating and I got up and left to get another battery for the camera.  The two girls were standing right out side the door so I visited with them and ended up giving them a CTR ring.  I explained to them that it was meant to remind them to "Choose The RIght".  They got excited as I told them that they were in charge of what they chose to do with their lives and I was giving them this ring to remind them how important it was to choose the right.

As we got ready to leave there was still much dancing going on.  How they can keep this up for so long is the question.  Hannington told us that the parents and children were waiting for us to leave so they could eat.  We got right out of there when we heard that.

Good bye!  Will we ever see you again?

As this project is one the Glenns did before they left we should say thank you Elder and Sis. Glenn for a project well done.  We took care of the gifts, your Gomesi and your Kanzu.  We also got your two live chickens, your bag of sugar can, papaya, oranges and many many thanks for the water and sanitation provided by Humanitarian Services of