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.

NEVER SAY NEVER!

I believe you should "Never say goodbye" but now I am beginning to believe in the saying of "Never say never" because it could happen again.

During our mission here in Uganda we have returned to Luputa in the DR Congo 3 times.
We were in Luputa last November for the turnover ceremony for the large water project that we worked on our whole mission in the Congo. In February the Area Presidency asked us to return to the Congo to check on that same water project.. There were a few things that had not been completed and work had slowed down to a stand still. As the new humanitarian couple had just arrived and were not familiar with the project they asked us to leave Uganda and return to Luputa to assess the problem.

We ended up going by ourselves in February and then again in March with the new Humanitarian couple, the Binghams, and the water specialists Elder and Sister Frandsen. This was a reunion of sorts as the Frandsens had traveled with us to Luputa back in 2008. We just can't put this experience behind us without showing some of the pictures.

ROADS OR TRAILS?

Roads offer ultimate 4X4 experience.



No that is not our axle in the middle of the road but it is somebodies.



Heading to the fields for a days work.

Sis, Frandsen and Sis, Bingham enjoyed their 4X4 ride in the back of the truck with all the luggage and bottled water.

The country taxi or the only mode of transportation other than bicycle to get into the city.

CHURCH IN LUPUTA

Attending church in Luputa where there are 7 branches in the Luputa District and rumors they could become a stake as soon as they can get a building built.


It is Sunday, It is very hot and yes I am having a bad hair day.



Oldest member of the church in Luputa



Nestor Ilunga family.
Their picture was featured in the Liahona Magazine recently. He is the project supervisor for the Casava Farm in Luputa



All members walk to church. We doubt that any member has a car but some do have motorcycles.

VILLAGE LIFE IN LUPUTA

The road going into Luputa



An unfinished water fountain but they have found a way to get water out of it even it it drains the system dry.



Typical village homestead. Most everyone has a garden

Got to do protocal when you come to the village and register that you are in town'
The Bingham's first time to Luputa.

Entertainment of your own making.

Like mother, like daughter, a woman's work is never done.

Everyday fashion of Luputa.

Everyone is happy to meet the Binghams.

Getting dinner ready.

First you grow the gourd.

. . .then dry the gourd.



. . .cut the top off and clean the gourd out. Now you have a nice bowl to store your cassava flour.

Grind the corn with a mortor and pestle.



Stir the corn flour into boiling water then add some cassava flour.

Now you have FOOFOO, the staple starch of the Congo. Foofoo is eaten every day and most people think they would starve if they didn't get foofoo every day.

Smashing greens to cook for dinner.

LEFT OVERS FROM THE BELGIN ERA


The train station still in use today.



Housing for the train depot master.

:Petrol station no longer in use. The only petrol you can buy in Luputa is bought in two liter water bottles.

Post office - on the right porch is the individual mail boxes. Post office is no longer used. There is no mail system in this part of the Congo.





The train still runs in the Congo although trips are sporadic and when once we transported pipe for the water project to Luputa the shippment was delayed due to a strike.



FLORA AND FAUNA



Moss or a parasite? Not sure.

 



A wild fruit that grows out of the ground.

Elder Frandsen dared to try it.

You peel off the pretty red peel and eat the white flesh inside, It is rather sour but the natives love it.

African grasshopper. they are big and eatable . . . no thanks!

Is it a toad? Is it a frog? (never could figure that one out)

The goats must get to market . . .

, , ,one way or another.

THE PROBLEM



Exposed leaking water pipes.

Fountains with taps missing,



Tapes were left open and flowing freely at the upper villages draining the system and not allowing the tanks in Luputa to fill for distribution.



Elder Frandsen calculated that 1/2 of the water coming from the source was being lost at these free flowing taps. No wonder the tanks were not filling up.

THE FIX

Meet with the water committee and find our why they are not managing the system. They were pretty upset about some problems of a second water committee being established.

Meet with the contractor and establish a date to be finished and a plan to empower the water committee. Dominique Sowa had been and still is a very dear friend and an amazing water engineer. The Luputa project was his dream. He brought it to the church asking to have it developed.

We found that the tanks had never completely filled up since the water system was opened. A plan to get all the distribution sites secure and the pipes repaired and buried was put into an action plan.

Arthur, the engineer and keeper of the sysem was chewed out, praised and then empowered to get the system up and running.

Farrell was asked to speak to all the people monitoring the system and caring for each deistribution site. This was a real pep talk and he explained the sacred responsibility of managing this great gift of clean water.

The radio station reporters were eager to find out the problems and how the CHURCH was going to solve the problems. Elder Barlow gave them a charge to be the communicators for the community and support the plan of the water committee. They were to explain to the people that "water is free, a gift from God but the system is not free and the community had to pay for the water they use and safe guard the system so that it could serve them for many years to come. The church does not own the water system, it belongs to the community and the community through the water committee would govern the system.

THE REAL CONGO - THE PEOPLE




women carry 60 lbs. of water on their head, unbelievable.



Recycled sunglasses, notice the jute ties instead of stems over the ears.

Kindergarten playing "Had a Little Doggie and He Won't BIte You'

Classic Congolese hairdos

A classic African face

Quite a load for one bike, let alone one mother

A little pretended shyness

Got to be twins

Clasic Congolese fabric in this skirt

Homemade cards

Homemade guitar

Got to love the Congo - this is the true Africa

Hmmm, wonder if we will ever go back.