DRDIP’s IRRIGATION SCHEME GIVES HOPE TO DISPLACED WIDOWS IN ADJUMANI.

By Doreen Bazio.

“Where shall we go? I pray God provides a way!” Kasara Vicky, 30, exclaims as we interact about the benefit of DRDIP to her community.

Kasara Vicky, a widow and mother of 5 is worried about the looming burden of responsibility that will await her should the Development Response to Displacement Impacts Project (DRDIP) end in December. Her fear is that she will no longer be able to provide for basic needs and school fees as effortlessly as she currently does it using the modest payment of Ugx 4,000/= per day which she receives after working in the group garden under the small scale irrigation scheme.

“DRDIP came at a time when I had just lost my husband and was helpless. I didn’t know what to do. But now, I am able to take care of my family the way my husband used to. I saved money and even bought 2 goats which I can sell off in case of emergency.” Kasara boasts.

The treasurer of Maaji III Block A Refugee Settlement Small Scale Irrigation Scheme also says that she has been able to set up her own kitchen garden from which she earns some extra income after selling the greens and vegetables. Kasara is one of the 68 women beneficiaries of the group which has 95 members.

“I used to think that we can only get food from World Food Program or the market. But now I am able to grow some vegetables that I can harvest at any time.” Kasara observes.

On the other hand, Angua Lily, 32, also a member of the same group, says she has been able to recover her garden which she lost in South Sudan. From the modest allowance, Lily receives after working in the group garden, she has been able to acquire a smartphone which has been very resourceful in acquiring market for her piggery business which she started with the savings she made. With the earnings, she is also able to fulfil the basic needs of her young family that was deprived of a father by displacement due to the 2016 South Sudan War.

“I now do piggery. I used to use a small phone with buttons but now I have a smartphone. Apart from the modest allowance we receive, I have also gained knowledge on agriculture.” Angua reveals.

Another widow, Draba Florence, 32, a widow and mother of 7 children says that supporting widows gives them financial and moral support that helps them cope with distress that comes with staying without a husband or an absent spouse. Florence is one of the 15 members of Russia West Community Interest Group located near Alere Refugee Settlement, from where she has been able to grow and harvest 4 sacks of maize. Normally, she sells 3 sacks and keeps 1 for home use. After selling the maize, she got Ugx 450,000/=

“Widows suffer a lot and face many challenges when it comes to livelihood but DRDIP has helped to ease for us the burden. But for me, the greatest achievement is to be able to confidently interact with my peers, many of whom are married and have support of their husbands. I could barely get stock any food or pay school fees. I have a child in S.4 this year but I always pay their school fees on time.” Draba acknowledges.

However, unlike Cezira, Akuti Mark, the Chairperson of Maaji III Block A Refugee Settlement Small Scale Irrigation Scheme, says the empowerment acquired is sufficient for sustainability should the project cease one day. Akuti who describes himself as a visionary farmer has a dream of supplying vegetables to Ma’di Sub Region with Obongi District already secured as an entry point. Akuti also says that DRDIP has helped him network with other organizations during high profile meetings that have not only sharpened his leadership skills but make advocacy and lobbying for the group much easier than before.

“They invite us for different meetings at the district headquarters and in town. From these meetings we interact with many people and get knowledge. For example last week they called for sensitization about GBV and all stakeholders were there.” Akuti observes.

Widowhood is often not identified in the context of forced migrations such as refugees or IDP populations. Most reports focus on women and do not recognize those single women as widows. However, the percentages of widows and female head of households is high among those populations. This lack of recognition and data leads to the marginalization of widows and the invisibility of their struggles in the context of forced migrations. According to United Nations High Commission for Refugees (UNHCR), as of January 2023, Adjumani was hosting 208,413 refugees. Of these, 3,367 are single parents.

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