"A Life With Income"

Ambrose Othieno

Mzee Othieno (59 Years Old) is a resident of Busembatia Town Council Zone 4 in Iganga district, takes care of his 9 children and 4 orphans. Before he received revolving loan from URAA in June 2012, he had capital of US$ 100 (UGX 250,000) which he had injected into his Bicycle Spare Parts shop. He did not have any plan of increasing the capital not until he joined Namalemba Elders Groups which helped him to access a revolving loan from URAA and increased his stock of selling bicycle spare parts at Busembatia Town Council. The business has been operational for approximately 6 years. He is grateful that as a result of the loan, there has been increased profit from his business from about UGX 250,000 (USD 100) to UGX 800,000 (US$ 320) per month. From the profits, he was able to repay his first loan and has now applied for an additional UGX 250,000 (US$ 100). Othieno is thankful for the loan supported by Sweden-Norad through URAA in partnership with HelpAge because it has enabled him to continue meeting educational needs of his orphaned 4 grandchildren (5-10 years of age which of these three are still primary classes between P.2 - P.5) such as books, pens, uniforms and paid lunch fees for them. Though he does not have any person living with HIV&AIDS, Othieno reported that he has purchased a radio which helps him to access education on HIV&AIDS, TB and business skills. He has also procured 2 goats plus 5 chickens out of the profits and that the revolving loan has also improved on his status for example he has greatly been invited to participate in community meetings organized by local councillors. He added that the profits have assisted him in accessing medication at Busembatia Health Centre III. He has also managed to continue providing 2 kilograms of sugar, 1 litre of paraffin and a bar of soap on a weekly basis to his household. Ambrose affirmed that he had never received any other source of support before he joined Namalemba Elders Group in 2011 through which he has benefited by receiving the URAA loan. His working children have also contributed a lot to the education of the orphans. Through the increased profit from his business, he has also significantly met the basic needs of his family such as food, bed sheets and clothing among others. He anticipates that if God wishes him a long live, he plans to develop his business to even UGX 5,000,000 (US$ 2,000) and educate his grandchildren up to university level.

Sulaiman Muyinda

Muyinda (60 Years Old) a resident of Busembatia Zone 4 in Iganga District is a carer of 4 orphans (2 boys and 2 girls). Before receiving a revolving loan of UGX 250,000 (US$100) from URAA his capital was between UGX 120,000 (US$ 48) and UGX 200,000 (US$ 80). Sulaiman after completing his first loan, he had applied for a second one worth UGX 500,000 (US$ 200) which he believes will increase on his stock. He reported that ever since he received the loan, he consistently attends to over 50 customers in a day. From the profits, he has managed to buy books, uniforms and mathematical sets for his school going orphans. He added that not only these but also affords a kilogram of sugar every day, medication at Nsinze Health Center IV and soap for his family. He appreciates URAA’s support through Namalemba Elders Group and that he is now constructing a two roomed rental house within Busembatia Town Council, a house that will generate a monthly income worth UGX 300,000 (US$ 120) per month. He has also bought two goats out of the savings and he has a plan of buying a cow which will provide milk for his family and also make an income of UGX 25,000 (US$ 10) per week. He noted that community members respect him and that this has attributed much to his participation in community meetings (poverty reduction, HIV&AIDS awareness and security meetings) where his views have been accepted as an OP. He is very grateful to URAA loan. He has also adopted a saving culture where he saves UGX 40,000 (US$ 16) monthly. He also joined Buswiga Development Association which is a saving group for all categories of people including older people, women, PWDs and Youths. He is further thankful to URAA loan where he noted that right now his capital is UGX 2,500,000 (US$ 1,000) and his big plan is to accomplish his rental house and continue to educate his orphans up to college level.

Namusubo Sarah Kakaire

Namusubo (59 Years Old) is a resident of Busembatia Town Council Zone 2 in Iganga District. Sarah takes care of 6 orphans (2 of whom are in a government school and the other 4 in a private school) and that she has provided scholastic materials for them such as books, pens, uniforms, shoes and has greatly paid their school fees and lunch fees. Namusubo before requesting for a revolving loan from URAA, she had a poultry project of local birds. She applied for the first loan worth UGX 250,000 (US$ 100) of which she injected into her project and has successfully completed the loan repayment. She reported that by using the benefits from the loan, she successfully bought 8 goats, 2 sheep and has consistently met basic needs for her family including food, clothing, medication, paraffin, soap and sugar. She has improved on her diet by at least affording a cup of milk on a daily basis. She joined a Community Self-help Group such as “Niigina” which gives members materials like Chicken, Gomesi, Sugar and Rice among others), she also joined a Village Savings and Loan Scheme (VSLS) which every Saturday in a week she saves UGX 5,000 (US$ 2). The VSLS has over 80 members and that the group savings box is opened once in a year. Sarah happily reported that she expects to earn UGX 500,000 (US$ 200) at the end of this year. She also noted that she even bought a bicycle out of the profits of the URAA loan which she uses for domestic work such as carrying food from the garden, carrying water from the well and also for her transportation to the health center when sick. Namusubo also reported that every month her income is UGX 100,000 (US$ 40) and that her capital has now increased from UGX 500,000 (US$ 200) to UGX 800,000 (US$ 320). She has a plan of buying ducks, stronger doors and net wires for security and safety of her birds. Kakaire added that the other plan is to bring a water tap which will provide safe and clean water for her family and also generate monthly income of about UGX 200,000 (US$ 80). She affirmed that all these will contribute a lot to education of her grandchildren up to university level because she hopes for a better future for them.

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