Bbosa liberates soldiers' wives from dependency to business partners

Mar 11, 2013

Some sections of society believe that housewives spend most of their time chatting. The same applies to soldier’s wives at Bombo Barracks that spend the day doing the same and waiting for their husbands to provide everything.

By Andrew Masinde

Some sections of society believe that housewives spend most of their time chatting. The same applies to soldier’s wives at Bombo Barracks that spend the day doing the same and waiting for their husbands to provide everything.

This is what motivated Jovanice Bossa who had lived in the barracks for some time and seen the pathetic state of life, to do something about it.

“I was touched whenever I passed by the barracks and saw women chatting all day. I thought of starting up something that would keep them busy. I started visiting different homes, suggesting that we form a group. Finally I got 15 women,” she says.

Bossa started teaching them about morals and how women can be of use to their families. Her philosophy was that when women are empowered, society becomes a better place and that hard work yields profit, while gossiping all–day only leads to poverty.

Bossa called the group Reach Out to the Wives of the Soldiers (ROWOSA) since it was basically meant to build the capacity of soldiers’ wives and improve their family life and status.

Why it was founded?

ROWOSA’s objective is to make wives of soldiers become self-reliant, teach skills in entrepreneurship and leadership, provide healthcare and promote adult literacy programmes.

The group also teaches about environmental awareness, human  rights and gender equality. Bossa has since started vocational training through funding from well-wishers in the army.

After acquiring sewing machines, the women started working towards developing other projects. The group makes clothes for sale and saves the money with ROWOSA saving and credit scheme.

“Money from our savings helped us buy a washing machine. The machine has worked wonders because we started getting contacts from outsiders to pick laundry for cleaning,” Bossa says.

The returns have helped them buy a baking oven which the group uses to make confectionaries that are supplied to the barracks.

ROWOSA has also started farming, especially mushroom growing.  After seeing the women benefit, Bbosa decided to start a project that would support both men and women.

With the support of the army administration and the Department of Gender Studies at Makerere University; they have introduced Information Technology.  Some of the courses offered are CISCO, essential and computer repair and maintenance.

What beneficiaries say

Ramadan Mwesigye, one of the beneficiaries says he started studying computer science without any knowledge about it, but because of the way trainers handle them, he has become one of the best students.  Mwesigye adds that his wife contributes to the home in times when he has no money.

“She has gone the extra mile by paying our children school fees,” he says.  Most of the group members can now contribute to their homes’ basic requirements like food and clothing.

ROWOSA has 238 registered members although they believe that everyone in the barracks is a member since they benefit from their services in one way or the other.

“When I joined ROWOSA I had no idea about the benefits I would get. But today I am a very successful  woman,” a member says.

Regina Batabally says since she joined, a lot has changed in my life. “I have a certificate in computer, I have opened a canteen in the barracks and have since bought land,” she stresses.

Each member can save up to sh10,000 depending on their monthly earnings.  The members are allowed borrow at an interest rate of 13%, which they are supposed to pay back within a set time.

Members are also allowed to buy shares of which they share the dividends at the end of the year.  To avoid defaulting, the group came up with a constitution with rules that every member must follow.  Annet Mutebi joined the group with no skills at all. 

Today she can use a computer and sew clothes.  “I help my husband with school fees and provide basic necessities in the home. I plan to help my husband to construct a house,” Mutebi says.

Challenges

Lack of enough funding is the biggest challenge yet the group wants to spread its projects to other barracks countrywide.  Bossa says there are soldiers who still have the negative tendency of not allowing their wives to engage in different activities.

ROWOSA lacks a vehicle to transport their products to the market, which is a big challenge in today’s economic market.  “Some women are hesitant to take up long–term projects and prefer short term ventures that are easy to manage,” Bossa says.

They plan to start a fruit making project such that the barracks can start supplying drinks.  The UPDF commander of land forces, Lt Gen Katumba Wamala says: “I am happy because now the women can take care of the home when their husbands are off on official duty.”

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