Australian government aids Uganda's rural communities

Jun 23, 2016

"Women can now stand against gender based violence which was not the case before, we introduced the program where they were sensitized,” he added.

For the last five years women from the districts of Lira, Kitgum and Katawki have been enjoying their rights after what they say was an effort by the Australian government.

Through the support of the Australian government in partnership with Action Aid, Plan Uganda and World Vision women are able to farm and sell their produce which was not the case before.

The Australian government, under the AACS injected Australian dollars 83m in three non-government organizations of World Vision, Plan International and Action Aid to help communities eradicate poverty.

The deputy country director Plan International, Issa Kipera said that under his project dubbed Promoting Rights and Accountability in African Communities(PRAAC), they worked in the districts of Kamuli, Lira and Kampala to help women understand their rights to land, properties and improvement of their lives.

"For the last five years we provided awareness to the women in their communities," Kipera said. He explained that about 141 communities and 19,000 members of the community benefited and are aware of their rights.

"Women can now stand against gender based violence which was not the case before, we introduced the program where they were sensitized," he added.

During the launch of the review of Australian African Community Scheme ( AACS), participants in their confessions  revealed that before the program was introduced in their districts, they would go to bed on empty stomachs.

"We used to have one decent meal in two days, but now we can afford to have three meals a day, women can now generate their own income from the produce they get from gardens. It is the women who can sell food and share with their husbands," Pauline Apio, a beneficiary revealed.

"I can now send my children to school, feed my family and we also sit with my husband to share the garden produce," Mary Achan, another beneficiary said.

Under the same project, 2000 farmers from Katakwi, Amulu and Moya were trained with the help from Action Aid Uganda in partnership with Australian government using funds worth US$2m.

The Policy Co-coordinator Action Aid, Fred Kawooya explained that farmers were given seeds and 10 arces given to carry out value addition on their produce.

The second secretary Australian High Commissioner, Heather Rich said that the program was meant to drawn communities out of poverty through farming; improve health through maternal maternity health programs; and help women fight for their rights.

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