Swedish NGO unveils housing project for rural women

A Swedish development organization has invested sh235b to improve on housing and promoting agriculture in Uganda within five years.

The regional director of We Effect based in Kenya, Hans Lind, said that land ownership in Kampala is very expensive to allow development of low incomes to take place. This is this very big challenge that needs to be addressed to have access to land.

"The population of Uganda is made of youth covering over 69% below the age of 18 years who come for employment in the City. He urged East African governments to find a solution to reduce the lack of employment which is on the increase" said Lind during inspection of low cost houses constructed in Wakiso for the members of a women's cooperative group in Bujjuko.

We Effect (formerly Swedish Cooperative Centre) and Shelter Uganda organization constructed 24 units for the Bujjuko Kwefako women's cooperative who were evicted from Kisenyi slum in 2013. Under this project the beneficiaries are to pay sh26m for a three bedroomed house over a period of three years to own the houses for good. The houses will have electricity and water.

Lind said over 500 youth in East African will benefit as they continue discussion with donors to scale up because the number of the youth is increasing.

He said in East Africa they support the production of cattle, coffee, fruits and dairy products. They support small scale farmers to have modern farming methods and good shelters by encouraging people to join cooperatives.

"In the next five years we shall be base gender based but more on the empowerment of women. We have a lot of networks spread out in Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda" said Lind.

"In Uganda, we have been supporting youth through Uganda National Farmers Federations to support them to start their own business enterprises in the last three years. In an effort to help the youth to start their own business, each received sh1m and of the 14 groups, each received sh3m" he added. 

Jane Nalwanga, 20, who used to cook food as a source of income in Kisenyi, said during the eviction a rock hit her child and she died; a memory she will never forget. She said she was very grateful to own a three bedroomed house through savings. She urged other people to form groups to benefit in a similar way.

Hamida Nantume, today owns a house which is a relief to her. She used to pay between sh80,000 and 150,000 for a single room.