Bunyangabu to showcase the power of a woman

Bunyagabu District, perched on the slopes of Mount Rwenzori is ready to host the Women's Day and showcase the numerous opportunities waiting to be tapped.

Meeting local leaders in preparation for the big day, the Minister of State for Gender and Culture, Peace Regis Mutuuzo urged residents to turn their homes into homestay facilities to accommodate the thousands of guests expected.

"Given his busy schedule, how often does a district have President Yoweri Museveni in their backyard?" asked Mutuuzo. "And this place resonates well with the big day as women are the fulcrum upon which the social, economic and social affairs spin. Clean up your homes to be able to give the visitors a memorable day for fee."

She noted that while the men migrate to urban areas to make fat fortunes, the more than 850, 000 women stay home to look after the family.

"It is the women left behind planting and harvesting  the exodus of trucks seen on the highways ferrying: bananas, coffee, tomatoes, beans, potatoes, rice and maize," Mutuuzo said adding: "Like the volcanic soils in the area, the women are equally fertile. They bear more than six children in a life time."

Talking to some of the women about how they manage to perform such miracles, there was a revelation of ingenuity, perseverance and determination.

"We have formed savings groups where we meet and pool resources," confided vice chairperson Rwimi Town Farmer's Revolution, Joy Turyamuhika. "We meet once in two weeks and submit sh40, 000 each. This is later loaned to individuals to address their needs."

 
Widowed but Turyamuhika has been able to educate her eight children as a single mother. She has bought a television set and constructed a modest home.

Another benefactor, Abasi Basobozi dreams of putting up a shop to serve the rural community with what they cannot access.

"I want to process my agricultural produce by adding value to it," says Basobozi. "Produce buyer make a fat fortune buying our harvest at cheap prices, horde and sell when the prices shoot up."   

She added that labour is so scarce and they need tractors if they are to boost their agricultural produce by opening up larger gardens manually.

Talking about their challenges, the women lamented about the fluctuating market prices and lack of capacity to deliver their product to distant markets offering better prices and thieves.

"The unscrupulous thieves connive with jobless youth from around who scout the entire village for vanilla, coffee and ready bananas," cried Allen Rwikiriza.