With misery around her, she was inspired to help those in need
Feb 25, 2009
Every year, in commemoration of International Women’s Day, The New Vision seeks to recognise women, who have made a positive impact on their communities and their efforts often go unnoticed. Starting Tuesday, February 17 through to March 8, we will publ
Every year, in commemoration of International Women’s Day, The New Vision seeks to recognise women, who have made a positive impact on their communities and their efforts often go unnoticed. Starting Tuesday, February 17 through to March 8, we will publish stories about this year’s nominees for The Women Achiever’s Award 2009.
By Patrick Opio
HER woes started in January 1995 when Kony’s Lord Resistance Army (LRA) rebels killed her brother, Wilfred Okae, and abducted her father, David Abuc from Ngai sub-county, Oyam district.
Consequently, 23 members of Lucy Ojule’s family were displaced at Adyeda Trading Centre cell, Adyeda parish, Apac district. As if that was not enough, Lucy’s husband, David Ojule, lost his sight shortly after an eye operation at Mengo Hospital. They had been married for only five years. Their first child was in nursery school.
As a result, Ojule was later voted out as chairman of the Aduku Township Development Board by the executive committee members for alleged incompetence. He was a renowned tailor but lost the vocational job which was his source of income.
“With more than 30 family members including those displaced by LRA rebels at my home to feed, I had no option but to learn tailoring skills fast,†Lucy explains. David’s colleagues trained her.
“Since then, I have been doing tailoring in Aduku township, attracting several customers, including, tertiary institutions and secondary and primary schools,†she says.
She says she used the tailoring proceeds to pay school fees for their five biological children, nine orphans of her late brother, two sisters and two brothers.
Lucy’s father, Abuc also died after escaping from LRA captivity, leaving all his children under her care.
Nevertheless, with the small income, Lucy bought an exotic heifer in 1999 which has produced her many others.
Lucy gets 15 litres of milk daily on average: “Milk boosts my income. I sell a litre at sh600. The heifers and bulls are sometimes sold at about sh0.8m each to help pay fees,†Lucy adds.
With her good public relations, Lucy has successfully competed for political leadership. She iscurrently the LC5 woman councillor representing Aduku and Abongomola sub-counties on the Apac district council.
“Using the council allowances, and the farming and tailoring proceeds, I was able to construct a five-room residential permanent house. Another six roomed structure is currently under construction,†Lucy narrates.
With her meagre resources, Ojule managed to foot education bills of her eldest son, Dennis Okello, who graduated from Uganda Technical College with a diploma in plumbing and water engineering.
She is also paying school fees for her daughter, Hilda Akello, in Senior Four, Esting Wacha in Senior Three; and 11 orphans currently in primary and secondary schools.
Ojule has also engaged in bricklaying with the help of family members: “We sell the bricks to builders in Aduku township and institutions around. Constructors like my bricks saying they are high quality since I use clay soils,†Lucy notes. She sells the bricks at sh70 each.
“I always consult David and take him out to save him from boredom at home,†Lucy says. She adds that she always ensures that David is smart, adding that they are intimate.
Lucy has bought a motorcycle to ease their movements to attend functions and ceremonies in and out of the district. She has also bought a mobile phone for her husband.
“Ive always chosen decent attires and shoes for David to wear,†Lucy smiles.
Nominate a woman who has overcome adverse circumstances, but has managed to pick up the pieces and move on to greater heights to rebuild themselves and the community.
Send an email to: women@newvision.co.ug
By Patrick Opio
HER woes started in January 1995 when Kony’s Lord Resistance Army (LRA) rebels killed her brother, Wilfred Okae, and abducted her father, David Abuc from Ngai sub-county, Oyam district.
Consequently, 23 members of Lucy Ojule’s family were displaced at Adyeda Trading Centre cell, Adyeda parish, Apac district. As if that was not enough, Lucy’s husband, David Ojule, lost his sight shortly after an eye operation at Mengo Hospital. They had been married for only five years. Their first child was in nursery school.
As a result, Ojule was later voted out as chairman of the Aduku Township Development Board by the executive committee members for alleged incompetence. He was a renowned tailor but lost the vocational job which was his source of income.
“With more than 30 family members including those displaced by LRA rebels at my home to feed, I had no option but to learn tailoring skills fast,†Lucy explains. David’s colleagues trained her.
“Since then, I have been doing tailoring in Aduku township, attracting several customers, including, tertiary institutions and secondary and primary schools,†she says.
She says she used the tailoring proceeds to pay school fees for their five biological children, nine orphans of her late brother, two sisters and two brothers.
Lucy’s father, Abuc also died after escaping from LRA captivity, leaving all his children under her care.
Nevertheless, with the small income, Lucy bought an exotic heifer in 1999 which has produced her many others.
Lucy gets 15 litres of milk daily on average: “Milk boosts my income. I sell a litre at sh600. The heifers and bulls are sometimes sold at about sh0.8m each to help pay fees,†Lucy adds.
With her good public relations, Lucy has successfully competed for political leadership. She iscurrently the LC5 woman councillor representing Aduku and Abongomola sub-counties on the Apac district council.
“Using the council allowances, and the farming and tailoring proceeds, I was able to construct a five-room residential permanent house. Another six roomed structure is currently under construction,†Lucy narrates.
With her meagre resources, Ojule managed to foot education bills of her eldest son, Dennis Okello, who graduated from Uganda Technical College with a diploma in plumbing and water engineering.
She is also paying school fees for her daughter, Hilda Akello, in Senior Four, Esting Wacha in Senior Three; and 11 orphans currently in primary and secondary schools.
Ojule has also engaged in bricklaying with the help of family members: “We sell the bricks to builders in Aduku township and institutions around. Constructors like my bricks saying they are high quality since I use clay soils,†Lucy notes. She sells the bricks at sh70 each.
“I always consult David and take him out to save him from boredom at home,†Lucy says. She adds that she always ensures that David is smart, adding that they are intimate.
Lucy has bought a motorcycle to ease their movements to attend functions and ceremonies in and out of the district. She has also bought a mobile phone for her husband.
“Ive always chosen decent attires and shoes for David to wear,†Lucy smiles.
Nominate a woman who has overcome adverse circumstances, but has managed to pick up the pieces and move on to greater heights to rebuild themselves and the community.
Send an email to: women@newvision.co.ug