A free house for a DRC refugee
She fled DRC’s Kinyandoni village, with nothing in hand other than her three little children. 34-year-old Jacqueline Bogali had just lost her husband to ruthless militants when she decided to flee for her and her children’s lives. “I came to Uganda broken, helpless and hopeless. I thought I would provide labour to Ugandan nationals in exchange for food and shelter.”
Little did Bogali know that she would receive a warm welcome. She was offered overnight accommodation in shelters constructed by LWF before the Office of the Prime Minister (OPM) offered her a plot of land in Mahani A, Rwamwanja settlement. Bogali also had access to hot meals, sanitary facilities, clean water from water points installed by LWF.
Bogoli was also identified as a person with special needs (PSNs) by the Lutheran World Federation (LWF). “I was thin, weak, sickly and above all a widowed mother who needed a helping hand.” Being a PSN, LWF with funds from the Bureau of Population, Refugees, and Migration (PRM) is constructing for Bogali a two-bedroom house.
“Bogali’s house under construction will be more comfortable and safer than her current one.” Says LWF’s Construction Engineer, Patrick Eninu. Bogoli is excited about her new house. She explains with certainty that cold nights in her falling house will soon be history.
“I shan’t have to worry about my children’s health and security because the new house with an iron sheet roof will be warmer, cleaner and safer.” Adds Bogoli who sleeps in a house with a tarpaulin for a roof. 73-year-old Severina Sebasole is another PSN who has received a complete shelter from LWF. The shelter has become home for her and her grandchildren.
“Our new house is spacious and comfortable unlike the hot tent under which we used to sleep.” “My grandchildren rejoice on seeing dusk because they are rest assured of a safe place to spend a night unlike back then when they feared nightfall especially on rainy days.” Sebasole. 84-year-old Marta Nyirakamanzi likes her new house from LWF, she describes it as decent, comfortable and beautiful.
A latrine for each PSN household
While PSNs receive free modest shelters from LWF, the organization also constructs a latrine for each of their households. “If they can’t afford to construct their own houses, I doubt if they can afford to construct their latrines.” Says LWF’s Project Manager Evans Mubangizi.
Mubangizi continues to explain that by constructing latrines for PSNs, LWF aims at preventing open defecation, improving sanitation and hygiene among their households and protecting their families from sanitary related diseases. “We offer decent shelter and sanitary facilities to PSNs to uphold their living standards and to ensure they live comfortably and in dignity.”
Construction for cash
LWF contracts youth groups to construct PSN shelters and latrines for cash to offer them a source of income for their financial independence. Youth groups are trained in construction skills before they are contracted for the work. Each group earns UGX 1,300,000 per shelter constructed.
Jean Paul Safasco is one of the youth constructing PSN houses. He says that he earns enough to provide for his family’s needs, and has also established a food kiosk from which he earns an average of UGX 200,000 a month. Safasco says that work for cash has enabled him forget about his worries and property he lost in DRC.
“The income we earn has given has given us an opportunity to rebuild their lives. Besides, work keeps us busy protecting us from idleness and criminality.” Adds Adelard Mihambe. Bongoye Ndonimuto who desires to establish a pig farm has managed to buy two pigs with earnings from construction work. “Constructing shelter for the needy is also gratifying, it makes me feel like I am contributing to a greater cause of improving people’s living standards.”
LWF appreciates PRM’s supports towards its humanitarian activities in Rwamwanja settlement aimed at improving the target populaces’ standards of living and livelihoods.
