PENHA @35: PENHA THROUGH THE YEARS (1989-2024)
In November 2024 PENHA (the Pastoral & Environmental Network in the Horn of Africa) celebrates 3…
PENHA in Uganda
Uganda has a population of 36 million – about 23% are pastoralists, comprising around one million people. A similar portion of the population is agro-pastoralists, for whom livestock traditionally contribute significantly to livelihoods and incomes.
Ugandan pastoralists are almost exclusively cattle herders. Pastoralists occupy the semi-arid “Cattle Corridor” that sweeps across Uganda in an arc from the Rwanda and Tanzania borders in the Southwest to the eastern border with Kenya.
The four districts of Karamoja in the east are Uganda’s least developed. Although Uganda has experienced rapid development, with supportive government policies and important international development assistance since the 1990s, this has largely bye-passed Karamoja. In addition, the pastoralist communities of western Uganda have not benefited nearly as much as the agricultural communities amongst which they live.
Country profile
Population
44 million
Agro-pastoralist population
23%
Surface area
236,000 km2
Livestock population
6.1 million cattle
Human Development Index (HDI)
0.528
In Uganda, as elsewhere, there has been a decline in mobility. Pastoralism is changing.
Uganda, with strong government backing, has an outstanding record in promoting gender equality, increasing women’s social status and participation in public life. But in the pastoralist communities, women’s subordination remains acute – and this is reflected in very low literacy rates, high maternal mortality rates, and low levels of economic and political participation.
Development agencies have only recently begun to address gender inequality and women’s position in pastoralist society, having traditionally focused on animal health, environmental issues and conflict. PENHA sees women’s empowerment as central to development in pastoral communities. We believe that cultures evolve gradually, leaving aside the bad and keeping the good. PENHA aims to promote social change, working with men and women, in a culturally sensitive way and without undermining the culture as a whole.
As a result of PENHA’s work in Uganda and especially PENHA staff Elizabeth Katuchabe was named as the ‘100 Truly Amazing Women’ of Worldwatch.
Our work in Uganda
Agricultural learning centre
Nkoma Farm – Agricultural Learning Centre
In 1999, PENHA held a regional workshop in Mbarara (Western Uganda) on pastoral development. We subsequently carried out a needs assessment and situation analysis in the pastoralist communities.
Read moreIn 1999, PENHA held a regional workshop in Mbarara (Western Uganda) on pastoral development. We subsequently carried out a needs assessment and situation analysis in the pastoralist communities.
The need for training to promote sustainable agriculture, increased incomes and food security for Ugandan pastoralists came out strongly. Discussions with the National Environmental Management Authority (NEMA) brought out the need for demonstration sites and training at the grassroots. Local partner organizations in four Districts, as well as individual herders and agro-pastoralists, called for training and support by extension workers.
Objectives
1. This project aims to improve crop and livestock production in agro-pastoral and pastoral communities, using the best traditional and modern practice
2. To build local capacity for sustainable management of natural resources.
3. It also aims at showing cattle-keepers, “good practice” in animal health, selective breeding, crop-livestock integration, soil and water conservation and sustainable agriculture.
4. It further aims at stimulating the formation of herder groups that can become effective vehicles for pastoralists’ participation in national programs.
The use of the farm has been donated by a local Ugandan farmer on a peppercorn rent since June 2003 and is located at Mbirizi in central Uganda. It has been funded for the past seven years by the Open Gate Trust.
Activities
As it develops, the project has the following aims:
1) Pastoralists learn about and exchange new techniques for sustainable agricultural intensification, animal husbandry and soil & water conservation
2) The planting of drought-resistant varieties, the establishment of a tree nursery and seed multiplication facility enable participating groups to access new planting materials and seeds developed by local research stations
3) Pastoralists learn new skills for processing milk and agricultural products; so that they can add value to the products they sell and boost their incomes
4) Community Animal Health Workers (para-vets), extension professionals and practitioners of traditional animal medicine, can have their skills developed in basic animal health techniques
5) From interactions with pastoralists both in routine farm work as well as in workshops with herders, gain the information necessary to develop and produce relevant local language posters, fact sheets, training manuals and materials for communication through radio and video
6) Pastoralists from across Uganda and the Horn can share and transfer expertise, knowledge and skills – locally, nationally and regionally
Demonstration and training include the following aspects of agricultural and animal farming:
1) Soil and water conservation (mulching, terracing, contour farming, use of absorption channels and retention ditches)
2) Agroforestry practices (woodlots, fodder banks, contour hedges, live fences)
3) Pasture improvement (over sowing using forage legumes, weeding and grazing control)
Animal husbandry techniques
1) Goat rearing with high-yielding Boer goats (supporting the distribution of improved breeds to women’s groups)
2) Design and construction of fuel-efficient stoves
3) The potential of cheap solar energy systems
4) Rainwater harvesting for domestic use (particularly training in the construction of roof catchment systems that use affordable and locally available materials)
5) Good practice in sanitation and hygiene and the construction of Ventilated & Improved Pit Latrines
6) Yoghurt making and milk processing
Progress and future aims
1) The Nkoma Farm exotic goats breeding center has been well managed, maintaining high quality stock and making it possible to distribute goat stock to women’s groups as part of the Women’s Economic Empowerment Programme.
2) A number of successful training workshops have been held at the Nkoma Farm.
3) More water points need to be developed (crucial for animal health and reducing veterinary expenditures over the long-term).
New funding is needed to establish and expand fodder production and other activities.
A report on the Nkoma Farm covering 2008 to 2012 can be downloaded here.
A more recent report – covering 2013 and the beginning of 2014 can be
downloaded here.
Conflict analysis & prevention
Conflict Mapping and Analysis in Uganda
In December 2008, PENHA on behalf of the RBC (Resource Based Conflict) Management Network organised a three day training on Conflict Analysis and Mapping in Kasese District.
The immediate objective of the training was to generate information for bridging the RBC knowledge gap on the Basongora – Queen Elizabeth National Park Conflicts, which then could be used for policy advocacy.
In December 2008, PENHA on behalf of the RBC (Resource Based Conflict) Management Network organised a three day training on Conflict Analysis and Mapping in Kasese District.
The immediate objective of the training was to generate information for bridging the RBC knowledge gap on the Basongora – Queen Elizabeth National Park Conflicts, which then could be used for policy advocacy.
Members of the national RBC network were trained on how to use and apply the conflict mapping tools that had been earlier developed. The tools were further piloted/tested in Queen Elizabeth National Park among the Basongola pastoralists of Kasese district, who have been in conflict with the Queen Elizabeth National park authorities and are now in conflict with crop farmers.
The assignment was to apply the conflict mapping tools in identifying the various players, history and context of the conflict. The causes of disputes and conflicts in such systems were examined and innovative approaches to prevention, management and resolution highlighted. Also explored were the implications for conflict management of policies and programmes of decentralisation and the empowerment of local decision makers.
Emmanuel Kyagaba (centre right) and team members consulting with Basongora pastoralists in Kasese. The Wehr’s Conflict Map and the Hocker-Wilmot Conflict Assessment Guide are helpful in generating information about conflict situations and especially identifying the players. In the course of testing the tools, it emerged that while some parties are mentioned, their roles remained unclear. A mention was made of some emerging traditional institutions such the Obusinga, but their involvement in the conflict has not been clarified.
Other local institutions, whose involvement in resolving land conflicts would be vital, would be the land tribunals, but these did not feature in the discussions. The Queen Elizabeth National Park conflict nexus has several parties playing primary roles in the conflict, which calls for strengthening institutions and structures for managing the conflicts.
The Entebbe Declaration following the 7th. Resource Based Conflict (RBC) conference can be downloaded here.
Exotic goats for pastoralist women’s groups
This programme, which started in June 2003 and continues until today, is based at Nkoma Farm, Central Uganda. PENHA has established a goat breeding centre there which enables the distribution of high quality cross-bred goats to women’s groups in several districts.
The programme was initially funded by Cordaid (the Netherlands) and since then by the Open Gate Trust supported by a number of other donors, including the Harbinson Trust, Eva Reckitt Trust, and several individuals. In addition, it benefits greatly by its location at the Nkoma Farm, generously provided by Mr. Barnabas Nuwamanya.
Read moreThe programme was initially funded by Cordaid (the Netherlands) and since then by the Open Gate Trust supported by a number of other donors, including the Harbinson Trust, Eva Reckitt Trust, and several individuals. In addition, it benefits greatly by its location at the Nkoma Farm, generously provided by Mr. Barnabas Nuwamanya.
The main purpose of the programme is the distribution of goats to women’s groups. This provides a measure of economic independence for pastoralist women. PENHA has introduced exotic goats which produce more meat and milk for cross-breeding with local goats. The goats in question have been imported from South Africa and are circulated around pastoralist women’s groups and used at the Farm for breeding purposes. In 2011, the stock stood at about 170 exotic goats (25%, 50% and 75% Boer-Mubende crosses) with four pure South African Boer goats. Over 2007 and 2008, around 300 goats were distributed to more than 30 women’s groups in the Masaka, Ssembabule, Nyabushozi and Kabale districts. The aim is to establish a breeding stock of 20 goats and two bucks per group. One buck with ten does can expect to produce a litter of 14 kids about twice a year. The kids are sold for their meat – and the crossbred kids will get up to twice the price to be expected from a local kid.
The programme includes training in both the care of goats as well as the basic business management needed to run this kind of micro-enterprise.
How PENHA economically empowered the women of Rwamuranda
From Bull Fattening alone to a number of Income Generating Activities
PENHA has worked with the pastoral women of the Lake Mburo Resettlement Scheme in Kanyaryeru Sub County since 2002 and has been supporting them through different activities like sensitization on gender issues, capacity building in business skills for economic empowerment and providing productive assets like Boer goats and tailoring equipment. The pastoral people of this area were victims of the Luwero Triangle civil war of 1980-1986 which followed the removal of Idi Amin from power.
Read morePENHA has worked with the pastoral women of the Lake Mburo Resettlement Scheme in Kanyaryeru Sub County since 2002 and has been supporting them through different activities like sensitization on gender issues, capacity building in business skills for economic empowerment and providing productive assets like Boer goats and tailoring equipment. The pastoral people of this area were victims of the Luwero Triangle civil war of 1980-1986 which followed the removal of Idi Amin from power.
One of the women’s groups, Rwamuranda Bakyara Tukore, had as their main activity, bull fattening. The group’s leaders Edith Garebire and Jane Mwesigwa then became involved in several capacity building workshops organized by PENHA. These included the Business Skills Training Workshops organized under the three year DANIDA funded Women Economic Empowerment Programme (WEEP). After each workshop, the group leaders, with support and in collaboration with sub county leaders, would organize meetings to disseminate the lessons learnt from the trainings. Between 2008 to 2011 the group was also supported with productive assets in the form of cross bred Boer goats from PENHA’s Nkoma demonstration farm;. The Nkoma farm itself has been mainly supported over the period by Open Gate and by a number of small grants from the Harbinson and the Eva Reckitt charitable trusts. The goats have reproduced and the women have sold them and used the proceeds to buy a plot of land. They were also able to construct a semi permanent wooden building with an iron sheet roof. The main purpose of the structure was to use some of the space as a store for their events management and handi crafts businesses. The events management business involves chairs and tents for hire to weddings and other social events. The women also saw a need for basic health services in their community. So they have hired out space in their building for a small pharmacy and health centre.
Today the women are enjoying the income from their events management business and from hiring space to the health service provider. They also continue selling their fattened bulls and goats for their family welfare.
The Rwamuranda women are very grateful to PENHA Uganda for all their support. However there is a need to improve their wooden building to a permanent level. The health service provider in particular complains that the wooden building is destroyed each year by termites. This means that the building has to be rebuilt annually. At present PENHA Uganda does not have the funds needed to build a termite resistant structure.
The Ankole Long-Horned Cattle of Uganda
With financial support from HIVOS (the Netherlands), PENHA-Uganda in collaboration with the League for Pastoral Peoples and Indigenous Livestock Development (LPP) and the Local Livestock for Empowerment of Rural People (LIFE) Network, carried out a study documenting the situation with respect to Ankole Long-Horned Cattle.
This study was as a result of PENHA’s participation in a workshop on “Managing Animal Genetic Resources in Africa – Strategies, Priorities, Livestock Keepers’ Rights, and the Way Forward”, held in Ethiopia in May, 2007. During the workshop, we were made aware that Ankole Long-Horned Cattle are among the breeds threatened with extinction.
The LPP website can be accessed by clicking here.
This study was as a result of PENHA’s participation in a workshop on “Managing Animal Genetic Resources in Africa – Strategies, Priorities, Livestock Keepers’ Rights, and the Way Forward”, held in Ethiopia in May, 2007. During the workshop, we were made aware that Ankole Long-Horned Cattle are among the breeds threatened with extinction.
The LPP website can be accessed by clicking here.
This study was as a result of PENHA’s participation in a workshop on “Managing Animal Genetic Resources in Africa – Strategies, Priorities, Livestock Keepers’ Rights, and the Way Forward”, held in Ethiopia in May, 2007. During the workshop, we were made aware that Ankole Long-Horned Cattle are among the breeds threatened with extinction.
Objectives of the Study
1) Documenting the role, value and significance of the Ankole long-horned cows and their keepers in the biological diversity and food security in Uganda.
2) Documenting the views of herders and their families on how they see the future of themselves and their cows
3) To sensitize the pastoralists (keepers of the Ankole long-horned cow) and the rest of the population about the importance of the long-horned cow and other indigenous animal genetic resources in the conservation of biological diversity.
4) Coming up with suggestions for local leaders, policymakers and other stakeholders on how best to support the keepers of Ankole cow to enable them to conserve the breed, and the genetic resources that it represents, in its natural environment.
5) Saving the Ankole long-horned cow from extinction by strengthening the indigenous communities who are the managers of the breed by linking them to the Livestock Keepers’ Rights Movement.
The Ankole Long-Horned Cow ia less productive in meat and milk than exotic (non indigenous) breeds, but better adapted to semi-arid conditions. The breed can endure seasonal movement and does not require expensive investments in water points and veterinary care – making it the mainstay of the pastoral economy.
Activities
Existing literature and research papers on the Ankole long-horned cattle were consulted. Discussions were held with people from Nyabushozi (a predominantly pastoralist area) about their views on the future and the need for the conservation of their Ankole Long Horned Cattle. Two consecutive meetings with herders were conducted at Sanga Sub-County. There were visits to herders’ homes as well as government farms, and a meeting was held with students and teachers of Lake Mbuuro Senior Secondary School. There were also consultations at institutions of higher learning, government farms and conservation institutions and ministries and with local leaders.
There were a total of 70 participants in group meetings, 92 secondary school students and teachers and a total of 22 others, including herders, veterinarians, researchers, conservationists and other stakeholders. 68 of those 184 people consulted were women or girls.
Achievements
1) Considerable discussion and awareness was generated locally
2) A report was produced, outlining the issues and challenges
3) A local language version of this document has been produced and is being disseminated among local herders.
The Launch of the report
The report, in both English and Runyankore, was launched at a meeting at Sanga near to Mbarare, in February 2010.
A report of the meeting can be downloaded by clicking here.
The report itself can be downloaded in English by clicking here and in Runyankore by clicking here.
Interviews after the launch were held with Elizabeth Katushabe, who led the research, and Emmanuel Kyeishe, a local Councillor and can be accessed here.
Women’s economic empowerment
The aim is to empower pastoralist women economically by training them in business skills and increasing their access to information, business networks and credit.
It is taking place in Somaliland and Sudan in addition to Uganda. Local staff have been recruited, a base line and mapping study has been conducted in Uganda’s Cattle Corridor (Masaka and Ssembabule districts) by means of focus group discussions with pastoralist women, reviewing available secondary data and analysis and wide consultations with local officials, business people and development agencies.
Read moreIt is taking place in Somaliland and Sudan in addition to Uganda. Local staff have been recruited, a base line and mapping study has been conducted in Uganda’s Cattle Corridor (Masaka and Ssembabule districts) by means of focus group discussions with pastoralist women, reviewing available secondary data and analysis and wide consultations with local officials, business people and development agencies.
The report can be downloaded by clicking here.
A photo essay of pastoralist women in Uganda can also be downloaded by clicking here.
Three workshop in business skills for pastoralist women from Uganda were held: in Masaka, in Nakasongola and in Soroti in 2010. The training gave participants practical skills that they can use to improve their businesses as well as learning better ways of organizing and management groups. The training was participatory so that participants shared their knowledge and opinions.
One group of participants and organisers can be seen in this photo in the grounds of the Masaka Social Centre, where the workshop was held.
A fuller report of the programme with pictures can be downloaded by clicking here.
This workshop is part of the Women’s Economic Empowerment programme in the Pastoral Areas of Uganda, Sudan and Somaliland. It was funded by Danida.
Creating local partnerships
Working with Local Partners
PENHA-Uganda has provided capacity building support to a number of local agencies and continues to do so through “co-working”. PENHA-Uganda freely provides advice and information on development issues in the pastoral areas.
Read morePENHA-Uganda has provided capacity building support to a number of local agencies and continues to do so through “co-working”. PENHA-Uganda freely provides advice and information on development issues in the pastoral areas.
PENHA-Uganda has supported partners to develop proposals to different donors, including the following:
1) “Safe Water, Sanitation and Health Promotion – An Integrated Program for Sembabule” Prepared by PENHA and Sembabule Women’s Development Agency (SEWODA)
2) “Promoting Positive Policies towards Pastoralism: The Production and Dissemination of Policy and Advocacy Briefs on the Pastoral Areas of Uganda”, prepared by PENHA, Mbarara University, Center for Basic Research, Nyabushozi Development Agency and Uganda Gender Resource Centre
3) “The ‘Nkoma’ Agricultural Learning Centre: A Demonstration Farm for Participatory Training and Exchange with Resource-Poor Pastoralists in Uganda.”, prepared by PENHA and Mbarara University of Science and Technology.
4) “Integrated Health and Education Interventions in Nyabushozi, Focusing on safe water provision and AIDS Prevention”, NYDA and UNICEF
Current Local Partners
Uganda Gender Resource Centre (UGRC)
Sembabule Women Development Agency (SEWODA)
Matheniko Development Forum (MADEFO)
Nyabushozi Development Agency (NYDA)
Nakasongola Pastoralists Association
In addition, PENHA has a collaboration agreement with the Mbarara University of Science and Technology (MUST). We have worked with the University in research on the improvement of pastures and the improvement of pastoralists livelihoods.
Parliamentary pastoralist group in Uganda
Back in 1999, PENHA-Uganda participated in the inaugural meeting of Uganda’s Pastoralist Parliamentary Group (PPG), led by the then MP for Nyabushozi, Hon. Elly Karuhanga.
Subsequently, PENHA provided support for the PPG, providing materials and documentation on the issues and helping the group to outline principles and develop policy stances.
Read moreSubsequently, PENHA provided support for the PPG, providing materials and documentation on the issues and helping the group to outline principles and develop policy stances.
In 2004, PENHA-Uganda collaborated with Natural Resources Institute (University of Greenwich) on a study of pastoralist parliamentary groups across the region. This study can be downloaded as a PDF by clicking here. The study examined the effectiveness of the PPGs in Kenya, Ethiopia and Uganda, and concluded that, though highly imperfect, they could be effective vehicles for advancing the interests of pastoralists and were deserving of external support, particularly if pastoralist communities were equipped with expanded access to information and the tools needed to question and prod their representatives. PENHA-Uganda continues to work with pastoral-area MPs.
Latest developments
In memory of Nicole Kenton’s wonderful life
Join us to celebrate Nicole’s wonderful life.
The Nicole Kenton Memorial Project is a development…