Enabling poor active women easy access to inexpensive finance is the right thing to do. This is the surest and more sustainable way in which to reverse the situation in which 12.4 million people in greater northern Uganda are living below Uganda’s poverty line and 7.5 million of them are food poor.

Only 29% of women in our region, greater northern Uganda – West Nile, Acholi, Lango, Teso, Karamoja and Bukedi, are categorized as in formal employment. The majority, 55%, derive livelihoods from subsistence agriculture, which they complement with income generating activities that are categorized within the ‘informal sector.’

In order to put food on the plate and to afford other necessities for their households, the majority of women of our region work hard at producing multiple things for sale.

“Women are really putting so much efforts in sustaining their families. From my own observations, out of 10 hawkers and vendors you’ll meet on a street, at least 6 of them are women.”

Acen Mercy in Lango

Looking at the streets of Lira City, hawkers of vegetables, smoked fish and fruits are all women trying very hard to make ends meet.

Acio Sharon in Lango

In our region, at anyone given period, you will find the same woman is engaged in more than one income generating activity. A typical day of the majority of women in our region, including those in formal employment, in most cases starts at sunrise.

• As soon as there is daylight enough to see outside, she will rush to her garden to do farm related work.
• Returns home mid-morning to do domestic chores, including tending to domestic animals.
• Then off to do out of work jobs – the roadside or market stall to hawk or vend; participating in group activities; etc.
• And then back home to do the evening shift of domestic chores.

There is no doubt that the profit that our hardworking women earn is small, if at all. The poor terms of trade that prevail in Uganda – very low farm-gate prices are likely a major reason why. And also due to the majority of women’s inability to buy in bulk produce or products for re-sale, because they have insufficient capital and access to inexpensive finance.

Call to Action:

We invite you to be be part of the solution. In comment to this post, please share your views in answer to both or any one of these two questions:

• What needs to be done in order to make sure women farmers in Uganda, get good prices for their produce?
• How best can in-expensive loans be accessed to poor active women?

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