Scarf Kampala Uganda

Scarf Ladies~Kampala, Uganda
Agonyi Esther #1
Personal Information:
Age: 51
Sex: Female
Language Spoken: Langi
District: Kampala
Parish: Banda
Community/Church: Banda 1
Religion: Christian - Born Again
Married: Widow
Health Status: Lame
History: She is lame and walks with the support of crutches. Her late husband was also lame unfortunately he died
and left her with one child a girl. Since then she had no help at all because she could hardly do any manual work
because of her status. She made her way to church where she got saved. She is a strong christian to date. Ester
joined the women bead group and crocheting as well. It eased her struggle because this does not require a lot of
strength, but she simply sits and takes measurements, cuts the material and makes the unique scarves. Through the
income she gets from the scarves and beads, she has been able to build for herself a small house where she is
currently living on church land. Her challenges are that she often falls sick with Malaria and is very weak. Treating
her is quite complicated because she cannot be injected due to her weal veins and muscle system in her body. She is
either given oral anti-malaria drugs or is taken for special care.
Akot Lillian #2
Age: 44
Sex: Female
Language Spoken: Acholi
District: Kampala
Parish: Banda
Married: Widow
Health Status: HIV Positive
History: She came in 1996 in a convoy escorted by military personnel. While back at home in northern Uganda this
was her experience: she saw the rebels killing both of her parents and her sister on the same day. This was reported
to the government and in response they rescued them, however the rescue was not easy. So, she tried to run for
safety but was injured by flying bullets. The government then rescued them and took them to Gulu Camp. In the
camp they lacked accommodation and food. In addition, there was an outbreak of missiles that claimed many of the
habitants lives. She had to seek her own way to Kampala due to this unsafe situation. While at the camp, they would
go look for food, which was very risky, and the rebels would hunt for them and capture them during this process.
The rebels would rape the people they caught and cut off their lips. When she ran she hurt herself and had a sever
injury on her foot. Then, she realized she needed to make her way to Kampala for survival and this is how she ended
up working on the stone quarry. She then started to develop interest in learning how to make beads and scarves
which has helped her earn a better living than in the quarry.
Joyce Ouko #3
Age: 38
Sex: Female
Language Spoken: Ateso, English, Luganda
District: Kampala
Parish: Banda
Religion: Christian - born again
Married: Yes
Health Status: Good
History: While living with her husband in Kampala, God convicted them to start a ministry in the stone quarry area
because of the overwhelming situation with the refugees in 1996. Their early experience in this area was met with a
lot of resistance to the word of God. There was a lot of witchcraft, murder, drunkenness, theft, prostitution, etc. were
happening in this area. They listened to God and were able to plant a church that met all of these challenges. As of
now, there is transformation in the community and calmness in comparison to the past. They received support from
NGO’s (ex: ALARM and other organizations). She also joined ALARM’s women group and makes beads and
scarves as a source of income for her family. She makes the most scarves out of all the women (10-15 scarves per
month) and this has helped her to serve the Lord in her ministry as well!
Olweny Catherine #4
Age: 25
Sex: Female
Language Spoken: Acholi District: Kampala
Parish: Banda
Religion: Born Again
Married: Yes
Health Status: Good
History: She came to Kampala in 1996 from Kitgum. While she lived in Kitgum the rebels captured her entire
family and the only person to escape was her father. Since her father fled when the rebels captured her family, they
considered them to be sacrifices for her fathers disobedience. The rebels attempted to burn their home with them
inside three times. After all attempts failed, the rebels ran away because they thought the father would tell the
government and they would be caught. This was how their lives were saved. The situation was so alarming, they
were all looking for a safe haven. She ended up marrying at a very young age in hope of finding safety. This man
helped her flee the area to Kamapala and they started breaking stones in the stone quarry. She has just recently
joined the scarf group in 2009. Through the income from the scarves as enabled her to meet some of the domestic
needs and school fees.
Akello Jane #5
Age: 29
Sex: Female
District: Kampala
Parish: Banda
Married: Widow
History: During the war in the north, Jane’s husband was a soldier for the government. The soldiers were hunted by
the rebels, so when the rebels came into their area they had to flee for his life. They fled the area however her elder
brother, aunts and uncles were abducted by the rebels. When they came to the stone quarry, her husband had already
been infected with AIDS. They joined the christian church at the stone quarry because they had already been saved
prior to their move. The church they joined was where the bead women were based, so she had the opportunity to
join this group along with the scarf group. She makes about 10 scarfs in a month and this business is helping to
support the family.
Acom Alice #6
Age: 58
Sex: Female
District: Kampala
Parish: Banda
Married: Widow
Health Status: Unknown
History: Alice’s experience in regards to the rebels attack is powerful. When the rebels came to her village, they
killed 9 of her family members. In turn, her husband was shot in the back and endured spinal injuries. Her and her
husband and 7 children fled to Kampala and found an open space near the stone quarry and built a feeble structure
where they lived. Her husband continued to suffer due to his back injuries and the home was not sufficient for his
needs. He ended up dying in 1992 from his sever back injuries. Alice continued her living be performing witchcraft
in the area until she joined the women bead group in late 2008. Joining this group changed her life and through the
group’s christian teachings, she surrendered her life to Jesus and became born again in 2010. To date, she makes
some of the best scarves in the group. She is able to product about 17 scarves in a month and shows great joy. The
income helps her pay for her children’s school fees and one of her children has graduated university.
Okaane Josephine #7
Age: 30
Sex: Female
District: Kampala
Parish: Banda
Married: Yes
Health Status: Good
History: She came to Kampala in October 1998. Prior to this move she was kidnapped and then escaped in
northern Uganda. She was captured for 3 months in the bush. She escaped from the bush while she was fetching
water she ran for safety. When she came back home her husband received her and they immediately planned to run
away from that area. They had just married and were just starting their life together when this happened. They
moved in small bits from Gulu to Kampala. When they finally reached Kampala they built their small home with
polythene bags. They stayed in this structure for 3 months while they struggled to raise enough money to rent a
room. Then, they started working at the stone quarry. Her income provided the food, his income they saved for
their home/rent. Eventually, she met Jessica with ALARM and started praying with the group. With the prayer
group, the women thought of the idea of making beads, which lead into a financial breakthrough. She has been a
member of the first group, when this project had just begun. She then became one of the pioneers for the scarf group
and makes about 10 scarves in a month.
Acayo O. Magret #8
Age: 42
Sex: Female
District: Kampala
Parish: Banda
Religion: Catholic
Married: Yes
Health Status: Good
History: During the war, Margret and her family escaped from her village and were the only survivors. They came
through the bush and arrived at Patong Center in Pader Town. They jumped on a business truck that brought them to
Kampala. This all happened in 1999. WHen they arrived at Kampala, they did not have any relatives to receive them
in the area so their only option was to establish themselves near the stone quarry. The looked for work and the only
option was breaking the stones in the stone quarry. They did this for quite some time but then life became
increasingly harder. This is when she joined the ALARM bead group. This helped soften her life a little bit and has
now expanded her working into the scarf making group. She is very happy to be a part of this crocheting group.
Akun Marecella #9
Age: 56
Sex: Female
District: Kampala
Parish: Banda
Religion: Catholic
Married: Widow
Health Status: Unknown/Fair
History: In 1993, Marecella and her family had visitors in their home, which was in the Paicho Village in Gulu
District. During this visit, the woman leader of the Holy Spirit Movement, Lakwena Alice, visited there village and
her specific home. She killed their visitors on the spot, but Marecella and her family survived. They immediately
fled the area and moved bit by bit until they reached Kampala where a friend lead her to the stone quarry. She started
breaking the stones for a living. Her husband feel sick and died of unknown reasons. She then joined the women’s
bead making group and then the scarf group. Her speed in scarf making is slow compared to others, but she enjoys
making them. This is an additional way of providing income for her family.
Namwase Annet #10

Age: 25
Sex: Female
Language Spoken: Muganda
District: Kampala
Parish: Banda
Married: Yes
History: She is originally from Kampala but in a very low economic area. Her husband’s job is not stable and they
have children which need care. As a christian woman she joined the other women of the bead making group in order
to receive an income for her family. She has 2 of her own children and a step-son. Her husband had a child that died
from AIDS, however she is not certain whether or not she is infected.
Ajok Christine #11

Age: 32
Sex: Female
District: Kampala
Parish: Banda
Married: Divorced
History: Before the war, Ajok was married. When the war broke out, her family and her husbands family were both
killed. Her husband became mentally unstable and Ajok fled with her children for their lives. They came to the stone
quarry in Kampala in 1989. From there life was ver hard. She had to start by building a small shelter in addition to
her day to day work. Eventually, she became more settled and continued to work in the stone quarry with her
children breaking stones also. Then, she started to hear about ALARM and their work nearby. After hearing about
the group, she had the opportunity to join. They were trained in bead making and then learned to make scarves. She
is still in the process of learning so makes few scarves per month compared to others. She is a new member and is
still in the initial stages of learning.
Aloyo Miriam #12

Age: 24
Sex: Female
District: Kampala
Parish: Banda
Married: Not married but currently living with a man
Hisotry: Miriam came to Kampala in 2004 after her father was burned to death and all that was left of him were his
bones. She was still young at this point and her older sisters are the ones who brought her to Kampala. Due to her
situation, she ended up marrying soon after to a man that had no job. They had to go to the stone quarry for work
and breaking stones is how they earned their living. She met a friend who was a member of the ALARM bead group
and she became one of the pioneers for the scarf group. She makes very good scarves, about 10 per month.
Apolonia Ayoo #13

Age: 48
Sex: Female
District: Kampala
Parish: Banda
Religion: Catholic
Married: Widow
History: She comes from the eastern part of Uganda and traveled to Kampala in 1996 after her husband had been
killed by the cattle raiders. Her brother brought her to the stone quarry and introduced her to the bead group. She
started making beads until recently when she started to learn how to make scarves. Currently, she has only made a
few scarves that are waiting to be sent overseas for sale. She has six children and is the only one to take care of
them.
Icell Grace #14

Age: 30
Sex: Female
District: Kampala
Parish: Banda
Married: Yes
History: She fled from Omoro, Lira District in 1997 when her grandmother, grandfather, sister-in-law were killed
by the rebels. When she escaped she came to Kampala and started to work in the stone quarry. When she settled she
joined the church right near the stone quarry. She would spend her time praying in the church. Soon after, the pastors
wife introduced her to the women’s bead making group. She started making beads and has just recently joined the
scarf group. Having seen how her co-workers are benefiting from the making of scarves, she decided this was a
good opportunity.
Birungi Mary #15

Age: 42
Sex: Female
Language Spoken: Munyoro
District: Kampala
Parish: Banda
Married: Widow
History: Mary is from the Kampala area and lives in a low-income/slum area. She lost her husband to AIDS in 2004
and was left with 3 children to take care of on her own. She came to the stone quarry to find any income for her
family. She later met the ALARM bead making group and joined the group in hopes of finding a better life. Then,
she learned of the scarf group and has now joined them. Out of this income, she has been able to improve the
structure in which she lives; she has fixed the doors, improved the floors, etc.
Akello Susan #16

Age: 40
Sex: Female
District: Kampala
Parish: Banda
Religion: Born Again
Married: No
History: Lead by her mother, Susan fled Kilak Village to Pader District in 1993. They would move slowly through
the bush in order to not be found as they escaped this area. They continued on to Kampala in this same manner in
hopes of fleeing from the rebels. They came to the stone quarry to find some form of work. They worked on the
stone quarry until a sad time when a large stone fell on her mother and killed her instantly in 2004. From there, she
had to make her own ways in order to do casual work, she was not able to return to the stone quarry for work. It was
a very bad experience and she was unable mentally to return to the area. She was given the opportunity to join the
scarf group which has been a blessing.
Owor Caroline #17

Age: 42
Sex: Female
Language Spoken: Japadola
District: Kampala
Parish: Banda
Religion: Christian
Married: Yes
History: Caroline came to Kampala from Tororo District in eastern Uganda. Her husband was layed off from his job
working on the Ugandan Railways and life became very hard. All the benefits they had received were stolen from
their home. They moved to Kampala in order to find some relief from their struggles. In Kampala, the only place
they were able to afford to stay was near the stone quarry. They joined the members of their community in breaking
stones for a living. Just recently, Caroline has joined the scarf group and it has improved her income. She was one of
the pioneers of the group and is doing well. She is able to support her husband, educate her children and provide for
the domestic needs.
Akello Florence #18

Age: 38
Sex: Female
District: Kampala
Parish: Banda
Religion: Catholic
Married: Yes
History: She came from a village called Opit in Gulu, northern Uganda. This was an IDP Camp in which her family
had been living. The rebels came into this camp and attacked the area, and this is when they fled to Kampala. Her
aunt is the one who called for her to come this way. Because of the poor living of her aunt, Florence and her family
had to find their own means for living. She ended up at the stone quarry which is the only place she found to take
them. Her husband joined the group that split the large stones while her and her children broke the small stones.
They continued with this work until she learned of the ALARM bead group nearby. She joined this group and has
just started making scarves with the scarf group.
Onyait Jessica #19

Age: 42
Sex: Female
Language Spoken: Atesot
District: Kampala
Parish: Banda
Married: Yes - Pastor of Stone Quarry Area
History: Jessica and her husband joined this community because God was calling them to serve in this area. The
pastor has no income due to his role, so his income is very unstable. They have 5 children, so Jessica joined the
women’s bead-making and scarf group in order to support the family. This income has helped her educate her
children, and one in currently at the university level. She is willing to continue making scarves and it blessed for this
job.
Okello Evalyn #20

Age: 25
Sex: Female
District: Kampala
Parish: Banda
Married: Yes
History: She is married with 3 children and her husband is currently not working. The family depends on the hand
work Evalyn is currently doing with ALARM. She is a new member of the scarf group but is an old member in the
bead-making group.
Aloyo Mary (aka: Lalam M. Okech) #21

Age: 39
Sex: Female
District: Kampala
Parish: Banda
Married: Widow
History: She came to Kampala in 1993 from Kona Kilak in Pader District due to war which left their family
displaced. The war claimed the lives of many family members. She came to kampala with her husband and 7
children. They worked in the stone quarry and her husband was killed while breaking the larger stones. She
continued to work in the quarry until ALARM ministry identified her and gave her the opportunity to work with the
bead making group. She started with this group in 2008 and now she has joined the scarf group. She is still new and
learning how to make the scarves.

Scarf Kampala Uganda

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Scarf Kampala Uganda

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Scarf Ladies~Kampala, Uganda

Namwase Annet #10

Ajok Christine #11

Aloyo Miriam #12

Apolonia Ayoo #13

Icell Grace #14

Birungi Mary #15

Akello Susan #16

Owor Caroline #17

Akello Florence #18

Onyait Jessica #19

Okello Evalyn #20

Aloyo Mary (aka: Lalam M. Okech) #21

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