Access to Rural Non-Farm Livelihoods - Natural Resources Institute

Box 15. Theresa Okundi, basket maker
Theresa is 37 years old. She came to Kitambuza from Ankole in 1984 when she was married,
but was widowed in 1993 – however this is now her home. She provides for her three sons
and her daughter by farming, although there is usually little for sale, and by making and
selling baskets. She learnt to make baskets from her mother before she was married, but only
started concentrating on it since the death of her husband. The children help with farming and
housework to give her more time for basket making. Her daughter, who is 10, does not go to
school at all, and sometimes one or more of the boys stays home to help as well – at the
moment, because the rains are so late, the children have a lot of work to do to bringing water
to the bean seedlings so they do not all die. The materials for one basket cost about 1,000
shillings, and Theresa sells the finished items for 1,500 shillings at the weekly market in
Lwentulege. She makes between one and four baskets per month, depending on how much
time she has. Lack of time is the main constraint, which she alleviates by having the children
help her with farming, but poor markets are also a problem. Although profits are small, they
constitute a significant portion of the household’s meagre income, and basket making has
been important in helping her and her children survive since her husband’s death. They have a
good brick house with a mabati(iron) roof, but this was built when her husband was still alive,
but since then things have been much more difficult, and Theresa now describes herself as
“poor”. She thinks there should be more support for vocational training for adults, for
example, she has fruit trees, and would like to learn how to make jam, as well as to improve
on her mat making skills. However, although she has no formal education herself, her main
aspiration is to somehow get her children educated.
Box 16. Rose Eculi, basket maker
Rose is 30 years old. She was married, but her husband, a farm labourer, died three years ago,
leaving her with just one son, who is now four years old. Although Rose herself has no formal
education, her son is already in school. Rose farms, and sells a small amount of matooke and
beans, and makes and sells baskets. She makes about two baskets per month, from which she
gets about 1,000 shillings profit. She and her son live in a temporary thatched shelter, and
own no furniture, although she is having a pole and mud house built. However, as a widow,
this is difficult. Neighbours gave her the eucalyptus poles for the frame, and she has hired a
man to build it for her on a credit basis, to be paid slowly over the next few months. However,
work is also going very slowly. She describes herself as “among the poorest”, as she is all
alone, with no one to help her. However, she sometimes helps her elderly neighbours by
fetching water and firewood for them – they give her advice and encouragement, such as to
hang on to her land, and to keep her son. She can not imagine having another business – she
has “no energy”.
For skilled craftsmen, such as tailors, people go into Lwentulege.
5.3.3 Services
For most services, such as bicycle mechanics, or clinics, people go into Lwentulege.
However, there is a trained and certified Traditional Birthing Attendant based in the village
who serves a large area.
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