South Sudanese refugees become resilient, self-reliant

Mary Ajonye lives in a grass-thatched mud hut in Omugo settlement in Terego district. The mother of six fled South Sudan’s conflict in 2018 for safety in Omugo settlement.

When she first arrived in Uganda, in 2018, she struggled to make ends meet. Without proper housing, enough food to eat, life in the settlement was extremely hard.

“The food given to us sometimes wasn’t enough especially for me who had a big family. We slept in tarpaulin,” Ajonye says.

Two years later, Ajonye has turned life around after embracing a farming initiative under a programme called Security, Protection, and Economic Empowerment (SUPREME).

The programme implemented under a consortium of World Vision, SNV, ZOA, RICE-West Nile brought together refugees and host communities, who are supported to grow vegetables like, dodo, tomatoes and cabbage among others, link youth to private sector employment and boost the capacity of savings and development clusters. These activities are aimed at building the resilience and self-sustenance of beneficiaries.

“We harvest the fresh produce feed for our families and sell the rest and share profits,” Ajonye says.

Under the programme refugees and locals receive agricultural tools, quality seeds and learn specialised techniques for growing vegetables.

Mary Yala a South Sudanese refugee at Omugo settlement with her rabbit and guinea fowl. Photo by Geoffrey Mutegeki

Ajonye is the chairperson of United Friends Group, together they grow groundnuts, tomatoes and other vegetables.

In 2020, when the World Food Program announced a food ratio cut of 30%, Ajonye and her group members were able to survive.

“If it wasn’t for this programme, it would have been worse. We were suffering with COVID-19 and food cuts. But because of this programme we survived since we had food,” Ajonye says.

Under the programme, the refugees are given seeds, trained on best farming practices, trained on agribusiness practices and savings.

“We are 25 group members, but each one of us is now food secure and our households have improved. We can sell the food produced and buy other house requirements,” says David Juma, a group advisor.

Apart from the group garden each member has a kitchen garden and has bought animals like goats, pigs, chickens to improve on the household income.

Mary Yala, can’t hide her smile as she holds her rabbit and Guinea fowl, which she bought after selling her groundnuts.

“I can’t fail to feed myself. Nothing feels good as having the power to do what you want financially,” says Yala who runs a small shop.

David Juma a South Sudanese refugee at Omugo refugee settlement in Terego district tedding to his tomatoes. Photo by Geoffrey Mutegeki

She currently rears, pigs, goats, rabbits, and guinea pigs.

“A pair of guinea pigs is shs15,000, whenever I sell it, I add money to my shop to increase the stock,” Yala says.

David Wani, like many other refugees, left South Sudan with nothing.

But he is proud to have been supported to rebuild his life.

“I never used to practice farming while in Sudan, but here it is my lifeline. I have seven goats, five pigs and grow tomatoes which are a source of income,” Wani says.

From his earnings, Wani has been able to construct a house using local mud bricks that are air-dried.

“From the money, we earn we are able to rent land from the host communities and expand our projects. We now have like 3 acres of groundnuts,” Wani says.

David Wan a South Sudanese refugee with some of his goats at Omugo refugee settlement in Terego district. Photo by Geoffrey Mutegeki

An acre of land is rented between sh80,000 and sh100,000 per year.

“I have gained a lot of knowledge regarding farming and business. Even if I go back to South Sudan, I will be able to survive with these skills,” Wani says.

James Kwokole, the chairperson of Nyosi-ko-Ngingire (you eat with sweat) group they were trained by ZOA on saving skills and have since increased their savings.

The group has saved over sh4m which they lend to each other.

“The savings helped us during the COVID-19 induced lockdown. Because we were trained, we would spend sparingly and never depleted the money,” Kwokole says.

From their savings, they have been able to establish gardens of groundnuts, maize, vegetables among others.

“This project has allowed us to become independent. We earn some money, which means we can survive without relying on handouts.” Kwokole says.

According to Charles Ssekatwa, the consortium manager, programme activities have helped empower refugees and the host communities.

Some of the women refugees in their groundnuts garden. Photo by Geoffrey Mutegeki

“Most of them are not dependent on the food ratios as they used to be. They can make their own money and this has reduced conflicts in the settlement,” Ssekatawa says.

The transformation in the settlement can be observed from the grass-thatched mud houses constructed by refugees which are similar to the community members.

“For visitors, it is very hard to tell whether you are in a refugee camp or not. The tarpaulin made makeshifts are completely being phased out naturally,” Charles says.

He explains that under the project refugees and host community members are targeted through community structures known as Savings and Development Clusters (SDCs).

SDCs are community groups formed with the objective of implementing joint activities such as savings and lending, farming, among others.

He adds that the programme has increased access to decent employment and economic opportunities for refugees and host communities.

The SUPREME project aims to improve overall safety and economic well-being for refugees and host communities in Northern Uganda.

The four-year project funded by the European Union seeks to increase access to decent employment and economic opportunities for refugees and host communities in four districts Moyo, Obongi, Terego and Madi Okollo) in the West Nile sub-region.

The project aims to directly benefit 25,000 members of refugee and host communities and indirectly impact the lives of 112,500 household members in the targeted refugee and host communities.