Put a U in Uganda

As a family since 1999 we have had a close friendship with a remarkable person called Beatrice Omese from North East Uganda. In that year her husband, a dynamic young teacher and pastor was killed in a motor bike accident leaving her with three small boys and expecting her fourth boy. Although she lost her house Beatrice felt called to care for the many other widows in the Teso area. HIV Aids had cut down a swathe of the male population, also infecting wives, but also many men were killed by the attacks of the Karamajong cattle raiders and the dreadful infiltration of the Lords Resistance Army run by the notorious Joseph Koney. In Teso the word used for widow translates Mother of Problems. Usually on the death of their husband his family take away everything from her including her children adding destitution and despair to their grief.

34 years later Beatrice is now running TEWIDI (Teso Widows Initiative ) which is a co-operative for 32,000 widows. New widows who join find themselves in a local group of supporting widows. The scheme has grown from tiny beginnings to widows owning a farm, running a school and having there own large conference centre which all generate an income. On a visit in 2014 my parents consulted with the widows leaders about a scheme which might help and they asked for a sheep scheme. My parents came home and thought up the name Put a U in Uganda and put it on Facebook and ever since we have the joy of sending money for the purchase of sheep. When a widow gets a sheep she gives the first female lamb back to her local group which is then given to another widow. Sheep do well in the Teso region and often lamb twice a year providing penniless widows who live off the land with a valuable cash crop. Some of the first widows to receive lambs have been able to build up a flock of sheep, and then go on to purchase cows. Others have been able to afford to pay for cataract operations, to mend their houses, buy themselves radios, clothes etc. One sheep has the ability to lift someone off the breadline.

At the moment sheep cost £30 each…medicated and delivered. If you want to know more please talk to Tessa.