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From Uganda: An Interview with Namaganda Mastuula

Community and Regional Development graduate student and 2011 Poverty Alleviation through Sustainable Solutions grant recipient, Terri Harris, interviews Namaganda Mastuula for her work with the Global Women's Water Initiative during the summer of 2011.

Namaganda Mastuula August 4, 2011
Katosi, Uganda 

My name is Namaganda Mastuula.  I am a member of the Katosi Women’s Development Trust.  Life wasn’t easy, as a widow.  I was left with nothing except a sewing machine.  I struggled very much to earn a living.  Some widows, single mothers....said, “Wow, we have to sit down and look for a solution.”  We formed a group.  Some of us were making mats.  Others there were making local beers.  Me, I had my sewing machine, because I got experience making clothes, so I could earn at least a little earning -- feed my children, educate them because they had started schooling, and they were performing very well.  That encouraged me very much, because they are performing very well, so I could struggle, too, for the school fees so that they do what?  They go to school.  My education is of a low level.  I never went very much, as far as education is concerned, because my parents didn’t have money.  It started as a group with 8 members.  I’m one of the pioneers.  There is now a total of 13 women’s groups who are members, assisting 285 women.  We are almost 300 in our organization.


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