Katosi Women Development Trust UK

“I remember I used to struggle for survival as an individual, though I have no children of my own, I look after four of my sisters’ children aged 16, 13, 11 and 8 and my grandmother.  As a person with disability, life was not easy for me especially that not so many people wanted me to join their development groups thinking that because of my disability I could practically do nothing towards group growth.

 

I am no longer an insignificant character in the community, the labourers look for me whenever it is planting season to ask for jobs.  I am also on water users committee” says Namuswe Prosscovia

 

“Ntanzi Women’s Group believed in me to the extent of according me the responsibility of group leadership.  I have not disappointed them, because I have been chairing the group since 2009.

 

I am proud to be on of the KWDT micro credit beneficiaries, with access to two loans now of 300,000 (67) and 500,000 (£111) respectively, I have no regrets being a member of Ntanzi.  The group has granted me an opportunity to access loans on time and invest in my crop and animal farming business.  In a very good season I can earn profits between Ug. Shs. 150,000 to 170,000/+ (£33 - £38) each time I borrow.  From this I save between Ug. Shs. 40,000 to 50,000 (£9 to £11) and use the rest of the money to meet the needs of my family.  I am the breadwinner at home; my gradmother is too old to supplement our household income.

 

The money borrowed from KWDT, I cultivate a hectare of land, growing maize (yellow corn). I contract 1 or 2 people as support labour at an agreed fee of not more than Ug. Shs 150,000 (£33) to avoid a large effect on my profits.  I also invest some of the money in buying crop pesticides and feeds for my pigs to give me healthy piglets, which I also sell at Ug. Shs. 35,000 (£8) each.

 

I have only managed to acquire these responsibilities because of my economic muscle.  I do not have enough words for KWDT, it has turned our inability into ability not only for our own transformation but even our own communities.”