Twenty-one (21) women belonging to Nabugoye Crafts, a community-based organization in Nabugoye Village in Northern Division, Mbale City, have completed a one-week training in handicraft making using locally available materials, an initiative that will help boost their income generation.
The training held at Nabweya Primary School was organized by Semei Kakungulu Museum as part of its community engagement activities in the Withstanding Change project implemented by CCFU in partnership with the International National Trusts Organisation (INTO) with financial support from British Council’s Cultural Protection Fund.
To promote environmentally friendly methods, the women trained by Skills Centrum Rwenzori, a skilling institution, were trained to use locally sourced raw materials; that is banana fibres and beads from recycled materials to make high quality women’s bags and wallets. The participants were also equipped with knowledge in financial & business management and publicity & marketing
“By learning these skills, the community members will be able to make products that will be sold in the Museum’s gift/souvenir shop and this will help to empower local communities around the museum and promote sustainable economic development,” said James Kinawa, the Museum Manager.
The Director of Nabugoye Crafts, Ms. Sinina Namudosi, thanked Semei Kakungulu Museum and its partners for providing them the opportunity to enhance their skills.
“Previously, we didn’t have the knowledge on how to weave using beads. We didn’t know how to arrange beads and create different patterns, using different colours. With this training, we are now able to mix colours and make different designs and patterns,” she said.
“This is just the beginning. Given the passion we have and the skills gained in this training, we hope that we shall even be able to create letters and words using beads. We are also interested to learn more skills such as making hats out (of banana fibres and palm leaves), craft shoes, weaving wall decoration baskets. Whenever there is an opportunity, we kindly ask Semei Kakungulu to always consider us,” she added.
She said that Nabugoye Crafts is an interfaith community-driven handcrafts business that unites Muslims, Jews, and Christians, providing income opportunities to widows, orphans, persons with disabilities, HIV victims, and school-going children. The group is known hand embroidery, especially table and chair mats and caps, which they sell mainly to the Abayudaya community. With the accomplished training, the group is expected to further diversify its products.
The training was officially closed by the Mbale City’s Principal Community Development Officer, Ms. Ruth Namatovu, who was accompanied by the city’s Senior Tourism Officer, Ms. Winnie Nambuba. Ms. Namatovu applauded the group for mobilizing women to be hardworking, noting that it is the way to go for women to be able to support their husbands in caring for their families. She pledged to recommend the group for financial support from the Uganda Women Entrepreneurship Programme (UWEP), a government programme that supports women aged 18-65 years.
“I will share forms for the group to fill and I will inform the Senior Community Development Officer that this group should be among the four groups to be given financial support in January next year,” she said.
She also implored the group to express interest in other government programmes such as Young Livelihood Project (YLP), Parish Development Model (PDM) and Emyooga.
