Irene is a Gender Champion for a project working with community members in the village of Lukuma, Manafwa District in Eastern Uganda. The project aims to ensure the tree growing programme integrates a gender-inclusive approach and ensure women are more present and instrumental in decision-making processes that impact the future of their communities.
This new gender equality project receives funding from the Welsh Government and has been set up by Size of Wales in partnership with our local partner, the Mount Elgon Tree Growing Enterprise (METGE) as part of the Mbale Trees Programme, with management by the WCVA.
Irene with her five children Marvin, Fambula, Faith Rebecca, Proscovia and Susan
My name is Irene Nabulobi and I live in Lukuma village, Butta Sub County, Uganda. I have a husband and five children – one son aged 14 years old and four daughters aged 13, 9, 7 and 6. I am a teacher and when I am not at school I farm the land.
I wake up at 6am as the school I work at is far away. I grow matoke, maize and ground nuts (g nuts), sweet potato and vegetables. When I’m on the farm I do weeding, planting and look after the animals. I also cut down the grass and Calliandra for the animals. I have a cow, five goats, 25 chickens and one pig.
All of my five children go to school. The younger ones go to day school and it takes 30 minutes to walk there. The three older ones go to boarding school in the next sub county. The school fees are a lot. On top of that I have to pay for the uniform and books.
Tree planting
I started being involved in METGE’s work in 2023 when I helped at the new nursery in Butta. I helped to pot seedlings. It was my first time potting the seeds. First you have to mix the soil with manure, then fill the potting bags and then you put in the seeds that have germinated. That is called pricking.
Growing trees is important because it’s one of the ways of mitigating climate change and reducing the number of trees that are cut down for firewood. Trees also provide feed for animals, and they help to control soil erosion.
I’ve planted trees on my land – around 500 in total. I’ve planted Calliandra, bathdavia, grevilia, avocado and mango trees.
Advancing gender equality for climate resilience and adaptation
Gender champion: I was part of the training on gender roles, and I am a gender champion. I did the leadership training, and I learnt about gender equality and how my husband should treat me and how I should treat him. I also learnt about gender-based violence and women’s empowerment and decision making. Before I thought that it’s a man’s role to provide for everything and I would sometimes starve. Thanks to the training sessions, I’ve learnt that I can do things for myself and I can now pay school fees for my children and get some land to grow vegetables.
As a gender champion, I have a role to share what I’ve learnt with the community. I’ve not just sat here with the knowledge. I’ve shared it with others. When a husband and wife have a problem, I’ve intervened to help reduce conflict.
Savings: I am also secretary of the Village Savings and Loans Association (VSLAs) for my group. We have 30 members – 27 women and three men. My group was set up thanks to METGE. We have learnt how to set up a group. We started saving 2,000UGX (44p) each but now we are saving 10,000 UGX (£2.20) each twice a month (on 15th and 30th of the month). We also have a social fund where we save 1,000 UGX each (22p). The social fund is for when there is sickness or an emergency. We can access money without interest. I’ve used that fund to buy books for my children.
The main fund I’ve used to pay for school fees. I paid it back in two instalments. I borrowed 150,000 UGX (£33) and paid back 165,000 UGX (£36) in two instalments. This includes 10% interest.
Lorena stoves: I am one of the 30 women trained to make lorena stoves. I know how to make it now and it takes around 1hour and I can do it by myself. I’ve made one for my mother-in-law and also built an additional one for myself.
Irene with her lorena stove
I am using the lorena stoves because it saves firewood compared to the three stone method. Also, there is no smoke and no accidents for my children. It has also reduced sickness because I am no longer coughing and have no more tears.
I now need three pieces of firewood to heat the stove and it stays warm up to the next morning. Before I needed 10 pieces. I would buy firewood before and I paid 2,000 UGX (44p). Now because I have Calliandra I don’t need to buy firewood.
Sustainable land management practices: I have learnt how to dig trenches. To stop soil erosion and improve soil fertility and control the water. Last week when there was a lot of rain, I had no runoff, and the trenches collected the water. Other people in my community, who didn’t have trenches, had a lot of water in their farm plots and plants were washed away and water went into their homes.
I also got seeds for eggplant, kale and spinach. I get lots of customers to sell to. I would get 10,000 UGX (£2.20) for a bowl of eggplants. I’m not sure how many I’ve sold.
Before I only had tomatoes, and I would have to buy vegetables at the market which are very expensive but now I don’t need to buy them anymore. I now only need to buy meat.
Irene with some of her produce
Changes in her life Before I would quarrel on a daily basis with my husband. He has also participated in the project and was part of the trainings. Thanks to the training sessions we no longer quarrel and I no longer need to ask him for money. If I need anything I can go to the VSLAs.
Before I was given the role of Secretary of our group, I was very shy. It’s forced me to speak and when the chairperson isn’t there, I lead the meetings.
Irene with her husband Simon
