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Journey to Soroti 2007
PRELIMINARY RESEARCH
Inspired by a widow named Faith, I was planning to travel half way around
the world to give dairy goats to deserving widows in Soroti District,
Uganda. Although I had been told that there were no dairy goats available
in that area, I was determined to find dairy goats somewhere in Uganda to
purchase. On the internet, I found the email addresses of Government
Agriculture Officials in Soroti and Mbale Districts. I emailed them and
asked if they would put me in touch with Veterinarians who had experience in
crossbreeding dairy goats. They each gave me one name and email address.
Only one of the two Veterinarians answered me, Dr. Opolot in Soroti
District. It turned out that he lives a few houses from my son's home, and
they are acquainted! Coincidence? I think not!!! It was one of the many
amazing things that have happened far beyond my imagination. Dr. Opolot's
expertise is not in crossbreeding dairy goats, but the very large Boer
meat-type goats. However, he and his partner Dr. Sam, have been truly an
answer to prayer. They have been fair in their prices, and extremely helpful
to us. I've given them an ear tattoo appliance for use in their business
and to ID our animals.
Other internet research enabled me to find Farm Africa, a British charity
similar in design to Heifer International. I couldn't find Heifer
International operating in Uganda at the time, but Farm Africa had goat
herds at Mbale, a city between Soroti and the capital city of Kampala. Our
Interpreter, David, visited them and they said they would sell dairy goats
to individuals. They raised European Toggenburg dairy goats cross-bred with
local meat-type goats.
I was preferring to buy Anglo-Nubian dairy goats because they are native to
Africa. They can have babies every 9 or 10 months as compared with European
goats that cycle annually with the winter and summer months. The
Anglo-Nubians have a higher incidence of twins and triplets. Also, they are
not considered "exotics" and are more resistant to local disease. However,
the Anglo-Nubians were located much farther away near the Capital city of
Kampala, and cost nearly three times as much. To be cost effective, they
would have to be purchased as herd goats that would raise the future goats
we'd give to widows. If I wanted to give any dairy goats on this trip, I
would need to get the Toggenburg goats from Farm Africa.
Disappointingly, after I arrived in Uganda, Farm Africa told my son that
they didn't think they had any goats for sale, certainly not the 4 goats I
was requesting. A week later, they said they might be able to sell us some
9 month-old females, but didn't know if the goats would be expectant or not.
After several polite phone calls from my son, they called Sunday, September
30th, three days before I was to leave for home, and said we could come and
buy some goats. After all the days of frustration, we were able to buy 4
beautiful, healthy two-year-old females that had each had a baby previously,
and were heavily expecting. They were 50% European Toggenburg dairy goats.
The babies they were carrying would be 75% European Toggenburg. These goats
turned out to be far beyond my expectations!
Many family clans still believe women have no ownership rights of property.
When a couple marries, they go to live at the husband's clan. If the
husband dies, his brothers take all the couple's property, even the dowry
the woman had brought into the marriage. Some clans then don't want to keep
the widow and children of the dead husband. Those widows and children may
become displaced persons, as their own families may not want to take them
back because they already got their inheritance in the form of the dowry.
We had been sending David out into the countryside near Faith's home, to
help us identify three additional qualified widows who were completely on
their own, and didn't have a male relative who would take their goats.
These widows plus Faith were raising a total of 20 children between them.
David was able to give them only one day's notice that they had been
selected, and that we were coming the next day. I had been hoping to give
them at least a week or two advance notice, but I couldn't promise them a
goat if I couldn't purchase them from Farm Africa.
GOING TO MBALE TO GET THE GOATS
The next day, Monday, we drove to Mbale by the secondary road. The primary
highway was partially under water and closed. Uganda was experiencing the
worst flooding they had in 47 years. I had already arranged for a
Missionary Bush Pilot to fly me back to the capital city for my flight home,
if needed. The secondary road wasn't too bad except that a bridge over one
river was about 6" underwater. It was frightening to drive across it, but
other traffic was using it. The road attached to the other end was a bit
squishy, but our four-wheel drive got us through it. Scarey!!! Our
four-wheel drive got us through several other rough areas, but we made it to
Mbale by noon. We ate lunch in a nice café, and of course, I ate goat meat.
Delicious!
We arrived at Farm Africa in the early afternoon, and saw 4 beautiful goats
tied up outside. Nothing happens fast in Uganda, and it took well over an
hour for the formalities, getting the right officials there, paying for the
goats, and more formalities. When we went out to load up the goats, there
were only two! My heart sank! We had four impoverished widows expecting
goats the next day. Several of the men scattered in all directions looking
for them. We had already purchased the travel permit for FOUR goats from a
Government official who wasn't keen about changing it to TWO.
Then, my son looked me in the eye, and said, "Mom, we are going to pray."
So we gave a fervent prayer that the goats weren't stolen but just wandered
away, and trusting in God that they would be found. Then my son said, "Now
we are going to sit and wait". We sat and waited for a very long half hour.
Then one of the men came walking up with the two lost goats!!! We hurried
and loaded them in our van and headed for home. The goats were good about
staying in the back area of the van and didn't bother us. I didn't relish
the thought of driving back across that submerged bridge, but it was ok.
Our biggest concern was about getting home before dark. No one drives
anywhere after dark because of armed bandits.
It was just getting dark when we arrived at home and drove through the
welcome tall steel gates of our compound. I had told my son that I wanted
the three guard dogs put in a shed before we let our goats out of the van.
The dogs had been pestering the goat we gave Faith last year, and I didn't
want them chasing our 4 goats. The guards were just changing shifts at the
house, so L and the two men tried to catch their 3 (normally tame) dogs.
You'd think the dogs were being murdered! They were terrified, and howled
and shrieked, ran round and round the house, and hid under cars. When they
were caught, they would "YIPE, YIPE". The men finally got them all locked
up. Then we let the goats out of the van. They were so tame, they especially
liked to follow the one guard around. We decided to shut them up in the
guard house overnight. It doesn't have a door, but we put some wire mesh
across the doorway and to block it. Then we let the terrified dogs out.
What a day! Can you imagine the 4 goats having the luxury of an armed guard
all night? Electricity was out, so I couldn't send an email until the next
day about our wild, exhausting, hot, dusty, dirty day.
GIVING THE GOATS TO THE WIDOWS
Tuesday, October 2nd, we gave the Toggenburg goats to the 4 widows today! We
started the day by buying supplies for them, such as yellow plastic water
cans called "jerry cans", stainless steel milking containers, plastic water
dishes, ropes, and a year's worth of medicines for each of the widows. Meds
included worm pills, fly and tick spray, salt/mineral blocks, and spraying
equipment.
We were fortunate to hire Dr. Opolot's partner, Dr. Sam to come with us and
give a training session. We folded the back bench seat down in the van, and
covered the back with a tarp. We planned to take my oldest granddaughter
with us. She could sit on the back bench behind our front seats, and Dr. Sam
and our interpreter David could have the two middle seats. We were surprised
with the news that the 4 oldest grandchildren wanted to come, plus David
showed up with his Mom. So, we took off with 9 people and 4 goats in our 7
passanger van. The kids fit in wherever they could. Then we went to meet
the widows. We didn't know we needed to pick up two of them and take them to
the meeting place. We got Faith first, and she brought her little boy. Then
we got the Grandmother Widow Ruth, and she brought her three grandchildren.
So we were 15 people and 4 goats in a 7 passenger vehicle driving along
footpaths, somewhere in the middle of Africa. Some of the kids got in the
back with the goats, and several sat on my lap. Everyone was a very good
sport.
We got to the mud hut home of Widow Alice for our meeting place. I gave my
presentation concerning the care of the dairy goats, and what good milk they
give. David interpreted. Since there are no dairy goats in Soroti District,
many of the people believe they won't like it. They were surprised to learn
that goat's milk is so nutritious, people add 1 to 2 cups of water per cup
of goat's milk to make it similar cow's milk. (Part of my mission was to
convince them that goat's milk is appreciated by other people around the
world.) Ten years ago, bandits stole all the cows in the area, which added
to the problem.
Then Dr. Sam gave a complete presentation, repeating much of it to help them
remember what they needed to know. He explained the meds in detail. Then I
gave each widow her particular goat, and her supplies and meds. Dr. Sam gave
them each personal demonstrations about proper milking techniques.
I then handed out tomato, carrot, watermelon, muskmelon and sunflower seeds.
All were open pollinated, not hybrid, so they can save the seeds. Also, all
of these foods can be eaten raw. I had packaged them separately in little
zip lock bags, with a color picture of each inserted. I've heard they have
a problem obtaining good seeds. I explained that they should work up the
soil first, and plant the seeds under dirt rather than the traditional
method of scattering them on the ground. All should grow well in the lush
climate.
We took several pics, gave our goodbyes, and I headed back to the van. It
was then that I heard the women and their families cheer with the HIGH
UGANDA TRILL! Their cheer of thanks was all they could give, and it warmed
my heart. I still have difficulty telling about it without getting tears in
my eyes. We piled into the van, 15 people and only 2 goats, and headed
back, dropping the two Widows, children and goats off at their huts. I
noticed that Gma Ruth's granddtr age 13 had a great interest in their goat
during the training, and took charge of leading it to their hut. A lot of
the children listened intently as we explained each thing for over 2 hours
in the hot sun.
Interpreter David did a tremendous job of selecting the Widows. They were so
very, grateful and deserving. Surprisingly, on their data sheets that David
helped fill out, the three newer ones said they had never raised goats or
chickens. They were living on vegetables and fruit. Our 4 widows are:
Faith (from last year), age 30 with 5 children ages 11 to 4
Ruth , age 70, raising three grandchildren ages 15 to 7,
Hannah, age 35, raising 4 children ages 12 to 7,
Alice, age 45, raising 5 children and 3 grandchildren ages 14 to 3.
Imagine that!
Although I kept my umbrella over me at all times, I got sunburned. We were
200 miles from the Equator, and the sun is intense. It was a really, really
hot day! We got wonderful pictures of these dear, regal people. I saw Faith
rubbing away tears when I told them I was there because of her. I am happy
to report that she has come a long way in the past year. I saw the black
mama goat from last year, its little "kid" and another goat at her place.
Also, a piglet, and three mother hens each with a flock of chicks. She has
built a second storage building, perhaps for the animals. I can see that her
home has deteriorated some, perhaps from the rain. I don't know how many
years the mud huts with grass roofs last. I could see a joy and self
confidence in her that wasn't there last year.
GOING TO KAMPALA TO RETURN HOME
I could not have set up these things from afar. A person needs to be here,
and do things the Ugandan way. Not many things went as expected. However,
most things turned out far better than I expected. It was a wonderful
experience today, and I will always remember these women, and their strength
and dignity . We plan to drive to the Capital city of Kampala tomorrow, and
I fly home Friday night. (note* We drove South to Kampala by the secondary
route the next day, over the submerged bridge (an 8 hour drive). However,
that road was closed before Lawrence's family returned home a few days
later. They had to drive West from Kampala toward the Congo and circle
above Soroti, approaching it from the North. They said it was the roughest
road they had ever traveled. I can't imagine any road rougher than the
roads we had traveled! I suppose they got home after dark, but wouldn't
admit it to me!
LUCY, THE NECKLACE LADY
On my last day in Kampala, I was able to visit Lucy, a lady who makes the
beautiful, traditional Uganda necklaces out of paper beads. My
daughter-in-law had come across Lucy on a previous trip to Kampala, and
bought me two necklaces. She had no idea I would have it on my agenda to
somehow find someone who makes the necklaces. Lucy is a fine Christian
woman who has kindly offered to travel to Soroti and teach this craft to
widows who don't live in areas sufficient to raise goats. I expect to take
her up on this offer in the future. She turned out to be far beyond what I
was looking for in a "necklace lady".
Lucy cuts long thin strips of paper from magazines, and rolls them tightly
into beads. She glues, varnishes and washes them. Then she strings them
according to her choice of color into lovely necklaces. The only color on
the beads is from colored pages in magazines. Sometimes a person can even
see parts of printed letters. I bought 112 of her necklaces, and that was
nearly two month's income to her and her family. She doesn't have a market,
but tries to sell them individually to tourists. I told her I can't sell
them in the USA, but I can give them as gifts when people donate or help
promote our charity.
TWO MONTH UPDATE
We sent Dr Sam out November 23rd to visit all the widows and check up on
their goats. Faith's dairy goat had twins on October 25th, a boy and a
girl! Dr. Sam said they weigh 4 times that of ordinary one-month old goats!
Faith said she hadn't been drinking the milk, but had tasted it, and it was
very good. She thought she shouldn't drink it because there are two babies
rather than one. Dr. Sam told her they could drink all the milk they
wanted. Her goat is a very good producer of milk. Imagine that from a 50%
Toggenburg! Beyond my expectations! He said that Grandmother Widow Ruth's
goat looks ready to have a baby very soon. We will send Dr. Sam out
periodically to be sure that the goats are thriving.
We received word on November 29th, that Dr. Opolot has brought our 5
Anglo-Nubian goats (4 females and a male) from Kampala to Soroti, and has
them in his pasture! We were convinced that we need our own herd, so that
we are not at the mercy of others when we are ready to give goats to more
widows and orphans. We will then be able to give better advance training
and notice to recipients. We have been given estimates of $250 to $500 per
acre depending how close to town, and hope to purchase a nice sized pasture
for around $10,000. The cost of high chain link fencing and other
improvements will also cost another $10,000. We plan to have Dr. Opolot
arrange for their care. I have already told him he can use the services of
our male goat. Imagine his delight at producing a goat that is half
Anglo-Nubian and half Boer (a very large meat-type goat)! We are looking
forward to an exciting year in 2008.