UGANDA: Uganda: For Women in Arua, 'Kwete' Makes the Difference

Kampala — Arua rural women largely have minimal control over land and financial independence over the fruit of their labour. So, most women find alternative means of generating income to supplement farm produce, largely under the men's control.

As a result, many women have taken to brewing kwete, (a local brew made out of fermented maize, malt and yeast), popular and widely consumed in parts of West Nile.
Grace Asuru, a resident of Mutu-Ayivu, in Pajulu sub-county, says through the brewery business, she has managed to save enough for herself and her children.

"I always wake up at about 5:00am to fetch water and stir the malt before starting domestic chores like preparing breakfast for the children going to school," she says.

Asuru, 27, says she makes an average profit of sh50,000 to 60,000 a month. Though the temptation to relax and wallow in the good life provided by the attractive earnings is strong, they always know any such thought would be the road to failure.

"I use most of my money to buy livestock. I have two sheep, four goats and a few local breed chicken," she boasts. She buys these after providing the basic domestic necessities of food and scholastic materials for children.

"In case of sicknesses, I sell one to foot the medical bills." Veronica Jita, of Adalafu, also a brewer, says after doing her domestic chores and preparing for brewing from 5:00am, she tends to their garden from 7:30am till 10:30am. Then she goes home to start sifting the dregs, to obtain the pure brew ready for sale.

"Sometimes my husband is hard on money when it comes to providing for food. He only responds quickly when a child falls sick. He strongly believes I have enough to supplement on the food requirements we get from our gardens" she laments.

Susan Oleru of Mingooro trading centre, Adumi sub-county, says she is able to buy necessities like salt and soap, on top of providing for the children scholastic materials.

"My husband is taken up with our house construction project. "The children always look to me for school scholastic materials, since their father is either away in town to buy construction materials or is at a drinking joint, which he leaves late," Oleru says.

As dealers in a local beverage, hygiene is given utmost consideration. The saucepans are scrubbed till they glitter, and each member is compelled to don a head dress when processing and selling the brew.

As matter of fact, many strongly believe that such women, by their standards, are equivalents of urban elite middle class who are independent and self-sustaining. This explains why they and their families stand out in their respective rural settings.