Filed by Derrick Omoding
Hundreds of helpless Widows hailing from various parts of Teso have been shapped with a mindset of resilience in business to sustain their families in heroic ways.
The mobilization headed by the bishop Anglican Bishop of Soroti Diocese Kosea Odongo is aimed at strengthening single mothers especially those in the widowhood, to live the life of comfort with money in their pockets.
SPeaking to the patriot, Bishop Odongo noted that in most parts of Teso, a husband’s death brings his widow not only personal grief but also a new life of extraordinary hardship, poverty, powerlessness, and abuse.
Speaking, “ widowed women can suffer a multitude of injustices: They can be forced out of their homes, robbed of everything they own, forced to marry a brother-in-law, physically attacked or harmed”.
Adding, “Even their children can be taken away from them, these offenses stem from traditional some cultures, where women would never be able to own or inherit land. And while the Ugandan Constitution grants equal rights to men and women, people in rural areas continue to take advantage of these women with little fear of consequences”.
The soft spoken bishop highlighted that Church’s engagement with development partners including Opul Skilling Foundation Africa – OSFA and Quality Education Consultancy – QUEL is aimed at unlocking the entrepreneurial boundaries to make the widows sustainable and keep that good smile on their faces.
Dr. Joseph Opul the Executive Director of Opul Skilling Foundation Africa – OSFA, expressed a need for the women to actively dominate the entrepreneurship space.
“Women may be presumed to fail due to their gender, and if they actually embrace the model of an individual entrepreneur, they may be seen as misfits because their activities do not seem to fit the gendered expectations. Moreover, the idea of a heroic individual risks to assume that “entrepreneurial personality” is an inborn ability, and ignore the social influence that plays part in the making of a person in business”, Opul said.
Adding, “As a development partner, i am optimistic that single mothers equally contribute to Uganda’s economy regardless of their status. Their turning point will be a critical mindset and this is what we are currently addressing”.
Ms. Elizabeth Ariokot the President of Mather’s Union commended the program and thanked Dr. Opul for his ideology.
“We shall continue mobilizing women for a society that shows positivity for special groups of women”.
