Kabwalin Widows & Orphans Project

Kabwalin Widows and Orphans Agricultural Group was founded in 2001 to improve the living conditions of vulnerable widows and orphans in Kachumbala in Uganda. A local pastor Robert Adiba was concerned about the effect that HIV/AIDS and local insurgencies was having on his community. He devised a project to enable the widows to use their only asset – land – to lift them out of poverty.

saltpetertrust donated funds to pay 26 widows to plough, sow and weed 2 acres of cassava and sorghum each. The widows donate 25% of the crop to the cooperative for the benefit of the destitute, leaving them with sufficient food for a year and providing a surplus to sell. This small income helps support their children through education. The success of this project has led to the development of the Kabwalin Widows Mill Project.

A cattle stocking scheme was started in 2005 when 40 cows were supplied to 40 widows. Cows are inseminated and the owner has a responsibility to rear the first calf for 9 months before passing it on to another project widow. The widows receive basic training to rear the cow. The milk produced significantly improves the health of the family, the excess is sold locally. This scheme now serves 59 widows.

By 2007, the whole project had generated sufficient income to sustain itself and has grown to include 76 widows supporting 106 orphans.

£100 buys a cow to support a widow and her family