Nazaire Enterprise (U) Ltd

The name Nazaire is a French word which in English is Nazarious all meaning Nazareth which was a small town in Bethlehem where Jesus Christ was born, most people associate this name to Zaïre the Current Democratic Republic of Congo. Whereas Nazaire Enterprise (U) Ltd is a company I started in 2007 as Sole Proprietorship Business then later on in 2012 I had it incorporated into a limited shares company. From the beginning we have had a steady growth much as with several encounters of ups and down especially due to power instability this mostly affected the business during 2008 – 2009.

When we just opened, we provided services such as secretarial, internet café, computer training, graphics designing, music burning, video library etc, we still pride all these service except video library which is at a halt as we are in the process of designing another strategy to avoid lose of DVDs and mishandling of the DVDs by clients, also we had video tapes which have become obsolete.

(The members of Orussi Italia Solidale during training) In these past years that we have operated, we have had enormous experience in the business that we can now expand to other town. This business has enable me to interact with people of all level while conducting trainings, and I find training the most interesting part of the business. The business has contacted training for several organizations including al government staff; some of the organizations trained include Nyapea Hospital staff, Life Concern, Orussi Italia Solidale and many others.

By the end of this year we plan to open a branch in Mahagi, in the Democratic Republic of Congo. The business is underway and will be ready by mid August, we had secured half of the funds but decided to inject some in agriculture that if yield good harvest there will be profit that can be reinvested in agriculture while the business funds is secure.

Fruits/Trees

(Here is the tree i planted in 1989 when it had flowered) While I was growing up most people thought I would be an agriculturalist, because I loved planting fruits and trees, I would take good care of them till they grow up. I planted avocados, palm trees, passion fruits, oranges, nefle, mangoes, eucalyptus, cypress etc. the avocado I planted in 1989 is still baring fruits up to now; people say it has be best test I remember my late father used not to eat avocado but from my fruits he started eating, he described it as the best avocado he had ever tested.

(Some of the fruits got from the above tree)While I was in the village yesterday I was impressed to find lots of avocados from my own trees; I did not climb the tree but collected the fruits that fell by themselves, I got so much that I could not Cary all on a motorcycle. The spirit of planting fruits still lives in me, I strongly believe in planting trees that I will either bear fruits or mature into timber. In my compound I have planting several fruits ranging from brother heart, berry, mangos, guava, avocado, oranges, lemon, paw paw, jackfruits etc then other trees which will mature for timber include mahogany, teak, mbeni and neem etc. I believe in the next five years I live in a forest.

(Here is my current home, full of trees) Threes make me so happy especially when I hear birds singing sweetly on them. Every morning when I wake up and look at them or when I seat in their shade during hot and sunny days I feel great, they also provide fresh air that is good for human health.

Community Empowerment

(The Agwara Machine donated by Dennis Argall in 2006 being received by executive committee of CDA) Community Transformation entirely rest upon the empowerment of those who are directly affected by it, I believe that the road to community strengthening is barely based foreign donation and welfare activities. To enable people realize their dreams, there is need for enough support to towards their own energies with their full participation at all level.

(one of the students of Tailoring)We have used the same strategy with my friend and mentor Deniss Argall to develop the community of Nyalebbe; he (Dennis) first made a donation of Agwara Machine to start a trade school for the community in 2006, then later we managed to raise funds through NABURR website to elevate the trade school from Tailoring to take on another project (Carpentry). The initial plan for the school was to have three major courses Tailoring, Carpentry and Brick Laying and Concrete practice (Masonry), but due to limited funding we started with two projects Carpentry and Tailoring which are running well till now. We have now graduated a number of students who have spread up to as far as Mahagi, Bunia, Mungwalu etc earning a living with the knowledge obtained. Our first graduation ceremony was held in 2012 while hosting visitor from Reach Architecture Studio Canada (Crystal and Lisa).

(The Traditional Chief of Anghal (second right), Rwoth Serge Upidhkich Djalaure offering a goat to the staff of Reach Architecture Studio)To have this school built and well equipped, we entered into a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with Reach Architecture Studio. Reach Architecture Studio is an organization founded by the students of University of Toronto, the Nyalebbe project is their thesis project for the award of Masters Degree in Architecture.

(Members of CDA and students have a meeting with staff of Reach Architecture Studio)We have had a number of challenges in this project, our major challenge being fundraising at the community level. The community had started training at least two tutors that is for Carpentry and Tailoring,but they could not complete due to inadequate funding yet they also have to train other two teachers who will be the instructors for Information Technology and Masonry. also in the MOU, paying of these tutors when the school opens is the responsibility of the community and other funds that may come from the tuition charges. I have not been in touch with the community for a while as travelling to and fro Nyalebbe has not been possible due to other obligations and confronts, but my colleague Adubango Opio has been monitoring whatever is taking place there though he has not shared with me a written report. Another challenge which was on the Reach Architecture Studio side, has been that Crystal who is at the forefront of this project from the Canada side has had a baby who developed some complications thus could not do much till the baby grows to some age.

(Crystal carrying a basket)From my discussion on phone with the people of Nyalebbe, they are still optimistic that, this project will be completed at one moment.

Keny/Dowry

Alur society has the most complex and interesting way of traditional marriage, it involves dancing, rituals and exchange of gifts ranging from cattle, goats, clothes, money, each of the gifts have the way they are described. From the boy’s side there are normally two groups of people, the elders and the boys, while the elders’ role is to meet with the elders of the girl’s side to discuss the terms, the boys only go to dance and interact with girls. In the picture above i was participating in the mingling of bread, while below we are now taking the bread to be served

Out of the many Keny I have attended the most interesting one was for my friend called Godfrey, we reached the home where the dowry was on Friday night and left on Sunday evening, there was a lot of drinking and dancing. On the last day (Sunday morning) we performed the custom normally done by the boys to the aunties of the girl, that is cooking the traditional source called ‘angira’. Angira is a traditional sauce made out of white beans mixed with okra, awwasi (soda ash) and salt, at times palm oil or ‘moo yau’ (cheer batter oil) is added to improve the flavor, this sauce is normally cooked in a pot and eaten with bread made out of cassava floor. Here the food is ready and being served

Mahagi Democratic Republic of Congo

Mahagi is a town in the eastern Democratic Republic of Congo in the province of Oriental; it is located just a few kilometers from the border with Uganda about 15 km from the main custom in Goli Uganda. Mahagi town is the headquarter of Mahagi Territory, other big towns/trading centres in this territory include Ndrele, Mokambo, Mahagi Port, Djegu, Nyarambe, Nyalebbe, Rona etc. Above is a photograph of one side of Mahagi Town

(Here is the grinding machine which was modified to produce electricity) This territory has been the most peaceful territory ever since the war between 1998 and 2006 which was majorly ethnic conflict though later on developed into political clashes with several rebel groups formed but all vanished. These strives acted as a catalyst to the development of this town, as the people who were displaced crossed over to Uganda came back with new business ideas and technique, the town which had very few permanent building is now being field up with new permanent building and shops are very busy too. Most of the commodities sold in these shops are imported from Uganda even those that come from China, India etc cross through Uganda which has made the border points very busy too.

The biggest problem that this town has experienced in a long time is electricity; there is no source of stable electricity, people have been using small generators and solar for domestic and commercial requirement. The high demand electricity has given rise to a powerful local innovation; people have resorted to turning gridding meals into generating electricity which is sold out for both domestic and commercial consumers. This system has proven so effective but is limited to light equipment/appliances like computers, printers, photocopying machine home appliances except fridges, iron and hot plates. The system looks very risky and dangerous, but it works well and many people are connected to it. This innovation has now been exported to many other nearby towns now including some towns/trading centres in Uganda where there is no electricity, for instance in places like Erussi, Parombo and Panyimur etc in Uganda are using the same system. Above is the wiring in the power house, here is also a map showing the distance from the border with uganda to Mahagi

Natural Faming

Farming is the source of livelihoods for all human kind; this makes it essential to consider sustainable use of the soil so that future generation will be able to benefit from the same. Organic farming seems to be the most appropriate type of farming that needs to be practiced; organic farming involves crop ration, green and composed manure, biological pest control, mulching etc, this restore, maintain and enhance ecological harmony as minimal use of off-farm inputs is adapted. Dennis Argall (http://suburbanfoodforest.blogspot.com.au/2013/07/science-achieves-some-understanding-of.html) in his article science achieves some understanding of crop rotation talked about how crop rotation can help the soil as well as the health of the crops for better yield. in the picture above is the potato garden I had last year , below is the garden i prepared for beans and maize

Using the organic farming techniques, in 2013 I thought of starting my kitchen garden at my home. I started with planting of potatoes, maize, pineapple, sukumawiki (its east African greens which derived its name from a Kiswahili word “ sukuma week” meaning it helps people move on through the week), rice, and beans etc. I had thought of using compost manure from my piggery to boost soil for maximum yield of the crops. Here is my small pineapple garden

The piggery did not do well and so the kitchen garden, this year I intend to have a more commercial like agriculture, I will plant groundnuts mixed with maize on one side then on the other side groundnuts together with cassava. Here cassava is regarded as staple food, it boiled and eaten with source of all kind while it can also be made inform floor to make bread or porridge. Here is the 1 acre land i am preparing for the groundnut, maize and cassava project

Domestic Apiary Business

In the picture is some of the bee hive we erected Back in 2012, I developed a feeling and love for apiary business, which by then I thought we would join hands with my father Ular Ujanga Yoel (who is now late) and other brothers, we started by planting trees (cypress trees) to act as shed to the hive. We planted 12 bee and all were occupied by bees. These hives if harvested well, timely and well processed can produce 120 liters and 1 little goes for 7,000/= (2.8 USD). The harvest is normally done once a year in order to get god quality and quantity. In our first harvest in February we got 50 liters of honey, we would have got more than that but some was eaten and the harvest was not time, we should have waited till mid/end of March. During the period (March) the trees and flowers begin to flower and there is enough water to the bees and it the beginning of the rain season, all this favors the honey production.

We have leant a lot from the first harvest and we hope that we shall improve in the next harvest; we also intend to increase on the number as well as the quality of hive. What makes me sad about this project is that my father died without testing our honey, may his soul rest in internal peace. Below is a photo of some of the honey before processing