54 year- old refugee is earning a living through making ropes
A 54-year-old South Sudanese refugee in Rhino camp settlement in Madi Okollo District is earning a living through making ropes. John Garang Awota who came from Jongole State in south Sudan said this has been his source of livelihood since he found himself in Uganda as a refugees.
Garang said he makes the rope for tethering cows and goats and has been doing the work for quite a number of years
“I normally make my rope and take them to the market to get some money to support my family in buying food and other necessities,” he said adding that he also cultivates crops like simsim that he normally sells to get some money which, he has spent to buy some cattle.
Garang disclosed that he and his family lived a better life back home in South Sudan before conflict broke out and they had to flee.
“Back home I used to move freely, operate my business, grassing my large heads of cattle and sell them to generate income for my family.”
Garang explained that life as a refugee is very challenging as movements are restricted, there is no enough land to graze one’s cows that, at times the refugees get attacked by the host communities.
He said that if peace is restored in South Sudan, he would be among the first people to return home because life is very hard for him at the refugees settlement as his cattle, children, including him are not safe
He added that the food ratio has also been reduced and this is making it even much harder for them at the camps.
He said refugees living in the settlement of Rhino camp West Nile Uganda are facing a lot of hardship and many people have been killed and buried in the settlement
By Gaaniko Samson Jerry
