AMAKUNGA DAVID ANDEBA

Amakunga David Andeba was born in 1958 in Khwisero. He grew up in his parents' home alongside three siblings, but his life in his birthplace was cut short by family conflict. His brothers from another father chased him away and divided among themselves the piece of land that rightfully belonged to him.

Seeking refuge, he moved to his uncles' place, where he started school with hope. However, his academic journey ended prematurely. He managed to study only until reaching Standard 7 before he dropped out, as his family could not afford the required fees, forcing him to abandon his education to search for survival.

Following his exit from school, he turned to heavy manual labor to sustain himself. He relocated to Bunyore, Esibira, and eventually found himself relying heavily on operating a "mkokoteni," handcart, to earn a living. This handcart became his sole economic anchor for decades.

He married while working in the handcart business, and together with his wife, he had two children. Raising a family through casual labor was a continuous battle against poverty, and his wife, who did not work, eventually walked away due to her wandering nature. He was left to care for the family, with his daughter later moving to live with his sister, where she currently studies, while his young son remains with him.

His struggles deepened significantly when his handcart was stolen one afternoon. He had parked it outside his one-room mabati rental house to take lunch, only to find it gone, and all searches yielded nothing. Losing the cart, which used to earn him up to 300 shillings on good days at Shangwe Hardware in Amalemba, plunged him into total joblessness.

With his livelihood gone, he was forced to carry heavy luggage for people directly on his shoulders, which has since caused him severe chest problems. On some days he makes just 20 shillings or nothing at all, leaving him and his son on the brink of starvation in their small, hot one-room mabati house.

His path to relief opened before he and his wife parted ways, when she fell severely ill. During her illness, community representatives visited their home to check on her, where they discovered David, who was much older and desperately vulnerable. Recognizing his profound need, they registered his name into the Mama Ibado Seniors Programme on June 4, 2018.

Through this initiative, he receives vital nutritional support that keeps his household alive. He is regularly provided with essential food items including maize flour for ugali, cooking oil, porridge flour, milk, sugar, and rice. This consistent food assistance has saved him and his young son from total starvation.

"My life was incredibly hard before, and I was forced to live as a beggar, constantly asking people for help just to survive. Now, I no longer have the deep stress of where to get food, and I can focus my little energy on keeping my son in school at Bukulunya."

He expresses deep gratitude for the support, repeatedly offering thanks to the program for restoring his dignity. He notes that without this food and intervention, he and his son would have no way to survive.

He still desperately needs ongoing help because he suffers from a chronic chest problem worsened by carrying heavy loads on his shoulders. Without a handcart or an alternative livelihood, he cannot independently support his children's education or afford safe housing.