SHITIABAYI ROSE BUMOJA

Rose Bumoja is a 63-year-old woman living in the Amalemba slums. She grew up in a large family of ten children, though two of her siblings passed away when they were young. Because her family lived in deep poverty, her early years were shaped by hardship and a lack of basic needs.

She was unable to finish her education due to a lack of money at home. Her mother worked as a manual laborer, digging in people’s farms and washing clothes just to put a simple meal on the table. As a result, Rose had to drop out of school early to help her family survive, missing her chance to study further.

After leaving school, she stayed home to take on heavy manual work to support her mother. Her life became a daily cycle of working for others just to get by. During this time, she faced a constant struggle to find enough food, and most of her days were spent doing backbreaking chores.

Rose eventually got married and had four children, but two of them passed away. Her marriage was very difficult because her husband did not have a steady job, and life became even harder when he died from poisoning. As a widow, she tried to raise her remaining two sons by selling vegetables at a small stall, but they often went to bed hungry and she could not afford to keep them in school.

"The constant fear of hunger and the pain of untreated injuries have been replaced by a reliable supply of food and professional medical care," says Rose Bumoja.

In 2015, she was involved in a bad road accident that kept her in the hospital for three years and left her needing crutches to walk. A local church leader saw her struggling to fetch water and sell goods despite her injuries. He introduced her to the Mama Ibado Charity, who visited her home and signed her up for monthly food and medical help.

Life has changed a lot since she joined the program because she no longer has to worry about her next meal. Before, she was under a lot of stress trying to provide for herself and her grandchildren. Now, she receives rice, flour, milk, sugar, and tea leaves every month, which lets her use her energy to focus on her health instead of searching for food.

"I now have the peace of mind to focus on my health because I am no longer consumed by the daily battle against starvation," says Rose Bumoja.

Beyond the food, the health program is a lifeline for her because of the injuries from her accident. She visits the clinic every Thursday for check-ups on her back, chest, and legs, and receives medicine that she would never be able to afford alone. This medical care has given her a sense of hope and comfort she thought she had lost forever.

Rose still needs support because her two sons work irregular jobs and have their own families to look after. Since she lives in a rented house and cannot work due to her physical injuries, she relies on the kindness of others to meet her daily needs.