Faith I have been in the business of brewing malwa [38] for so long. I started the business in 1995. I get money for school fees for my children which I have been paying for about 6-7 years. My husband died a long time ago in 1994 when my (first) child was in P6. The firstborn is now a laboratory technician. I have three children and I have been keeping them out of my business brewing malwa. I now have a motorcycle which I bought out of my business. I also have a little money in the bank.
Interviewer Tell me about doing business during the war, where were you getting your products?
Faith For millet, I go to Pabbo [39]. I bring it here then I use it for selling malwa. During the war, I had to go to town Genako to the store in Gulu and buy millet there at a very high price.
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Manoocher Deghati/IRIN
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Interviewer So, was doing business during the war profitable? Did you get a lot of money?
Faith Ahhhhhh… you don’t get a lot of money. You get very little because the price of millet was so high - 600 shillings per kilo.
Interviewer Weren’t you afraid of doing business during the war?
Faith I was afraid because one day we were looking for somewhere to sleep. We slept in the town by the gates and when we got back home we found out that one person had been killed near our home. It was very difficult because I have no husband, he is dead already. I am alone to care for the children. It was very difficult to take care of the children in town. One day I was caught by the rebels and when I escaped they came and killed my father. They found us at home in Koro during the night time and they killed our father there and then.
Interviewer [link] The fate that befell her father might have been the same for Faith had it not been for that fact that she recognized one of the rebels as her uncle. Her biggest challenge now is where to pour the residue from her local brew, but I wonder what changes she sees now that the war has ended.
Faith It has made life different because a long time ago, you could go to the village and dig a garden to promote your business, but nowadays, you rely on money only. People are in the camp, you leave your home even when you try to go and dig, no one can help you.
Interviewer Would you leave this business if you had an option?
Faith I can leave it if I get enough money because it is hard work brewing malwa.
Interviewer But now that you have been in this business for long, don’t you enjoy it?
Faith You can enjoy it but it is very difficult - you do it because of the conditions - if you don’t do it, you don’t get money.
Interviewer Are you in any women’s organisations?
Faith We have a small group - we have a plan for generating money in our group. We were thirty-six in the group, some used to dance… other people used to sing. We go wherever we are invited to perform.
Interviewer What advice do you have for widows?
Faith I tell them that they must keep their business. I advise them not to get other men because it may spoil their business.
Interviewer So men spoil business?
Faith Yes because if you have a man and if you want to go to Pabbo, he may refuse or if you have a drunkard man he may steal your money.
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[38] Local alcoholic brew
[39] The largest IDP camp in northern Uganda, 42 kms northwest of Gulu town