Uganda

Our work in Uganda is rooted in the vibrant and scenic city of Jinja, nestled on the northern shores of Lake Victoria, Africa’s largest lake, and famously known as the source of the River Nile.

Jinja is situated in the Eastern Region of Uganda and is the region of the Basoga peoples. Walukuba is a division of Jinja Municipality and is split into two sites – Walukuba West and Walukuba East.

The area was developed in the 1950s by the British Colonial Government as a site to house workers and has steadily grown since its inception and currently has an approximate population of 17,000 people.

Context

Walukuba is a semi-urban area dominated by local factories which produces an array of products from matchsticks to mattresses. Residents can face an array of issues relating to employment in the area including precarious employment practices and dangerous working environments.

These issues compounded with restricted access to healthcare lead to a majority of residents living in poverty with 38% of the local population living under the poverty line.

The widespread issue of poverty in Walukuba results in a range of social issues including gender-based violence, restricted access to schooling (particularly for girls) and poor mental health.

Previous work

Led by the project founder, Professor Jane Plastow, the work in Walukuba, Jinja, has had a long history with an initial project taking place in 2015.

The history of this work, its artistic outputs and its social impacts can be accessed in Professor Plastow’s and Dr McQuaid’s recent publication Community-based Arts, Research and Activism in Uganda – We Are Walukuba.