Four years ago, 50-year-old Alice joined the VSLA group down the road from her village just outside Gulu in Orubu, Layibi. All these years, Alice had kept her plan for her savings to herself. Neither her friends or fellow group members knew her plan. She only let her husband in on the reason for her savings.
This past December, after her group had shared out their savings, she was among the top five savers in the group. In total, last year she saved 650,000 UGX (just under $200). Alice couldn’t believe that all that money all came from her effort alone!
All year, Alice worked tirelessly so that she could reach her goal. She was saving to help her husband buy a fourth and final cow so that they could finally pay her family’s bride price and officially get married, after many years together as a couple. Now they’re planning their wedding for this February 2017. When Alice was telling her story, she was so happy that she was able to contribute toward her own bride price.
Bride prices still play an important role in Acoli culture here in Northern Uganda. While it may seem to Westerners like an archaic, patriarchal tradition, being able to be officially married in line with Acoli tradition offers women a certain amount of protection in their relationship. And now, more and more women like Alice are working with their husbands to contribute to their own bride price, giving them even more power and control.
She says, “I’m an illiterate women, with no educational background, but now I’m in charge when it comes to things concerning development in our home. My husband and I love each other, honor one’s idea and work together as a couple to make sure we achieve all our dreams.”
Alice expressed her gratitude to THRIVEGulu for all the support and training they had given to her group. They have taught her how to maintain good savings habits and plan her finances. “Group savings is like my pillow because it is only through VSLA that I can save my money to help feed my family, and pay my children’s school fees.” And now, at long last, she’ll have the wedding to her husband that she always dreamed of.
