Remaining

Red beauty

Around the lake again

Big Belly Kid

Thinking about human nature

Love starts and is in African nature...

Vulcano and guides

What about your work Hasse? Getting ‘lost’ in the world of microfinance….

Quite some people asked me this question during the last month. And I have to admit I have to inform you better about it since it is the new title of this blog. In October I wrote about my employer SUFFICE (EU/Government of Uganda) and the objectives of my study (evaluation microfinance umbrella organisation AMFIU). This study focuses on two main areas, namely i) AMFIU's position and role in the microfinance industry of Uganda and ii) institutional and financial sustainability.

Till the end of December I conducted tens of interviews with all different kind of stakeholders including donors, government agencies, ordinary & associate members, AMFIU board, AMFIU management, and AMFIU staff. Without a specific background and experience in microfinance I noted since the start that this assignment is overwhelming, complex and demanding. As an microfinance association, AMFIU is involved in most issues of the microfinance industry which implies a big challenge for a newcomer like me.

The interviews provided an excellent opportunity to learn quickly from a broad field of experienced people in this specific field of development. The reception clerk (I will come back to her!) of AMFIU asked me why I was always running around. The answer to this question is simple. First of all I don’t walk naturally as slow as the average African. Secondly, I do not always share the attitude of ‘there is no hurry in Africa’. And more important, sometimes I conducted three till four interviews a day. To make here appointments (and reconfirm and reconfirm again), acquiring the proper address and to get to the right place by myself is incredibly time consuming. Running is sometimes just necessary.

I also visited upcountry members (microfinance institutions) of AMFIU and this was eye-opening with respect to the reality of their struggle in isolated areas. Some of these members were even not alive anymore or were just closed. An example of wasting time was the visit of a member (see picture) in Kaberamaido, the capital of a empty and remote district.

We arrived at the destination after a long bumpy ride in this two streets capital. To get to their office I had to cross a gospel church where a crazy priest was shouting continuously. The sky transformed into darkness and I was lost since there was no one in the office. I called to my contact and I told her that I was waiting outside. She couldn’t find me… I feared for the worst….. I told her where I was and she told me I was a few hundred kilometers away from Hoima. What was the case? The reception clerk gave me the contacts of another member (the one in Hoima) among the name of this organisation in Kaberamaido. I immediately phoned to my friend at the reception and the only thing she did was laughing! Can you believe it? Hasse, welcome in Africa again!

Anyway, one of these things I learned in Africa is being optimistic and to keep smiling. Yes, Africans now how to survive with their big white smiles and their wonderful dances despite their general struggle for life. Access to microfinance sometimes helps here. Despite the demanding part of it, I do like the job. One month is left before I return to Holland. I could tell you much more about my findings, but I will keep that to my report. The coming weeks are for report writing and presentations. See you online later!

Back in Kampala

Dirk and I did an excellent and pleasant trip through western Uganda and to a lesser extent in Rwanda. Most of the time we spent in South-west Uganda and a few days in Rwanda. This predominantly mountainous part of Uganda is very beautiful, but we had to endure cold nights. Most people imagine Africa to be very hot, but believe me, it can be quite chilly. Our eyes normally closed early out like a light for a deep sleep, 9 or 10 p.m. was the limit.

The encounter with the lively chimps in Kibale forest was impressive, we saw over twenty of them. I don’t have to tell you that they look so similar to us. In one of the wildlife parks we spotted a lion and lots of hippo’s, buffalo’s, birds etc.. Lake Bunyonyi is a marvelous and unique place in the world. Near the border of Congo and Rwanda we managed a tough climb to the top of a 3600m high volcano.

Rwanda was less exciting, but interesting to visit because of the genocide in 1994. Almost one million people died within few months. The genocide museum visit in the capital (Kigali) was worthwhile and depressing at the same time. Later I will post some background information about this terrible action against humanity while the whole ‘international community’ let it just happen and even made it worse by certain interventions. Darfur nowadays shows that we didn't learn anything... Conflicts of interest or no interest at all?

In Kampala we celebrated new year, funny to see how much the Ugandans enjoy the small amount of exploded firework. My analogue pictures I expect within two weeks online (Dirk!!). For now enjoy the pictures which we shot with Dirks' digital camera.

Rambo forest

In the clouds

Climb vulcano

Gospel church - Halelujaaa!

People around lake Bunyonyi