By Willy Chowoo
In the heart of the Kati Kati, rolling valleys of Ayomo stream, a small rural community, life resolved around farming. For generations, the fertile land provided bountiful harvests of maize, rice, beans, and finger-millet.
However, as the years passed, the farmers noticed troubling changes. Rains became unpredictable, often arriving too late or in floods that washed the topsoil. The once-thriving fields began to yield less, and the community faced the grim reality of climate change.
Amidst these challenges, an unlikely solution began to take shape. A group of women in Kati Kati B village, in Opara sub-county, Amuru district (Northern Uganda) led by a wise and resourceful woman, Ajok Margret -65, had long practiced pottery for 40 years. Initially, their pots were made for household cooking, storing grains, decoration, and carrying water. Ajok however saw a potential beyond these traditional uses. She proposed that pottery could support their livelihoods in this changing climate.
The community gathered under the ancient Odugu tree (Combretum collinum) in the middle of her compound and discussed Ajok’s idea. Skepticism mixed with curiosity. “How can making pots help us when our crops are failing? Asked Lanyero Nancy-24, a young mother and a farmer
Ajok smiled, her eyes reflecting years of wisdom. “The earth provides us clay as it once provided abundant harvests. We can shape this clay into something valuable, just as we shaped our fields.”
The persistent drought has taken a heavy toll on Lanyero Nancy-24 as a small-scale farmer in Amuru district, the prolonged lack of rainfall has significantly disrupted her livelihood, with insufficient water, and her crops have failed to grow, leading to a drastic reduction in yield. This has left her without enough produce to sell or even to feed her family.
When rains do come, they are often in the form of intense, short bursts, leading to devastating floods. These floods have brought a different set of challenges for Lanyero. The floods have always washed away her fields, destroying any crops that managed to grow and it has made it nearly impossible for her to maintain a stable food supply
Lanyero loses annually close to 5 acres of garden crops to flooding, despite these challenges, Lanyero has become an expert in pottery against all odds, she uses money from the sales of her pots to rear chickens and goats to supplement her income. This is a move. The village has come out with to adapt to the impact of climate change on the village pottery. “In a month, I can make up to 30 pots and on average I get sh200, 000 ($53.4 USD) per month and I use the money to buy food to feed my three children now”, she narrates.
Traditionally food crops in Acholi were not meant to be bought by the locals because they would be abundant in each household but because of the erratic changes many families who are affected now buy it from the markets.
The area’s local council chairperson Kidega K Richard, says several farmers have abandoned farming certain types of predominant traditional crops that are susceptible to flooding such as cassava and sweet potatoes. “They are now planting crops like beans, simsim, rice, millet, but still they are always affected by droughts or floods, things are not good for the farmers here”, Kidega adds.
Mr. Kidega disclosed that pottery has become the main source of economic activity for his people in the dominion of unpredictable weather patterns.
Amuru district is one of the districts in the Acholi sub-region that is left bare; the thick and green district has become a prey to climate change. The lucrative charcoal and logging businesses have left the indigenous and century trees perished in the hands of self-fish businessmen and women.
Despite government of Uganda using Section 29 (1&2) of the National Forestry and Tree Planting Act of 2003, to suspend the cutting, transportation, and sale of products of shea nut trees in 2018, meanwhile, the destruction is still roaring. The traditional ancient African indigenous trees like Africa Afrizella and the shear nut trees have been left with scars-they were the source of rain and organic manure – and their destruction is now posing the abysmal effects of climate change on the rural farmers.
The traditional pot-making
With renewed hope, the community here has embarked on this new venture. Under Ajok’s guidance, members of the village learned how to dig clay from the streambanks, Ayomo, squeeze it into a malleable or soft form, and shape it into pots, bowls, and decorative items. They experimented with different techniques, mixing modern designs with traditional patterns that told the story of their land and heritage.
Akello Susan-36 is a skilled potter in Kati Kati B village; she is one of the persons mentored by Ajok, she is now renowned for craftsmanship and dedication to traditional methods. Her lonely thatch-grass hut sits at the end of the valley, and it is full of pot-making materials. Next is an anthill, in the compound under a mango tree, there is a wooden paddle and anvil stone and near a rubbish and kiln pit. After the morning garden work, she sits under the only mango tree shade folding one leg on top of the other surrounded by pot-making hand tools such as a piece of calabash or gourd and natural pigment
Akello begins by collecting clay from a clay pit at Ayomo water stream, a few meters from her home, a process that involves careful selection to ensure the quality and suitability of the clay. She cleans the clay to remove impurities such as stones and roots. Then, she wedges the clay by kneading it thoroughly to remove air bubbles and achieve a uniform consistency.
Susan takes a lump of clay and rolls it into a ball. She then flattens the ball into a thick disk, which will serve as the base of the pot. Using her hands and a calabash or gourd, she carefully molds the clay into a round, flat base. This is what she describes as the initial shaping of the pot.
Akello rolls out long coils of clay between her hands. She places the first coil on the edge of the base and joins it by pressing and smoothing the clay with her fingers. Then she continues to add coils, one at a time, building up the walls of the pot. Each coil is carefully smoothed and blended into the one below, ensuring the walls are even and strong.
As the pot takes shape, Akello uses a wooden paddle and anvil stone to gently tap and smooth the walls. This technique helps to even out the thickness and remove any lumps or air pockets. She goes into the final touches, Akello uses her fingers and simple tools to refine the shape, ensuring the pot has a smooth, even surface. Akello might also add decorative elements by carving or pressing patterns into the clay.
Once the pot is shaped, Susan places it in a shaded area to dry slowly. This prevents cracking and ensures the pot dries evenly. The drying process can take several days, depending on the weather and humidity.
If the pot is properly dried, Susan uses a traditional pit kiln, often a shallow hole dug in the ground lined with stones-in her case is burnt bricks. She arranges the dried pots carefully in the pit. She makes sure that the pot is covered with dried grass or wood and sets it alight. The pots are fired for several hours, with Akello carefully managing the fire to ensure consistent heat.
What Akello does here is to finish and decorate the pots, after firing; she sometimes decorates the pots using natural pigments derived from plants or minerals. She applies these pigments using brushes made from local materials. Akello inspects each pot for quality, ensuring there are no cracks or weak spots. She polishes the surface with a smooth stone to give it a slight sheen. Then the pots are ready for use or sale.
Akello Susan’s pot-making process is a testament to her skills and the rich tradition of pottery in her village. Each pot she creates is a unique piece, reflecting her craftsmanship and the cultural heritage of her community. Her work not only provides functional items for everyday use but also preserves and celebrates the traditional art of pottery.
Making African traditional Pots
Markets for their pots
As their skills improved, so did their creations. The pottery was not only functional but also beautiful, adorned with intricate designs inspired by the flora and fauna of Ayomo. The community decided to take their wares to the weekly market in the nearby town of Pabbo, the nearby town council.
At first, the townspeople were hesitant, unfamiliar with the rustic charm of Kati Kati’s pottery. However, it didn’t take long for word to spread about the craftsmanship and unique designs. Soon, the pots became popular, not only in Pabbo but also in distant towns and across border, to South Sudan. Orders poured in from boutiques and markets far and wide. In Uganda, the pots are sold at Gulu City, Adjumani, Moyo, Amuru , and Obangi districts.
Odong Denis -31 is among the six local transporters, who every week is on road transporting the pots to the markets. Odong has spent 12 years on road behind his motorcycle transporting these local pots to South Sudan capital City, Juba and other border towns like Owiny-ki bul, Magwi, and Torit. Odong carries 30-32 pots per trip and in a week, he moves twice due to the high demand of Kati Kati’s artwork across the border.
The profits from pottery sales brought much-needed financial stability to the community. They used the money to invest in sustainable farming practices, such as rainwater harvesting systems and drought-resistant crops. They also formed themselves into Mal-ikine Village and Saving and Loan Association (VSLA) where they could share knowledge, teach pottery, and discuss innovative farming techniques.
Abalo Margret who loses 5 acres of her crops annually to either drought or floods says, “I use part of the money from my savings to invest in livestock farming, currently, I have 2 cows, 6 goats, and 40 chickens “. This testimony is not different from Lanyero Nancy-28; she has 2 goats and 8 chickens and plans to buy oxen to replace her hand hoes for tilting the land.
Ajok’s vision had transformed Kati Kati B village. The community thrived, balancing pottery and agriculture. Young people who once considered leaving for the city found new purpose and pride in their heritage. The vibrant pottery market attracted tourists, eager to see the process and purchase authentic pieces, further boosting the local economy.
Lukwiya Peter, the chairman of Opera sub-county, where Kati Kati B village is, can attest to this economic transformation, “it is one of the biggest economic activities after farming had gone sour, people are avoiding investing in agriculture due to risks of drought and floods”.
What is being done to mitigate the impact of this erratic change?
Amuru District has 39000 households that live and survive on traditional agricultural practices according to statistics from the Agricultural Department. The Smallholder farmers are struggling to adapt to increasingly unpredictable weather patterns and that has resulted in declining crop yields.
In 2023, the district was hit by both flood and drought sending many farmers to live with empty stomachs due to the poor harvests. In the first season of 2023, the district received little rain and in the second farming season, it received too much rain which greatly hammered the efforts of the rural farmers in the district. That has been the trend-it is either drought or flooding each year.
Uganda‘s government recently introduced the Micro-scale Irrigation Program to support farmers to purchase and use individual irrigation equipment. The Program supports farmers in purchasing irrigation equipment through a matching grant scheme, in which the cost of the equipment is co-financed by the farmer and the government. This program aligns with Uganda’s National Irrigation Policy, aiming to create 1.5 million hectares of irrigated land by 2040.
The Program caps the support to 2.5 acres (1 hectare), and is supported by the World Bank through the Uganda Intergovernmental Fiscal Transfer Program (UgIFT). Thus it is expected to benefit mainly smallholder farmers interested in transitioning from mainly subsistence to more commercial agriculture. Through the Micro Scale Irrigation Program, the Government will help farmers to pay for the irrigation equipment.
With the cost depending on the nature of the farm (closeness to a water source, the terrain of the land, soil suitability, acreage to be irrigated, etc.) and the varying prices of irrigation equipment, the Government will pay between 25% and 75% of the total cost of the irrigation equipment, but with a maximum contribution of 7.2 million Shillings per acre. This implies that the farmer may pay between 2 million and 8 million Shillings per acre depending on the nature of the farm and the irrigation equipment that they choose.
This has made this program record a very low uptake in Amuru district as most of the smallholder farmers in the areas hit areas cannot afford to pay for it. Abalo Margret – a local farmer and a potter at Kati Kati B village has never seen what one million Uganda shilling is. “If we could afford to pay for the solar-powered irrigation, we would not resort to pottery and we would not sleep hungry in times of drought or flood”.
Ms. Abalo says the biggest amount she has ever earned at once was sh250, 000 (USD $ 66.76) through the sales of her pots.
The head of production in Amuru district local government, Komakech Simon says only 80 farmers out of 39,000 households in the district as of June 2024 have benefited from the program. “This is one of the ways we are helping the small-scale farmers in the district to adapt to the impact of climate change especially dry season despite the low uptake”, he adds.
Mr. Kidega Richard Local Council one chairman of Kati Kati B Village said none of his 4000 people have benefited from the government program of supporting farmers with irrigation equipment.
Floods and drought statistics
Droughts have affected the largest number of people in Uganda, undermining food security. In the past four decades, droughts have become more frequent in Uganda.
According to a report by the International Monetary Fund (2022), between 2002 and 2010, droughts impacted over 3 million Ugandans, and the severe drought that hit Uganda and the Horn of Africa in 2016/17, on its own, impacted more than 1 million people in the country, causing a humanitarian crisis and jeopardizing food security. Uganda has recorded equal five years of serious floods and drought between (2000-2021).
According to the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC, 2014), Uganda’s maximum temperatures will rise between 1°C and 2.2°C by 2050, while minimum temperatures will rise between 0.8°C and 2.5°C, depending on global emission scenarios. Therefore, most models adopted by the climate science community (CMIP5) predict an increase in the intensity and frequency of extreme weather events between the current and the mid-century period. In addition, the slow-moving impact or the temperature increase is expected to affect agriculture. While it is projected that precipitation will increase in some parts of Uganda, warmer temperatures will accelerate the rate of evapotranspiration, reversing the benefits of increased rainfall and reducing crop and livestock yields.
Climate change damage estimates in the agriculture, water, infrastructure and energy sectors could collectively amount to US$273-437 billion (2.8-4.5% of cumulative prospected GDP) between 2010 and 2050 (Ministry of Water and Environment, 2015).
Accessing grants and concessional financing is pivotal for Uganda’s adaptation strategy, given that the total climate adaptation budget, estimated at US$120 million per year for 2021-2030 (Ministry of Water and Environment, 2015b), equivalent to 0.3 percent of GDP or 2.1 percent of government revenues excluding grants, cannot be met only with domestic (private and public) resources.
The Third National Development Plan (NDPIII) recognizes that the livelihood of the people of Uganda is highly dependent on the exploitation of its natural resources and that climate change management is critical to the reduction of disaster losses. The country’s goal is to reduce vulnerability in priority sectors and the NDPIII aims to increase water permit Compliance and widen the land area covered by forests and wetlands.
The resilience
One evening, as the sun set over Kilak hills, casting a golden glow on the fields and pottery workshops, Ajok stood at the entrance of the community center. She watched the children play, the artisans work, and the farmers tend to their resilient crops. The community had found a way to adapt, weaving tradition with innovation.
“I am very excited that this innovation and creativity helped us out, we can send our children to school now, buy them clothing and feed them well through the money we get from pottery”, excited Ajok narrates. Ajok adds that through pottery, they have been able to to pay dowry for three housewives in the family, “even me, I was traditionally married through the money realized from the sales of pots and two other members of the family.
At the age of 65, Ajok can still make 5-6 pots a day depending on the demand, and that what she has been doing over the last 40 years.
In the face of climate change, Kati Kati had not only survived but flourished, thanks to the resilience and creativity of its people. The earth that once threatened their way of life had become their greatest ally, molded by their hands into a future of hope and prosperity.
Mr. Anywar Decimon, a climate change and an environment expert says such initiative is very good in the current situation of erratic variation of weather patterns. But he emphasizes that the pot-makers need to be guided so that they do not cause much damage to the ecosystem while collecting the raw materials for the pots.
The success of the pottery initiative in Amuru district highlights the potential of traditional crafts as adaptive strategies to climate change. With further support and investment, these local farmers aim to increasing the scale of pottery production to meet the growing market demands.
Pottery, as embrace by these farmers serves as testament to the resilience and ingenuity of local communities in the face of climate change. By blending traditional practices with modern needs, they are creating sustainable pathways for a more secure and prosperous future.
