Uganda Women's Collective

My trip to Uganda last fall focused on wildlife, but I still had a chance to see some of the beautiful countryside outside of the national parks 

as well as small slices of daily life in the many villages we passed through.

In Buhoma, just down the road from one of our lodges, Gorilla Forest Camp in Bwindi Impenetrable Forest, is an impressive organization focused on empowering local women, Ride 4 A Woman. We first visited to shop for African fabrics and crafts and were enchanted by their handmade products, from baskets to clothing to accessories and housewares. Naturally we all found things to bring home.

We made several more excursions to their workshop and store, getting to know some of the women and learning about the role of the collective. The collective was founded in 2009 by Evelyn Habana and her husband Denis Rubalema to support women struggling with issues such as poverty, HIV, and domestic violence by teaching skills and offering micro-financing that enable women to support themselves and their children.

On the left side of this photo is Winnie, who made the bathrobe I commissioned for my husband. I chose the fabric from among their collection and then we measured someone from our group who was about the right size.

Baskets are another key product for these ladies. They use a wide variety of plant materials to die the grasses in gorgeous shades. 

Then they work their magic to make baskets and bowls in stunning designs.

In addition to selling their wares, the collective offers accommodation, which you can learn about and book through their website linked above. They can also be reached at ride4awoman@gmail.com.

Throughout my trip in Uganda I noticed so many women wearing clothing made of the most beautiful boldly patterned fabric and was very keen to bring some home. I'll finish this post with what I purchased - they had so many fabulous designs that it was hard to narrow it down. Fortunately they let me rummage through their scrap bin so I was able to get a wide selection in addition to some fat quarters and some yardage.

Here is the progress on the first quilt top I have made using my purchases. I used solid black as a contrast to showcase the dramatic patterns and colors of the African prints.