Navigating Power Dynamics and Apathy: Kyomuhendo Patience’s Work as a Change Agent

Kyomuhendo Patience (28) comes from Ntungama village where she describes it as having a small but welcoming community with a strong sense of unity.

Just as Kyomuhendo is engaged in the welfare of the village, she says she has experienced significant personal growth and newfound confidence in herself, thanks to her Change Agent role.

The role has also helped her learn better about different power and influence dynamics in the village. She says this knowledge has come in handy in her animation work, as it is important in navigating political and institutional barriers as well as apathy among fellow community members in engaging in local issues.

As well as being a change agent, Kyomuhendo is a secretary in the village council and an active member of the newly established revenue-sharing committee. This committee oversees the distribution of funds generated by tourism activities within the village. It ensures that the revenue directly benefits the community instead of being misallocated by the district.

One of the key achievements that Kyomuhendo is proud to have worked with her community is addressing the issue of land infertility. By adopting traditional methods of producing farmyard manure and enhancing soil fertility, they have impacted dozens of households in the Ntungamo village as a result of improved agricultural produce.

“We have so far reached about 50 households with this initiative. It is a change in food crop for households as well as an increase in income from the crops sold” says Kyomuhendo

Kyomuhendo is grateful for the cordial relationship she enjoys not only with local government leaders but also with religious leaders. Through this relation, they have been able to use both traditional and religious avenues to mobile the local community for the welfare of their village.