THE PLIGHT OF WOMEN & GIRLS TOILING IN KABALE HILLS' QUARRIES

THE PLIGHT OF WOMEN & GIRLS TOILING IN KABALE HILLS' QUARRIES

13-YEAR-OLD LINNET WORKS THE QUARRY FOR SURVIVAL

In the heart of Kabale Municipality, a vibrant town in western Uganda, life pulses with the energy of countless tourists drawn to its allure. Yet, hidden beneath this bustling facade lies the quiet suffering of children like 13-year-old Ampire Maria Linnet, whose dreams are overshadowed by the crushing weight of poverty that has stolen her childhood. 

Linnet & other children who work in the quarry

A narrow, dusty road winds through the hills, carving a path for four-wheel-drive vans and cars heading to the serene shores of Lake Bunyonyi, the deepest lake in Africa. While visitors seek solace in its tranquil beauty, the communities along this tourist route are ensnared in relentless toil in nearby quarries, labouring to extract mud and break stones merely to survive. It is in this unforgiving landscape that Linnet, along with countless other children, grapples with the harsh demands of her reality. 

Linnet, petite and fragile, seems smaller than the towering piles of stones she works upon. Clad in a brown-stained T-shirt—once bright milk-white—and a tattered, thick skirt, she stands barefoot on the rocky ground, her delicate feet a testament to her struggles. Dust settles on her sunburned skin as she gazes up with wide, searching eyes, her small hands nervously clasped at her chest.

At first glance, one might think she’s merely waiting for a parent or guardian amidst the chaos of the quarry. Yet, the heart-breaking truth tells a different story: this girl, trapped in the same relentless labour that defines her existence, yearns for something greater.

WORKING THE DUSTY, DEADLY QUARRY

 Linnet at work in the quarry

Each day in the quarry contrasts sharply with her efforts to pursue education. As a primary five pupil at Rutooma Primary School, she faces an exhausting uphill journey of a kilometre and a half to her school, part of the Government’s Universal Primary Education initiative. While this initiative could ideally offer students like Linnet the chance to get an education without the traditional fees, the survival demands weigh heavily on her tiny shoulders, pulling her from her aspirations.Linnet shares her story in a quivering voice, vividly depicting her determination amidst despair. “I come to work here every Saturday and during the holidays,” she explains softly, as the community by-laws prohibit school-going children from working in the quarry during weekdays. Sundays are a day of rest for all quarry workers. On these Saturdays, she scours through stones, her small hands yearning for a way out of poverty. “I work to help my family. My mother and siblings rely on my contribution to survive.” In her confession, the stark reality settles in, echoing the hopes and struggles of many in her community. Yet, her resilience shines through, a beacon of hope amid adversity.

She is only able to crack between 5 and 7 basins a day when she is out in the quarry, each strike echoing with the weight of her dreams. A basin sells for 300 Uganda shillings, converting her toil into a mere 1800 Uganda shillings every Saturday during school time—an amount too little against the mountains of responsibility she shoulders.

Every coin she earns carries the aching hope of contributing to her schooling, the food that barely sustains her while at school, and the scattered supplies that never seem to be enough. As she hands over the meagre money to her family members, her heart aches with desperation, wishing it could ease their struggles, hoping against hope that it might bring a glimmer of relief. And yet, as it slips through her fingers like dust in the wind, those hopes vanish, leaving her feeling powerless and hollow—a silent testament to a young girl yearning for a better life, yet surrounded by the harsh reality of circumstances that seem to swallow her efforts whole. Each day is a battle, and yet the fight in her burns fiercely beneath the surface.

THE DREAM BURDENED BY FEAR AND UNCERTAINTY

Linnet outside her classroom 

As the youngest of three and the only girl in a family of five, Linnet carries the weight of her family’s expectations on her tiny shoulders. Her older brothers, who once brimmed with dreams, were compelled to drop out of school before reaching primary seven due to unpaid school dues, plunging them into the same unforgiving cycle of labour. The tears that well up in her eyes are not just for her situation but for the lost dreams of her family.

Linnet opens her heart, whispering her aspirations, revealing a flicker of hope amid her struggles. “I dream of being a doctor,” she says, her voice almost breaking. “I want to help those who can’t afford treatment, but I’m scared my dreams will fade away just like my brothers’.” The stark contrast between her dreams and current reality is a poignant reminder of her challenges. Currently, in the second term of primary five, she has yet to see her report card from the first term due to the harsh toll of unpaid school dues. “We still owe 50,000 shillings,” she shares, her expression darkening. “I can’t eat at school because we always fall behind on feeding fees. I have to walk home for lunch, and sometimes there’s nothing to eat. On those days, I sit at school with an empty stomach, waiting for the day to end.” She laments

FILLING THE VACUUM OF A MOTHER

Beneath the weight of her responsibilities lies a profound fear of being pulled away from her education, much like her brothers were. This fear clouds her thoughts like an ever-present storm, made even heavier by her mother's absence. “Mom left home three months back because she and Dad fought,” Linnet laments, trembling as she opens up about her fears. “Now I’m doing all the chores. Before school, I must make meals, fetch water, and keep the house clean.” Her brother, 18-year-old Mbabazi Anthony, works tirelessly in the quarry, yet even his efforts barely scratch the surface of their dire financial situation. In her heart, Linnet longs for a life unburdened by worry, where childhood innocence remains untouched by responsibility. The impact of her family situation on her education is stark, highlighting the urgent need for support

THE TRAP OF DEATH

The quarry is a perilous place for these children, and Linnet has witnessed heart-wrenching tragedies unfold before her—like the day a 16-year-old boy lost his life in a sand pit. That memory sends shivers down her spine, haunting her waking moments and filling her dreams with nightmares. “I feel so scared,” she confesses. “Every time I remember that boy, my body trembles.” This fear doesn't just linger; it envelops her, intertwining with every aspect of her life.

Yet, amid the shadows of her current existence, Linnet clings tightly to her dreams, yearning for a glimmer of hope for herself and her family. She dreams of days free from hunger, where she can dedicate herself wholeheartedly to learning and rediscovering the joyful innocence of childhood that feels so far away. She silently envies other children going to school carefree, their futures seemingly bright and secure. At the same time, her heart aches for a chance—a chance to remain in school without the constant threat of being drawn back into the stone-laden grip of poverty.

THE SOLITARY PURSUIT OF ACADEMIC ASPIRATIONS

Linnet in her classroom 

Her class teacher, Mr Robert Tumwebazi, worries that Linnet might end up like many other girls in the community who rarely progress beyond primary seven. He notes that Linnet seems to bear her academic aspirations alone because, even when the school administrators invite her parents and guardians to discuss a way forward for her, they never attend any meetings. She barely has basic school supplies such as books, pens, and pencils; most of the time, she is absent from school due to a lack of essentials. The class teacher observes that although she is a promising pupil, she arrives tired and worn out from household chores on rare occasions at school. Linnet's feeding fees are barely cleared; she is always in arrears every school term; therefore, she is isolated and hungry when she stays at school during lunchtime.

In her young heart, an ember of determination burns fiercely. She dreams of breaking the cycle and lifting her family from despair. Despite the odds stacked against her, flickering hope keeps her going, urging her to believe that one day, her dreams of education and a better life can become a reality.