The Batwa (historically called ‘Pygmies’) are considered to be the original inhabitants of the equatorial forest of southwest Uganda, Burundi, Rwanda and eastern Democratic Republic of Congo. As forest dwelling hunter-gatherers, until recent times, the Batwa derived their livelihood from and practiced their culture in the forest.

These forests are known for their rich biological diversity, including rare Mountain Gorillas, only 300 of which remain in the world. In the 1930s, the colonial powers occupying the area created forest preserves in southwest Uganda, evicting many Batwa from their ancestral lands but permitting them access to the forest for hunting, gathering, and other cultural practices, such as burial and worship.

In the 1990’s, the Mgahinga and Bwindi forests were designated Nationals Parks by the Government of Uganda, funded by a grant from the World Bank. All of the traditional activities of the Batwa were prohibited, including but not limited to the gathering of wild vegetables and medicinal herbs, bee-keeping, fishing, harvesting bamboo and other sustainable resources, and small game hunting. This resulted in a complete loss of the Batwa’s traditional economic, social and cultural modes of expression.

Having lost their homeland, the Batwa now seek out an existence in the communities adjacent to the parks. Most Batwa are landless or homeless, completely uneducated, and barely surviving on day labor to sustain themselves and their families. Many live totally exposed to the elements and without any ability to overcome their desperate circumstances.

Due to their wide geographical dispersion along the edges of the national parks, most Batwa households have little or no access to healthcare and other services. They are also frequently victims of rape or other mistreatment, so HIV/AIDS is beginning to affect their communities.

Given these extreme living conditions, the mortality rate for Batwa children approaches fifty percent. Moreover, because the Batwa are considered by their neighbors to be of the lowest social rank, they are subject to severe discrimination and abuse. Due to their sub-standard or non-existent housing, Batwa children are often viewed as dirty and outcast and are thus mistreated at school. Because of this and their severe hunger, very few Batwa children remain in school. As a result, the Batwa are largely illiterate. Without dramatic intervention, they are likely to remain powerless.

But the Batwa are industrious, hard-working, intelligent people. They yearn for education, technical skills and opportunities to provide for themselves and their children. Without land or the ability to provide the basics for themselves, however, they are relegated to a life approaching slave labor, constantly at the mercy of others for their very existence.

Yet amidst this poverty, with the help of supportive non-governmental organizations, the Batwa have a representative organization – the United Organisation for Batwa Development in Uganda (“UOBDU”). UOBDU is developing into an effective advocate for the Batwa and is working diligently to increase the capacity, education and technical skills of the Batwa. UOBDU is run by a permanent staff based in Kisoro and two other districts in Uganda, and is governed by an elected management committee. Unfortunately, funding is a constant struggle for UOBDU, as it works to carry out its empowerment and advocacy mission.

Securing land, education and enterprise development are fundamental goals for the Batwa. Because subsistence farming provides, at best, only enough resources for the Batwa to feed their families and does not provide sufficient means for any advancement, education, training or other efforts to raise their circumstances, the Batwa would welcome any assistance to help them adopt new trades or skills, engage in commerce, or otherwise develop their financial circumstances.

Apart from land and enterprise development, education is the Batwa’s most dire need. Only a handful of Batwa read and write. Of 3000 Batwa, fewer than two dozen are in secondary school, so there is little opportunity for the Batwa to raise themselves without significant literacy efforts. Notably, the Batwa have a real desire for learning, and adult literacy programs in the region in the past have proven promising, but those programs have since terminated due to a lack of funding. Although elementary school is free in Uganda, uniforms and books are not provided. Moreover, schools can be far from Batwa communities and lunch is not provided, so school attendance often results in the loss of meals that could be generated during a day’s labor. Sponsors for secondary school scholarships and school lunch programs are urgently needed to support Batwa school attendance.

The Ugandan Batwa are facing critical challenges. The loss of their traditional economic, social and cultural modes of expression has been devastating. With action by caring and thoughtful people with the means and will to get involved, the Batwa can move beyond a bare subsistence living and toward education, enterprise, and the empowerment necessary to preserve their remarkable culture.

	The Batwa are an industrious, hard-working people with a rich cultural history.
	Most Batwa households have little or no access to healthcare and other services.

BATWA IN THE NEWS:
BBC 5/9/08 -- Batwa Face Uncertain Future
Refugee World (2008) - Batwa of Uganda

FOUNDERS:
Cathleen P. Petersen is a practicing attorney and mother of five, with a lasting love for the African people. Cathleen was counsel at WilmerHale in Washington D.C. for nearly 10 years, specializing in electronic discovery, large case management and aviation. While there, Cathleen began doing pro bono work for UOBDU, the representative organization of the Batwa people of Uganda. Cathleen received her law degree from the University of Pennsylvania and received a BA and International Relations Certificate from the University of Utah.

Matthew V. Toone has a love for the African people that was developed as he volunteered overseas for two years, much of that time helping African refugees. After graduating from Brigham Young University with an emphasis in African-American slavery, Matthew - with his wife and two children - moved to the Washington D.C. area. As an accomplished entrepreneur, Matthew currently owns and operates two successful businesses and is a published author. Matthew donates much of his time and profits to helping these African people he loves so much.