Rainfall: Ugunja constituency experiences a bimodal rainfall. The relief and the altitude influence its distribution and amount. It is relatively wet and is wetter towards the higher altitudes in the eastern part, which borders western province. The long rains occur between March and June while the short rains occur between August and November. Culture The inhabitants of Ugunja Constituency are largely Luo and have a deep sense and pride for their rich Luo culture. The community has a profound sense of communal life and support for each other. The people have a subterranean appreciation of life and express it through their lifestyle. There are also peoples of other cultures, especially in the town centres and market places. This has contributed to a rich blending of different the cultures. The settlement patterns in Ugunja Constituency follow agro‐ecological and business zones with the high potential areas having the highest population density. High potential areas include Ugunja, Sigomere, and Sidindi. Organizational resources Resources within the community include agricultural land, rivers, timber, indigenous forests and fisheries. Residents of Ugunja Constituency mainly depend on agriculture as their main source of food and income. The area experiences two rainy seasons in a year: March to June and September to November. The farming is mostly subsistence and major crops grown are sorghum, potatoes, cassava, beans and maize. When farmers have surplus crops they sell in local markets for income. In the past, some farmers have grown cotton and coffee as cash crops, but due to market unreliability most farmers now prefer to grow food crops for their own families and local markets. The Constituency is about 80% arable with small land sizes of less than one hectare per household. Most of the population is concentrated in the major trading centers such as Ugunja, Sigomere and Sidindi due to availability of business opportunities and social infrastructures such as schools, roads health centers among others. Ugunja town is a major business centre and serves as a trading center for the community around it and the nearby urban centers. In the town most people work in small businesses and offices. There are a number of retail shops, bars, hotels, cafes, and residential houses. There are also banks, a post office, transport service companies, supermarkets, chemists, a health center and some private clinics. Poverty The rural poverty in the constituency is estimated at 60%, while urban poverty is at 89%. In the rural areas, households headed by illiterate people are 61% poor, those headed by primary school leavers are about 63% poor and those headed by secondary school leavers are 48% poor. In urban areas, households headed by illiterate people are 94% poor, those headed by primary school leavers are 92% poor and those headed by secondary school leavers are 84% poor. Generally, male headed households are 61% poor while female headed households are 58% poor. (GoK, 2012) 8 | P a g e
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