Region: Northern (Aruu North)
Sub-county of Pader District
Population: 22,713 (4050 children under 5 y/o)
Language: Acholi
Acholi Meaning: “Pa” = for / “jule” = nurtured / Pajule = “For the nurtured”
Villages Being Served by True Vine: 5
- Olampur
- Paitino
- Aringogwaa
- Lanyatido
- Ogan
Overview
Pajule is located in Northern Uganda and, like any other parts of Northern Uganda, poverty is higher than the national average due to a combination of factors. Prolonged civil war affected the entire region and led to the loss of thousand lives, property, and animals.
Pajule is bordered by the sub-counties of Acholibur in the North, Puranga to the south, Lacekocot in the west, and Pader Town council to the East. Its total dimension is about 4 square kilometre .
Most people of Pajule are peasants and animal keepers, but some individuals in the area are civil servants and people of business.
Around 50% of the people speak English, in addition to their local language. Some of the strongest ways to characterize Pajule is their hospitality and peace. They welcome all visitors with open arms and treat others with love and respect.
Many areas of Northern Uganda, including Pajule, are blessed with fertile soil that supports a varieties of crops. The surrounding landscapes are streams, hills, grasslands, and outcroppings of rock formations which makes it very attractive. There are two major seasons in the year; dry and wet. Farmers normally begin the process of growing crops at the start of wet season (March-September), and include foods like maize, beans, cassava, sesame, millet, potatoes, and tomatoes. However some also grow cash crops like cottons, tobacco, and coffee. The harvest of these crops begins around October where people sell goods to prepare for Christmas.
Most school-age children are unable to attend schools because their parents are unable to pay school fees. Education is also not seen as a priority to many families due to the need for farming and animal-rearing as means of survival. Many families also live very far from the nearest school so they do not start their education until they are much older.
Pajule is a peaceful place with many games like football, volleyball and others that bring social life and togetherness among the community.
The Acholi have the most exciting cultural practices that teach respect as a societal norm. They have many different cultural dances that are performed for different occasions like traditional weddings, child naming ceremonies, courtship dances and so many others. The Bwola, Larakaraka, Dingidingi are a few of these vibrant dances. Those who visit Acholi land give testimonies of how this clan is rich with beautiful culture.