• Art and Craft specializing in Doll Making
• Art/designing
• Tailoring

• National Association of Women Ngo's of Uganda (NAWOU)
• Uganda Small Scale Industries Association (USSIA)
• Ntulume Village Women's Development Association (NVIWODA)

St Bruno Doll Making Group: Reaping from a presence online, July 2007
Etheldreda Yatuha, Chairperson - St. Bruno Doll Making Group, wrote in to say that their profile on the WOUGNET website has opened up her organization to unexpected opportunities. Members of the organization got a chance to go for the exhibition at the recently concluded 8th Women Affairs Ministers Meeting (8WAMM) in Munyonyo, Kampala, and were exposed to new ideas on how to improve on the quality of their dolls. They also learnt how to make different necklaces and beaded bags.
St. Bruno Doll Making Group have since been contacted by a potential buyer from Sudan who read their profile on the WOUGNET website and he is planning to travel to Uganda to learn more about St. Bruno’s products in September 2007.

Update, April 2005: St. Bruno calls upon all well wishers to donate a computer to facilitate timely direct communication with their customers and potential customers.

A brief about St. Bruno Doll Making Group, April 2005
“St. Bruno Doll Making Group” is a community-based group that specializes in doll making. Rapha African dolls under St. Bruno was initiated way back in 1995 by Etheldreda Yatuha under the supervision of Sister Regina of St. Franciscan Sisters of Nsambya. With the knowledge of art and tailoring, she made a doll which she code-named RAPHA. The doll was made from cut-offs she picked from a tailor. Soon after, Etheldreda picked the cut-offs again and made a man for RAPHA. She also made babies, a boy and a girl to make a family for RAPHA. After 3 years, RAPHA asked for another baby, which she is now carrying on her back. This gave birth to Rapha African dolls under St. Bruno. St. Bruno is located in Mutungo – Luzira, Opposite MAAWA Clinic, Nakawa Division. It is 4km Southeast from the Kampala City Centre.

To Etheldreda’s surprise, a customer offered to buy the whole family (Rapha family) at 50, 000/=. This then became the initial start up capital for St. Bruno. The group has 15 women who help in assembling the materials, cutting and making different items for the doll. Three men help out in packing the dolls. Etheldreda trained the women to specialize in particular parts of Rapha rather than all parts, to ensure production of good quality work. The group thus has specialists in eye, hair, busuti, babies, kikoyi and dressmaking. The materials used include; tetron clothe, knitting threads, beads, buttons, elastic, bitengi, kikoyi and blanket wastes. The materials are locally bought in a range of colors from shops, while the blanket wastes are bought from Pearl Industries in Ntinda. The dolls are dressed in busutis, gomesis, dresses, skirts and blouses, kanzus, bitengi and trousers.

St. Bruno also makes beaded items like glasses, pens, necklaces and cushions. A single Rapha doll goes for 15,000/= (Medium sized), 20,000/= (Big) and 35,000/= (Large / an imagery of real sized one year old baby). This category of dolls is made on special order and is especially made for interior décor. St. Bruno has partnered with Nina Interiors to showcase and sell this type of dolls on their behalf.

Todate, St. Bruno makes up to 100 dolls per week. The group has attracted both local and international markets. Locally, the products are supplied to Uganda Crafts, Art and Crafts Village, Daizy Dheli on Buganda road, Indeera Crafts, Muyenga, Need Foundation, Exposure Africa Shop No. 37, Buganda Road, Peacock Fashioners, Equator Crafts Centre, National Association of Women Organisations in Uganda (NAWOU), Emmaus Foundation and the Duty Free Shop at Entebbe Air Port. Internationally, through NAWOU, the group has ready markets in Kenya, Tanzania, Germany, Denmark, Italy and USA.

St. Bruno was recently donated five sewing machines by the British High Commission. Most parts of the dolls are sewed with the machines while the eyes and hair are handmade.

Problems faced:

• Due to lack of patent rights, St. Bruno suffers from loss of income due to the duplication of their products.
• St. Bruno also lacks funds to advertise their products on the local market.
• St. Bruno lacks funds to purchase more sewing machines to, speed up their work.

Through the small income from the sell of dolls, St. Bruno has managed to put up a permanent structure (semi-finished), which will house their store and workstation. St. Bruno therefore calls upon all well wishers and charitable organisations to come out and aid them in any way possible so that they can better accomplish their dream.

For more information about the dolls project and/or to make a purchase, contact Etheldreda Yatuha, Executive Director, as noted above or visit the office in Mutungo - opposite Maawa Clinic.

Update, March 2004: The Uganda Investment Authority has accepted St. Bruno Doll Making Group (SBDMG) as investors. SBDMG has also qualified to attend the American Business Trade Fair due to take place in Los-Angeles, USA, in September 2004, and are seeking support to enable their participation.

“Buy Rapha dolls and create employment for the poor women to improve their standards of living and to become job makers rather than seekers”.