Project Twekembe

Zubeda was among the first Twekembe entrepreneurs. The 43-year-old divorcee (in blue) was surviving through casual labour or washing people’s clothes. She also tried to sell shoes. These activities only brought in 6,000 UGX daily to look after 5 children. With support, she’s been able to expand her stock of shoes and now displays the colourful selection in the street. Her daily income has jumped five-fold.     

43-year-old Aminah opted for a snacks and vegetables business. A widow with 7 children, she was scraping an existence washing dishes in the neighbourhood. “Life was not really easy for us,” she says. Aminah now sells items from a kiosk by her home, boosting her daily income from 4,000 to 10,000 UGX. While Aminah is still looking to earn more, she is grateful for the opportunity and feels better able to look after her family.

Nabaasa is a 39-year-old mother of 4. She is separated and faced eviction because she could no longer afford to pay rent. Referred by the local council, she’s been helped to set up a street-side business selling fresh and cooked maize and chickens.“I can now meet my house bills, pay my children’s school fees and buy food,” she proudly says.

Joyce, who is 43, has been helped to set up a mini restaurant. Her husband’s daily income of 6,000 UGX was trapping them and their 5 children in extreme poverty. She serves sweet potatoes, soups and the locally popular, mashed banana dish, matooke – boosting household income to 30,000. “I can now meet my family needs, save a little for my business and also restock my food stuff,” she says.  

37-year-old Robinah sells chapatis and other snacks. The divorced mother of 5 was previously surviving on an allowance from her ex-husband of just 5,000 UGX. She was not even able to afford clothes for her children. “I started this business, which has really changed our family life. I make 30,000 a day, restock with working capital for the next day, look after my family and save something with my village bank group,” she says.

41-year old Mwanje is married with 3 children. He lost the use of his legs and has major spinal problems. When the outreach team came across him, his children were severely malnourished. Mwanje was helped to start a little shoe repairing business. Now, he can afford food for the kids and the equipment to send them to school.