Family reunites after years of separation, thanks to woman's business success - Uganda

Family reunites after years of separation, thanks to woman's business success

Lomogin Margret, aged 30, has 5 children and is a Primary Six drop-out. “Before Enterprise Uganda trainings,” she says, “I was not doing any business but was depending on my husband for everything. I would endure all harsh words from my husband in order to survive. We briefly separated because I could not sustain the stress in our marriage.” 

While at her sister’s home within the town council, their chairperson came to inform them about a business-related training organized by Enterprise Uganda. She got interested and confirmed her participation. In that training, she learnt three critical issues that have enabled her to start and grow her business: diversification of business; how people have the same brain, ability and time; and how to save and invest. 

After the training, she sold her goat for UGX110,000 and cultivated one acre of maize while at the same time brewing local alcohol to support her farming activity. She sought knowledge from her friends who had done farming for a long time and was able to increase her acreage from one to two and now four. She also started making ornaments during her free time. 

Margret’s capital has increased from UGX110,000 to UGX1,800,000 as sales per day from brewing increased from UGX20,000 to UGX40,000. From farming, she raises an average of UGX800,000 per season and monthly sales of UGX80,000 from ornaments. She has increased savings at the VSLA from UGX5,000 per week to UGX10,000 per week. She used part of the savings to buy five goats valued at UGX120,000 each and has since multiplied them to 20 goats. 

She has started building a residential house and plans to construct rentals afterwards. She also intends to learn more designs for her ornament business and do more marketing for it. 

“My husband came back and begged for forgiveness because he saw the progress in me and the family as we were feeding well and dressing properly,” she says. “We no longer have fights but rather support each other. We are able to keep our children in school and have started constructing a house. Long live Enterprise Uganda.” 

She has increased savings at the VSLA from UGX5,000 per week to UGX10,000 per week. She used part of the savings to buy five goats valued at UGX120,000 each and has since multiplied them to 20 goats. 

Strengthening Women’s Entrepreneurs Project (SWEP II), 2014 - 2016

The Strengthening Women’s Entrepreneurs Project (SWEP II) was a 3-year project seeking to economically empower 5,000 rural and semi-rural women in Northern and Eastern Uganda (The Greater North) to become the main vehicle for expanding production, increasing household income, alleviating poverty and enhancing economic growth. - Charles Ocici (Executive Director)

SWEP II has shown that it is possible for women, even those in rural areas, to enjoy economic emancipation through adopting and practicing an entrepreneurial mind-set. The increase in household incomes, savings and investments as a result of gender-sensitive entrepreneurship and business development skills shows the capacity of women to transform their lives and those of their households if guided into the right direction. There was also a marked improvement in household relationships and appreciation of the civic responsibility of the woman in the community. This highlights the fact that an economically empowered woman is also a better mother in the home and citizen in the country. - Rosemary Mutyabule (Director, Business Development Services)
Used with permission from Enterprise Uganda. Project Report can be downloaded here