Case Studies from Uganda (reported in their own words)
NAMUGOSA AMINAH – Mushroom Growing
Brief history before the training
Life wasn’t bad only that I lacked a lot of Business skills. All I knew was that you set up a business for your problems. As a result all my businesses were collapsing
Life after the training
Life has changed, I learnt a lot, for example; that anything you get out of the Business you have to pay for it. So I started again after the training and the business is doing well.
Existing challenges
I don’t have workers and it’s kind of hard for me being a married woman. It’s really a challenge because I need someone who knows how to handle the business which person is also hard to find.
Financial status
I’ve been getting money on daily basis only that I have to re- stock, but I’ve been able to save
Future plans
I really want to expand my production and start exporting my mushrooms.
Personal opinion about the training
I have no words because if it wasn’t for the training I wouldn’t be where I am now. I really thank you so much didn’t know what to do but thanks to you am doing my Business
ONGOM LANGOM ENSIOUS – Furniture Making
Brief history before the training
Life was hard, I had an idea but never knew how to implement it.
Life after the training
Life has changed I almost gave up but not anymore, I now look at a bright future. Thanks to you, you have raised me.
Existing challenges
I have a lot of responsibilities and this has always squeezed my budget.
Financial status
Thanks to you I can now save which I never did before.
Future plans
If I get the machines which I still don’t have money for, I want to expand my business because I have seen a bright future in it.
Personal opinion about the training
It was too much good for me. It changed me so much. Things are not the same anymore.
MUSASIZI ALEX – Clinic, Farming & Shoes
Brief history before the training
Things were not good, we used to do things without calculating and accountability but not anymore.
Life after the training
There has been a great improvement, life has really improved.
Existing challenges
I don’t have enough capital yet because I would like to expand especially in my Agriculture business.
Financial status
There has been an improvement only that, when you use less capital even the profit comes out less.
Future plans
I plan to expand my clinic to have wards and also expand my farming base.
Personal opinion about the training
The training is so helpful; it gives you the effort to expand what you are doing. It challenges you.
NAKACHWA ANNETTE – Making Beads
Brief history before the training
Life was not good, I was still an employee with KCC but things were not easy.
Life after the training
Life has improved because I was able to start up my own business
Existing challenges
Customers are still few, they are not permanent
Financial status
My financial status has improved; I now save some money at least 20,000- 100,000 Ugandan Shillings every two weeks.
Future plans
I want to buy a cow to expand my business if I get money, I am still saving
Personal opinion about the training
The training helped me so much. I learnt how to handle customers and competitors to.
ADUBANGO GLADYS – Merchandise Shop
Brief history before the training
I didn’t know how to use the money, how to calculate or even how to balance my business.
Life after the training
At least I got some experience in how to calculate and balance my business. I also learnt how to handle customers and they have increased.
Existing challenges
I still lack enough capital and the customers also fluctuate sometimes, they are not permanent.
Financial status
It has improved.
Future plans
If I get more capital, I want to expand my shop and make it a retail shop.
Personal opinion about the training
The training helped me so much only that I still lack capital to meet the demands of all the customers
AYURWOTO MAUREEN – Making Pancakes
Brief history before the training
Life was not good because I was not doing anything
Life after the training
Things have changed now because am doing something, just that I’m still lacking enough capital
Existing challenges
The only challenge that am facing is inadequate capital
Financial status
My financial status has improved, at least am able to save some money every week
Future plans
If I get capital, I would also want to start selling clothes to expand my income base.
Personal opinion about the training
Am so grateful for the training because what I never knew, I now know for example how to handle customers.
JENNIFER – Merchandise Shop
Brief history before the training
Life was not good, I was not doing anything for a living but thanks for the training not any more.
Life after the training
Life has changed so much for the batter. I can now take care of myself and family
Existing challenges
I still lack enough capital
Financial status
It has Improved, I get money and I’m able to save almost every day.
Future plans
I’m planning to expand if I get capital, I want to fill the whole shop.
Personal opinion about the training
The training helped me so much, it was because of the training that I was able to start this shop.
MONGODITHARRIET – Making Doughnuts
Brief history before the training
Before the training, I was not doing anything thus life was not easy.
Life after the training
When I came for the training I was inspired to start doing something and am now doing doughnuts.
Existing challenges
I don’t have a place where to sell from. I still lack capital to expand my business.
Financial status
It has really improved; I can hold my own money now and I’m able to save some money
Future plans
If I get enough capital I want to have a bakery.
Personal opinion about the training
The training helped me so much. It was because of the training that I am doing this business.
KAHIGIMO LEVI ARIGANYIRA – Rearing Birds
Brief history before the training
I used to do my projects but I would use the money for my own things and after I would have to look for capital again yet they could have sustained themselves if I used the money well.
Life after the training
I learnt how to manage my business. For example not to use business money for my own problems. I also learnt that I have to pay for the things I get out of the project which I never used to do.
Existing challenges
The price for the feeds shot up yet the prices of the birds is still the same. There is a sickness called malex which attacked and killed over 40 birds
Financial status
It has not all that improved due to the loss of my birds
Future plans
I want to start rearing broilers since they take a short while to get ready.
Personal opinion about the training
The training was so good in that anyone can start a business in his/ her capacity. I also learnt how to save no matter how little.
MUKASA NOAH – Recreation Centre
Brief history before the training
I never knew how to balance my business. I never used to keep records and as results the attendants had stolen a lot of money from me but not anymore.
Life after the training
I now know how to balance my business, how to keep my records thus business is moving on well.
Existing challenges
The biggest problem that I have is the fluctuation prices on the market
Financial status
My financial status has improved because am able to save money every day.
Future plans
I want to have a farm in that the things I use at the restaurant are from my garden.
Personal opinion about the training
The training opened my eyes. I thought that when you start a business you own it which is not the case.
NAMUTEBE HARRIET – Piggery, frying g-nuts, selling shoes & sowing
Brief history before the training
I never knew how to balance; I would mix the money from my different business so it was hard to know which business was doing better than the other.
Life after the training
Things have changed now; life has improved because now I get money.
Existing challenges
People want debts and they don’t want to pay in time yet you don’t want to lose them because they are good customers.
Financial status
My financial status has improved because I am able to save some money every week. Thus life has improved.
Future plans
I want to buy a plot of land and build a house on my own.
Personal opinion about the training
The training helped us, it taught us how to save, how to manage our businesses and not just to use the money anyhow from the business.
MUWANGUZI EVELYN – Selling Paraffin
Brief history before the training
I never had any business and never had even the thought of doing business; I was just a house wife.
Life after the training
When I came for the training, I woke up and started this small business of mine.
Existing challenges
Kerosene is very expensive these days
Financial status
It has improved at least I get profits every time I sell.
Future plans
I want to expand my business at least start buying above 10 litres or even have a pump for kerosene.
Personal opinion about the training
The training gave me ideas of what to do because if I had not gone for the training I wouldn’t be doing this business of mine.
Photos from Some of the Classes Recently Conducted in Uganda
Lufuka Zone Class
Buwambo Class
Nansana Class
Kagoma Class
Nakaseke Class
Mukono Central Division Class
