In Busingye Village, Kyegegwa District in Western Uganda, 30-year-old Mackline Tumuhirwe, a mother of three, lives with her spouse, Vincent Tisini. They primarily made ends meet by growing cassava, from which they grew a business of selling deep-fried cassava and pancakes at Sweswe Primary School in Kyaka II Refugee Settlement where their biggest market was.
“We earned a profit of UGX 20,000 (4 GBP) weekly, which we used for food once a day and saved UGX 2,000 weekly, as a couple in a village savings group,” says Mackline.
In 2020, they shut down the business and stopped saving due to the COVID-19 pandemic effect–closure of institutions and quarantine. It took a four-month break from work while struggling on a daily basis before they resorted to farming beans and maize.
“We got a loan of UGX 200,000 (41 GBP) and rented an acre of land to plant beans and maize, which generated UGX 760,000 (156 GBP), from which we repaid the loan, bought materials to commence construction of a better household structure and utilised the balance for food consumption,” states Vincent.
In 2022, they shared out UGX 140,000 (29 GBP) from the village savings group, which they also invested in the household structure and resumed with their previous business at the primary school. “We also proceeded with the saving; however, it was not sufficient to meet our basic needs since one of our children was on and off at school.”
To diversify their income streams, in 2023 they utilised UGX 300,000 (62 GBP) from the savings group loan and share-out and a top-up from the husband to start a second-hand clothing business at Bukere Market every Wednesday and Saturday in the refugee settlement. “The second-hand clothing business earned us a profit of UGX 8,000 (2 GBP) every two days, which increased our savings to UGX 4,000 (1 GBP) weekly and food security to consuming two meals a day,” explains Mackline.
Mackline and Vincent had amassed UGX 400,000 (82 GBP) in sales, added a UGX 300,000 (62 GBP) loan from the savings group and upgraded to a first-hand clothing business. This switch produced monthly profits of UGX 80,000 (16 GBP) allowing them to save UGX 40,000 (8 GBP) weekly, in a savings group at the market.
However, over time, they experienced fluctuations in business sales and earnings, which had an impact on the income. It was no longer sufficient to cover the necessities of the home, notably feeding the family and covering the children's schooling.
“The first-hand clothing business was hindered by multiple factors such as inadequate knowledge on budgeting, insufficient capital, poor record keeping, and no reliable transport means. We started making losses every month in terms of expenditure versus cash inflow,” explains Mackline.
In spite of that, there was a turning point in June 2024, when their household was enrolled in the UKAid-funded Graduating to Economic Resilience Project. They participated in project activities such as crop and animal husbandry, Village Saving and Loans Association, financial literacy, business planning, coaching sessions, and the six pathways of the graduation map. “We also received a monthly cash stipend of UGX 95,000 (20 GBP) for food for nine months, which helped us to consume a balanced diet and to keep our first-hand clothing business afloat,” states Vincent.
Through the Farmer Field and Business School, the household learnt about planting in small spaces, establishment of kitchen gardens, usage of organic fertilisers and manure, line planting, crop spacing, seed varieties, among others.
“The parenting sessions improved my relationship with the children. I prioritise their education and no longer shout at them; they are my friends, and we tell stories freely,” states Mackline.
“In August 2024, we accumulated UGX 2.5 million (513 GBP) from our businesses and savings groups to start a boda-boda business which receives UGX 50,000 (10 GBP) per week in profits. Additionally, we jointly decided to quit the selling of fried cassava and pancakes and focus on other ventures,” explains Mackline.
They also received a business cash grant of UGX 1 million (205 GBP), which they invested in poultry farming– the construction of the poultry house and 40 birds. Additionally, they are saving UGX 85,000 (17 GBP) in four savings groups on a monthly basis. “The project activities majorly boosted our self-efficacy and provided us knowledge that helped enhance our existing businesses and savings, which support us in meeting our basic needs,” says Mackline.
“I also learnt better customer service, record keeping and profit maximisation from business coaching sessions,” continues Mackline. Mackline and Vincent plan to expand their poultry farm–sell eggs in the long run and use profits from their various businesses to buy a plot of land for commercial purposes.
About the Graduating to Economic Resilience project
The Graduating to Economic Resilience project is an 18-month initiative funded by UKAid with the main objective to improve household economic status and self-efficacy for 2,100 extremely poor refugee and host community households and 12,600 individuals in the rural districts of Kyaka II and Kyangwali Refugee Settlements in Western Uganda in order to enhance self-reliance and resilience.
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