Poverty alleviation trial in Uganda sees 13 businesses created in 2024

Over 100 enterprises now supported in Uganda and India 
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Robinah with her new stall

An entrepreneurship trial in Uganda to lift people out of extreme poverty has produced strong results with 13 businesses supported, and household income increasing by up to six-fold.

The poverty alleviation initiative was conducted by The Road to Parity and Ugandan charity, Canaan Children’s Development Initiative (CACDI), and saw businesses supported in rural Uganda, north of the capital Kampala.

Across the 13 enterprises, all but one showed a significant improvement in household income, while one of the entrepreneurs initially made encouraging progress before income dropped. Since the trial started in May, eleven businesses continue to perform well, representing a success rate of 84%.

All the entrepreneurs are women, eight of whom are the sole breadwinners. The average business grant was £59 (USD 74).

The enterprises are selling a variety of goods, including shoes, snacks, charcoal, fruit and vegetables, soft drinks, fish and stationery, while two mini restaurants have been established.

One of the most successful businesses has been set up by 37-year-old Robinah, whose stall sells chapatis and other snacks. The divorced mother of five was previously surviving on an allowance from her ex-husband of just 5,000 Ugandan Shillings a day, or £1 (USD 1.35). She was not even able to afford clothes for her children.

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​Robinah says the support she’s received has been transformational. “I started up this business, which has really changed our life with my family, I make 30,000 a day, restock with working capital for the next day, look after my family and also save something with my village bank group.”

Joyce, who is 43, has been helped to set up a mini restaurant. Her husband’s daily income of 6,000 Uganda Shillings was trapping them and their five children in extreme poverty.   

She serves sweet potatoes, soups and the locally popular, mashed banana dish, matooke – boosting household income to 30,000 Ugandan Shillings. “I can now meet my family needs, save a little for my business and also restock my food stuff,” she says.

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Joyce with outreach worker Henry

The entrepreneurs were identified following outreach work in several villages aimed at identifying the poorest residents who wanted to start a small enterprise. Business ideas were discussed, and if applicants cleared vetting, they were prepared for trading with a one-off grant for equipment and stock, alongside basic guidance on marketing.

Following feedback from locals, the programme has been called Project Twekembe, which broadly translates to 'let's fight against poverty.' 

Another success story is Zubeda. The 43-year-old divorcee had been surviving through casual labour on farms or washing people’s clothes. She also tried to sell some shoes. These activities only brought in 6,000 Ugandan Shillings a day or £1 (USD 1.35) to look after five children.     

Zubeda (in blue) and her shoe stall

With support from the programme, she’s been able to significantly expand her stock of shoes and now proudly displays the colourful selection in the street. Her daily income has jumped five-fold to 30,000 Ugandan Shillings.  

Meanwhile, 43-year-old Amina opted for snacks and vegetables for her business idea. A widow with seven children, she was scraping an existence washing dishes in the neighbourhood. “Life was not really easy for us,” Aminah says.

Project Twekembe has changed that. Amina now sells items from a kiosk by her home, boosting her daily income from 4,000 to 10,000 Ugandan Shillings. While Aminah is still looking to earn more, she is grateful for the opportunity and feels in a better place to look after her family.

Aminah who sells snacks and vegetables

​Jonathan Hill, Founder of The Road to Parity, says: “This is our first project in Uganda and the results are incredible. Once again, some of the poorest people on the planet have shown what they can do if they are just given a chance. We can see that having your own business instils such pride and gives people much needed hope. But, most importantly, the businesses provide financial independence and create opportunities that deep poverty cruelly denies."

Lilian Nayiga, overseeing the trial for CACDI in Uganda, says: “Initially, we weren’t sure whether this would work as we haven’t done anything like this before, but the results of Project Twekembe are far better than expected. These tiny enterprises have made a big difference. We are so proud of our entrepreneurs and now they can support their families in ways that just weren’t possible before. We are also pleased that with tweaks along the way, we could support 13 businesses instead of the 10 originally planned.” 

Lilian, on the right during outreach work

​One of the entrepreneurs who found her venture more challenging is Jackie. Married with seven children, she did manage to nearly double daily household income to 9,000 Ugandan Shillings, selling fruit and vegetables. However, it returned to 5,000 after she struggled to manage the perishable nature of the stock.

Jackie and her vegetable business

Jonathan adds: “I want to thank the team at Canaan Children’s Development Initiative for all their efforts on the ground to activate Project Twekembe as a brand-new entrepreneurs’ programme. I know, after bringing the model from urban India, some local adjustments were required for rural Uganda, but we now have a strong foundation to build on in Uganda.”

The Road to Parity announced the partnership with CACDI in April this year to conduct the trial and reported on progress in September. Following the successful completion of Project Twekembe, both sides will sign a new Memorandum of Understanding in early 2025 to continue their work.

In all, The Road to Parity, with its overseas partners, has set up 103 businesses in India and Uganda, benefitting nearly 600 people.  Project Unnati in India established 90 businesses from 2019 to 2023. With a new partner in place from April this year, it opened the way for the 13 ventures to be created in Uganda.
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The Road to Parity helps the world’s poorest and most vulnerable people. Many of the beneficiaries are illiterate, widowed, victims of domestic violence, disabled - or face other severe challenges. They were often born into extreme poverty, and without intervention, will remain there for the rest of their lives. To support The Road to Parity’s voluntary work, please donate here.