Kawempe slum single mothers equipped with business skills

By Agnes Kyotalengerire                            

A total of 200 single mothers from Kawempe slums have been equipped with entrepreneur skills to under the Slum Women Economic Empowerment Program (SWEEP).

“We have empowered the young women with critical practical business skills in catering, baking, hairdressing, pedicure, manicure, art and crafts to enable them start income generating activities so that they gain financial freedom,” said Rehmah Kasule, the founder Century Enterprise Development Agency (CEDA) International.

Kasule was speaking during a graduation ceremony at Young Engaged Program (YEP) center in Kawempe last week.

Professor Wasswa Balunwya, the principal MUBS (Extreme left) awarding certificates. Looking on is Rehmah Kasule center), the brain child of the SWEEP. Photo/Agnes Kyotalengerire

During the ceremony over 200 marginalized young women aged between 15 to 30 years from the slums of Kawempe graduated after a 12 months mentoring and training program under the Slum Women Economic Empowerment Program.

The principal Makerere Business school; Professor Waswa Balunwya urged the women to remain focused and aim at making their future better.

Some of the single mothers attending the graduation ceremony with their children. Photo/Agnes Kyotalengerire

“Forget about the mistakes you made while growing up and focus on how you progress in life,” Balunywa said.

He said for the women to be efficient in their businesses they should embrace technology to connect them to their markets.

Kasule said the programme funded by the UN-HABITAT for Human-Urban Youth Fund targeted the slum women because they have inadequate guidance support systems in the community and limited access to role models to inspire and mentor them.

Graduands cutting cake with Professor Wasswa Balunwya, the principal MUBS and Rehmah Kasule (center) , the brain child of the SWEEP. Photo/Agnes Kyotalengerire

In addition, the women have few opportunities for positive engagement coupled with accompanying feelings of humiliation in society because they are single mothers.

The 2009 “Living in Kampala Slum” report by John Paul II Justice Peace Center indicates that the population in Kampala slums with Kawempe inclusive is rapidly increasing, with women carrying the burden of economic responsibility for their families and living under severe financial constraints.

Nelly Ssali exhibiting some of her cloth pieces during the ceremony. Photo/Agnes Kyotalengerire

This has escalated the plight of single mothers causing social stigma and economic exclusion, poverty, unemployment, gender based violence, human trafficking and related sexual exploitation.

In this regard, the Uganda Bureau of statistics report 2010 shows that 46% of the women in slums are unpaid workers employed at the lowest levels of the value chain where they earn less than $1 a day.

As part of the graduation ceremony activities, five women who emerged winners of the SWEEP business plan completion won grants of between Sh210, 000 to Sh500, 000.

Aisha Nakitende, a single mother of three and resident of Lugoba Kawempe, the first runner up of the business plan competition who won sh450,000, said through the skills acquired from the training , she set up a community initiative  where she teaches people how to observe proper hygiene and sanitation.

Florence Luyiga, 22 the winner of the competition said the programme had equipped her with various entrepreneural skills.

Luyiga hopes to use the sh500, 000 to stock materials for her already running business.