I got married at 17, called it quits eight children later
Christine Nabbosa’s world changed in 1979 when she left her husband over suspected infidelity. She had to look for a new home for the four younger children she left with.
By Maureen Nakatudde
Christine Nabbosa’s world changed in 1979 when she left her husband over suspected infidelity. She had to look for a new home for the four younger children she left with.
Using her savings, she rented a house. Nabbosa’s next hurdle was how to earn a living. “I got married at 17. I had eight children, with two sets of twins,†reveals Nabbosa.
Although her husband helped to provide for the children, it was not enough. So Nabbosa ventured into vending matooke in Kamwokya market.
She started her business with only, sh2,000. “My sister gave me sh2,000 and I started selling matooke,†she recalls.
Her business has grown so much since then that she has managed to build her own house. She is planning to construct rentals to take care of her family when she is gone.
Her business
From one bunch of matooke, Nabbosa sought to expand her business. She started buying matooke worth sh30,000 on credit. She would sell the bunches, pay her creditors and save sh1,000 daily.
As her matooke business grew, Nabbosa added bananas, avocado, cabbage and greens to her stall. She used to buy bananas worth sh150,000 and would save between sh3,000 and sh7,000 per day.
Her secret to staying in business for 30 years is discipline. At 6:00am, she heads to the market to buy merchandise and by 7:00 am she is at her stall. In addition to that, she pays herself first.
Nabbosa says: “Since I work from Monday to Sunday, I reward myself with some money at the end of the day.â€
On her gains from her business, Nabbosa says she has taken care of her children. “All of them are educated and are working. One is a teacher, another works with a media house and one works in Iraq,†she says with satisfaction.
Although their father died, the children had a good relationship with him since he provided for them even if he did not live with them.
Although Nabbosa’s business moved on smoothly, she never remarried. “I did not want to suffer again,†she says. “Besides, I had many children, which man would take on all that?â€
Valeria Kabasita, Nabbosa’s longtime friend who also works in the market, says Nabbosa is a very hardworking woman and is always helping others.
Just like any other business, there is a lot of competition. “We rent the stall for sh6,500, but hawkers who sell outside the market, pay only sh300. This affects our sales,†Nabbosa says, pointing at the overripe bananas that had stained her stall.
Another challenge is wheelbarrow pushers, who sell food to people in their neighbourhood and, therefore, there is no need for them to go to the market.
Nabbosa’s parting words are that young women need to be self-sustaining and not solely reliant on their husbands for survival.
Christine Nabbosa’s world changed in 1979 when she left her husband over suspected infidelity. She had to look for a new home for the four younger children she left with.
Using her savings, she rented a house. Nabbosa’s next hurdle was how to earn a living. “I got married at 17. I had eight children, with two sets of twins,†reveals Nabbosa.
Although her husband helped to provide for the children, it was not enough. So Nabbosa ventured into vending matooke in Kamwokya market.
She started her business with only, sh2,000. “My sister gave me sh2,000 and I started selling matooke,†she recalls.
Her business has grown so much since then that she has managed to build her own house. She is planning to construct rentals to take care of her family when she is gone.
Her business
From one bunch of matooke, Nabbosa sought to expand her business. She started buying matooke worth sh30,000 on credit. She would sell the bunches, pay her creditors and save sh1,000 daily.
As her matooke business grew, Nabbosa added bananas, avocado, cabbage and greens to her stall. She used to buy bananas worth sh150,000 and would save between sh3,000 and sh7,000 per day.
Her secret to staying in business for 30 years is discipline. At 6:00am, she heads to the market to buy merchandise and by 7:00 am she is at her stall. In addition to that, she pays herself first.
Nabbosa says: “Since I work from Monday to Sunday, I reward myself with some money at the end of the day.â€
On her gains from her business, Nabbosa says she has taken care of her children. “All of them are educated and are working. One is a teacher, another works with a media house and one works in Iraq,†she says with satisfaction.
Although their father died, the children had a good relationship with him since he provided for them even if he did not live with them.
Although Nabbosa’s business moved on smoothly, she never remarried. “I did not want to suffer again,†she says. “Besides, I had many children, which man would take on all that?â€
Valeria Kabasita, Nabbosa’s longtime friend who also works in the market, says Nabbosa is a very hardworking woman and is always helping others.
Just like any other business, there is a lot of competition. “We rent the stall for sh6,500, but hawkers who sell outside the market, pay only sh300. This affects our sales,†Nabbosa says, pointing at the overripe bananas that had stained her stall.
Another challenge is wheelbarrow pushers, who sell food to people in their neighbourhood and, therefore, there is no need for them to go to the market.
Nabbosa’s parting words are that young women need to be self-sustaining and not solely reliant on their husbands for survival.