Mukaaka Florence’s Small Savings turned into a Sustainable Livelihood.
At 56 years old, Mukaaka Florence is the backbone of her family and a powerful example of how access to affordable, community-based finance can transform livelihoods.
Florence is a member of the Karoni Grandmothers Group in Nyamirama, Kanungu District, and has participated in Nyaka’s Grandmothers Program for the past four years. Before joining the group, her livelihood depended on small-scale farming and casual labor sources of income that were unpredictable and increasingly unreliable. During difficult seasons, meeting basic needs for her family was a constant struggle.
Through Nyaka’s support, Florence received financial literacy training and gained access to low-interest group loans through the savings group model. She began cautiously, borrowing as little as UGX 20,000, which she consistently repaid on time. Within two years, her repayment history and business discipline enabled her to increase her borrowing capacity.
Today, Florence runs a grocery shop in her community, paying UGX 70,000 in monthly rent, and has expanded into trading coffee beans. Together, these businesses now provide her with a steady and reliable income replacing the uncertainty of casual labor and failed harvests. Through her group, she can currently access loans of up to UGX 200,000, capital that continues to strengthen and grow her enterprises.
Florence is the primary caregiver for eight grandchildren, seven girls and one boy as. Because of her businesses, none of the children in her care have missed a school term due to school fees. She fully provides daily meals for the household and is now able to contribute toward medical expenses when the children fall ill, an expense that was previously out of reach.
“This money gave me dignity,” Florence says. “I no longer beg for work. I plan my future.”
While farming once formed the core of her livelihood, changing conditions pushed Florence to adapt. The grocery shop and coffee trade have not only stabilized her income but also restored her sense of independence and control over her life.
Looking ahead, Florence’s aspirations are clear. She hopes to increase her loan limit so she can invest further in her coffee business and expand her shop. Most importantly, she dreams of building a decent house of her own. At present, she lives in a house that does not belong to her a reality she is determined to change.
Florence emphasizes that affordable credit has been central to her progress. Through the grandmothers’ group, loans are offered at 1% per annum, a rate she describes as unprecedented in her experience.
“Money lenders and banks charge more than 10% per month,” she explains. “That kind of interest makes it impossible to grow.”
Florence’s journey reflects the broader impact of Nyaka’s Grandmothers Program when grandmothers are equipped with skills, and affordable financial tools, they build sustainable livelihoods and secure better futures for the children in their care.
