Uganda’s Water Entrepreneurs

Growing up as the only girl among eight children in a conservative Muslim community in Uganda’s Wakiso District, Christine Namayanja faced numerous challenges. In her family, a girl’s education was not a priority. From a young age, Namayanja had to join her mother in the arduous task of fetching water, a task her older brothers never participated in. Despite her interest in construction, inspired by her father’s profession as a builder, societal norms dictated that her place was beside a man. This only fueled Namayanja’s determination to break free from these constraints.

Marriage at the age of 19 did not change her circumstances; she continued to fetch water daily. However, a community dialogue in her village, Nsagu, organized by Global Women’s Water Initiative (GWWI) in 2017, marked a turning point in her life. Namayanja and her husband attended a dialogue hosted by GWWI trainees identifying issues that the community was facing, and they were both inspired by the achievements of other women who have been addressing them. Her husband, recognizing her potential, encouraged Namayanja to pursue her passions. This marked the beginning of her transformation into an entrepreneur and leader.

In 2017, Namayanja began receiving training from GWWI in various skills, including storytelling, soap-making, biointensive farming, rainwater harvesting, ecological sanitation, and entrepreneurship. These comprehensive trainings, followed by a seed grant of $50 a year for five years between 2017 and 2021, were pivotal in her journey. Namayanja started a soap-making business with her first grant and used subsequent grants to expand and enhance her business. Today, she earns a consistent monthly income of about 403,300 ugx, about $110, from making soaps that her husband sells at local markets and to his colleagues. (That’s nearly three times the amount a typical woman in her region might hope to make otherwise, even inconsistently.)

During the Covid-19 pandemic, when many women felt hopeless, Namayanja’s resilience shone through. With a $100 grant from GWWI, she acquired better soap materials and built her business, tapping into the increased demand for handwashing products. This strategic move doubled her monthly profits. Namayanja’s success has had a ripple effect; she has trained 80 other women in soap-making, charging a fee of 37,000 UGX, about $10, per person.

The 2019 seed grant also allowed Namayanja to open an account in a local women’s savings and credit organization, where she could access loans. She was also involved in implementing a peer-to-peer support system mobilizing community members to build rainwater-harvesting systems and ecosan latrines. The combination of using rainwater-harvesting systems, which store water, and ecosan latrines, which do not require it, significantly reduced the time women spent fetching water. This newfound efficiency and access to capital allowed Namayanja to focus more on her soap-making business and biointensive gardening, which she also learned from GWWI. Her new income and higher-yield farming method provided her family with fresh vegetables and additional savings.

Learn more about this Earth Island project at globalwomenswater.org.

Over the years, Namayanja has received a total $250 from GWWI, but the value of her empowerment far exceeds this monetary support. She has gained the freedom and knowledge to harness her full potential as an entrepreneur and water champion. Her ability to improve the lives of her family members, to pay school fees for her children, and to uplift other women in her community speaks volumes about the life-changing impact of GWWI’s initiatives. It showcases how targeted support, financial investment, and training can unleash the potential of women in even the most challenging circumstances.

Global Women’s Water Initiative is a leadership and finance catalyst for many women like Namayanja. By helping women build their skills in water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH) services, technical construction, facilitation, training, and social entrepreneurship, the project empowers them to transform their lives and communities.

GWWI’s approach is not just about providing resources but also fostering a supportive community where women can learn from and inspire each other. The organization’s commitment to sustainable development and uplifting women creates a ripple effect, leading to healthier, more resilient communities.

In an exciting new venture, this year GWWI is offering larger grants to women’s groups, rather than individuals. Grant recipients will also receive financial management training so they can determine their own loan disbursements and terms to build wealth — for their groups and themselves.

The project will share the impacts of the pilot in coming months.