At 63, Neema Refused to Let Loss Be the End of Her Story
Written by: Lilian Nansubuga
When Neema Vihuto lost everything, many people would have assumed her business journey was over.
At 63 years old, the refugee mother of three had already survived displacement, rebuilt her life in Uganda, and worked tirelessly selling African print fabrics. Then, in a single setback, she lost more than $2,600 worth of merchandise when hawkers disappeared with her goods. The loss not only wiped out her income—it also damaged the partnership she had built with her niece in Congo.
“The loss was a big blow, and it took us back to totally nothing,” Neema recalled.
For a moment, it seemed as though she was back where she started. But Neema’s story was far from over.
After hearing about Street Business School’s entrepreneurship training through the community’s women’s representative, Neema decided to take a chance on herself again.
“I didn’t have anything to do, and being a refugee in a country without an income can be challenging,” she said.
During the training, one message stayed with her: failure is not the end. SBS coaches encouraged the women to keep moving forward, even after experiencing loss.
Among the modules she learned, record keeping was her favorite. It became a turning point in how she viewed her business.
“Record keeping gave me courage. Every day I could tell how my business performed, and seeing a profit come in every day, I got energy to wake up the next day,” she shared.
Inspired by the training and newfound confidence, Neema gathered the few remaining pieces of bitenge she still had at home and sold them, raising $52.94 in start-up capital.
With that money, she launched a small fruit stall selling watermelon, bananas, tomatoes, pineapples, and mangoes.
What began as a modest attempt to survive has grown into a thriving business.
Today, Neema earns about $26.47 in weekly profits, giving her a steady source of income and renewed confidence in her future.
Her ambitions continue to grow. She hopes to open a larger shop and eventually return to the African fabric business—but this time, with the lessons she has learned along the way.
“I’m very glad I joined the training program because it opened my eyes to new possibilities and helped me get back on my feet when I had lost hope,” she said.
Neema’s journey is a powerful reminder that entrepreneurship is not defined by age or past failure. From losing everything to building a new source of income, she has shown that with resilience, support, and the courage to start again, a fresh beginning is always possible.
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