From Doubt to Determination: Justine’s Journey to Building Her Own Business
Written by: Lilian Nansubuga
At just 24 years old, Justine Uwimaana is a mother of four—but her journey into adulthood began far earlier than she had planned. Dropping out of school at a young age, she was married off by her parents and soon found herself in a life marked by financial struggle and constant uncertainty.
“Every time I asked my husband for money for food, he would get so furious,” she recalled.
Faced with growing hardship, Justine made a bold decision: she left her marriage and moved to Kampala with her children in search of a fresh start.
It was there that she first heard about the Street Business School entrepreneurship training program.
At the time, Justine was a stay-at-home mother, caring for her children while trying to rebuild her life. Even though she was heavily pregnant when she learned about entrepreneurship training, she refused to miss the opportunity.
“When the community leader announced the training coming to my community, I was so eager to join since I had always wanted to start a business,” she said.
During the training, key lessons such as starting small and stepping out of her comfort zone deeply resonated with her. For Justine, these ideas became a turning point in how she viewed opportunity.
She put them into practice almost immediately.
When she heard about a job caring for someone’s pet cats, she decided to take it. The owner often traveled for work, and whenever she was away, Justine would look after the cats on her behalf—feeding them, keeping them safe, and ensuring they were well cared for in her absence.
“Whenever I told the women in my neighborhood that I was working taking care of someone’s cats, they laughed at me. But I continued working since it was helping me to provide for my family,” she said.
Through this work, Justine earned $26.35 per week, saving part of her income in a savings group while using the rest to support her household. What seemed like a small and unusual job became the foundation for her next step.
After graduating from the entrepreneurship training, she used her savings—starting with $54.57 in capital—to launch her own business selling charcoal.
Today, Justine runs a growing charcoal shop and earns a daily profit of about $10.54, giving her stability she once thought was out of reach.
Looking ahead, she dreams of expanding her business and building a permanent home for her family.
“I am grateful for the confidence I got from the training program. I now know how to properly run a business,” she said.
Justine’s story is a powerful reminder that even the smallest opportunities—when combined with courage and persistence—can become the foundation for lasting change.
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