How One Woman in Uganda Turned Small Beginnings into a Stronger Future

“I honestly can’t say life in Rwamwanja is easy.”

For Ruth, a 28-year-old farmer and single mother, that is simply the truth. Life in Rwamwanja, Uganda comes with constant challenges: land is scarce, jobs are hard to find, and as is often the case, women face steeper barriers to create change. But Ruth has learned that waiting for change isn’t enough.

“If you hustle and come up with your own idea, your own solution is better than waiting for employment,” she says.

Today, Ruth is an agronomist, someone who specializes in crop production, land management, and agricultural sustainability. She’s a business owner, mentor, and chairwoman of a youth savings group. These titles are proud achievements, but the story of how she got here is what really tells us the kind of person Ruth is.

For years, providing for her family wasn’t a given. Her three sons live with her mother, and sending them enough money to cover their school fees was just one of many financial difficulties.

That began to change when Ruth joined Opportunity International. Her community, Rwamwanja, is home to one of Uganda’s largest refugee settlements. The innovative approach is to avoid a ‘camp’ setup, and rather to include refugees in the community as a whole. Opportunity’s work is aimed at driving financial inclusion. As a host living in the community, she actively participated in Opportunity’s trainings in financial literacy, business management, customer care, and entrepreneurship. Just as important, she gained a new perspective.

"I used to worry that I needed at least five million shillings (over $1,000) to start a business," Ruth shares.

We were taught how to start with something small and multiply it.”

Ruth took that lesson to heart immediately. She began selling vegetables from her garden in the local market. Her consistency and reliability built her a steady customer base, so much so that restaurants began contacting her directly, even during the dry season, because they knew they could count on her. She was also chosen by Opportunity to host a demonstration garden on regenerative agriculture.

Another lesson she put into practice was that even if her income is small, there is still a way to save. “Before, when I received my salary, I would spend everything and wait anxiously for the next month,” says Ruth. Now, she saves, separating her capital from her profits.

Her success made her the perfect fit as chairwoman for the Hinga Otungye (Farm & Prosper) Youth Savings Group and mentor to young female farmers. Her conviction that small beginnings can grow into something meaningful is proven time and again as she helps the next generation find their financial independence.

Now, Ruth is focused on her future. Her dream is to open her own shop supplying fertilizer, pesticides, and seeds to local farmers, paired with her own demonstration garden where farmers can learn climate-resilience practices firsthand.

"I am not rich,” she says. “But I am comfortable.”

Her children can enjoy rice or meat on weekends with the money she sends. Unexpected expenses no longer create the same anxiety because she has savings. Her greatest hope is simple: that her sons will complete their education and one day have the skills and freedom to choose their own futures.

With a handful of opportunities, Ruth is building a resilient, sustainable life for herself, her family, and her community.

Find more impact stories in Opportunity's 2025 Impact Report.