In the vibrant heart of Kalerwe, a remarkable group of women has risen from humble beginnings to achieve extraordinary milestones. This is the inspiring story of a dedicated Kalerwe Market Women Vendors’ SACCO that started with small, cautious steps and has grown into a powerful force of transformation. These women have not only reshaped their own lives but have also become beacons of hope and empowerment within their community.

IST met with the group leadership and this is what they had to share with us. Join us as we unveil their incredible journey;

Our SACCO was established in October 2019, and it has been registered and active ever since. The inspiration behind starting this SACCO came from a training session by IST on group formation and leadership, which highlighted the importance of collective organization. We currently have a total of 474 members, each with a membership card. Of these, 339 are considered active members. These members are classified as active because they maintain running accounts with us and have open books for saving and borrowing.

When we first started, we began with a modest savings plan of just 200 shillings, and many didn’t understand the purpose behind it. However, through continuous capacity building and mentorship, we now have active members who have developed a strong saving culture where many save from 1,000 to 100,000 shillings daily besides a Sunday.

In addition to saving, our SACCO now regularly offers loans to members. This has significantly empowered us, as members no longer need to rely on the heavy collateral from banks to grow their businesses. IST played a critical role in helping us avoid the predatory lending practices of banks that once seized our property. The revolving fund has expanded our capacity to lend to other members, even those who were previously unable to access loans due to our limited portfolio.

Beyond business investment, the Revolving Fund has enabled women and young mothers to meet other financial needs, such as paying school fees and rent, without resorting to banks or exploitative money lenders. The Loan amounts we give out depends on an individual’s needs, available funds, and their capacity to repay the borrowed sum.

One of our proudest achievements is that over 60 women have acquired and accumulated assets, such as land, and some have even gone further to build homes. It brings us great joy to see women who once had nothing now owning property. IST’s support showed us that, by coming together, we could stop renting and instead build homes of our own.

Being part of the SACCO has also strengthened our unity. In an often-challenging market environment, having each other to rely on has made all the difference. We’ve ensured that every member knows where the others live, making it easier to reach out in times of celebration or difficulty.

Our business management skills have significantly improved as we’ve diversified our product lines. This strategic shift has empowered women, boosting productivity and increasing sales.

From the testimonies of our members, many now earn greater profits from their expanded offerings than they did from their previous, more limited range. Additionally, several members have expanded their businesses by opening new branches or stalls in the market. IST’s guidance was invaluable in emphasizing the risks of relying on a single product, especially since we operate in a seasonal business. This foresight has helped us mitigate potential downturns and strengthened our overall resilience.

The leadership and literacy skills we’ve gained through IST and KHF have empowered our SACCO members to become exemplary leaders and stand out in the market. These skills have enabled us to effectively lobby for the SACCO and build partnerships with other organizations that can provide additional support for our women, complementing the efforts of IST.

The leadership training has brought about a remarkable shift in our confidence as women in Kalerwe. In the past, many of us were too shy to speak in public, but now we are able to confidently address audiences at market events, in our communities, on radios and TVs and even during family meetings.

For example, I, Justine, have been invited to a number of  radio and TV talk shows to discuss issues affecting women in markets, including their rights and the importance of collective organizing. I was featured on Star TV to share my knowledge on these topics and also appeared on Metro FM’s “Omukyaala Waleero” program, where I spoke about my experiences as a market woman balancing work and family, as well as the importance of women’s rights and inclusion in leadership.

Similarly, as Sophie Namatovu, I have become a regular guest on Mama FM’s children’s program, airing every Sunday at 11 a.m. I share experiences as a mother, drawing on the confidence and knowledge we have gained through the IST trainings. As a SACCO leader, I was also connected by IST to a program organized by the Buganda Kingdom, where I spoke about the prevalence of sexual harassment in markets and its negative impact on women’s productivity.

During the KHF leadership trainings, we were encouraged to focus on lobbying and advocacy for our members. This led to a partnership with a legal organization, where two of our SACCO leaders were appointed as Community Legal Volunteers (CLV). Through this collaboration, we have been able to bring legal support and services closer to our SACCO members and the broader Kalerwe market community.

Our advocacy efforts extend beyond our SACCO. On International Women’s Day last year 2024, we visited Sanyu Babies’ Home to support mothers who bring their children to such centers. Many of these mothers have endured sexual violence or gender-based violence, leaving them with no choice but to give up their children in desperation. We shared our little resources with the children and mothers as a way of showing solidarity and celebrating their strength since we’re a family.

We also reached out to victims of the Kiteezi Landfill disaster, providing relief items such as clothes and food to displaced individuals, many of whom are single mothers. This initiative was inspired by our commitment to showing that women, through unity and collective effort, can make a significant difference in the lives of others.

Today, as a SACCO, we have a stronger voice and platform to speak out against injustices and inequalities faced by women in the market. Unlike before, the market leadership now consults us before making decisions.

One of our significant achievements has been addressing sexual harassment by male leaders. Thanks to our consistent advocacy, cases of harassment have drastically reduced. Male leaders no longer threaten to evict women for refusing their sexual advances, which was once a rampant issue.

Our journey has shown that empowered women can bring transformative change not only in their own lives but also in their communities. Together, we continue to build a stronger, more inclusive future for women in Kalerwe market and beyond.

As members of the community where we live and work, we have immensely benefited from our SACCO. As respected leaders, we provide marriage counselling and guidance to women and young girls, even those who are not part of our SACCO. This has strengthened our influence and impact in the community.

Our SACCO has stood the test of time, unlike many other women’s groups, thanks to the mentorship provided by KHF and IST. With their guidance, we now mentor new groups on operational best practices and help their leadership address challenges specific to our shared environment.

By utilizing the Revolving Fund to borrow money and start businesses, we have created employment opportunities for many youth vendors in the market. Additionally, we can now afford to hire helpers in our families due to increased household incomes. This has improved both our livelihoods and the overall welfare of our community.