NAMUTUMBA: ONC Empowerment beneficiary shares resilient journey to self-reliance, from hopeless to hopeful mother

Namutumba, Uganda: Esther Alituwa, a Senior Three school dropout and young mother from Nabitula Village, shared her remarkable story of transformation from hopelessness to self-reliance after benefiting from an empowerment programme spearheaded by the Office of the National Chairman (ONC) under Hajjat Hadijah Namyalo.

For four years, Esther had neither a job nor the means to further her education. “I was fed up of irritating home chores. I needed to earn. I needed to be productive. I wanted a skill to help me earn a living,” she says.

In 2024, she confided in her parents about her dream of becoming a professional tailor but admitted she lacked the resources to pursue training or buy a sewing machine.

However, Alituwa’s fortunes changed when the LC III Chairperson of Ivukula Sub-county, Mr. Kisaame Moses, informed her about a free tailoring skilling project initiated by Hajjat Namyalo to support young and single mothers.

“Our chairperson told me about the free tailoring project, and I got interested. It was free, and my parents encouraged me to pursue it,” Esther recounted. “We formed women groups at the parish level and received two sewing machines donated by President Museveni through Hajjat Namyalo.”

Despite challenges, as some women reportedly took the project for granted, ONC’s coordinator for Namutumba District, Ms Naigaga Lilian, refocused the programme to work only with those committed to learning.

Esther described the training as practical and hands-on. “Our instructor taught us how to make school sweaters, uniforms, dresses, and gomesis (a popular traditional wear worn like a gown),” she said.

After completing the two-month course, she started saving and within a few months, Esther bought her own sewing machine and opened a tailoring workshop in Nabitula Trading Centre, which has drastically transformed her livelihood.

“Within a few months, I bought a goat worth Shs80,000 from my savings. I can now pay school fees for my child and even support my parents. Many of my friends come here to learn tailoring and pay me,” Esther shared, smiling.

She expressed her gratitude to President Museveni and Hajjat Namyalo for empowering her, but also appealed for more sewing machines to support other young mothers within the Busoga district who are eager to acquire tailoring skills.

The District ONC coordinator, Ms Naigaga Lilian, commended the women of Nabitula for embracing the programme and proving that with the right support, young mothers can become economically independent.

“I thank Hajjat Namyalo and President Museveni for this empowerment. But I also appeal to the President, through Hajjat Namyalo, to consider extending more sewing machines because many idle young mothers here are willing to learn,” Lilian said.