Africa-Press – Uganda. Lilian Kiconco, a 53-year-old resident of Rutooma, Kishunju 1 Village in Mbarara District, is a proud member of the Kashari South Vendors SACCO.
Once a banana (matooke) vendor, Kiconco is now thriving through a 50,000-litre water tank project and a small poultry farm, ventures she started in 2020 after an unfortunate accident disrupted her former business.
Kiconco recalls how life took a sudden turn when she was involved in an accident while transporting matooke to the Kibuye market.
The incident, which happened before the COVID-19 pandemic, left her stranded and brought her previous business ventures to a halt.
“I used to think money is only in Kampala,” she says, explaining how the accident shattered her income sources.
While at home recovering and unsure of the future, a new opportunity emerged. President Museveni launched the Emyooga program, and Kiconco was among the first few people selected by the local SACCO chairman to attend a training in Bwizimera on how the program works.
She says the training marked a turning point. After completing it, her SACCO received seed capital, and she was able to access UGX 2 million, an amount she describes as “a dream come true.” She added her personal savings to the funds and embarked on building a large water tank, venturing into the water supply business.
Since then, her life began to change.
“I was a matooke vendor, who used to transport my matooke to Kibuye market, but when I got an accident, I stopped and became jobless. But because I had a business idea which at that moment looked shuttered, when the Emyooga program came, I was resurrected in that regard. When I got the first money from my SACCO, I made sure I accomplish my dream and indeed it’s worth a wait because I’m now earning,” she said.
Inspired by the chronic water shortage in her village, Kiconco realized she could meet a local need while generating income. She now sells a 20-litre jerrycan of water at shs 500, and during dry seasons, the price rises to shs1,000.
With a reliable water supply at her disposal, she looked for other ways to expand her income. After consulting friends, she ventured into poultry farming.
“I gave poultry of chicken my whole, and despite challenges and losses in the first two attempts, I did not give up,” she explains.
She recounted her difficult start in poultry farming. “At first I bought 50 chicks, and because I had no experience, I did not earn out of them because almost half of them died. The second time I bought 100, and still I counted losses because I didn’t even know where to sell them. But on the third attempt, after perseverance, I got money and things started flowing.”
Kiconco is deeply grateful for the support she received through the Microfinance Support Centre and president Museveni, which she credits for enabling her to build the water project that now sustains her and her family.
“My first money from Emyooga, I added on what I had saved to establish this project which sustains me. I see water and out of it, I’m able to take care of my family. I have a relative that I’m taking care of he’s in S1 and this water enables me raise the school fees. I thank Microfinance Support Centre for the opposite,” she said.
She now encourages other women in her village to join the Emyooga program, saying it offers a real opportunity to generate wealth, especially for those without initial capital.
“It’s a window for wealth,” she said, “especially to those that have no capital.”
On Wednesday, Kiconco hosted a delegation of Emyooga SACCO leaders from the Acholi, Lango, and Teso sub-regions at her home, where she showcased her project, shared her journey from the beginning, and highlighted the progress she has made so far.
During the exchange visit, she encouraged the visitors to always start small and make good use of the Emyooga funds, which she described as “blessed money.”
“With the good things I have got out of Emyooga money, I can openly say this money is blessed. Use it wisely. Start with whatever you have don’t start big but I assure you, you will grow big,” she advised.
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