Alfred.

My hope is to have a bright future, to thrive, and improve my family’s life.

Life in Rwamwanja is not as easy as people might think; there are many challenges.

My name is Alfred. I am 36 years old, I live in Rwamwanja Refugee Settlement and stay with my mother and siblings.

Before coming here, I was in the Democratic Republic of Congo. Life was good because it was home and we knew how to earn a living.

Then the war started and we came to Uganda.

My home is very far away from here. I went through different roads, on foot for a long time, until we got to Uganda. Then we were brought here, to Rwamwanja. This was in 2014.

Alfred sits at his desk working on his laptop in his stationery shop

I joined the Rwamwanja Youth Basketball Academy. I began playing basketball with them, and later Opportunity came and trained us in business skills and financial literacy. They taught me how to save, manage money, start a business, how to move from a difficult situation to a better one.

It felt great to learn that because it helped me become smarter and find ways to earn a living here in Uganda.

Our Basket Academy started a savings group. We continue to progress and now have our own account at the Rwamwanja Opportunity Bank branch.

Our savings group is the reason I am where I am today. I managed my savings well, access money, lent and borrowed, and eventually started my business.

Alfred sits at his desk working on his laptop in his stationery shop

The training opened my mind. It lifted me to where I am today.

I realised I was close to schools and the community who need photocopying and printing services. So I decided to start a stationary business.

Before we were living poorly. It was a challenge to eat and for my siblings to go to school. Since the training, I started a business, started saving, and our lives are improved. My siblings get to go to school and my mother is better.

My financial situation is stable. I don’t face difficulties because I save regularly.

Alfred serves a customer at his stationery store using a basic mobile phone and his laptop.
Alfred serves a customer at his stationery shop
Alfred works with a customer at his stationery shop
202509_OIUK_UGA_Rwamyanja settlement 26.jpg
Alfred stands in his shop next to a speaker on the ground.
Alfred looks off to his left and stands against a wall of black and white photos printed on white, yellow and pink paper.

There are still challenges, but they come with experience. I always find a way.

I would like to grow my business, but I don’t have enough money. My capital is quite limited, so I am working hard to grow it.

I would like to add new equipment, like a camera for taking passport photos. I would also like to get a good printer that can print on photo paper.

My hope is to have a bright future, to thrive, and improve my family’s life. I also want to teach people how to run a business, especially youth.

This business changed both my life an my family’s life.

I can lend money, support my siblings with their education, help my mother with medical treatments, assist my family and take care of my own needs.

I would like to tell Opportunity to keep training other people like me, for them to acquire the knowledge about financial literacy, because the lack of it leads to poverty.

 

Discover more stories