In the bustling community of Namakwekwe Ward, Northern City Division, Mbale City, one woman’s passion for transformation has become a lifeline for hundreds of women and teenage mothers. Her name is Sylvia Nafuna, a retired teacher who has become an entrepreneur, mentor, and advocate for women’s empowerment.

For more than 22 years, Nafuna taught English as well as Music, Dance, and Drama at Nabuyonga Primary School, a government-aided institution. Despite her dedication to her students, she noticed a painful reality outside the classroom: young girls dropping out of school, teenage pregnancies, and high unemployment rates among educated youth.

“They would stop me on the road and ask, ‘Madam Sylvia, what can we do? Is it too late for us?” she recalls, her voice steady but emotional. “I realised I needed to do something beyond teaching.”

When she retired in 2020, Sylvia decided to turn her compassion into action. During the Covid-19 lockdown, she began mobilising a few women in her community to engage in produce trading, buying and selling items such as beans, maize, rice, millet flour, and peanuts.

What started as a small hustle with just five women quickly blossomed into a vibrant enterprise. Together, they formed a savings group, with each member contributing Shs20,000 weekly. The group prospered, reinvesting their earnings into essential equipment, including an ice cream machine, to expand their business.

From this humble beginning, Sylvia officially registered her company, Christechel Produce Surprise, named after her children. The business became a symbol of resilience and innovation, particularly in value addition, producing nutritious millet flour and composite products for children, expectant mothers, and individuals with diabetes.

Her journey took a transformative turn when she caught the attention of officials from the Ministry of Trade, Industry, and Cooperatives, as well as the Scaling Up Nutrition Business Network (SBN). Recognising her leadership, they appointed her as the Eastern Region Secretary under the SBN, connecting her with projects from CARE International and GAIN (Global Alliance for Improved Nutrition).

Through these partnerships, Sylvia received training in food safety, quality assurance, and product development, equipping her with the technical knowledge to enhance her production standards and packaging.

“I learnt who I was producing for: the malnourished child, the pregnant mother, and the diabetic patient. Our products are not just food; they are health,” she says.

Today, Sylvia’s home-based operation has evolved into a structured enterprise guided by Good Manufacturing Practices (GMPs) and Good Hygiene Practices (GHPs). Her nutritious millet blends and cocoyam flours are improving lives in her community, with many users reporting better health and stable blood sugar levels.

However, Sylvia’s true legacy extends beyond her products. Through her initiatives, she has empowered more than 117 women and teenage mothers, many of whom have started small businesses or returned to school. As a circle leader in Emyooga, she promotes financial literacy and daily savings among women.

“Some of the single mothers save as little as Shs1,000 daily,” she explains. “Over time, it becomes capital. That is how some started a bakery. Small steps lead to big changes.”

Challenges
Despite her accomplishments, Sylvia encounters several challenges, including limited funding, a lack of machinery, and transportation issues that restrict her ability to reach more communities. Cultural attitudes can also discourage women from participating, particularly when their husbands perceive their involvement as “a waste of time.”

“But when they see what their wives bring home, they change their minds,” she laughs.

Her unwavering dedication and sacrifice characterise Sylvia’s leadership. “I have no holidays,” she admits. “I love what I do because I see lives changing. Even if it is just one woman or one girl, that’s enough for me.”

She draws inspiration from women who have navigated difficult paths before her, such as her late mother, a teacher who raised 10 children with resilience, and Hon. Agnes Kunihira, the Workers’ Representative MP, whose strength in leadership fuels Sylvia’s determination.

“Women are blessed,” she asserts. “Once we start something, we do not give up. We multitask. We lead with heart.”

The other side
Do you prefer a notebook or a phone? My phone works better because I research a lot.
Favourite book? King Lear
Favourite meal? Fish with matooke or mashed potatoes.