Nakalyango Prossy, a resilient single mother aged 60, is raising a family of 4 boys and 2 girls ranging from 17 to 40 years old. Her journey with  Katosi Women Fishing and Development Association (KWFDA), a member of Katosi Women Development Trust began in 2000 when she recognized the advantages of membership through her colleagues’ positive experiences. At that time, Prossy was involved in fish trading and smoking near her rented dwelling. Despite owning a small plot of land from her fish business earnings, she struggled to meet rent expenses and construct suitable accommodations for herself and her children.

Within two years of joining KWFDA, Prossy secured an initial loan of UGX 100,000/= ($27), which she combined with her savings to erect a single-room dwelling on her plot. During a sunny afternoon visit, a KWFDA staff member found her engaged in conversation with a tenant on her house’s verandah. Reflecting on her journey with the Katosi Women Development Trust, Prossy warmly recounted, “When I established my own home and started residing there, I felt a deep sense of accomplishment. No longer beholden to a demanding landlord, I redirected the funds I would have spent on rent toward expanding my fish enterprise.”

The profits from her fish trade allowed Prossy to repay her initial loan, prompting her to apply for a larger loan of UGX 250,000/= ($68) as her business expanded. This growth enabled her to cover her children’s school fees. She elaborated, “When I joined KWFDA, my eldest child was in primary 5. This drove me to diversify my income sources. Through savings and successive loans, I constructed rental units on my vacant land, transforming into a landlord and securing a steady monthly income.” Over time, Prossy’s loan portfolio grew from UGX 350,000/= ($93) to UGX 500,000/= ($134), with each loan supplemented by her savings and rental earnings.

Prossy’s resourcefulness allowed her to support her children’s education, resulting in achievements like her eldest becoming a trained counselor and her second child launching a successful poultry venture. With mounting income, she extended her support to her brother’s child, who completed higher education and secured employment. Even with challenges, such as a diabetes diagnosis affecting her fish smoking business in 2019, Prossy’s diversified income sources, including rentals, sustained her well-being. Notably, she’s constructing another rental unit with support from KWDT, praising their micro-credit program.

During a tour of her abode, Prossy showcased her fully occupied rental units and the ECOSAN toilet, funded through rental fees. While diabetes led to her losing eyesight, she remains content as long as she can differentiate currency received from tenants and expenses at the market. Through her determination, Prossy embodies the resilience and success that can arise from leveraging opportunities and managing challenges.