Empowering Women: Amasutra Group’s Business Success in Ayilo Settlement

In the face of reduced aid to refugees in Uganda, the Amasutra Women’s Group in Ayilo refugee settlement in Adjumani district has found a way to not just survive but thrive. Formed in 2023, this refugee-only women’s group is pioneering a new approach to livelihoods through entrepreneurship. With a focus on business management, financial literacy, and enterprise development, Amasutra is setting an inspiring example of how refugees can build their own economic resilience.

The group’s journey began with support from the Government of Norway and UN Women, which is implementing an empowerment project targeting refugees across four districts—Adjumani, Yumbe, Terego, and Kyegegwa. In collaboration with the Whittaker Peace and Development Initiative (WPDI), the Amasutra group received essential training that would lay the foundation for their business success.

“We were taught how to manage a business, keep proper financial records, and develop an enterprise,” says Gloria Mociruku, the group’s chairperson. “After the training, we were tasked with identifying a business opportunity and creating a plan to execute it. We realized that food distribution to refugees was declining, but the demand for food was still high. So, we decided to focus on buying and selling food supplies.”

With the training complete, Amasutra received seed capital of 2.5 million Ugandan shillings from UN Women, which they immediately invested in their business idea. The timing of the grant was perfect. Refugees were receiving their monthly cash grants at the time, providing a ready market for the food items the group planned to sell. The result was nothing short of remarkable.

“We used the 2.5 million shillings to buy a variety of foodstuffs that refugees need,” Gloria explains. “We sold everything in a single day and made a profit of 620,000 shillings. This was such a big motivation for us that we reinvested the entire profit back into the business. We’ve continued to make profits, which have allowed us to expand and even set up a store where we bulk the produce.”

One of the key aspects of their training was learning the importance of record-keeping. This practice has been instrumental in the group’s success, ensuring transparency, accountability, and organized operations. Every member plays a role in running the enterprise on a rotating basis. Each member takes turns managing the shop for three days, while the secretary and treasurer check the financial records and conduct stocktaking every evening. “Clear record-keeping has helped us stay accountable and ensures that we are making sound business decisions,” Gloria adds.

Looking to the future, Amasutra has ambitious plans for expansion. The group envisions a network of retail outlets, each managed by a member, spread across refugee settlements. This would give each member a sense of ownership and responsibility, further strengthening the group’s operations.

Gloria and her fellow members encourage other refugee women to take small steps toward entrepreneurship. “Start with what you have and organize yourselves into groups. Collective efforts lead to better results,” she says.

In a world where aid is dwindling, Amasutra Women’s group has proven that with the right knowledge, resources, and support, they can build sustainable businesses that not only support their families but also contribute to their communities.