Meet Grace Nambuya: How a Sandals Business Funded Healthcare and Restored Peace of Mind

For a long time, 33-year-old Grace Nambuya felt a deep, constant worry. As a mother of five living in a waterlogged area of Eastern Uganda, her days were consumed by the struggle to provide basic needs. Her husband did not earn an income for the family, leaving Grace jobless and unable to afford food or medicine for her children.

Then, she heard about Global Village Connect’s community development training from a local leader and decided to join—finding a path that aligned with GVC’s core mission of fostering resilient livelihoods.

Turning farm produce into business capital

The training taught Grace how to identify assets she already had to start a small business. Following graduation, she sold a portion of her family’s maize and beans harvest, raising 300,000 UGX (about $80 USD) in starting capital. With these funds, she purchased an initial stock of colorful sandals and crocs to sell at local markets.

Her first week, however, tested her resolve.

On her first day, Grace did not make a single sale. On the second day, a client bought a pair of sandals but paid 3,000 UGX (about $0.80 USD) less than the agreed price—a mistake Grace only realized when she returned home. She ended her first week with a loss.

“I was so worried. I spent those first nights wondering if I had made the right decision, or if my business would just fail.”

— Grace Nambuya (shared with GVC’s field team)

Instead of giving up, Grace adjusted. She became extremely careful when counting money during transactions, and as the days went on, more clients began to notice her colorful display.

A daily rhythm of hard work

Today, Grace manages a demanding daily routine. She wakes early to prepare her children for school and cooks for her family before heading to the regional markets. She travels to different markets daily, standing behind her display until the markets close at 6:00 PM. She then returns home to prepare dinner for her household.

Her hard work has paid off. Grace now earns a reliable daily profit of 10,000 UGX (about $2.75 USD).

Breaking the cycle of medical panic

The real impact of Grace’s income became clear two weeks ago when her baby fell sick with malaria.

Grace’s house is located near a waterlogged area where mosquitoes are thick. Previously, whenever her children fell ill, it was a source of severe stress. Without money, she had to take them to government clinics where the lines were so long that it could take two full days to see a doctor. As they waited, her children’s conditions would steadily deteriorate.

Because she now has a daily cash profit, Grace was able to bypass the long lines and take her baby directly to a private clinic where services are fast and reliable. Her baby received immediate malaria treatment and is now recovering well. (Read more about healthcare accessibility and community challenges in our field notes).

“Before the training, I would wait in fear at the clinic while my child grew weaker. Now, I have my own money to get them treated immediately. My baby is getting better, and my next goal is to buy mosquito nets for our beds.”

— Grace Nambuya

Looking ahead

With a stable income, Grace’s children now eat three nutritious meals a day. Looking to the future, Grace is planning to expand. Rather than traveling to different open-air markets every day, she plans to rent a small, permanent storefront where she can establish a dedicated shop, much like Naigaga’s grocery business, Carolyn’s donut stall, or vegetable vendor Aida Mugide.

Grace is deeply thankful for the business training that gave her the tools to protect her family’s health and build a stable future. If you’d like to support other families in Eastern Uganda, please consider visiting GVC’s donation page.