At just 16 years old, Nakibuuka Mary has already faced more hardship than most will in a lifetime. Abandoned by her mother at a tender age and left with a father who struggled with alcoholism, Mary dropped out of school in Primary Five. With no parental guidance, she was left in the care of her ageing grandmother, who could barely provide for her needs.
Mary’s story might have ended there, another rural Ugandan girl lost to poverty and hopelessness. But fate intervened when Mrs. Betty Sserunkuma, a councillor from Kasangombe Sub-County, recognised Mary’s potential. She introduced her to the Rose Namayanja Foundation (RNF), which opened a door Mary thought was permanently closed.
A Residential Introduction to the Textile Industry
Through RNF’s support, Mary joined the first cohort of trainees selected for a two-month residential inauguration into the textile industry at the Uganda Industrial Research Institute (UIRI).
During this training, Mary and her colleagues lived and learned at the institute, receiving intensive hands-on exposure to modern textile production. By the time she returned to Nakaseke, she was well-equipped with the practical knowledge and confidence needed to step into the textile industry with real prospects for income generation.
Building Skills, Building Confidence
Today, Mary continues her journey at the Nakaseke Textile Skills Development and Production Centre, where she is sharpening her tailoring and garment production skills.
For the first time in her life, Mary has not just hope — but a pathway to dignity and financial independence. With every stitch she makes, she is rewriting her story:“I want to start my own tailoring shop one day, so I can take care of my grandmother and also employ other young people,” Mary says.
Why Her Story Matters
Mary’s journey reflects the very heart of RNF’s mission: empowerment through opportunity. By identifying and supporting vulnerable young women like her, RNF is breaking cycles of poverty and proving that with the right intervention, no child is beyond rescue.
Every machine, every training session, and every graduate from the Nakaseke Textile Centre represents not just economic progress, but a story of resilience — and Mary’s is just one of many.
At the Rose Namayanja Foundation, we believe in turning despair into determination. Mary’s story is a reminder that when communities and leaders come together, we can rewrite the future for Uganda’s most vulnerable children.
