From Housewife to Community Leader: Rehema Hassan’s Transformation

Rehema Hassan, a mother of seven from Kagumu subcounty, Kibuku District spent years as a housewife. She joined a local women’s savings group, Akuseka Takuwa, but found that the small annual savings plan offered little opportunity for real financial growth. Her life took a transformative turn when FOWODE held a training in her community on leadership, business management, and financial literacy, with a focus on practical long and short-term saving strategies. These sessions opened her eyes to new possibilities and ignited her confidence to soar beyond traditional gender roles. Motivated by the skills she gained, Rehema ran for and won a position on the School Management Committee (SMC) at Nambiri Primary School, marking the start of her leadership journey. She also applied her business training to grow her personal finances and was able to purchase land worth UGX 3.2 million which she uses for animal husbandry, including cattle, goats and poultry. This new income stream enabled her to support her children’s education and improve her household’s quality of life. Recognizing her leadership and financial discipline, Rehema was later elected treasurer of the Bukedi Partners’ Accountability Forum, a role that further strengthened her influence and respect within the community. Today, Rehema is recognized by local leaders as an emerging political voice. She’s actively involved in the District Farmers’ Forum and government initiatives like the Parish Development Model (PDM) to scale her agribusiness ventures and support broader economic development. With plans to expand into large-scale farming and broader markets, Rehema’s ambition continues to grow. Rehema’s story is a powerful example of how access to knowledge and resources can enhance women’s ability to participate in decision making. At FOWODE we recognize that resources are a key part of empowerment and agency and we remain committed to promoting women’s financial independence as a foundation for meaningful participation in leadership and governance.