For women entrepreneurs, community support plays a vital role in helping them thrive across their diverse areas of work. This support can take many forms and come from different sources, family, friends, fellow entrepreneurs, and organizations alike.
This is evident in the journey of Sarah Seruwagi, founder of Oak Knit Manufacturers, whose growth story reflects the power of a close-knit and well- rounded family support system.
Sarah Seruwagi, founder of Oak Knit Manufacturers.
Her curiosity about making sweaters was sparked during her time as a lab technician at Makerere University. “I went to Aristoc, bought a book, and taught myself how to make sweaters. I then trained my siblings and my mother. When we received a school order, I realized it could earn me money,” she recalls.
Sarah began modestly, purchasing domestic equipment to produce sweaters on a small scale. She worked closely with her family to fulfill client orders, steadily building the business. After learning about the NSSF HiInnovator program through a WhatsApp group, she joined the initiative under Mkazipreneur, after urging from a friend.
Winning USD 20,000 from the program enabled her to expand her business into vocational areas such as baking, hairdressing, and computer skills, equipping women and youth with practical, hands-on training.
Sarah supporting an employee operating a machine. Through her business, she can empower youth through offering them jobs.
Throughout this journey, Sarah’s family has been a strong pillar of support for both her and her business. Her father, for instance, gifted her land in Butambala, where she plans to establish a vocational institute. Her husband also supported her by offering a three-bedroom house he had initially built for tenants, giving her much-needed operational space.
Her 75-year-old mother plays a key role by running the Ntinda branch as the resident director, an example Sarah believes can inspire other young girls and women to start their own businesses. “My mom helps with training participants at the Ntinda branch and with the manufacturing of uniforms,” she adds.
Through Mkazipreneur, Sarah is now able to create positive impact in her community by equipping women and youth with hands-on skills, while continuing to grow her business with unwavering family support.
