The story of Biira Rehema is a journey of resilience, hardship, and ultimately, empowerment. As a mother of four, she knows all too well the unpredictability of health emergencies and the financial strain they can bring on a person or family.  

When she went into labor during the height of COVID-19 restrictions, like her previous three deliveries, this one required a Caesarean section at Karugutu Health Center IV. But what should have been a moment of relief turned into a nightmare when post-surgery complications arose.  

Biira was told that she needed specialized treatment at Fort Portal Regional Referral Hospital. But there was one major obstacle: money. With no savings and limited ambulance services, she and her husband, Bwambale Umaru, were forced to make a hard decision. They had to sell six of their goats to afford transport and medical expenses. Her recovery was slow and costly.  

Spending weeks in the referral hospital meant mounting bills, pushing them to the brink of selling a plot of land they had acquired. “Had my husband not succeeded in borrowing from friends, we could have lost that piece of land as well,” Biira recalls.  

Determined to never face such desperation again, Biira took a bold step in 2022 by joining the Nombe Beekeepers Saving Group. There, she learned beekeeping and, more importantly, the power of financial planning. When an Enabel ambassador introduced the concept of Saving for Health, Biira saw a lifeline and joined 22 other members in setting aside money specifically for medical emergencies. She saved up to 60,000 UGX before a health need came up.  

That preparation, however, paid off when her child fell sick. This time, there was no reason to panic and no need to sell their hard-earned family assets. She was confident in her savings group and reached out to the chairperson to request a loan of 200,000 UGX, which was granted swiftly, requiring only a fellow group member as a guarantor.  

Her husband, Umaru, a peasant farmer, expressed his relief and pride. “She saved us from that unplanned expense,” he said.  Having supported his wife in her beekeeping activities by setting up hives and harvesting honey, Umaru is happy that the venture has rescued their family at a time of need. He is also happy that Biira has embraced saving for health in her group. True to her commitment, Biira repaid 120,000 UGX of the interest-free loan within three weeks and plans to clear the balance of 80,000 UGX in the following month.  

The chairperson of Nombe Beekeeper Village Savings and Loans Association, Mutalinga George, emphasized the importance of timely loan repayment to ensure that funds remain available for other group members in need.

Having benefited from the saving for health initiative, Biira is complementing the effort of the Village Health Team members to promote saving for health in her community. She actively encourages other women to join the group and start saving. Thanks to her efforts, four new members have already signed up, according to the group chairperson. 

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