Stories
September 23, 2025 • 3 min read
In Karamoja’s Oyapawa Village, where cultural norms long denied women land rights and leadership, 33-year-old Lowal Margaret Lomoe is rewriting the narrative. Once silenced by tradition and even held back by gender-based violence, Margaret used the power of savings to fund her education, reclaim her independence, and grow into a businesswoman and landowner. Today, she cultivates 15 acres of crops, raises livestock, and is building a permanent home for her children. Beyond her personal success, Margaret has become a role model, demonstrating that with knowledge, resilience, and opportunity, women can transform not only their own lives but also inspire others to pursue land ownership and financial independence in Karamoja.
In a place where tradition often dictates the limits of a woman’s ambitions, Lowal Margaret Lomoe, 33, has carved out a different path. Born and raised in Oyapawa Village in Karamoja’s Nakapelimoru Sub-County, Margaret grew up amidst harmful cultural norms that silenced women’s voices and denied them land rights. But today, she stands tall as a landowner, a businesswoman, and a role in her subcounty. Being a diploma holder in Social Work and Social Administration did not save Margaret from the reality of her surroundings; standing up for herself did.
“There are many women in this community who have higher education qualifications than I, but have been reduced to full-time dependents.” Margaret shares.
A Journey Rooted in Savings
In 2015, Margaret and a few other women formed what would later become the Lookorok Gender Group. Back then, the group was more social than economic in nature. Members gathered for community talks and drinks, but the event quickly evolved into a savings group, where members pooled their funds and distributed them annually. Margaret wasn’t married at the time and used her savings of UGX 5,000,000 to pay for her own education. She went on to complete her diploma at Fountain Head Institute in Lira. “Without the group, I wouldn’t have made it back to school. But we started small, saving little by little, and those savings changed my life.”
In 2016, Margaret suffered gender-based violence in her marriage due to differing views about the position of women in society. Her husband believed that a woman should not have access to finances, while she knew that an economically empowered woman helps to meet household costs. While Margaret later separated from her husband due to frequent conflicts, her love for business had long since waned. She significantly slowed down.
When Multi-Community Based Development Initiative (MUCOBADI), GOAL Uganda’s mindset partner under the Markets for Youth Programme, identified and trained Margaret in 2022, they awakened her love for business. Through MUCOBADI, Margaret learned about business planning, proposal writing and financial literacy.
Today, Margaret owns 15 acres of land where she cultivates groundnuts, sorghum, millet, rotating crops across her landholdings, and keeps livestock. Margaret also wrote a proposal that earned her working capital of UGX 11,000,000 from Mercy Corps’ APOLOU programme. Margret is also in the process of constructing a permanent house for her and the children.
Leading by Example
Margaret’s success is not just personal. In her community, she is now seen as a beacon of possibility.
“Before, girls couldn’t own land. Now, because of what they see me doing, other women are following suit. They want to be like me.” Margret proudly commented.
Even challenges, such as losing nearly an entire season’s harvest to drought in 2023, have not deterred her, but rather become lessons that have opened her mind to the effects of climate change and the need for irrigation solutions.
“I used all my savings to plant that year. The drought wiped out most of my crops.” Margaret recalled. She continued, “But I planted the following seasons, and I’m also planning to purchase an irrigation kit.”
Margaret now comfortably takes care of her four children, supports her siblings, and saves, continuing to expand her enterprises. Her dreams include sending her children to better schools, building more structures on her land, and helping more women gain access to property and financial independence.
“Land was once a man’s asset. But with enlightenment, women are owning land. That’s progress.” Margaret noted.
Learn more about the Markets for Youth programme.
