My name is Brian, and I come from Jinja, Uganda. For most of my teenage years and early adulthood, life was very hard.
I could barely afford proper meals and survived on kikumando — a simple mix of chapati and beans — because it was the cheapest food I could find.
I remember eating the same thing every day, not because I liked it, but because I had no other option. I would watch other people eat good meals, wear nice clothes, and live comfortably, while I struggled just to survive.
At one point, I thought my life would never change. But I refused to give up hope. I started looking for opportunities online, doing small jobs, and saving whatever little I could.
Eventually, I got a breakthrough — my first steady job — and began to change my life.
Today, I am proud to say that my hard work has paid off. I have started a small business, I can now afford decent meals, and I help other young people in my community to believe that things can get better.
Brian’s story is a powerful reminder that no matter how hard life seems, persistence, faith, and determination can turn things around.
His journey from eating kikumando every day to living a more comfortable life is inspiring many Ugandans who are struggling with similar challenges.