Nakato Carol is living life on her own terms. At 21, she has a sharp eye for business, a deep love of music, and a fierce sense of independence. Two years ago, she made a bold move from her home village to the fast-paced energy of Kampala, determined to carve out a life built entirely on her own terms.
Today, she runs her own roadside grocery business, selling fresh produce—an enterprise she proudly set up using a loan secured with her mother’s backing. When her father passed away and she had to leave school after Primary 7 to help support her family, Nakato didn’t let that define her. Instead, she channelled her resourcefulness, along with her family’s values of hard work and deep respect, into becoming a self-made businesswoman.
But navigating a capital city as a young woman requires more than just hustle; it requires a healthcare system that matches your ambition. And when it came to her health, the city’s clinics were lagging far behind Nakato’s reality.
Nakato chose Sayana Press, a self-injectable contraceptive that perfectly fits her busy lifestyle. Because her business and family commitments require her to travel out of town frequently, she needed a solution that offered privacy, convenience and came at no cost.
After receiving thorough training from a friendly nurse, Nakato walked out of the clinic feeling fully confident, carrying a tracking calendar and a three-month supply of doses to take with her.
“When I travel, I can do my own injections without any trouble,” she says. “I don’t have to waste time and money travelling to unfamiliar clinics where people might judge me. I control my body on my own schedule.”
For Nakato, reliable contraceptive care is the ultimate safety net for her financial security. By taking unintended pregnancy off the table, she has cleared the runway to focus entirely on her business goals.
Now, she is paying it forward, talking openly with other young women in her neighbourhood to remind them that taking charge of their reproductive health and protecting themselves from HIV go hand in hand.
“I choose not to have children at this stage in my life, and I refuse to risk my health. Because of that, I demand honesty and openness from anyone I date.”
She brings this same confidence into her relationships, setting boundaries that put her life and health first.
“I ask my partners to go with me for HIV testing at the medical centre so we both know where we stand,” Nakato states firmly. “If a guy refuses to get tested, then I won’t risk my life for him.”
While Nakato still holds on to her childhood dream of one day returning to school to become a kindergarten teacher, her immediate focus is expanding her roadside stall into a fully-fledged general merchandise shop. She is moving forward boldly, rewriting the script for young women’s health and navigating her future the way she wants to.