Moonlight Stars
A project by RHU

I was born in Jinja hospital and grew up in a nearby village with my parents and three brothers. My brothers and I grew up together and always got along, but life was challenging because we had very little money. Thankfully we had neighbors who reached out and gave us a hand at times, helping us get to the doctor when we needed it and giving us food here and there.

 

When I was a teenager my mother and I moved to Kampala. I had a friend who was teaching me about being a hairdresser and I was hoping to do that work. But my mother passed away and I was left on my own. I was in desperate need of money and a friend approached me and said “you’re young and pretty, so I have a solution for you”. This is how I got started as a moonlight star. My first days on the street were frightening. I wasn’t sure what would happen and how the men would treat me. With time I got used to it.

 

I have 4 kids, my youngest is 8 and my oldest is 14. My oldest girl and boy are living with their father’s families; it isn’t always up to me when I get to see them. It was so difficult when they were taken away from me; but I know that where they are they are getting better care than I can give them.

 

I knew Fred the RHU counselor from the neighborhood even before I became a Moonlight Star. I used to come to him so many times and talk about my troubles. I saw him when he came to speak to other women and he told me to come and join him, to help RHU educate moonlight stars about their health.

 

Teaching makes me so happy because I don’t want to hear that my friends have HIV or unwanted children. I also learned for myself to never have unprotected sex. If a man demands it, I send him away.

My big hope for my life is to own my own business. I learned how to do many things when RHU provided me with skills building classes. They always tell us to plan for our future and now I only need money to start my business. If God grants me my wish I will be successful and I will be able to pay for my children’s school fees and to make sure they are educated and happy.