Martina

At 28, Martina is a mother, aspiring entrepreneur, and a woman rebuilding her life after surviving trafficking and exploitation.

Before joining Omugaso International Sanctuary in October 2024, Martina worked in the sports betting industry. Believing that her experience could open doors to better opportunities, she travelled to India in April 2023 after being told she could find work there.

Instead, she was deceived and coerced into commercial sexual exploitation. For three painful months, Martina endured physical and emotional abuse. Determined to escape, she used a brief opportunity to access her phone and reached out for help through social media. She was eventually rescued and spent seven months in rehabilitation in India before returning to Uganda, where she received further support and was referred to Omugaso.

When Martina arrived at the Sanctuary, she carried the weight of her experiences with her. She struggled to trust others, manage her emotions and feel part of a community. She often kept to herself, sitting quietly at the back of the classroom with her arms crossed, guarded and hesitant to participate.

But with time, patience and consistent support, Martina began to let her walls come down.

Today, she is increasingly engaged, confident and willing to connect with those around her. As a member of the Sanctuary's highest learning class, Pearls, she has embraced leadership opportunities and actively contributes to peer-led learning.

Her transformation can also be seen in the way she supports others. Martina helps her peers develop computer skills and supports others with English fluency and comprehension. She participates enthusiastically in production, games and community activities - steps that reflect a growing sense of belonging and a willingness to serve others.

Martina has also begun to turn her aspirations into action. With a dream of becoming a business owner, she launched a fragrance business in March 2025. Through financial literacy, business planning, life skills training and support from external business facilitators, she is developing the knowledge and confidence to manage and grow her enterprise. Importantly, she has learned to seek guidance when she needs it - an important shift from the self-protective independence she once relied on.

Her commitment to learning extends beyond entrepreneurship. Martina is currently pursuing Mature Age Entry with the goal of studying for a Bachelor's degree in Business Administration, bringing her closer to the future she envisions for herself and her daughter.

One of Martina's most significant breakthroughs has been recognising that seeking help is not a weakness. She is learning to understand and manage her emotions, build healthier relationships and respond to challenges with greater self-awareness.

Martina's journey shows what becomes possible when a survivor is given more than a safe place to recover. With the right support, she can rebuild her confidence, discover her voice, support others, create economic opportunities and pursue an education.

She arrived at the Sanctuary determined simply to survive.

Today, Martina is learning to lead, build and dream again.