DIGNITY: Shelves of Stewardship

When Eva Magembe founded Dubai Supermarket in Uganda with her partner, she didn’t just set out to build a business—she set out to build people. Now celebrating its eighth year in a market where most businesses don’t survive past three, Eva’s supermarket shows what can happen when an entrepreneur celebrates the dignity of every employee.

From the beginning, Eva faced the hard truth: her greatest challenge wasn’t capital or competition—it was herself. “I was naive and undisciplined,” she recalls. “I had to grow before my business could.” That transformation deepened when she joined the Sinapis Entrepreneur Academy, where she learned to lead with a new identity rooted not in performance but in God’s calling.

This change reshaped how Eva treated her team—most of them single mothers navigating identity struggles in a social-media-saturated world. Eva saw them not just as employees, but as image-bearers of God, deserving of meaningful work and respectful treatment.

At Dubai Supermarket, dignity looks like on-time salaries, spiritual growth through daily prayer, and a deep commitment to staff development. It means listening well, mentoring intentionally, and leading with love—especially when it’s inconvenient.

“When I embraced the idea that love must be action, everything changed,” Eva says. “How I speak to my staff, how I show up for them—it matters. They stay not just because of a paycheck, but because they know they’re seen.”

The results speak for themselves. A business once plagued by high turnover now has a loyal, empowered team that helps shape the culture. One staff member even leads the team’s prayer times, offering encouragement and biblical wisdom to her peers.

Eva’s leadership proves the transformative power of offering dignity in the workplace. “Even if they leave,” she reflects, “they carry that dignity with them. And that ripple effect—that’s the real impact.”

‍