From abroad with money
By Henry H. Ssali
Jan 11 - 17, 2004
|
Several Ugandans leave the country every year to seek greener pastures abroad. The most favoured destinations being the UK, USA and Japan. They go out mainly to do manual jobs, commonly called Kyeyo in Uganda-speak.
For those who start businesses, some succeed and others fail. One such man who has 'been there, done that' and is now a successful businessman in Kampala is Isaac Mulindwa. To most Ugandans, Mulindwa is known for having organised the first Pearl of Africa Music Awards last year. He left the country in 1978 during the tumultuous years of Idi Amin's reign. In 1982 he went to study at Richmond College in the UK and during his time there, he did several jobs. "I used to sell car spare parts in a shop," he said. Later he was an assistant manager in a car rental company. In 1991 he moved to the USA. He went to DADE Community College and did a Certificate in Construction and Civil Engineering. At this time he also worked as a collection manager in a company that used to recover bad debts. In 1992 disaster struck Florida state where he was living as a bad hurricane ravaged the area, but to him this was a stroke of luck. "I started a construction business, Mulin services mainly to repair the damage," he says. "That business is now still on and it has a turnover of $2m," he says. Currently his brother is running the business. He returned permanently to Uganda in 2000, but prior to this he used return to Uganda about three times a year to survey business potential in the country. He bought shares in Radio Simba, Club Silk and also started a company, One2Net that mainly deals in Internet related services. "Now I also call myself an investor, Ugandans think investors are only foreigners," he says as he relaxes in his office at Worker's House. Mulindwa explains why some Nkuba-kyeyo return to the country and don't succeed in business. "You need three things, a home of your own, a car and a job," he says. "It does not matter how much you come with, if you don't have these things you will deplete it," he adds. His explanation is that people out there are used to a certain lifestyle and they will rent expensive houses and cars to keep up to that lifestyle. "Sooner or later your money gets finished and you book the next plane to start the old cycle," he says. Sarah Kizito is known around Kampala for her Lady Charlotte boutiques at Hotel Equatorial and Garden City. In the early 1980s, Sarah went to the London College of Fashion. After her course she worked a little while in London but returned to Uganda and set up Lady Charlotte Boutique. From that time onwards, she has been on the plane between UK and US shopping for fabrics for her store. While in London, she worked for a fashion company to help in designing their clothes. She was also a model for jewelry. Now at her store she makes custom made dresses for bridal parties and also imports others. "I set up business here because I had the dream, I knew I wanted to return and make something home," she says. "There are friends I left in London more than 10 years ago but I'm better off than them. Their routine is the same, hard work, high bills, They are now scared of coming home because they can't catch up with us," she says. "Personally I did not want to be employed, so it helped me return home. I don't admire anyone I left there, life is too fast, too hectic, I used to study and work full time," she confesses. Sometime last year, a bar opened up on Kampala Road, Victoria Tavern immediately became one of the hottest night spots in town. The man behind it is a 46-year former Nkuba-kyeyo Abdullah Jjunju. He has been given the award of investor in the people by the city North London for his bar. Jjunju left for the UK in 1989 to buy spare parts for a garage he had in Kampala. "While there, I got an idea that I could stay there and continue my education," he says. His father used to own a garage, Jjunju Motors, in Kampala and he had learnt the trade. "I was taken on by a Mzungu and I started working in his garage," he says. Later he took over the business and it became Jjunju Motors. His garage soon became very popular in London for both whites and Ugandans. He then became known as the Great Londoner, son of Africa. Jjunju then opened Juncare Limited, which was a nursing business but it closed. He also set up Jun International Trade and here, he says, he was among the first people in London to import second hand cars from Japan to London. He also set out to import brand name shoes like Nike and And1 from the US to London. These businesses are still operating so he goes to London every two months, though he is now based in Uganda. On his trips he usually goes with Bell beer. About investing in a bar he explains, "I am like [sic] enjoying life and I like being with people, therefore my priority was a bar," he says. Inside the bar flies the US, UK and Uganda flags. "It is a standard American style pub, so people who have been there feel at home," he says. Jjunju says its good for Ugandans to invest at home but to him it also has to do with business acumen. "Some people are naturally not business people, they prefer to work and eat what they make, I have no problem with them," he says. Jjunju also has a general electric shop in town and tried to start a beach in Entebbe but was failed by his landlord. "Now we are in court over that because he wanted to revoke his lease," he says. Hemdee, now in his mid twenties, who is also a son to musician Halima Namakula narrated how he phenomenally made money at a tender age. At his high school in Lengstan College, he doubled as a security guard. When he moved to California State University, he also used to work in the school library. He then moved on to do TV commercials and its here that he made big money, among popular ads for Sprite and Ericsson he made about $10,000 each. He featured in a TV series, Kenebal Run in the US and earned $100,000. "I used it to buy studio equipment and started No End studios in the US. Last year he transferred to Uganda. "Some Ugandans come back here and fail to set up businesses. They come here drive good cars and wear designer clothes, I don't blame them, life out there is hectic," he says. "They should enjoy the fruits of their labour," he adds. Herbert Luwagga, a 41-year-old former Nkuba-kyeyo, almost failed to start business when he returned to Uganda in 2001. Having left in 1989, he was out of touch with the Ugandan situation. "I had a lot of hopes, I set up a heavy haulage transport business," he says. "In Uganda, the drivers, the tax people, friends, relatives and everyone who knows you works to rip you off, that's why several people have gone back frustrated," he says. The drivers failed him and he decided to sell off the trucks. One of the trucks had been sold off by the Uganda Revenue Authority but they have since paid him after court intervention. "You need a business where you are in total control and there are no middle men," he says. From this experience, he ventured into real estate. "At least I know I have my land titles, my houses belong to me and I collect my rent," he says. He also owns a shop, Suits Men, at King Fahd Plaza where he hires out suits for weddings and other important functions. "However, its still hard; some people want to make off with the suits so we restrict ourselves to people we know and those who have been recommended by others we know," he says. To Luwagga, many Nkuba-kyeyo have failed in business because they are ripped off by those they entrust their businesses with. "Sometime they keep sending money home and the people they send the money tell them they are doing business on their behalf but they do it for themselves," he says. For Eddie Ssendikadiwa it was a matter of time while he was studying in London. From 6: 00 am to 9:00 am he was doing a cleaning job in Central London. From 10:00 am to 1:30 pm he was studying Computer Science at Princus College. From there he would quickly move to West London to work in a Supermarket from 4:00 pm to 11:00 pm. Over the weekend he used move to East London to work in a car hire firm. Now he owns BCE Brothers, one of the most known mobile phone shops in Kampala. For many Ugandans who have never gone abroad to work, the success of the former Nkuba-kyeyo is testimony that entandikwa works - if you use it wisely. And possibly that is the reason hundreds of Ugandans will queue daily at the gates of Western missions seeking visas to Europe or America - the 'Promised Land', so to speak.
| ||||||
� 2003 The Monitor Publications
Yahoo! Messenger - Communicate instantly..."Ping" your friends today! Download Messenger Now
