From Hide-and-Seek to High Performance: Dr Ngabirano inspires Pakasa Forum

KAMPALA - Dr Dennis Ngabirano, the force behind one of Uganda’s fastest-rising snacks brands, lit up the Pakasa Forum 2025 at Enterprise Uganda headquarters in Butabika with a candid, humorous and deeply reflective account of his entrepreneurial evolution.

Facing an audience of youth, women, business owners and aspiring innovators, he stripped away the glamour often associated with success and shared the gritty realities of his early hustle.

“I used to play hide-and-seek with law enforcers and tax collectors. Sometimes the products would be seized. Delivery vehicles impounded. Even the motorcycles wouldn’t survive. It was exhausting,” he admitted, triggering laughter and gasps in equal measure.

Those turbulent beginnings, he said, taught him an unforgettable truth: shortcuts are expensive. Between 2018 and 2019, he made a deliberate shift - from surviving in the shadows to operating in the light.

He registered properly, paid taxes, met quality standards and adopted the discipline practised by formal companies.

That single decision, he said, became the turning point. He switched from sealing his products using candles to machines.

“Once we complied with standards and laws, I was finally free to focus on innovation, expanding markets and identifying new opportunities. Compliance is not a punishment; it is a growth tool.”

Never too early, never too little

Ngabirano urged budding entrepreneurs to start building wealth without waiting for perfect conditions.

Ngabirano urged the audience to stay attuned to development programs and financing windows that support growth. (Credit: Miriam Namutebi)

“It is never too early to start investing, and the resources you have are never too little,” he said. “Start where you are. Start with what you have.”

He stressed financial discipline - saving consistently, reinvesting wisely and resisting the temptation to spend business money before the enterprise stabilises.

Today, the obstacles he faces are different - more sophisticated but also more rewarding.

“These days I worry about competitors, staff welfare, consistent supply chains - and that’s a good thing. It means the business has matured,” he said with a smile.

He urged the audience to stay attuned to development programs and financing windows that support growth.

Pakasa forum participants enjoy Sumz crisps. (Credit: Miriam Namutebi)

He highlighted eco-funding initiatives, youth and women empowerment schemes, and innovation grants as avenues that determined entrepreneurs can tap into.

“Opportunities are everywhere. If you keep your eyes open, you’ll find support that accelerates your business without drowning you in debt,” he said.