BUSINESS | PAKASA | MIREMBE

KAMPALA - In the first lockdown of 2020, Flavia Mirembe, then, a student at Makerere University studying a bachelor of science in community psychology grew tired of waiting for the education system to open up.  

“I was also fed up of only sleeping and eating,” she explains.

Besides, Mirembe reveals she saw her future passing her. “I did not know what next with this state of doing nothing,” she says. “I wanted to achieve my dreams so badly.”

Furthermore, Mirembe wanted to start earning. Since she loved children, and also had good organisational skills, she decided to venture into that.

“I reached out to people who wanted help in terms of temporarily taking care of their children on social media,” she says. “If you have a function and you do not have anyone to leave your children with, I will do the job for you.”

Mirembe says after posting that information on her WhatsApp page, it began a new journey of employment for her.

“First, it was my neighbour in Bugolobi who requested that I watched over his seven-year-old son so that she could dash to Kampala,” Mirembe reveals. “She gave me sh50,000 for the two hours though I had asked for sh20,000.”

The following day, Mirembe got a call from a businesswoman in Mutungo. She wanted her to stay with her two-year old daughter as she rushed off to Kikuubo market to shop for her business merchandise. 

Mirembe earned sh10.000 for the two hours she watched her child. Though she initially gave her little money, Mirembe says the woman has remained her customer and now she gives her sh30,000.

When it comes to pricing, Mirembe says she does not have a definite amount, but she will charge according to the time she spends in someone’s home. 

“If we agree on the duration,” she says “and you don’t keep it, then I will have to charge you for over time.”

In a good month, Mirembe earns between sh500,000 and sh600,000/=

Achievements

Mirembe says the job kept her busy throughout the lockdown period and even on the weekend when she was not studying. 

She was able to meet her immediate needs and also contribute to her family’s welfare.

Mirembe says she has some savings in bank of an untold amount since she keeps telling her employers to post the money on it. She recently lent a friend sh1,200,000 for rent.

Since she started the business, Mirembe a postgraduate student at Uganda Management Institute now pursuing a diploma in project planning and management says she lacks nothing. 

Even though she is still studying, Mirembe pursues her job during the weekends, on public holidays, and whenever she has free time.

challenges

Although the job has given her many rewards, Mirembe complains that some customers do not pay. 

“They say they will send the money, but they do not,” she says. A friend advised her to record the conversations and also have contracts.

Another hardship that comes with the job is defilement. 

“I one time was left with the guard and the children in the house,” Mirembe narrates. “The guard tried to force himself on me, I fought back as the children also helped me.”

Mirembe sprayed pepper in his eyes, which temporarily blinded the guard and was locked up until the owners of the house returned. The guard was expelled.

Advice

Instead of complaining about unemployment, Mirembe advises fellow youths to find out what they love and turn it into a money-minting venture