She is a cobbler!

By Vicky Wandawa

IF you were put to task to trace the proprietor of a two-room business under the name of Standard Bags, Shoes and Suitcase Repairers in Bwaise, chances are you would ask for a male cobbler.

However, Twaliha Nassali, a mother of two, has demystified the belief that only men can be cobblers.

As she scrutinises the sole of a grey peep-toe shoe, she occasionally raises her head to answer my questions. Nassali is a cobbler in Bwaise, on Bombo Road, opposite Tuff Foam.

Most cobblers’ workplaces usually comprise table-like wooden structures on which a few pairs of shoes are displayed. However, Nassali has two organised rooms serve as her workshop and store for the clients’ shoes, which are laid out on racks.

It started 10 years ago.

“My parents offered me an opportunity to pursue any course at a technical institute, Bukalagi, in Mpigi,” she says.

Nassali approached the principal and inquired which course needed the least capital to start. Since she is a woman, the principal advised her to go for tailoring, but as a by-the-way, he told her leather tanning required little capital to begin as a cobbler. All she needed was thread, a needle and a tree to sit under to repair shoes, compared to tailoring which would necessitate purchasing a sewing machine. 

“The principal said if I did not mind doing a man’s job, I should give it a try.”

Nassali then pursued a two-year course in shoemaking and leather tanning. Upon completion; she was employed by a male cobbler. However, a bigger dream was burning in her. “I knew I would start my own business.” Two years later, her dream materialised and with money from her husband together with her savings, Nassali purchased equipment to start work as a cobbler. It included a sh5m machine for replacing heels, a sh500,000 drier and a sh1.5m sewing machine.

She then rented two rooms in Wandegeya. Eight months on, it was not easy getting clients because many did not trust her to do as good a job as the men. “However, the clients I’d attracted passed on word about my services and that my work was neat. It was easy for other clients to find me because I was the only female cobbler.”

She purchases the materials that include heels and soles, from Industrial Area. “Sometimes I buy the materials from the city, but I prefer those from Industrial Area because although they are expensive, they are stronger.”

Her greatest challenge is the frequent power cuts as her machines use power. In addition, some clients abandon their shoes and bags for a long time. Nassali has over 20 abandoned pairs of shoes. However, due to capital constraints, Nassali only hires one assistant.

Nevertheless, she is happy because from the business she can foot electricity bills, transport fares and meals. “I even managed to buy land, from my savings,” she boasts.

But she dreams of owning more than the two-room business. “My heart goes out to street children. I would like to start up a factory for repairs and employ them since this work is easy to learn. That would get them off the streets.”

Regarding her love life Nassali is uncomfortable talking about it. Nonetheless, she says when they were still together, her husband supported her business.

Luckily, her family is supportive of her career. They too contributed in raising the sh7m she used to purchase her equipment.

She has two children, a boy and a girl aged five and six respectively. However, because she has to be at work by 7:30am and retires after 8:00pm, she does not get to spend much time with them. She, therefore, enrolled them in boarding schools.

On if she would have a problems with her children becoming cobblers, she says: “I would not mind if my children took up this job, because it is enterprising. But I will not force them to do it if they have other talents they wish to develop.

Nassali advises women to avoid looking down on certain jobs. “Take on a job even if it is considered beneath you, as long as it earns you money. At the end of the day you too can look presentable.”