Andrew Kassaga, Uganda’s leading local constructor
Jul 04, 2005
Andrew Kassaga, popularly known as Zzimwe, was involved in a number of businesses before making his fortune in the construction industry, <b>Joshua Kato</b> tells us about his past.
Andrew Kassaga, popularly known as Zzimwe, was involved in a number of businesses before making his fortune in the construction industry, Joshua Kato tells us about his past.
In his home village, Zzimwe, in the west of Masaka, Andrew Kassaga is worshiped like a king. The reasons are obvious.
“He generously gives to residents of Zzimwe. Many rich people forget their villages, but Kassaga has not forgotten us,†says Simon Kizito, a resident.
“He always contributes to functions in the village. If he is unable to come, he sends a representative to deliver a ‘message.’ A big ‘message’ all the time. He has never disappointed us,†says Samson Mukasa, an elder.
Zzimwe’s small farming village would have been like any other village, had it not been for him. By naming his businesses after his village, Zzimwe has promoted it. He also employs many young men from his village in his companies.
“He has given them jobs and in return, they have invested in our village. Where do you ever find such an unselfish person in the world?†asks Mukasa.
Obviously, residents of Zzimwe village were disturbed by the allegations that their son was involved in fraud. It was alleged that he had participated in defrauding the Standard Chartered Bank of Kenya of billions of shillings.
“Such a thing cannot never happen. Some people hate our son because he is hardworking,†says Balaamu Lwanga, another resident of Zzimwe. “Those are enemies of development. They just have nuggu (envy) for our man,†says another resident. “We shall pray that the enemies do not win in this case.â€
About a month ago, the Kenyan police absolved Zzimwe of any involvement in the bank fraud.
Throughout the investigations, Zzimwe suspected that his rivals were fuelling up the issue to edge him out of business. “I will name these people in the future. For now, I hand them over to God,†he said.
Zzimwe is a wealthy man by all standards. He can afford the latest lavish cars, some even as presents for his children on their birthdays. He drives Mercedes and Lexus models.
His ‘palace’ at Muyenga is one of the largest abodes in the country. Each of his children has a pad, fully equipped with all modern luxuries.
He also donates to sports activities. He is one of the leading financiers of SC Villa, which he has financed since the early 1980s.
Zzimwe is also a party animal, who never misses out on any worthy party in town. This is largely a result of thousands of invitations he gets. Almost every musician invites Zzimwe to their CD or album launches. He also never disappoints them and he gives generously to the musicians.
Zzimwe has been involved in construction work for a long time. Among the big projects he has undertaken are: renovating Entebbe State House, constructing Kololo Airstrip, constructing security roads at the Uganda-Sudan border, constructing Rubaga Road. In January 2000, Zzimwe won a tender worth sh3b to cover pot-holes in 26 roads in Kampala city.
His company also constructed Kampala Parents School and FUFA House in Mengo.
Last year, another of his companies, JOKA Investments, won a tender to collect taxes in Kampala Central Division.
“He works his hands off on all the contracts he gets,†says a fellow businessman, adding that Zzimwe personally supervises the work, even though he employs many qualified people. “His close supervision ensures that his workers produce quality work,†the businessman says. Because of this, his company has developed into the leading locally-owned construction company in the country.
However, in 2003, Zzimwe Construction Company featured prominently in the Inspector General of Government’s report as one of the companies that do shoddy work.
Zzimwe became a businessman at the age of 10. His late father, Peter Kalema, was also a businessman. He did not go far in school because that was not his ‘life.’
“At 14, I started trading in coffee and cotton, which I sold to Indian businessmen,†he says. “After just four years, I had saved enough money to acquire a motor-cycle.â€
With more money, Zzimwe joined his father’s cattle business.
“We used to buy cattle from Mbarara and walk with them to Masaka, where we sold them off,†he says.
In 1962, he won a lottery worth sh4,000 that was organised by Kimaanya Seminary, which he invested in timber business.
“I bought several saws, employed several people and we went to the forests of Buyaga to cut the timber,†he says.
He soon contacted a friend in Kampala who bought the timber.
“When I arrived in Kampala, I did not want to go back to the village,†he says.
Zzimwe rented a small room at Katwe and started trading in fish.
“When the business picked up, I saved enough money and bought a pick-up truck,†he says.
Zzimwe used the truck to transport scarce goods to and from Kenya during the hectic years of Idi Amin. In the 1980s, he joined the hardware business and opened up Zzimwe Hardwares at Nakasero Market. “It was one of the leading hardware shops on Market Street,†says his friend.
Later, Zzimwe bought second-hand road construction equipment and began applying for contracts to seal pot-holes on the roads.
“He first won small contracts to fill pot-holes for mainly KCC before winning bigger ones in the early 1990s,†says Paul Magala, who worked with him for a long time.
On February 5, Zzimwe opened up the only locally-owned stone plant in the country.
The US$4m plant in Mukono puts him at par with quarries owned by powerful international construction companies like Spencon and ROKO.
It is estimated that Zzimwe’s fortune goes beyond sh15b. This includes assets like the construction equipment and fixed property like land and buildings.
It is believed that Zzimwe has links with people in high places, who help him win juicy tenders.
State House has meanwhile denied any ‘connections’ with him.
“Before President Museveni came into power, Zzimwe was just like any other small-time businessman. This is why people suspect that he has links with the State House and some top soldiers,†Magala says.
But Zzimwe is also a strategic worker. There are so many people who have connections with State House, but have failed to make it. “He plans ahead and follows the money. That is the attribute of a good entrepreneur,†says Magala.
Apart from his job, Zzimwe’s other love are his 14 children.
“He gives them whatever they like. Posh cars, nice houses in Muyenga and education in top Western universities. He loves them very much,†Magala says.
In his home village, Zzimwe, in the west of Masaka, Andrew Kassaga is worshiped like a king. The reasons are obvious.
“He generously gives to residents of Zzimwe. Many rich people forget their villages, but Kassaga has not forgotten us,†says Simon Kizito, a resident.
“He always contributes to functions in the village. If he is unable to come, he sends a representative to deliver a ‘message.’ A big ‘message’ all the time. He has never disappointed us,†says Samson Mukasa, an elder.
Zzimwe’s small farming village would have been like any other village, had it not been for him. By naming his businesses after his village, Zzimwe has promoted it. He also employs many young men from his village in his companies.
“He has given them jobs and in return, they have invested in our village. Where do you ever find such an unselfish person in the world?†asks Mukasa.
Obviously, residents of Zzimwe village were disturbed by the allegations that their son was involved in fraud. It was alleged that he had participated in defrauding the Standard Chartered Bank of Kenya of billions of shillings.
“Such a thing cannot never happen. Some people hate our son because he is hardworking,†says Balaamu Lwanga, another resident of Zzimwe. “Those are enemies of development. They just have nuggu (envy) for our man,†says another resident. “We shall pray that the enemies do not win in this case.â€
About a month ago, the Kenyan police absolved Zzimwe of any involvement in the bank fraud.
Throughout the investigations, Zzimwe suspected that his rivals were fuelling up the issue to edge him out of business. “I will name these people in the future. For now, I hand them over to God,†he said.
Zzimwe is a wealthy man by all standards. He can afford the latest lavish cars, some even as presents for his children on their birthdays. He drives Mercedes and Lexus models.
His ‘palace’ at Muyenga is one of the largest abodes in the country. Each of his children has a pad, fully equipped with all modern luxuries.
He also donates to sports activities. He is one of the leading financiers of SC Villa, which he has financed since the early 1980s.
Zzimwe is also a party animal, who never misses out on any worthy party in town. This is largely a result of thousands of invitations he gets. Almost every musician invites Zzimwe to their CD or album launches. He also never disappoints them and he gives generously to the musicians.
Zzimwe has been involved in construction work for a long time. Among the big projects he has undertaken are: renovating Entebbe State House, constructing Kololo Airstrip, constructing security roads at the Uganda-Sudan border, constructing Rubaga Road. In January 2000, Zzimwe won a tender worth sh3b to cover pot-holes in 26 roads in Kampala city.
His company also constructed Kampala Parents School and FUFA House in Mengo.
Last year, another of his companies, JOKA Investments, won a tender to collect taxes in Kampala Central Division.
“He works his hands off on all the contracts he gets,†says a fellow businessman, adding that Zzimwe personally supervises the work, even though he employs many qualified people. “His close supervision ensures that his workers produce quality work,†the businessman says. Because of this, his company has developed into the leading locally-owned construction company in the country.
However, in 2003, Zzimwe Construction Company featured prominently in the Inspector General of Government’s report as one of the companies that do shoddy work.
Zzimwe became a businessman at the age of 10. His late father, Peter Kalema, was also a businessman. He did not go far in school because that was not his ‘life.’
“At 14, I started trading in coffee and cotton, which I sold to Indian businessmen,†he says. “After just four years, I had saved enough money to acquire a motor-cycle.â€
With more money, Zzimwe joined his father’s cattle business.
“We used to buy cattle from Mbarara and walk with them to Masaka, where we sold them off,†he says.
In 1962, he won a lottery worth sh4,000 that was organised by Kimaanya Seminary, which he invested in timber business.
“I bought several saws, employed several people and we went to the forests of Buyaga to cut the timber,†he says.
He soon contacted a friend in Kampala who bought the timber.
“When I arrived in Kampala, I did not want to go back to the village,†he says.
Zzimwe rented a small room at Katwe and started trading in fish.
“When the business picked up, I saved enough money and bought a pick-up truck,†he says.
Zzimwe used the truck to transport scarce goods to and from Kenya during the hectic years of Idi Amin. In the 1980s, he joined the hardware business and opened up Zzimwe Hardwares at Nakasero Market. “It was one of the leading hardware shops on Market Street,†says his friend.
Later, Zzimwe bought second-hand road construction equipment and began applying for contracts to seal pot-holes on the roads.
“He first won small contracts to fill pot-holes for mainly KCC before winning bigger ones in the early 1990s,†says Paul Magala, who worked with him for a long time.
On February 5, Zzimwe opened up the only locally-owned stone plant in the country.
The US$4m plant in Mukono puts him at par with quarries owned by powerful international construction companies like Spencon and ROKO.
It is estimated that Zzimwe’s fortune goes beyond sh15b. This includes assets like the construction equipment and fixed property like land and buildings.
It is believed that Zzimwe has links with people in high places, who help him win juicy tenders.
State House has meanwhile denied any ‘connections’ with him.
“Before President Museveni came into power, Zzimwe was just like any other small-time businessman. This is why people suspect that he has links with the State House and some top soldiers,†Magala says.
But Zzimwe is also a strategic worker. There are so many people who have connections with State House, but have failed to make it. “He plans ahead and follows the money. That is the attribute of a good entrepreneur,†says Magala.
Apart from his job, Zzimwe’s other love are his 14 children.
“He gives them whatever they like. Posh cars, nice houses in Muyenga and education in top Western universities. He loves them very much,†Magala says.