SSagala reaps millions from cake
Nov 23, 2009
TO Catherine Ssagala, cake is not just a delicacy but a lifetime career. Ssagala’s career journey began in 1985 when she joined Urlika in Ggogonya Convent in Kisubi to pursue a two-year catering course.
By Juliet Lukwago
TO Catherine Ssagala, cake is not just a delicacy but a lifetime career. Ssagala’s career journey began in 1985 when she joined Urlika in Ggogonya Convent in Kisubi to pursue a two-year catering course.
After her course, she returned to her parent’s home in Mutundwe where she got the first contract from someone who was going to wed. After baking the cake, Ssagala did not have anything to use for packaging.
“A friend of mine gave me a polythene bag. I used a wire mesh as an alternative for a cake step ladder,†she says.
Ssagala’s husband has been supportive to his wife. When the business grew, he resigned from his teaching job and joined her in baking cakes.
When she went to Masajja, she bought a local oven, rented a shop to sell cakes from and purchased a bicycle which her husband used to distribute cakes.
Over the years, her customer base has expanded. She supplies cakes in supermarkets and on weddings.
Ssagala says: “We pay school fees for our six children in good schools employ 15 people. We have also bought over 10 cars to help us in distributing our products.â€
She now manages a cake company at Najjanankumbi. Her company also trains young people who want to get into cake business. Ssagala is also investing in real estate.
‘We have purchased land at Masajja, Najjanankumbi, Buzzi, Namilyango and Kawuku where we are constructing a flat. We are also constructing rental houses at Ndejje.
Ssagala advises young people people not to despise small business enterprises. She says determination is the greatest capital. What began as a small business is expanding into a multimillion industry.
Ssagala’s ambition continues to grow with her business, but not even the millions of profit have robbed her of her humility.
TO Catherine Ssagala, cake is not just a delicacy but a lifetime career. Ssagala’s career journey began in 1985 when she joined Urlika in Ggogonya Convent in Kisubi to pursue a two-year catering course.
After her course, she returned to her parent’s home in Mutundwe where she got the first contract from someone who was going to wed. After baking the cake, Ssagala did not have anything to use for packaging.
“A friend of mine gave me a polythene bag. I used a wire mesh as an alternative for a cake step ladder,†she says.
Ssagala’s husband has been supportive to his wife. When the business grew, he resigned from his teaching job and joined her in baking cakes.
When she went to Masajja, she bought a local oven, rented a shop to sell cakes from and purchased a bicycle which her husband used to distribute cakes.
Over the years, her customer base has expanded. She supplies cakes in supermarkets and on weddings.
Ssagala says: “We pay school fees for our six children in good schools employ 15 people. We have also bought over 10 cars to help us in distributing our products.â€
She now manages a cake company at Najjanankumbi. Her company also trains young people who want to get into cake business. Ssagala is also investing in real estate.
‘We have purchased land at Masajja, Najjanankumbi, Buzzi, Namilyango and Kawuku where we are constructing a flat. We are also constructing rental houses at Ndejje.
Ssagala advises young people people not to despise small business enterprises. She says determination is the greatest capital. What began as a small business is expanding into a multimillion industry.
Ssagala’s ambition continues to grow with her business, but not even the millions of profit have robbed her of her humility.