‘I do not worry about dirtying my fingernails’
Jan 06, 2009
YOU would mistake her for a man. She climbs ladders as fast as a man. “What I am doing now is what I have craved for all my school life,†says Babirye Kavulu, who works with Katwe Dynamo Steel Works (KDSW).
By John Kasozi
YOU would mistake her for a man. She climbs ladders as fast as a man. “What I am doing now is what I have craved for all my school life,†says Babirye Kavulu, who works with Katwe Dynamo Steel Works (KDSW).
The company deals in repairs, services and fabrication of industrial electrical gadgets like generators, switch gears, motors, lint bailing systems, welding machines, battery chargers and industrial step-up-and-down transformers.
Since childhood, the 23-year-old yearned for an engineering course, but her father was unable to raise her fees.
Babirye sat her A’level in 2006 at Masaka Secondary School. She offered Physics, Economics, Mathematics and Fine Art.
“Since I loved engineering, my father approached the owner of KDSW to take me on for informal training as he looked for my tuition. In January 2007, I was confirmed as a staff member,†she recalls.
Her training took her through servicing and repairing different makes of generators like Yanmar, Honda, Max, Tiger and Lister.
To her surprise, Babirye was received by other workers at the company with open arms.
“I integrated easily among the men. They were kind and guided me whenever I asked. But I am still learning
“Some of our customers are surprised to see a woman’s hands and clothes soiled with oil. They cannot believe a woman can take on an occupation dominated by men
“And when they find me fixing something underneath the engine, they wait impatiently to see me. They are stunned when I straighten up,†says Babirye.
She says the occupation has exposed her to a number of people and is able to express herself, unlike the majority of women.
“This is the only way we can be emancipated. If women continue shunning men’s jobs, they will never leave the kitchen,†she says.
Babirye says with hands-on skills, one cannot sleep on an empty stomach.
“The skills are embedded in you and the jobs are readily available.â€
Frank Kiberu Nsubuga is among the 500 people who received training at Katwe Dynamo. He joined the sector about 15 years ago and does not regret his decision.
A resident of Katwe Sapoba zone, Kiberu says he was working as a typewriter and calculator technician before joining the sector.
When he saw the computer age taking over typewriters in the 1980s, Kiberu changed jobs to avoid unemployment. A friend introduced him to Katwe Dynamo for a five-year course in servicing, repairs and fabrication of electrical equipment like grinders, drills and welding machines.
Kiberu grasped the basics easily because of his technical background. “After seven years, I started my own business. They treated me well, but I had to go move on.â€
He says the occupation is good, but their biggest challenges are fake and expensive materials on the market.
A kilogramme of rewinding copper wire costs sh25,000, from sh8,000 in the 1980s. A 1.5mm metal sheet gauge that cost sh35,000, now goes for sh110,000.
Kiberu urges the Government to revive technical schools that admit pupils who cannot make it to secondary school.
“Currently, I am training three students who sat their O’Level last year.â€
Fred Mugema, a former student of Kisubi Technical Institute concurs.
After his general electrical engineering course at Kisubi, he went for further studies at Nakawa Vocational Institute, where he underwent training in repairing and servicing motors, transformers and generators.
Later, Mugema applied for a job at Katwe Dynamo and was admitted. His first assignment was to repair a motor, which he handled successful.
He says the sector is good, but the increase in electricity tariffs is bogging it down.
“Many people have closed down their hullers due to high electricity tariffs. Prices for rewinding copper wires and steel sheets are increased every after six months.â€
He says the Uganda Small Scale Industrial Association and Gatspy have not been of any help to them.
“We need a strong association to lobby for us,†Mugema advises women to embrace hands-on jobs.
Experts acknowledge that the few women who have joined the sector are good at motor rewinding because their hands are soft and patient, unlike men’s.
He decries the fake electrical materials that have flooded the market. Genuine rewinding copper wires used to be imported from England, but now come from Asian and the Middle East. Most electrical gadgets are rewound using these, which heat up excessively.
YOU would mistake her for a man. She climbs ladders as fast as a man. “What I am doing now is what I have craved for all my school life,†says Babirye Kavulu, who works with Katwe Dynamo Steel Works (KDSW).
The company deals in repairs, services and fabrication of industrial electrical gadgets like generators, switch gears, motors, lint bailing systems, welding machines, battery chargers and industrial step-up-and-down transformers.
Since childhood, the 23-year-old yearned for an engineering course, but her father was unable to raise her fees.
Babirye sat her A’level in 2006 at Masaka Secondary School. She offered Physics, Economics, Mathematics and Fine Art.
“Since I loved engineering, my father approached the owner of KDSW to take me on for informal training as he looked for my tuition. In January 2007, I was confirmed as a staff member,†she recalls.
Her training took her through servicing and repairing different makes of generators like Yanmar, Honda, Max, Tiger and Lister.
To her surprise, Babirye was received by other workers at the company with open arms.
“I integrated easily among the men. They were kind and guided me whenever I asked. But I am still learning
“Some of our customers are surprised to see a woman’s hands and clothes soiled with oil. They cannot believe a woman can take on an occupation dominated by men
“And when they find me fixing something underneath the engine, they wait impatiently to see me. They are stunned when I straighten up,†says Babirye.
She says the occupation has exposed her to a number of people and is able to express herself, unlike the majority of women.
“This is the only way we can be emancipated. If women continue shunning men’s jobs, they will never leave the kitchen,†she says.
Babirye says with hands-on skills, one cannot sleep on an empty stomach.
“The skills are embedded in you and the jobs are readily available.â€
Frank Kiberu Nsubuga is among the 500 people who received training at Katwe Dynamo. He joined the sector about 15 years ago and does not regret his decision.
A resident of Katwe Sapoba zone, Kiberu says he was working as a typewriter and calculator technician before joining the sector.
When he saw the computer age taking over typewriters in the 1980s, Kiberu changed jobs to avoid unemployment. A friend introduced him to Katwe Dynamo for a five-year course in servicing, repairs and fabrication of electrical equipment like grinders, drills and welding machines.
Kiberu grasped the basics easily because of his technical background. “After seven years, I started my own business. They treated me well, but I had to go move on.â€
He says the occupation is good, but their biggest challenges are fake and expensive materials on the market.
A kilogramme of rewinding copper wire costs sh25,000, from sh8,000 in the 1980s. A 1.5mm metal sheet gauge that cost sh35,000, now goes for sh110,000.
Kiberu urges the Government to revive technical schools that admit pupils who cannot make it to secondary school.
“Currently, I am training three students who sat their O’Level last year.â€
Fred Mugema, a former student of Kisubi Technical Institute concurs.
After his general electrical engineering course at Kisubi, he went for further studies at Nakawa Vocational Institute, where he underwent training in repairing and servicing motors, transformers and generators.
Later, Mugema applied for a job at Katwe Dynamo and was admitted. His first assignment was to repair a motor, which he handled successful.
He says the sector is good, but the increase in electricity tariffs is bogging it down.
“Many people have closed down their hullers due to high electricity tariffs. Prices for rewinding copper wires and steel sheets are increased every after six months.â€
He says the Uganda Small Scale Industrial Association and Gatspy have not been of any help to them.
“We need a strong association to lobby for us,†Mugema advises women to embrace hands-on jobs.
Experts acknowledge that the few women who have joined the sector are good at motor rewinding because their hands are soft and patient, unlike men’s.
He decries the fake electrical materials that have flooded the market. Genuine rewinding copper wires used to be imported from England, but now come from Asian and the Middle East. Most electrical gadgets are rewound using these, which heat up excessively.