I built from selling shoes, clothes in Owino Market
After completing Senior Six, I joined my father who was selling clothes in Owino. I loved the business. Even though he was dealing in men’s jeans and shirts, I invested in women’s clothes when I rented my own stall. I realised university girls and those in high school loved second-hand clothes beca
Joseph Tumwesigye narrates to Esther Namirimu how he built a house from selling second-hand clothes and shoes in St. Balikuddembe (Owino Market).
After completing Senior Six, I joined my father who was selling clothes in Owino. I loved the business. Even though he was dealing in men’s jeans and shirts, I invested in women’s clothes when I rented my own stall. I realised university girls and those in high school loved second-hand clothes because they were cheap and unique.
For the seven months I worked for my father, he paid me sh5,000 a day, in addition to lunch and transport. I worked for six days a week. I used to save sh108,000 per month.
With the sh750,000 that I had saved in seven months, I rented a stall and started buying bales and selling clothes at wholesale price. I earned some good money, which dissuaded me from joining the university.
However, my father persuaded me to return to school since I had passed Senior Six with 23 points.
I joined Makerere University on evening programme, so that I would have time to manage my business. I worked during day and studied in the evening.
I also started carrying some of the clothes and shoes to the lecture room. Some of my classmates bought clothes and recommended me to their friends. Up to now, some of them have remained my loyal clients.
After buying a car, I started saving more money to buy land. I realised that the more money you get, the more the responsibilities. My cousins started asking me to pay school fees for their children.
On a good day, I could make a profit of about sh150,000 to sh200,000.
My business has grown from one stall to 10. I live a life far better than that of a person with a white-collar job. I also have shops that sell clothes from China, Turkey and Dubai, but I still deal in women and children’s clothes.
Construction process
I bought a piece of land in Munyonyo at sh5m in 1998 and started construction in 1999. The construction process was slow because I was paying my school fees and that of my nieces and nephews.
In 1999, I paid an architect sh350,000 for a house plan.
In March 2000, I hired three builders who cleared the land and began the construction. I paid the builders sh10,000 each for digging the foundation.
By then, a truck of sand was sh80,000. There is a house I used to admire in Entebbe, so I photographed it and showed the picture to the architect.
All I wanted was something like it, even if it was a smaller version. A brick cost sh50 and a bag of cement went for sh12,000.
Transporting the hardcore (stones) was sh100,000. I paid each builder sh5,000 and each porter sh1,500 daily and also fed them. They took porridge, milk and bread. Sometimes I offered them mandaazi. I started building with only sh3m.
By that time, construction materials were not as expensive as they are nowadays. I bought 100 bags of cement at sh1.2m. I wanted a house with a good foundation, so a lot of money was spent on stones.
After nine months, the house was at window level. When it came to roofing the house, I found a challenge. I was advised to get a bank loan and roof the house because it was easier to pay the loan than to save.
In March 2004, with the help of my father, I installed the water pipes and connected power. Both water and electricity installation cost me sh3.5m.
Tiling the floor also proved a challenge. Whenever you see a beautiful house, know it involved hardwork. Tiles give the house a warm and classy look, yet they are expensive. There Italian tiles cost sh40,000 per square metre.
Another challenge came from furnishing. It was expensive to insert the in-built wardrobes as well as fix windows and doors.
Though I took my time, I wanted to first complete the house before I would think of marrying.
Advice to the youth
By the time I bought land in Munyonyo, it was very cheap. The same piece of land now costs more than 20 times it cost me.
I advise the youth to save money and buy land because it is one of the best investments to make.
Do not despise jobs. I am a graduate, but my office is in Owino Market. I get good money, look after my family and relatives because I did not despise my job.