Kazire's sh10b business empire built out of herbs

At only 33 years old, Edward Kazire is a household name in western Uganda largely because of his herbal clinics and health drinks. His business empire is valued at over sh10b and he employs about 300 people. Yet things have been anything but easy for this chemistry graduate.

Kazire’s employees inspecting a tea leaves plantation in Ruhinda in western Uganda

Fresh from university, he had to endure ridicule from villagers, who labelled him “mad” and “bewitched” when he quit a (low-paying) job in Kampala and returned to his village in Rukungiri district to pick herbs from the bushes.  He told Caroline Ariba and Nickson Turyahokayo how years later, he has built a business empire from these herbs. This story can be accessed in the E-paper here

Kazire’s research laboratory under construction on Mbarara-Kabale Road. It is expected to cost sh7b