Pakasa Forum; "Ideas alone don't bring success. But action can"

Pakasa Forum; a Youth to Business Forum 2015 was under the theme; “YOUTH SHAPING UGANDA: THEINNOVATIVE MIND.”

 

The key note speaker; Emmanuel Katongole; took the audience through his humble background from birth in 1962.

 

Born to illiterate parents in Masaka, Emmanuel Katongole spoke about his early childhood struggles, becoming the first student in his village to join secondary school, University education and how he quit employment to join the private sector.

“In my entire village I was the first person to go to secondary school..." said Emmanuel Katongole; Chairman; Ciplar Quality Chemicals Ltd, during the Pakasa Forum at taking place at Kampala Parents School.
  

“During the 1966 war my father left home. We have never seen him again. We think he is dead. My Mother who remained a single Mom denied my sisters education to give me a chance to study. She gambled on me,’ revealed Emmanuel Katongole.
 

Katongole said his turning point was when he decided to resign from his job and along with some friends ventured in to private business; started Quality Chemicals in Kisenyi back then. "A couple of friends and I, came up with the business idea and each contributed money out of our personal savings and pooled our money together as the starting capital," said Emannuel Katongole.

 

 Our business that started small has since grown to manufacture internationally certified medical drugs.
 

He said their chemical company has since grown, won many awards, gained global recognition and had tremendous impact in Uganda and Africa.
  

“Today in partnership with Uganda government Ciplar Quality Chemicals have managed to raise the number of HIV/ AIDS patients on treatment from about 1,000 people to over one million people today. On Malaria our dream is to bring the mortality rate to zero. No Ugandan should die of Malaria,” Emmanuel Katongole said.
 

Mr. Katongole urged the youth never to look at any job as being low. He revealed that over 100,000 welders will be needed in the emerging oil industry in Uganda. He encouraged the youth to take advantage of this by acquiring necessary skills.

Mr Katongole encouraged the youth to dream big, but start small and scale up fast.

 

“Ideas alone don’t bring success. But action can. Be a doer,” quipped the Ciplar Quality Chemicals Ltd boss.

On success, Katongole said; “One must have a desire, determination, dedication, but above all have discipline especially when money starts coming.” He also warned the youth against associating with negative people. 

“Associate with people who encourage and build you,” said Katongole.
  

“When you start making money share it with those who need it the most, however little you have. Never wait to accumulate millions before you start helping people in need. This should be a fundamental principle for any business,” Mr Emmanuel Katongole advised.

 

Vision Group in partnership with AIESEC Uganda organized the Youth to Business Forum 2015 under the theme; “YOUTH SHAPING UGANDA: THEINNOVATIVE MIND.” 
 

A panel of young entrepreneurs at the forefront of breaking new ground in enterprise was lined up for the event.  Jayne Frances Nakato; Director Kinder Kare Schools, Nulu Naluyombya; Founder and Executive Director; Success Chapter, Stephen Sembuya; Co-Founder and CEO Pink Foods Industries and Solomon King Benge; Founder of Fundi Bots and Robotics Non-Profit, were the selected panelists.
 

Mr. Emmanuel Katongole; the Executive Chairman; Cipla Quality Chemicals Ltd was the key note speaker.