He Sells fish, beef for tuition

I am Henry Sserugo, a second year student of development economics at Makerere University, 22 years. I was born in Masaka District to the late Joseph Bagundidde and Rose Namutebi. I am the third born in the family of six.

Education Background
I started school at St Joseph Primary School in Nkoni but it is Uganda Martyrs Primary School Namugongo where I sat Primary Leaving Examinations.
I attended O’Level at Kiteredde Secondary School in Kyotera, Rakai District after which I sat for my A’Level at St Lawrence Creamland Campus.

How I started out
In my Senior Six vacation in 2013, my father, who was paying my school fees, died. This was a devastating experience and it actually became a turning point in my life.

Amidst my grief, I was admitted to Makerere University on private sponsorship. I could not celebrate because my mother could not afford to pay tuition fees and also take care of my siblings. I did not want to miss the opportunity of studying something I was passionate about.

I took matters in my own hands and decided to start a business with Shs300,000 I had saved since Senior One. I thought of processing fish and meat for I had seen potential market for the products.

On the grind
I went to Macdough Plastics to look for the best containers that would suit the business. I wanted to begin with 100 tins but I was told that they only sell in bulk, so I had to pay for a full sack of 374 tins at Shs74,000.

I later proceeded to Kasenyi landing site where I purchased 10kgs of silver fish at Shs100,000. I took them to my uncle’s place in Kanyanya, a suburb in Kampala, for processing.

He was aware of the business since he had allocated me a room.
After processing the silver fish, I filled up 269 tins and went to various hostels in Kikoni selling them to students. I also moved to schools around Kampala selling them to students and teachers.

Three weeks later, I had made Sh480,000. I used Sh100,000 of this to venture into meat processing like I had initially planned.
I bought 7kgs of beef at Shs70,000 and processed it—filling 19 tins. Of these, I sold nine tins at Shs8,000 each. I used another Shs100,000 and bought chicken that I processed and got 16 tins selling off 11 at Sh10,000 each.

I got an opportunity to supply a box of each of my products at a supermarket in Wandegeya where I was paid Shs528,000 for my products, which I topped up and made my first deposit on my tuition fees at Makerere University.

From then on, I started paying for tuition in installments. In fact, I use banking slips to sit for papers.

Market
My market is largely in the secondary schools around Kampala and the various hostels in Kikoni. I also supply my products to two supermarkets.

The balance
Since I do the processing and packaging over the weekend, I wake up at 4:30am on the weekdays and read up to 6am before preparing for lectures at 7am.

After my first lecture, I scout for my target customers (secondary schools) scheduling appointments with the school authorities to talk to students mostly on assemblies about my products.

Then I go back to university to catch up with the rest of the lectures later in the day. I do the purchases on Friday evenings.
When the semester commences, I study the timetable for when I will be free so as I can execute my businesses and also make it for the lectures, which is my core principle of being at the university.

Other activities
However, I also make time to unwind. I listen to gospel music; watch football matches with my friends in their halls of residence.
I also participate in university church activities; I am a committee member, the Central Executive Committee of St Augustine Chapel.
I am also the business advisor of entrepreneurship group of Development Economics class 2014.

For all the three products, I am able to make Shs87,000 that I set aside per week to cater for my tuition upon deducting petty expenses like buying handouts and upkeep.

Where I stay
When I started out, I was staying at my uncle’s residence in Kanyanya. But over time it became expensive to commute from there to university.

When I explained this dilemma to a friend, Johnson Nuwahereza, he took me on as his roommate. In exchange, I discuss for him and contribute Shs200,000 per semester. My mother helps me raise this money.

Why I keep going
I am a determined person. Amid the enormous challenges, I just keep working to push my business farther.
I seek to learn every day and I am open to all kinds of criticism to improve my business. I also consult people who know this business longer for more guidance.
I am also a flexible person who easily adapts to customers’ needs.

Challenges
My biggest challenge is paying tuition late, which in turn affects getting clearance for examinations.
Transporting of products to and from my workshop in Abayit’ ababiri, Entebbe to probable customers is a tedious process, which also eats into my savings.

Delivering of customer consignments when it comes to examination time is hard because of the tight schedule. Yet, I cannot afford to hire an assistant.