Entrepreneur Profile
AVODA Entrepreneur Profile
Inspiring Stories From AVODA Entrepreneurs
As AVODA, we are committed to changing lives and communities one entrepreneur at a time. Read some of the stories from entrepreneurs and aspiring entrepreneurs who have gone through 4-week AVODA Bootcamp who wish to further their training at AVODA in its extensive 11 months entrepreneurship program.
Barbara Obonyo
Human Resource Manager
How was it like growing up?
Growing up with both my parents and seven siblings was great. We lacked for nothing in the early years as everything was well provided for. That all changed when our father died leaving my mum as a single parent. We had to quickly adjust to our new circumstances, however our mother did all she could to ensure we were well schooled and provided for. It was a challenge but, we had each other and she ensured to instill values and Godliness in us. Thank God she instilled values in us all that have enabled me be where I am today.
What are your aspirations as an entrepreneur?
As an aspiring entrepreneur, I would like to encourage knowledge sharing and mentoring, so as to ensure that my direct reports at work are expertly mentored towards growth within the company. I aspire to improve on my socializing skills through networking. I intend to work at setting new goals for myself aimed at self-discovery, to explore and develop any hidden talent within and nurture it so as to empower me in both my personal and professional life. I aspire through continuous learning to refine my skills and acquire new ones as well as work at improving my health and fitness.
As a Christian entrepreneur, how do you hope to use your business to transform your community and baptize your industry for God’s Kingdom?
As a Christian entrepreneur, I hope to use my business to transform my community and baptize my industry for God’s Kingdom through knowledge sharing and mentoring. To encourage willingness to work by ensuring to have Christ-like relationships based on truth and trust. I would like to transcend my community to greater heights by empowering people to go beyond their limitations. Use Porter’s five forces to identify and analyze the competitive forces that shape and help determine my industry’s weakness and strength. As well as understand the level of competition for enhancing my company’s long-term profitability.
Shadrack Nasser Kuteesa
CEO | Vine Entertainment Group
How was it like growing up?
I grew up with my mum and grandma as an Anglican Christian in Kako village in Masaka. At the age of 14 years I came to Kampala and met my moslem father and I started practicing Islam. Lost my father who died when I was 18 years, dropped out of school and around age 25 years I joined the music industry and promoted secular music. I started using and dealing drugs and battled addiction for 6 years. In 2015 gave my life to Christ, the Lord instructed me to use my passion and gifts for His kingdom, now am the director of Vine Entertainment Group.
What are your aspirations as an entrepreneur?
As a the CEO of Vine entertainment group, my aspiration is to use music and media to spread the gospel of our lord Jesus Christ and bring about transformation in the arts and entertainment sphere. Our vision is to be the leading Christian entertainment and media company in Africa.
As a Christian entrepreneur, how do you hope to use your business to transform your community and baptize your industry for God’s Kingdom?
- Creating events that offer clean fun and Christ centered content by populating the Christian events calendar (i. We organize Vine Awards that celebrate Christians who are influencing in the spheres of media, arts, family, education, business and governance. ii. Fuse concert which is a Christian hip hop concert. iii. Above the realm which is an inter church basketball tournament geared at creating unity in the body of Christ.)
- Promoting gospel music artists as a way to share the gospel through music and creating income for the artists.
Victor Namakajjo
College IT Student
How was it like growing up?
I grew up in a family of six with two brothers and one sister and my parents, growing up was more of a survival series with an abusive father and an unemployed mother, I had to learn how to depend on myself at a relatively young age which sent me to work in different places doing different jobs. But life changed when I decided to give my life to christ, my life regained purpose and ever since I have not looked back.
What are your aspirations as an entrepreneur?
I want to have one of the biggest entertainment companies in the world that bases on the roots i.e. the beauty in culture which is our origin.
As a Christian entrepreneur, how do you hope to use your business to transform your community and baptize your industry for God’s Kingdom?
I would like to use my business as a platform to effectively use the God-given talents in the youths in my community as well as help them earn a living through that. I would also use my business to spread the word of God to nations using creative performing arts.
Sheila Rita Kobusingye
How was it like growing up?
It was fun….yeah. Most times. Being the last born, I always had my way but I also got a lot of beatings. I was a small girl with a BIG personality and I was a big person in my head. I was very stubborn and I got on a lot of people’s nerves…I also had a big mouth which got me into trouble a lot of times. As I got older, I became more reserved, I was and still am loud….but in a reasonable way. Hahah! My childhood was awesome but AM HAPPY TO BE AN ADULT!
What are your aspirations as an entrepreneur?
I want to build businesses that will grow my community and bring the heart of God in business. Businesses that add value to people’s lives and ultimately make life easier and adventurous.
As a Christian entrepreneur, how do you hope to use your business to transform your community and baptize your industry for God’s Kingdom?
My business will embody the heart of christ, the passion to build resilient communities, hard working, faithful, committed and visionary people. Through business, I hope to show the relevance of christlikeness in the workplace which will then trickle into their personal and spiritual lives.
Denis Ouma
Business Consultant
How was it like growing up?
I am a third born out of 13 siblings. Born and raised in the rural eastern boarder district of Busia, Uganda. I have undergone part of Uganda’s National Education curriculum up to University level. This would later be disrupted by a fatal road accident from where I sustained a spinal cord injury. l would later resume my fourth year after eight years. Consequently, to try and address the challenges faced by people living with disability, I am a disability rights advocate, social worker and emerging entrepreneur.
What are your aspirations as an entrepreneur?
To build the biggest Marketing, Branding, and Communications Agency in East Africa which shall become the preferred choice across Africa. As a growing rabbit farmer, I intend to become Uganda’s biggest supplier of rabbit meat.
As a Christian entrepreneur, how do you hope to use your business to transform your community and baptize your industry for God’s Kingdom?
My business core purpose is to mainstream disability as an integral part of marketing across the world. In Uganda alone there are more than 6.5 million people living with some form of disability. These kinds of statistics directly translate into a huge consumer power base. Gone are the days where persons with disability were looked at from a corporate social responsibility angle, we are genuine consumers of products and services. Big companies must be intentional on reaching out to this untapped market potential of disabled consumers. As a Christian, my company, therefore seeks to break the silence, preach and promote equality amongst human beings before God with similar potential except for being differently abled.
Kenneth Kanzairwe
Founder at Elementary School
How was it like growing up?
My childhood was a happy one. I grew up in a big family. I am the last born of seven children. Our home was always full of laughter, stories, games and work. My parents did not have much but taught us to be independent and work hard at an early age. As the designated errand boy, I really enjoyed going to the market and shopping for groceries and other home supplies. What I enjoyed the most was traveling to the countryside for the holidays because I would spend time with my grandmother and herd cattle in the beautiful landscape.
What are your aspirations as an entrepreneur?
I am passionate about helping people know God, discover their purpose and use their God given purpose to change other people lives. Through education and agriculture, I hope to raise a generation of missional young people that can adequately respond to challenges within their communities. We currently have a school and agribusiness in Kampala. The goal is to use these as a model to scale to at least ten major towns in the next 25 years. The purpose of the agricultural projects is to financially support development of the schools and provide entrepreneurship and apprenticeship opportunities for students.
As a Christian entrepreneur, how do you hope to use your business to transform your community and baptize your industry for God’s Kingdom?
The 2013 Millennium Development Goals report by UNDP and the Government of Uganda, indicates that there are about 600,000 to 700,000 new entrants into the labor market each year in Uganda, and more than 95 percent of these are youths. However, it is estimated that out of these, only 9,000 find jobs. Quality of education is a huge contributing factor in addressing job creation and entrepreneurship, so as a school, we have adopted the Montessori curriculum to develop individual gifting, train independence and entrepreneurship in order to raise job creators and young entrepreneurs.
Parallel to the education of the mind, we will provide an intentional discipleship process for all people in our community. This we believe will help disciple our communities to know God better, discover their individual purpose and gifting to serve others.
Finally, one of our core values as a business is people. We want to serve the people in our communities by modelling and creating a work environment that is marked by authenticity, love, collaboration, dignity and respect for all. We hope that doing these three things above as a business community we will contribute to the transformation of our community and industry as a whole.
Janai Jiwani
founder | Awakened Mind Institute
How was it like growing up?
I grew up in a dysfunctional home. My parents divorced at 8, and my father had custody of my elder sister and me. He did his very best to provided for all our basic needs. We went to good schools and never lacked. Nonetheless, the social atmosphere at home was manipulative and we encountered a lot of emotional, psychological abuse and neglect. At 19 I converted to Christianity but I still struggled with childhood traumas that hindered my ability to socialize, believe in myself, and pursue my dreams.
What are your aspirations as an entrepreneur?
I want to empower children and families to be Resilient Resolute and Responsible. Every family amasses unique struggles hidden from society, children however get the bitter end of the deal. Mathew 18:5 says “whoever welcomes one such child in my name welcomes me. I envision children centers in Africa that are safe for children to be heard understood and guided. Using therapeutic fun games and mentorship programs they will gain knowledge, skills, and a healthy mindset for positive behavior change. Bad behavior is only a reflection of inner brokenness, that needs love, understanding, and guidance.
As a Christian entrepreneur, how do you hope to use your business to transform your community and baptize your industry for God’s Kingdom?
When we look around we can’t fail to notice the rise in mental illness, domestic violence, and the effect social media has on children today. Parents, today, enslaved to long hard hours of work leaving their children to chance, need someone they trust to guide and mentor their children. But most importantly to help parents see Christ in their children. By mentoring and training young fresh graduates searching for jobs we can provide a stable ground for them to find jobs. And in turn, empower them to pursue even bigger kingdom dreams.
Samuel Nkaka
Fruits & Vegetable Exporter
How was it like growing up?
I grew up in a christian family and sunday services were a “must” attendance. Am second of six children. Growing up was an adventure for me. We were stubborn so that got us in alot of trouble some of which we heavily paid for and some others we got away with it. We also travelled alittle bit growing up.
What are your aspirations as an entrepreneur?
I want to be an inspirations to others but first I need to know what am doing before I inspire. I also want to be able to afford the needs of my family to be. I also want to teach.
As a Christian entrepreneur, how do you hope to use your business to transform your community and baptize your industry for God’s Kingdom?
Teaching what I learn is one way I wish to ensure that even my fellow brothers and sisters are able to do Kingdom business so that they are able to teach others too. Also there are a few churches in the village which need renovation I hope to be able to do something about it.
Robert Dibya
Director | Jerodi Trading Company
How was it like growing up?
I grew up with my grandma after the death of my father. My mummy was unable to take care of us that she gave up on us and our grandma took us in. We were born 6 children (3 boys and 3 girls) but unfortunately one girl died as she was around 4 years. I grew up digging on our family land as the major source of food.
What are your aspirations as an entrepreneur?
To employ as many people as possible so we sweep poverty out of my country. Many people are unemployed and have no money!
As a Christian entrepreneur, how do you hope to use your business to transform your community and baptize your industry for God’s Kingdom?
By ensuring that every business action is baptized with Godly way of doing things.
Pearl Katusiime
University Student
How was it like growing up?
Growing up was never easy. I didn’t grow up with my parents so sometimes it meant hustling. Looking for money here and there.
What are your aspirations as an entrepreneur?
My aspirations as an entrepreneur is to help the unfortunate especially those with nothing because I know what it feels to have nothing. To build an empire with my clothing brand.
As a Christian entrepreneur, how do you hope to use your business to transform your community and baptize your industry for God’s Kingdom?
Change the direction of your business. Invest more time working on your business. Start tracking everything concerning your business. Revisit your objectives. (Where there is no vision, the people perish: but he that keeping the law, happy is he) Proverbs 29:18.
Spend more time promoting your business. Improve the quality of your product or service. Experiment with new things. Improve customer satisfaction. Build a strong relationship with your community.
Rehemah Nanteza
Business Owner | Ladies Hair
How was it like growing up?
Growing up was more like a struggle but fun! I grew up in a family of 4 children and I am the third born! Iwas raised by a single mother and this taught me alot especially in areas of working for myself and becoming more of a strong person and independent! Life was always about figuring out what to do to survive. I tried many different jobs until i saved some little money and started my own business! I have a shop of hair extensions in down town(gazland) and I have been running it since 2017.
What are your aspirations as an entrepreneur?
- I always look back and see where God has brought me from! I literally had no idea about hair business when I started it! All I did was to pray and ask for directions and also trusting Him!
- What keeps my going is always remembering my past, what I have achieved and believing in God’s promises for me!
- Iwant to see my business growing every year and this helps me to take bigger steps every single day.
As a Christian entrepreneur, how do you hope to use your business to transform your community and baptize your industry for God’s Kingdom?
- I get many customer who are in my age and some of them are Christian and others are not! How ever I make friends from both sides, I find myself connecting with some of them and they get to tell me about their lives! We get to talk about God and how we can trust him with everything!
- My business exposes me to a number of youth, I am a very approachable person and this helps me to connect with my customers and help them to find their identity in christ. To me my business is not just about making money, yeah I love to make money! but I also feel like God has put me in this place to help the young girls who struggle with a number of issues.
- I try to transfer the ideas that I get from my work place and share them with other people outside! Through my business I learned how to make my own wigs! Before covid I had started teaching a small group of single mothers, we would meet talk about God, bring back hope into each other and learn how to make money I hope to do it again when the situation normalize.
Sudais Gumisiriza
Swimming Coach
How was it like growing up?
I was born in Isingiro district Western side of Uganda. I lost my parents in 2012 and dropped school because of school fees and started talking care of my siblings this is where I joined swimming, and now I am swimming coach. During covid 19 lockdown, I started learning plumbing and as for now am plumber. Also started a foundation where we help children and adults.
What are your aspirations as an entrepreneur?
I started a foundation to help those who can’t help themselves and that’s all I want as long as I can get something for these people like food, clothes, school fees, and so on.
As a Christian entrepreneur, how do you hope to use your business to transform your community and baptize your industry for God’s Kingdom?
By God’s mercy I will focus on helping people through organizing sports events like football and drama.
Doreen Nsubuga
Children Reach Out Worke
How was it like growing up?
I grew up in Kampala with both my parents and 3 siblings. I lost my Dad at 8 years, that’s when I grew up a little faster. I became a leader at an early age. I am a second born of 4 children and the first girl in my family so that’s where leadership came in. My older brother was a little lost most of the time, so I had to step up in his role many times. Not growing up with a dad, was not easy, my mum always hustled to raise us with the little she had.
What are your aspirations as an entrepreneur?
I aspire to reach children by training teachers in sectors like churches and schools to help children learn by touching their hearts. I believe it doesn’t matter what subject you teach as long as you aim for the heart of the child and not the head, they will learn better. The better the teacher, the better the student.
As a Christian entrepreneur, how do you hope to use your business to transform your community and baptize your industry for God’s Kingdom?
Through scripture we see the way Jesus taught was very different from the way other people taught. His message of hope touched the hearts of men, women and children and that’s where the transformation happened. This is the same principle I would like to use in the content that I will be sharing with teachers, first in Uganda and then around the world. These teachers will lead and teach just like Jesus did.
Olivier Ebengela
Small Business Owner
How was it like growing up?
I started my business with very small capital and I bought some of very needed materials after I tried to advertise my job up to the time started to figure out how good is my work. I do cake bakery, I make samosa, chapati, healthy juices.
What are your aspirations as an entrepreneur?
My aspiration when I look to the environment, there is a big gap which I’m trying to fill by providing what is missing. I have many things that I want to reach like supplying all my products around Kampala and giving consultation to people from refugees camp. They always ask for help but I get spread too thin to help them enough given their problem of materials for baking.
As a Christian entrepreneur, how do you hope to use your business to transform your community and baptize your industry for God’s Kingdom?
In order to transform communities, I will start from small things that we normally do like providing excellent services and products and even on our uniform to put there a bible verse when someone read it, it will transform him or her. Another thing is to give a customer care by also treating well our customers and I think bearing good fruit as instructed in the Bible can go a long way to change people.
Jules Ndabarishye
Photographer & Videographer
How was it like growing up?
I am a videographer and photographer. I started this business 4 years back. I Started by taking photos of people and people used to appreciate my work and I said why not make it profession. I went to study this very well in university and after I started with very few customers but day after day I tried to take even some photos for free in order to market myself and I also tried to give care and home calls for photos so that people can know me I struggled a lot but I am pushing on.
What are your aspirations as an entrepreneur?
I need to reach on level of covering or working with famous company like Hollywood and Netflix. I also want to work hard so that I may also help others who need a help.
As a Christian entrepreneur, how do you hope to use your business to transform your community and baptize your industry for God’s Kingdom?
There are many ways of preaching or spreading the gospel. One is to give care, or treating well customers, it’s a good way of making a friendship and this brings also connections. This is where the customer will also want to chat with you and this can open opportunities to evangelize. Also being humble and honest; all good character (good fruit’s) will change people and bring them to Jesus Christ.