Campus Hustler! Isabel Namakula’s Make Up Business Pays her Hostel Fees

Make up or a cosmetics business is one of those many business ideas that are cost effective yet over looked by many University students.

In my stroll around Betsam hostel at Makerere University Business School (MUBS), I got to know about Isabel Namakula, a second year student of Bachelor of Office and Information management who has defied the odds to invest in what most students shun. Her small hostel room doubles as a make up studio at peak hours where clients flog in to be worked on by her ‘magical’ hands something that sustains her life style. She tells me her natural love for make up ever since she was young was a great motivation behind this business idea.

” I naturally love make up. I have loved it ever since I was young and so in my high school I used to make up my friends and sisters and they used to say that I am good.” – The soft spoken Isabel narrates adding that she decided to make it commercial the moment she stepped at Campus.

Asked about how she got the start up capital which threatens a number of people who would like to start up a business, Isabel says that she used to save from the up keep she received from her parents, started to buy the materials at her own pace and in a few months, she had her full set ready to hit the road. Despite her being able to see off her bills, not ask for up keep any more and being able to pay her hostel fees, it has not been fruit and fibre for Isabel. She says the perception of people about make up spoils it for her.

” Some people think make up is too expensive and this limits clients from coming. The competition is also stiff.” – She said when asked about her challenges. Isabel hopes to open up the biggest make up studio the seven hilled city, Kampala has ever seen in addition to working in an organisation related to what she is studying.

She advises that if you have got passion for something, do it unapologetically.

” Anyone wishing to open up a similar gig, follow your heart. If you have passion for something go for it and never stop doing your thing. Never know what life has for you.”

Find her on Facebook and Instagram as; Isabel Namakula.