Kayongo Joseph from Makerere University is one of the very many innovative students trying to make ends meet by portending great change to overthrow the ‘’job search’’ mindset.
Born on the 25th of December 1995, 23 years later Kayongo now owns ‘Kajo Pure Leather Products’ a start up that employs 16 people. He caught the Bee’s attention recently when he gifted the Makerere University Vice Chancellor Professor Barnabas Nawangwe with a pair of high quality customized leather open shoes.
Our writer Ayazika Phillip engaged him in a conversation that turned out to be so inspirational.Read it here;
What course are you pursuing and in which year are you?
Am doing Bachelors of Arts in Social Sciences and i’m currently finalizing my year 3 and the very last year of my course.
Social sciences and leather works are two different elements what inspired you to join that industry?
Personally ,I didn’t go to campus to study and get an office job, my dream was to be self employed and also be able to employ more than 300 fellow youth especially my fellow students who suffer at home without jobs after graduating at different campuses.
I understand you employ 16 youths now, how does it feel?
Yes I now employ 16, 6 of them are my fellow students at Makerere university; others are hard working youth i came across that didn’t get a chance at education. I trained all of them for free, & they are now earning. I feel am changing the world already.
So tell me how did you start?
I started alone during my first year, I used to wake up so early in the morning and go to Kalerwe meat abattoir to pick those dumped rotting and stinking cow hides/skins from their pits and take them to my place to dry them in sunshine. Additionally I also visited garages to pick dumped car tyres so that I could use them to make strong soles for my shoes. Then I used to go to Jinja to get pure leather materials to add on my hides and produce very strong sandals plus rubber soles.
Where was your place? Weren’t the neighbors disgusted with the smells from the rotting materials?
I remember in my very first year of operations I shifted 4 times in a year, because land lords were chasing me always.
Also you appeared on social media gifting one of your products to the Vice Chancellor, how did it feel like?
I wanted him to know how I have been able to get money for my tuition by myself. I wanted my story to inspire all vulnerable students at MUK. Also meeting the VC made me feel so good and appreciated. It gave me the urge to continue working hard so that even other big figures in Uganda and abroad can recognize our project.
How have you found the leather and tarn industry?
Of course it’s challenging, but I’ve tactically and creatively managed to survive because am trying to milk bring profits out of locally available waste materials in my area.
Now that you’re almost done with campus, what’s the next plan to move your career ahead?
Am not planning to waste my time looking for jobs, I will concentrate on my project so that it grows big and employ many more people. I’m now in process to partner with NBS TV, Jumia, Bata and other big brands so that we can work together. So far MTN foundation, YALI initiative has communicated to us and they are ready to support our project. Even DW Africa TV based in Germany, they are scheduling an interview with me next week. With all this I feel am progressing.
What would you love to tell your fellow youths out there?
That they should start small with what they have from where they are. They don’t have to be rich to start, but they start to become rich. Thank you.
You must be logged in to post a comment.