Today, Hellen Auma Wandera, 24, a Kyambogo University graduate who holds a Bachelors’ Degree in Arts and Social Science was sworn in as the new Busia Woman Member of Parliament (MP) for the 2021/2026 term. Commonly known as Mama Busia, Auma took oath at 2pm and she is currently the youngest of the incoming legislators of the 11th Parliament.
During her campus days, Auma used to vend fish in Banda before graduating in 2019. Auma attended Busia Parents Primary School for her Primary Leaving Examination (PLE) before joining Great Obrem Memorial in Tororo District for her O-Level. She completed her A-Level at St Peter’s Secondary School, Naalya, where she took Literature, Economics, Divinity and sub math(LED/S).
Being an evening student, Auma had to come out with a way of making extra cash to top up on her hostel fees since her parents used to giver her Shs 200,000 yet the house she was renting was Shs 350,000. She narrates that the house also served as her family home where relatives would stay whenever they came to Kampala.
“I didn’t do any business in my first year till in second year when I started selling fish. This was, however, mum’s business because she would supply me with fish and I would sell. It was not really good at the business but it kept me busy because at campus, if you are not careful, you can easily slide into regrettable acts,” Auma said.
“Mum would supply me with fish of about Shs200,000. So I had to make ensure that I make a profit of at least Shs100,000. By then, the house I was renting cost Shs350,000 per month which also served as a family house, where my relatives would stay each time they came to Kampala because we had no house in Kampala,” she added.
The fresh MP explains that business was not easy but she had no option since all her siblings were relying on their father’s salary who was a Head Teacher. Auma narrates that she would plough people’s gardens in Busia to top up on her fees even before joining university.
“I had to plough people’s gardens to raise additional money to contribute to school fees for myself. I began vending tomatoes in my Senior Two holidays which first got me a profit of Shs2,000. Out of that, I later got a small stall and started dealing in other items such as vegetables. I did this up to my Senior Four vacation and saved up to Shs300,000,” Auma explains.
Auma later grew her business by importing clothes and bags from Nairobi, Kenya. According to the new legislator, she would make good profits since clothes are cheaper in Kenya.
“I went to Nairobi without the knowledge of my parents. I only called them after I had reached and notified them that I was on my way back. I didn’t want anyone to know about that idea because I knew my parents would stop me from going since I was still young,” she recalls.
“I would make good profit because clothes that side [Kenya] are fairly cheap and got me profits each time I brought them here [Uganda]. For instance, I would fetch a profit of Shs150,000 of an item that cost me Shs5,000,”Auma said.
When she joined university, Auma thought of transferring her boutique to Kampala but didn’t have the capacity of renting an outlet and also pay accommodation in Banda. She was forced to leave the business in her sister’s hands which later collapsed.
