While announcing the COVID-19 lockdown measures, President Yoweri Tibuhaburwa Kaguta Museveni highlighted that one of his fisher (wo)men, The Prime Minister, the amiable Robbinah Nabbanja will organize some ka money for the vulnerable.
So, Nabbanja swung into action and promised each vulnerable person UGX 100,000. The internet went awash with meme of how and what they will do with the ka money. My friend Jonathan, who always doesn’t like picking his phone, now makes sure it is fully charged and next to him just in case the chairman called to confirm his name.
It has strangely turned out that only 21,000 people will get this COVID-19 cash. Yes, 21,000 out of 42 million plus of the population in Uganda. If you are among my friend Jonathan and others hopping for hope from Nabbanja, I have news for you. Forget about the MM for the ka money from the prime minister – start looking for alternatives.
COVID-19 has disrupted businesses to the core across the world. While many are suffering, others have taken advantage of the situation and turned their lives around. The world’s richest man, Billionaire Jeff Bezos of Amazon made most of his money during this period as people had no option but resort to his company for shopping during lockdown. In Uganda, transport companies like; Safe Boda transformed overnight into a courier only business while online shops such as Jumia and Glovo flourished.
So, unless you are an essential worker, I mean a real one like askari, medical worker, ambulance driver, cop, LDU, (Dentists can wait), we have to work to make the best of this pandemic ridden season. This COVID-91 thing isn’t going away soon. Let us not leave COVID-19 money to only those in government that decide where the supplementary budget goes or those who know someone who knows someone that can supply (air) beans for cash. Let us be Covidprenuers.
First, everyone is home or pretends to be. They have time. Their salaries are still coming or they had savings. Others have their capital. You can choose to join the eaters or make some ka money.
Here are the 10 Businesses you can do with 1M UgX during COVID-19
1. Rolex/Chips/Fish Stall:
Container outlets were present at popular junctions in the middle of town or at popular streets with watering hole but now, the people have moved to residential areas. Most estates don’t have stalls of rolex, chips or fish yet we have many residents walking, running or just lazing about the streets. Look for a convenient junction and set up one. All you need are suppliers and an assistant who knows how to make the chapatti, eggs (it’s easy to learn off Youtube or volunteer for a day at the stall of another Rolex stall. You will be making beyond 30K a day if you are serious about your business. Add some extras like delivery and custom made items where someone can determine how their rolex should be made since some like it with some meat, others with Chilli and so on.
2. Laundry:
Most people are home but have issues washing. Most bachelors were used to getting weekend visitors who left the house clean and ironed their clothes. It’s your time now. Put up posters at corners. Do fliers and collect laundry and wash it. You can also handle it home by home. Here you can hire some people to help. Soon, you can add machines and make the next Safe Boda but of laundry. This can extend to house cleaning, car washing (our dusty streets will ensure its dirty all the time even when it’s not going out), gardening etc.
3. Food delivery:
Some of us are gifted with cooking talent. The only person who has enjoyed your talent is your spouse, children and relatives. Let us share that talent. Find a speciality and do some tasters and deliver to your neighbourhood with fliers. Soon the orders will come your way. You can bring in a good boda boda man to help you do the delivering and you are in business. This can scale into a big food business registered with Jumia Food and Safe Boda food. To be unique, you can add some cool packaging, some speciality dishes that is those consumed in different regions of the country, kalo, pondu, molokoni and malewa among others.
4. Home Saloon:
Many fear saloons because of hygiene but they are also identified as good grounds for picking up the Covid-19 virus. Many of us were used to hideously shaving students’ hair at school. Some ladies knew how to plait hair and work on nails. This is the time for you to expose your talent or skills to your neighbourhood and make this a real Covid-19 business.
5. Fruits and Food delivery:
We are used to people with wheel barrows passing outside the gates shouting at the top of their voices fruits and food items like have passion fruits, water melon, onions and tomatoes among others. Trust me most corporates despise them and won’t buy from them. They think they are dirty. Get one wheel barrow guy to supply you, and post it in the estate or village Whatsapp group and deliver. Ask your neighbours, friends and others who have become your customers to throw a word for you to their friends. You will be surprised!
6. BBQ:
Who doesn’t love meat? We find it hard walking long distances to buy it. Identify a good location in your area and get a sigiri (charcoal stove). Then train someone to man it for you if you feel you are not comfortable doing it yourself. Spice it up by getting a few drinks, chairs and some music which will turn heads and attract people to your business. Presence of a supermarket or any other attraction in the village can be helpful.
7. Love connection:
Many people are starved. Their regular sources of dates and chow are closed. If you have friends who want to have some, be the link person at a fee. It’s immoral, I know but so is our society. You are not more immoral than the person who used the money for oxygen to take his family on holiday. See!
8. Coaching:
Some of us were sharp in school. Kids are home idol and you have an idea about the primary school syllabus. And, so is that of secondary school. Or team up with a colleague who has an idea. There are those who want to learn how to use basic computer programs, code and play music. Identify one area you are good at and market your services in the community.
9. Massage:
Many people badly need a massage especially from the exercises they are not used to. How about you go online, learn the art and trade it. Then you can visit homes and charge a premium.
10. Social Media marketing:
Lockdown has detained us home. We have a lot of time on our gadgets. Companies and business, both big and small are looking for our eyes only . Most however, are unable to manage their own pages. Instead of keeping online checking out people’s posts, you can use your creativity , wit and “English” to earn money managing people’s pages. These can be for both business and individuals like celebrities.
Good luck with your Covidprenuer journey. You may share this with your friends and add other suggestions.
By Innocent Nahabwe
CEO at BlueCube Limited Incorporating Kagwirawo sports betting, 100.2 Galaxy FM, Bluecube, Katogo 24 and 911 Lounge Salaama Rd, Kampala
Deputy Chairperson of National Association of Broadcasters (NAB).
