How to earn income at campus

When you join university, your expenses will double to overshoot the small budget that you have been operating on while in high school.
You have to cater for your own meals, buy course handouts, and clothing. Although a few students can afford these bills with the money they get from their parents, many university students operate in deficits.
Joseph Siima, a graduate of Uganda Christian University Mukono, says when he joined university he realised that the money that his parents were giving him was not enough.
This forced him to look for a part time job to enable him earn some extra money.
“My parents were giving me Shs100,000 to take me through the whole semester. It was not a punishment; that is what they would afford. So, I looked for a part-time job in a nearby restaurant. I worked there on the evening shift and I was earning Shs200,000 per month,” he says.
To Siima, this job was a great relief. He adds that as time went on, he told his parents to stop giving him pocket money since he could afford to take care of his bills.

Earning from internships
According to Ivan Naijuka, the public relations officer at Uganda Christian University Mukono, students can apply for internship in companies and organisations where they can get a little facilitation to enable them run their day-to-day life.
“In some companies, internship students are given allowances for transport, lunch and other facilitation. A wise student can save that money so that it can cater for their personal expenses. Also, if the company is offering them lunch, it is an opportunity for them to save the money they would have otherwise spent on lunch.”
Students can do internship during the semester or during the vacation times, depending on their course programme at the university.

Doing laundry is paying
According to Scovia Kamwebaze, who graduated with a degree in Mass Communication, although most university students despise menial work, it is an avenue where they can make money.
“You can do laundry for your well to-do friends. All you need to do is book them in advance and make a timetable that suits you well. You can make more than Shs50,000 in a week if you are hard working,” she says.
Kamwebaze adds that most families in Kampala no longer have the time to do their own laundry and this can provide employment opportunities to university students.
“Instead of going out with older men to get money, university girls should embrace menial jobs. At least then, you can complete your studies without contracting sexually transmitted diseases.”

Newer ways to earn money
Derrick, a third-year student at Kyambogo University, says he earns his extra income by doing course works for other students, especially those who are employed.
“I have been doing this ever since I joined the university. I charge according to the magnitude of the course unit. If the work is difficult, I charge between Shs50,000 and Shs70,000,” he says.
Derrick adds that since there are many course works within a semester, he earns as much as Shs500,000 per semester.
Derrick also advises students to use social media to earn some money. “Instead of always being online to see the unbefitting things people post, use social media to market yourself or your products. Tell people about what you do and how much you charge.”