Omalla a great resource to women in business - Kigozi

Ms Julian Omalla. PHOTO BY FAISWAL KASIRYE

As the count down to the annual International Women’s Day marked every March 8 starts, Daily Monitor will be running a series of stories about women, their achievements, and profile those that stand out, in accordance with this year’s theme: Make it Happen.
Every Daily Monitor magazine will have a feature about women. Women voices celebrating fellow outstanding women will be published daily on this page. Today, this lady goes by many names. Some call her Mama Cheers, others call her Adyeeri but many know her by her name, Julian Omalla. Business consultant Maggie Kigozi talked to Christine W. Wanjala about the inspiration the Director of Delight Uganda Ltd has been, especially to women in business.

What makes Ms Omalla special
Julian Omalla is one of the women I deeply admire. She is an inspiration to me for many reasons. Omalla has become a very successful entrepreneur and has helped many people, majority women. I appreciate her for being a role model to many and that in whatever she does she has always tried to work with the communities around. In the process, her success is not hers alone but touches many other people as well.
For instance, she launched massive farming projects where she is growing fruits in northern Uganda which will eventually supply raw materials for her juice factory.
Aside from growing the fruits herself, she is also encouraging many outgrowers from surrounding communities to join her and has also taken on some members of the communities there as employees in the farms.
She is also doing poultry farming in Tororo District and has applied the same model of local community involvement. I like that she takes these projects upcountry, investing in areas that rarely see anyone take interest.

Has a knack for spotting business opportunities
She is an astute entrepreneur, with a knack for spotting business opportunities, where a need is. It is how she ended up investing in South Sudan and her portfolio, which started with drinking water, has grown to include among other things, a bakery. She realised there was high demand for bread which existing supply could not fill, so she went into filling it.

Resourceful
Omalla is not selfish with knowledge and has tried to be a resource person for other women in business basing on her extensive experience. I know this because I have benefitted from her wisdom severally. When I was going to begin farming, I approached her and she was very helpful and encouraging.
Last year, she was named the Commonwealth Woman Entrepreneur in Colombo Sri Lanka. Uganda Investment Authority (UIA) has also recognised her and she has received several other nods. I believe more are still coming since she is still going.
She is a mother and a wife too and has a beautiful family. I marvel at how she balances it all. Still, her family thrives and she shines so bright.

Lessons
We, as women can draw lessons from Omalla, which may help us grow even more. One is that we can start small and grow a business to the size we desire. Hers is the typical starting small but ending up great story.
We should not be afraid to try. She has taken risks, most of which paid off. She continues to take risks. Not all of us have the confidence but we can learn.
The third lesson is to always learn as we go along. Omalla makes it a point to keep learning. When I was at UIA, I noticed she was always open to learning new things and never missed a learning opportunity in whatever form it became available. This has worked out well for her and is worth emulating.

“I appreciate her for being a role model to many and that in whatever she does she has always tried to work with the communities around. In the process, her success is not hers alone but touches many other people as well.
maggie kigozi, business consultant.

Tomorrow
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