Lubega inherited, improved father’s auto repair empire

For as long as anyone can remember Grace Lubega Motors Garage on Gadafi Road in Kampala has been repairing cars. Specialising in panel beating, servicing and repairs, bodyworks, as well as engine overhaul, the founder of the firm, Grace Lubega, died 22 years ago, but his son, Godfrey Lubega, commonly known as Tall Man, (for his towering stature) has kept the family business rolling even when it looked like it was grinding to a halt.

Continuity
He is on a mission to keep his father’s legacy intact with plans to build a training institute. The belief is strong and has been passed down from a legend. The success of the business means a lot to him and the family.

“I used to come here during holidays and on weekends while still in high school,” Lubega says, explaining when he started following in his father’s footsteps.
Since I had a lot of interest, I used to come with dad to work and this helped me gain knowledge about vehicle repairs,” Lubega, who describes himself as a mechanic, vehicle service provider, spare parts dealer and rally driver, says.
His first years of work were a steep learning curve, and it was only after he proved himself that he started getting complex jobs. His first task was to clean the compound before he graduated to cleaning tools for the mechanics.

“I now know that this is the starting point for anyone wishing to become a mechanic,” Lubega adds.
When he had gathered enough information, he started helping in removing car tyres, then bushes and shock absorbers.
“Many young people want to start from the top. That is a sure way of failing in the garage. Parents like seeing their children working with tools but that is not possible when one is starting,” he says. Surprisingly, none of his seven children has interest in car repairs.

Challenges
Born to Josephine Nakabugo and Lubega in December 1970 in Kireka, Wakiso District, Lubega is one of the 17 children who share the same genetic bond.
“Dad loved cars so much because he was a rally driver and we always had vehicles in our compound.” After Katende Primary school in Mpigi, Lubega went to Namilyango College before graduating with a certificate in mechanical engineering at Kichwamba Technical College in Kabarole District.

Later he completed another Craft at Nakawa Vocational Training Institute in car wiring.
“I needed to equip myself with the skills, even though I learned a lot on the job,” notes Lubega, who said he earned Shs100,000 as his first salary in 2004.
“My first salary came after seven years. I used to get some little money from him as well as tokens from customers. I could also bargain when I was sent to buy parts to have some pocket money,” he says.

Taking over
I loved what I studied after sensing an opportunity and I wanted to keep my fathers’ legacy. There was no time to learn everything as his father passed on in 1997.
Lubega and his elder brother, Fred Muwonge (now a director) as well as Ronald Bukenya (who does office work), started the process of acquiring the firm from the management their father had entrusted.
“It wasn’t easy for us to get the business because the managers thought we would run down the company. But our uncle, the late George Musoke, who was working in Kisekka Market, assured us that he would supply us the parts. This was a refreshing guarantee that motivated us,” he notes.

The late Lubega used to repair vehicles for the ministries of Local government, Education and Defence. They were at the verge of losing trust their dad had earned. Even the procurement system was new to them.
“Fortunately, we used dad’s connections and that is why we have not changed the name of the company. We now have about 27 companies we are working for, we import our parts, we have tools, and we have insured the place,” he adds.

Satisfaction
The key to the company’s success is embedded in focusing the clients.
“We ensure that whoever gets here never seeks another garage,” Lubega says. They are particular and Lubega ensures they are followed to the dot.
“Every vehicle here must have a job card explaining what we are going to do, as well as an assessment of the car before any repairs are done.”

Since they work for major companies, their business in not on a cash basis. He says for government vehicles are paid on a quarterly basis.
The most common misunderstanding about mechanics’ work is that they have encyclopedic knowledge of every car. In reality, Lubega says he owns manuals for different makes and models of cars that help them navigate tricky repairs.

“For something relatively routine, like an oil change, we do not need to use the manuals. For something more complicated, we get out the manuals to make sure we are doing the work according to the manufacturer specifications,” he says.

Although he is now more in a supervisory role, he enjoys helping people keep their cars in excellent condition.
“I feel good when we solve difficult problems like finding something wrong that other mechanics had overlooked. We take our time and try to do a good job on every repair. I maintain a healthy work-life balance even though I am at office by 6:00 am. I make enough money to keep me going. I feel so thankful to earn what I do without a university degree.”

Impact beyond work
Lubega employs 30 workers, seven of whom are in administration. Ten are mechanics, with four specialised in panel beating. The garage is also a training ground for youth intending to start a career in car mechanics.
“I help train people become better mechanics although I don’t normally retain them,” he says.
But 12 years ago, a one Kisitu, who used to ride his bicycle to work as a cleaner enticed him into agreeing to stay.

Kisitu, who is now the ‘most important’ mechanic at the garage, asked for permission to stay after cleaning, so that he could clean parts, a job he took for no pay. Today, he is his chief mechanic on clutches and suspensions.
“When he goes for upcountry work, we miss a key person,” he said. Lubega started a side hustle in Bweyogerere, Auto Serve, which specialises in servicing, wheel balancing, and tyres and battery sales.

Love for speed
Lubega, a resident of Namugongo-Kyaliwajjala, has been a part-time rally driver since 2009. As fate would have it, he did not finish his first rally which claimed the life of Riyaz Kurji on May 2, 2009, during the Pearl of Africa Rally in Mityana.
“We had reported for that section but we were stopped and when the ambulance came back, we saw a dead person. I was trembling. I could not even start the car,” he says of his early days in the Subaru N4 he acquired from Wilson Kajajjatta.

His only taste of victory, a boardroom decision, came rather controversially in 2016 during the Kabalega Rally in Masindi alongside Justin Mungoma.
He now has limited time for the sport and has only raced twice this season, collecting 65 points. But he has gained a name for himself as an aggressive competitor. His current navigator is Bashir Mbogo, a stationery dealer at Nasser Road. His favourite part of rallying is the unpredictability of it, he said.
“I love speed. I normally watch car movies or playing racing games on my phone,” he says.
He owns a number of cars, but his favourite is the Toyota Mark X.

How to open an auto repair shop

For many, owning a business is a part of the dream and a path to personal wealth. If you’re a mechanic or working on becoming a mechanic, reaching that dream might start with the idea of opening your own auto repair shop. You can set the hours, work with customers on pricing, specialise on interesting vehicles, and take control over the future of your career. When you work on the shop floor without ownership, your earnings top out at your salary or hourly wage. When you own the shop, the only limit on profits is the capacity of the garage. Before you start looking for money to get your garage doors up, planning is critical.

Get certified
You’re not required to have Motor Vehicle Technicians’ Certificate Part I (MVT) certification to work on cars, but without it, you might find it substantially more difficult or expensive to obtain liability insurance and find financing for your new business. MVT certification tells potential customers that you know what you’re doing. It gives car owners confidence, and can be a very important marketing tool. Before you qualify to take the certification test, you’ll need a minimum of two years of work and educational experience combined, with at least one year obtained on the job.

Know the startup costs
Before you spend a dime opening your shop, you need to know the total projected cost to get up and running. If you don’t, you might run out of funds before gaining your first customer. While it is impossible to project certain costs ahead of time, the most common and expensive line items are easily predicted. Other costs include; equipment, insurance, and rent. Buying a building and making alterations can significantly change the costs, depending on construction costs. Choosing to buy an existing auto shop can also affect the bottom line.

To specialise or not to specialise
Auto repair covers anything from changing oil to rebuilding motors or transmissions. However, within the realm of auto repair, you may also be interested in concentrating your efforts on a specialty. In some cases, you can obtain additional certifications in the concentration of your choice, depending on your interest. Other specialities include; working on engines, electrical systems, transmission repair and replacement, tyre shops, motorcycles and working on specific models of vehicles. You can also specialize in repairs for specific car manufacturers or types of repair. If you specialise, you might earn a reputation as the best garage for brakes, but you lose out on a lot of other business. Before you open up, you need to know the scope of the services you plan to offer. If you want to specialise, you’ll need to do some serious market research to make sure there is enough demand to support your new shop.

Get legal advice
A lot more goes into opening a business than just finding a location and serving customers. You will need to obtain a business license, look into the regulations surrounding liability insurance requirements, open accounts to handle payroll and tax reporting, file your articles of incorporation, and other pre-sale steps. A lawyer is invaluable during this process, helping you ensure every “i” is dotted and “t” crossed. You don’t have to retain a lawyer, but it can save you from a lot of mistakes along the way.

Set up interviews
If you have a very small shop, you might do all of the work yourself, but you will probably still need at least one employee to handle telephone calls and customers. If you have a couple of lifts and want to maximize your capacity, you will need additional mechanics to help service vehicles. The hiring process should start at least a month before your grand opening. You will want enough time to check references, find the best candidates, and negotiate wage packages.

Get the word out
Marketing is another big part of opening the doors. Be sure to schedule a grand opening, so locals can stop in and see the shop. You might want to advertise special discount pricing for that first day or week, just to bring customers through the doors. You will also want to have a standard service list of pricing and a shop rate finalised, so you can estimate your revenue potential.

Become your own boss
Opening a garage might be your ticket to financial freedom, but it takes a lot of work and general mechanic skills. Before you start looking for financing, look into your education options. It is important to get basic training with a Motor Vehicle Technicians’ Certificate offered at Business, Technical, Vocational Education and Training (BTVET) institutions.

By George Katongole, with additional reporting from from auto.edu

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