Mwiine ramps up machinery production from Shs600,000

He could have created a lasting career as an electrical technician. He had all the tools he needed to create, maintain and repair electronics and equipment at Kyambogo University.

It had only been a few unspecified months at the job when another opportunity was availed.
Mr Edson Mwiine found out the job under government paid less but at last, he could follow his heart, doing the work he loved.

“No one can leave a university job for a technical school job. I was impressed because I would have more time to do skillful work and teaching since the former limited me to repairs,” Mr Mwiine narrates.

The most exciting part was not the teaching. It was what could become from his expertise.

By July 2018, exempted employment benefits from National Social Security Fund (NSSF) were a huge part of setting up a machinery manufacturing business. Mr Mwiine received his benefits worth Shs600,000 within one and a half weeks, after sending in his application forms.

“I used it to produce a welding machine which I sold off. I have so far made more than 20 machines and I have six in stock now. A machine costs Shs1m and prior to this, I used to make them but my capital was limited. Even when I asked for an advance payment, no one would trust me with their money,” Mr Mwiine says.

The 46-year-old has long done away with that and registered Mataara Electrical Contractors and Engineers Company. His creative hands are now making popcorn machines, inverters and battery chargers among other things.

Skilling
He is skilling youth – an idea he derived from government’s industrialisation campaign. The profits extracted from the machinery business now meet the capital requirements of his electronics store and electricity installation business in Rugando, Mbarara District.

As government implements the free electricity connections policy that targets 300,000 new customers annually, he believes demand for his machines is set to grow particularly in rural Uganda.

“All villages are getting electricity and there is also a paradigm shift from woodwork to metal work,” he says.

“The person who buys a machine uses it to train other people and these return to buy their own machines. Some banks are also consulting me and buying machines for their clients,” he says.

Need for capital
The way forward for this business is to acquire more capital, access quality inputs, grow production, shift advertising from mere trainings and grow the market beyond Fort Portal, Kabale, Kasese, Rukungiri and Mbarara.

There are also plans to construct a training facility given that the last intake of students this year attracted 90 people.

The future is about skills. For instance, in recent times, projects such as the five-year Uganda Skills Development Project funded by the World Bank to a tune of Shs368b has been implemented to meet skills needed in key sectors such as agriculture, construction and manufacturing.

It is his belief that he could change the longstanding narrative about Uganda’s learned but unskilled youth.

“At degree level, one should acquire 60 per cent knowledge and 40 per cent skills. At diploma level, it is 50-50 per cent and 75 per cent skills, 15 per cent knowledge at certificate level,” Mr Mwiine says.

“But at some technical schools, students could be given skills but lack enough equipment so they train students with whatever they come across. Also, some trainers are not skilled and other institutions do not care about skills. So we get knowledgeable people without skills.”

Friends with Benefits contest
In the past months, the thrilling news for him has been participating in the NSSF Friends with Benefits contest that he discovered on social media early this year. His plans require huge capital investment. He needs to win the Shs30m cash prize, he says.

Advice
Those who are still working should make a foundation because it can be disturbing to retire, get your benefits and then make an investment. Money must find a foundation.

Exempted employment benefits
By July 2018, exempted employment benefits from National Social Security Fund (NSSF) were a huge part of setting up a machinery manufacturing business. Mr Mwiine received his benefits worth Shs600,000 within one and a half weeks, after sending in his application forms.
“I used it to produce a welding machine which I sold off. I have so far made more than 20 machines and I have six in stock now. A machine costs Shs1m and prior to this, I used to make them but my capital was limited. Even when I asked for an advance payment, no one would trust me with their money,” Mr Mwiine says.

To vote for Edson Mwiine in the NSSF Friends with Benefits competition, dial *254# or go to www.nssfug.org”