Sempangi savours retirement

Satisfied. The 79-year-old has more than 5,000 chicken. PHOTOS BY JESSICA SABANO

What you need to know:

Early enough. It is no secret that retirement is expensive. Because of this, Rev Dr Kefa Sempangi, who left active service in 2006 says it is important to have adequate savings to help you enjoy your evening life, writes Jessica Sabano.

When he retired from politics and civil service in 2006, Rev Dr Kefa Sempangi could not imagine a life without activity.
Following his passion, the retired politician cum reverend ventured into commercial farming, a decision most of his colleagues dread. Eight years after retirement, his choice started to handsomely pay off.
In trying to avoid some of the challenges faced by people who go into retirement, Sempangi planned early.
Today he does not regret involving in projects that make him earn big and this has helped him to live a comfortable life since he retired from both civil service and politics.

Poultry project
After buying 50 acres of land in Mukono, Sempangi apportioned a section of the land for a poultry project.
Although the poultry farm was started nearly three and half years after retirement, Sempangi took to poultry farming in 2007 after retiring from politics. The poultry project has grown by leaps and bound. From the 100 birds that Sempangi started with in 2006, today the farm boasts of more than 5,000 chicken both layers and broilers.
“The money is good. I intend to develop this farm and include enterprises such as coffee, maize, vegetables and apiary,” he says as he takes this reporter to guided tour of his poultry farm.

Expansion
With expansion, Sempangi believes he will be able to make his own animal feeds, especially the maize bran.
“Maize bran is expensive. I have decided to grow maize and make my own chicken feeds,” he says. He also plans to introduce a livestock section and agroforestry.

Investment. Dr Kefa Sempangi explains how he invested in recreation business.

Recreation project
The 79-year-old Sempangi continues to cast his net wide. He has invested about Shs800m into a recreation centre which sits on 12 acres in Mukono.
The recreation centre has four big gardens which host several events including wedding receptions, graduation parties and cultural functions such as introductions.
“This project was constructed with the money I had been saving during my working days. I am convinced of picking returns,” he explains.
The centre, which he named Summer Gardens, Mukono also has an Olympic size swimming pool and that for children.

Profits
Sempangi says he pockets about Shs20m per month from both the poultry project and the recreation centre. “We use part of the money to clear taxes and other expenses,” says the cleric.

Love for children
Sempangi’s love for the children, especially the needy and those homeless is well written all over his face.
He has continued to extend an olive branch to most of the needy children by paying their school fees and offering them shelter.
“I am proud to announce that my efforts has yielded sweet fruits. I have 10 doctors from the children I have been taking care of. Others are pursuing degree courses at various universities. I will never retire from these children,” he said.

Happy. Dr Sempangi with his wife who is also the manager at Summer Gardens

Early life
Dr Kefa Sempangi was born in October 1940. He was raised in a family of Yokana Musoke Babumba and Lovinsa Nakizibwe Musoke of Kawuma village in Kyaggwe County, Mukono District.
He went to Kiyoola Primary School in 1951, Katente Primary School and then Mpumu Primary School in 1957. In 1962, he joined Makerere College School. “I joined Royal College of Arts in London in 1967. I also went to Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam where I got a PhD in History in 1971,” says Sempangi.
He returned home later in 1971 and was consequently appointed a lecturer of History at Makerere University.

Dr Sempangi quit Makerere after three years to pursue his dream in church ministry. In 1974 he enrolled at the prestigious Westminister Theological Seminary in Philadelphia to study Divinity where he graduated with a Master of Divinity in 1976. He returned to Uganda to serve as deputy minister for rehabilitation.
He also founded Presbyterian churches in Uganda in 1979, and they are now 203 churches in the country.
Sempangi was appointed chairman of the National Council for Children in 1994. He retired 2006.