BUILDING A BUSINESS EMPIRE

Create a business that gives you a constant cash flow – Sudhir
By Angela Kateemu

Sudhir during the 360° Network Ask the Entrepreneur Forum

Sudhir Ruparelia is a businessman and entrepreneur in Uganda. He is the Chairman and majority shareholder in the companies of the Ruparelia Group. His investments are mainly in the areas of banking, insurance, education, broadcasting, real estate, floriculture, hotels and resorts. He owns a quarter of the buildings strategically located in Kampala’s central business district. He owns Crane Chambers on Kampala Road, City House on Luwum/William streets; Raja Chambers, Baumann House, the building housing the Police headquarters and Development House — all located on Parliamentary Avenue. He also owns Platinum House on Market Street. He has built a few, but most of his buildings have been acquired from people who default on loans from his money lending services. His business empire includes hotels: Speke Resort Munyonyo, Kabira Country Club, Speke Hotel on Nile Avenue and Tourist Hotel on Dastur Street. He owns Crane Bank, Crane Forex Bureau, Meera Investments and Gold Trust Insurance Company. He is also into agri-businesses like flower growing (Rosebud) and the education sector, running schools like Kabira International School and Kampala Parents School. While speaking to eager young entrepreneurs and enthusiasts at the 360° Network Ask the Entrepreneur forum last month, the business shared a few secrets to investment success.

How do you formulate business winning ideas?
Sudhir: I do business which suits my lifestyle. I don’t do business because someone is successful in it. I own hotels because I’m outgoing and love meeting people. I am into education because I didn’t have much so I want to make good schools in Uganda to educate people.

Family Background
Sudhir: My father’s grandfather came to Mombasa in 1897 from India. They were traders. They were dealing with workers on the railway site. In 1903, they reached Uganda. My father was born in Uganda in 1932 and I was I was born in 1956 in Kabatooro Kasese to a middle class father, not rich, not poor!  I could afford two pairs of School clothes a year.

Capital to start business
Sudhir: In 1972, when I was 16, I followed my parents to UK.  When I landed in UK, I had to support myself in London while my parents lived up north. The first thing I wanted was to have my own house, so I took on two jobs and an evening class. No job was too small or too big for me -I worked as a baker/butcher in a supermarket and drove a taxi during the weekend. In 1985, I decided to come back to Uganda -Africa was in my blood!  I came back from the UK with capital worth $25 000.

Building the empire
Sudhir: It took me two years to find out what I really wanted to do. The first thing I had to do was pay rent. Then I needed something to do. In 1986, I opened the first shop on Kampala Road. I started with salt –it was the most selling commodity at the time and by the end of the year made $5000 profit. Then I started dealing in beers –my capital was limited so I was buying from people who used to import it. I then partnered with someone, built a trust and made good friends. We started importing beer ourselves. We basically created a cash flow –this is important because it is the stepping stone to many other things.  You need is to create a business that gives you a constant cash flow.
In 1989, the beer business came to a standstill.  The small stock shop evolved into wholesale. Then I started foreign exchange with in six months, all banks started foreign exchange. The government legalized the foreign exchange dealings but levied heavy charges for transitions. That’s when we looked at Plan B. Banking. We needed business capital which we had -we were lending money to business people. In 1995 Crane Bank opened with six expert staff and twenty auxiliary staff. We made profits from banking and spread out to real estate, hotels, and other investments. My passion was Munyonyo but it needed a lot of money. I started investing everything in it: I remember my 7-year old son asking me: ‘Dad, is Munyonyo going to bankrupt us?’  What Munyonyo has become is beyond my expectations!

Where does the future lie in business investment?
Sudhir: Every field.  The economy is enormous –there is opportunity every where in the areas of IT, trading, agriculture, industry, commercial firms, food –every field is open.  Uganda is a virgin country.

What is your definition of work value?
Sudhir: Time is not quantifiable; what dictates my day is when problems come.

Dreaming Big

Robert Ahimbisibwe during the 360 Network Ask the entrepreneur forum

Look at what someone has done, aspire to do it better 




By Angela Kateemu

10 years ago, Robert Ahimbisibwe started Select Garments. Last year, it was named as one among the Top 100 well managed medium sized companies in Uganda. Just this month, Ahimbisibwe launched another shop at Lugogo based Forest Mall, the launch that doubled as celebration of 10 years in business. He started in Kikuubo and made his way to upmarket malls like Garden City, Forest mall. He is one of the leading clothes dealers in town boasting of loaded corporate clientele. During the 360° Network organized Ask the Entrepreneur Forum earlier this month, ‘Select’ as he is fondly called, talked to aspiring entrepreneurs about his secret to success.

You went to school, why are you in Kikuubo?
Robert: I am in Kikuubo to make money.

Why clothes?
Robert: When you take a look at the people around you; you won’t know the kind of house they sleep in or how they move. The only thing you’ll see are clothes. 90% of our bodies are covered in clothes. Money is in the business of clothes.

Why didn’t you do something in the line of what you studied?
Robert: Business success is not about what you studied! It is about passion. You have to be passionate about what you do. Skills are very important but I’d rather hire someone with attitude. You can train skills for example you can train someone computer, how to run a machine but you cannot train  them the right attitude if they don’t have any to begin with! You can’t impart positive attitude. 

What is your secret to success?
Robert: Dreaming big. Have the drive and you will achieve what you want. The first time I came to Kampala, I got a ride from a distant relative. What I saw first was the taxi park –there were so many cars! I had never seen so many cars in the same place! I remember thinking to myself, if there are so many cars in the world like this, I want to own one! If you have that kind of drive, the feeling that you can make it!


How did you raise capital?
Robert: After I left school, I tried to look for jobs and made over 100 job applications in one year: my sister was working in a government institution so I could afford photocopy. I took applications to almost every office in town. But I did not get the job! My brother was working at Entebbe Airport as a Client Agent so I started hanging there. He was not too happy about it, he told me “I educated you to get a good job, I want you to get a government job to pull up our family. But I saw what was being done by some people there and I learnt quickly. People started hiring me to do their jobs on a sub contract basis. Eventually my brother started paying me. Within the first year I was at Entebbe, I was able to buy my own car from the savings I made. I always dream big. 2-3 years down the road, things were not good. There was no money that’s when I realized I wanted to start my own business

What’s the secret to developing career wise?
Robert: Every job you do, create a relationship; you never know what will help you. People I associated with at the airport cleared clothes. Through my association with them, I knew everything there was to know about clothes. I did not have money so I sold my Toyota Kikumi. In 2001 I started Select Garments at Mutaasa Kafeero.

What advice would you give to a young entrepreneur?
Robert: Skills are important but they are the least you should emphasize. When you decide on what you want to do, choose something you love. Do it with enthusiasm and right attitude. Everything you do, do it to your best. Don’t do so much when you are not doing it right!

What is the difference between Chinese, Indians and Ugandan traders? What makes them successful?
Robert: Saving culture. Ugandans do not know how to separate business money from personal money. The  Asian business man cannot touch money for business to do something personal.
More so, they have a family system: they train earlier than we do. When someone is born, they start grooming him to take over family business. When an Indian father employs his son, the son starts with the low jobs and builds up. Here when a father hires the son, they make him the managing director even when he has not proved the right candidate for the job.

Business success

Sylvia Owori speaking at the 360 Network Ask the Entrepreneur Forum

Choose a field you love, put your mind to it  -Owori

 -By Angela Kateemu

She has come up against all odds to overcome the mentality that women are not cut out for business. Listening to her speaking about career alongside business moguls; Sudhir Ruparelia, Patrick Bitature and Robert Ahimbisibwe at the 360 Network ‘Ask the Entrepreneur’ Forum that took place Thursday evening at Rooftop, I couldn’t help but admire her charisma. She is stylish, successful, believes a great deal in her work and herself.  Sylvia Owori has done more than people believed she could. Her break into fashion happened when she took on the challenge of revitalizing the 'Miss Uganda Beauty Pageant', which following her input became one of the most significant events on the Ugandan social calendar. She  revealed her innovative talent by designing outfits for the contestants of the M-Net Face of Africa. A pioneer and role model in the East African fashion industry, Owori started Uganda’s first Fashion House –Sylvie’s Boutique which has a number of shops in up market shopping centres; Uganda’s first modeling agency – Zipa Models and in 2005 she launched Uganda’s first glossy women’s magazine, African Woman, which is circulated on a monthly basis in five different countries.  Listening to her talk about her career, Owori is that woman that every working girl should use as constant reminder that it is possible to make it in the male dominated business world. Here are excerpts from her talk at the 360 Network ‘Ask the Entrepreneur Forum’.

Is business just for men?
I don’t believe that. Just look over here; I am a female panelist seated with very successful people: Sudhir, Bitature, Robert Ahimbisibwe and I’m not intimidated! It is not easy for a woman in business because if you are married, your husband doesn’t want you dress well and you go for a business meeting you will look attractive. But men you need to support your wives, your mothers, your sisters.

Does the fashion business make money?
I started out in 1998 when I came back to Uganda. Everybody wrote me off before I could even start. They claimed I was bringing clothes to sell to prostitutes. So no one took me seriously. But no one is naked: in fact, second to food, everybody needs an outfit to put on. It all depends on how much you want to spend on what you wear. Right now I can clothe the whole country. So yes, this business makes money!

Starting Capital
I come from a very humble background: my dad passed on when I was little and our mum had to toil to raise seven of us. So I didn’t have family money but I had a rich boyfriend. I knew what I wanted to do; he gave me the capital to start out. It is one thing to have the capital but if you don’t have the skill, you gonna waste it.

About success
I was bold and persevered – I kept pushing!  When I started out, I didn’t know much about the culture of the corporate world. I remember the first meetings, I used to go in a meeting with a vest and torn jeans – I didn’t know better.   I remember some time after I started out, Sudhir told me something that has become a great inspiration. He said, “I see a little bit of myself in you!” Every time I feel a little bit discouraged I tell myself Sudhir believes in you!

Losses and challenges
Anyone successful in business knows there are so many losses and challenges. I have faced financial challenges and have had to resort to loans sometimes. I learnt at an early stage that banks give you money if you have money. You have to keep track of your business expenses and bank your money so that the bank can trust you, should you ask for a loan.

Prevail over competition
Knowing your competitors is key. Once you do that, you market continuously. Every industry is different; mine is luxurious and trend based; so you have to constantly create a brand!

Message to the young women who want to do business
Anyone can do business. You just have to believe in yourself. You have to choose a field or industry that you love. Don’t just go out there and start business because you’ll fail. You have to be passionate about what you do and put your mind to it.

Successful Investment

Patrick Bitature adressing people at the 360° Ask the Entrepreneur  Forum        

Any Business You do Should Make You 1% Profit per day –Bitature

By Angela Kateemu

Patrick Bitature started his business empire with a single company, Simba Telecom, then a retail chain dealership, in MTN air-time. ‘I was vending airtime,’ he says. From there he expanded into broadcasting, , followed by Electronics. He also has interests in insurance, banking, hotels and resorts. Today, his businesses have subsidiaries in Uganda, Kenya, Tanzania and Nigeria. He owns the following businesses either wholly or partly: Simba Telecom Uganda, Simba Telecom Kenya, Simba Telecom Tanzanaia, Simba Telecom Nigeria, Simba Electronics Limited, National Insurance Corporation, Global Trust Bank Uganda, Electromaxx Limited Uganda, the operators of Tororo Power station, a 20MW thermal power plant that uses renewable bio-diesel to generate Electricity. New Vision Group Uganda, Protea Hotel Kololo Uganda estimated at Shs 15bn, Simba Tours and Travels Uganda, Simba Distributors Ltd, Simba Properties Ltd Uganda, Simba Electronics, Simba Forex Bureau Limited, Blitz Video, Ice Cream Ltd and Dembe FM. While talking to business enthusiasts at the 360° Network Ask the Entrepreneur forum the other week, the business mogul talked about investment and how to start a business and develop into an empire. “I always like to share the little that I know with anybody who is serious about something they are doing. I went to business school, I read books but most importantly I learn from people -people like Sudhir who have built business empires.” There is a lot you can learn from his talk if you are looking at starting and running a successful business.

Raising Capital to start a business
Bitature: There are several ways of getting capital: you can inherit it, marry into it (but the mother-in-law will always spot you!), you can gamble - I wouldn’t count on that! Other people steal (I wouldn’t advise this though!) So there are only two ways to get this capital. One you have to earn it. Get a job work for it. Even if they pay you little! Secondly, you can borrow –get a loan from a bank. When you earn you have to save, what you save can help you borrow. The bank will look at how you run your account before they can give you the loan. If you are not sure and have no focus on what you want to invest in, then don’t borrow!

Why Ugandan businesses fail
Bitature: The spirit of entrepreneurship is there in Uganda but so many businesses die with in the first five years. It is a shame! It is like when you rear so many chicken but many of them die before they are productive! The reasons why businesses fail include the following:

Debts
Bitature: We don’t have a culture to honour commitments especially to loans!  You get money from the bank and you don’t want to pay it back because of school fees or your wife is sick or something happened. When you don’t clear your loan, the bank will come and repossess your property.

Lack practical skills
Bitature: We lack the practical skills because we over emphasize academic education. When you come out of the university, you know nothing about business. There are so many people in Kikubo, they are not educated, walk around in shorts but they are astute businessmen and have made lots of money.

Secrets to successful business
Bitature: All rich businessmen have discipline. You have to persevere. Every one of us has made losses at one time or another but we cut our losses and move on. You have to tenacious and hardworking. Lay a good structure: It is better to be a small fish in a big pond. Do not rush into partnerships.
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How do you manage to be successful and humble at the same time?
Bitature: Humility – when you are ambitious, you have to have somebody that pushes you to be number one. For me, the credit goes to my mother. My mother passed on, now I have my wife took. She always reminds me to keep my feet on the ground.   It helps when you have someone to bring you back down: people forget and they think they are too powerful.

Advice to young entrepreneurs
Bitature: Any business you do should make you 25%. Make sure you make 1% percent a day!

Web Presence

Building a Blog is a very good move towards career growth 

By Angela Kateemu


Sarah, a marketer says, ‘In starting a blog I personally only wanted to join every social networking madness that there was- I set up one to keep up with the latest from the web and learn more. I was already on facebook, twitter, netlog, myspace … name it. But since I started a blog, I have had the greatest experience.  For one, it helped when I was applying for work, I put a link to my blog – I currently hold the job. I have since made some good contacts through it which have made me develop career-wise. With the ever growing number of people going online for various reasons there has never been a better time to establish a web presence with an internet marketing blog like Sarah did! Regardless of whether your work is based on or off the internet it is wise to build a blog since this is a practical way to build your career or business. Here are some of the hard to ignore reasons as to why establishing a web presence by blogging will definitely help you to build your career or business.

Exposure

For starters it only stands to reason the more people who are aware of what you do the easier it will be to increase business or chances of you building your career. Do you ever daydream about leaving a sucky job and never coming back?  You need exposure –not only to the world but potential employers or business idea. In case of a business, an internet marketing blog not only promotes goods and services but also supplies visitors with useful information, or at least it should! Based upon that line of reasoning if you post interesting enough content people WILL find you!


Boost Search Engine Rankings

When you are online, you want to take advantage of receiving as many contacts as possible. Posting fresh content (not nude pics) will help do just that. Keeping your internet marketing blog updated will help boost search engine rankings and a higher rank will send you more people.  Do you know what it would mean for you if a potential employee searched and found your name on google (for the good reasons of course!) Now imagine if they landed on your blog that shows your work profile and some of the projects you have worked on! If for instance you are a writer and you have a blog with all your works, it would save you a lot running around to have someone sign recommendation papers!



Inexpensive
Blogging is one inexpensive way to increase business and for that alone it is hard to overlook! The only investment you incur is the cost of a domain name and perhaps the hosting service if you do not already have one. It is even cheaper when you are opening a career blog like on blogspot –it is free.

Attracts Partnerships

As your web presence increases so will the attention you get from other careers or businesses within your own niche. What this will result in a partnerships developing in the form of guess bloggers, advertisers or even joint ventures since a combined effort will yield much greater results for everyone involved.

Improves Writing Skills

Do not be lied to, it is not only writers who want to improve their skill of writing; everyone does! And since blogging involves a lot of writing, it will increase your ability to communicate your thought clearly and concisely. Like anything practice makes perfect, or at least makes you better and obviously increasing your writing skills will benefit you both personally and professionally! Think in terms of not only composing interesting content for your internet marketing blog but also your copy writing skills as well!

Research Equals Education

The need for research is inevitable if you expect to be able and continuously create new and compelling content on your blog. This in turn furthers your own education within your niche which obviously can be used to help you to build your career! If the pen is mightier than the sword and the mind is what fuels the pen, you can not lose educating your mind!

If you can update your facebook or twitter  status everyday, why should it be hard to start a blog that could get you exposed to better things in your career. All it takes is a little commitment on your part which of course is something any career oriented person should already posses.
Start blogging now!

SUCK ON THIS, LOVE!

Should be whacked;
He who said;
'Absence makes the heart grow fonder'
The sonofabitch!

Distant; doesn't begin to say it!
Fond habits
Off the mantle...
... To the backroom

Keeping in touch
What a waste!
The 'mailman' -
Must have died!

That place
So dear!
Quiet
Loud with loneliness!

Poor heart:
Oh how it beats
To a staccato
That clangs back empty!

The ache;
Like a wound
Left with morphine in sight
...Outta reach

Love -
You physical pain!
Out of the brain RAM
Trampled for good measure!

It's been praised to be magical;
This love!
Only a shattered heart
That's still beating, knows!!

(C) Angela Kateemu

WHY DOES IT HURT SO BAD?

Whoever said 'absence makes the heart grow fonder'
Forgot to say:
It is so freakin HARD!
With everyday that passes,
You drop a fond habit

The wake up call
That nolonger is!
The texts of silly banter
That have since ceased!

I feel out of touch
And it is killing me
Coz when I think out loud
I feel like a nag

I try to hang on
To that good thing
Only we knew
But every effort is frustrated!

My heart,
Oh how it beats for you!

But there is so much going on
I can't hear the response of your heart

I ache;
Oh how I ache!
But I know it won't do me good
Coz there is no antidote

I miss you;
It has become physical pain
Want to pick you out of my thoughts
And hug you to me!

It has been praised to be magical;
This love!
Somebody tell me:
'Why does it hurt so bad?'

(C) Angela Kateemu 

How I Love You

Maybe I'm amazed at the way
you love me all the time
Maybe I'm afraid of the way I love u
Maybe I'm scared at the way I really
Need you

When I see you
My stomach flatters
(not butterflies this time, try locusts!!)
My heart!
Oh my heart it aches with longing


And then you smile
Oohh!! That smile
It relights the embers;
Can't remember what sadness
Feels like


Maybe I'm amazed by the depth
Of your soul
For it surely can't be that deep!!
Maybe I'm just speechless
Bubbling with all emotion unsaid


How I love you!!!

(C) Angela Kateemu 

Of Love en Other Disasters

I feel my heart race
When you look into my soul
And then you smile,
My innards tumble over each other

I tremble under your touch
A rash of need spreads all over me
I shudder, with the abscence of you
A rush of fear races down the spine

And there is a Deep-seated ache
That is slowly poisoning its way
Shaking the very core of my being

Aarrgghh!!!

Oh this love
That rekindles the embers of my soul
How can it, at the same time,
Threaten to destroy my very being?!

(C) Angela Kateemu 

The Wild Rose

Like the rose you cherish:
Take care of it, you do!
Even though it loves it in the wild:
You water it!

It has blossomed and now glows
They see it but can’t understand…. how?
It’s wild after all!
And it looks at them with mischief…

They want to pluck it for its petals
But the rose it is, it has thorns
‘Don’t tamper, or you get stung’
It seems to say!

Then you come like the morning sun
And it opens up to bask
It just can’t help itself
The magic is overpowering!

(C) Angela Kateemu 

Captive of Fate

You look at me and smile
My heart races miles
And I smile back
Because I’m under attack

I am scared
But you gently pat my heart
Reassuring me with your eyes:
‘It’s gonna be okay’

I touch you and shudder
And when we kiss
Everything stops
As if in a standing ovation!

I’m fighting a losing battle:
‘Why?’ I ask
‘Why not!’
My traitorous mind retorts!

‘This aint happening to me!’
‘Oh yes it is’
My lower stomach flatters
As if to confirm it!

I am a captive of fate
And I like it
If your love be the prison;
I serve a life sentence!

Rumbles of My Heart

Rumbles of my Heart
It is a fine morning…well everything seems to be fine
(Through my new eyes)
The glow that emanates off me puts even the perfect of sunsets to shame
(In my new eyes)

I am lost, but for some reason don’t want to be found
Because what I feel is too incredible to wish away
I am high and it has nothing to do with intoxication
But maybe I am intoxicated…

I wake up and smile because that is all I seem to do lately
(In this new chapter of my life)
Sometimes I’m lost into it that I break into a giggle
(This chapter that is my new life!)

Your smile plays on my senses like a kaleidoscope
But even in that maze of many mirrors,
I can reach out and touch it
Bringing it to warm my heart

Don’t wanna weigh my options
(coz I’m scared)
Don’t wanna envision my life without you in it
(coz that scares me!)

You restored me to a life I had resigned from
From the life of cynicism where gold looked like charcoal
Where a genuine smile was an ugly picture of grimace;
You rekindled the light that had burned out

I look at you when you look at me
(I get weak at the knees)
You tell me you love me
(My heart explodes)

I let my heart to rumble
Because it is bubbling with the pleasure
The pleasure of being opened up like a flower in the rain:
Let my heart rumble!

(C) Angela Kateemu

Love you

I love you

It’s in the morning …
Before the birds chirrup a melodious hello
You whisper
‘Wake up!’

Even in my sleep…
I shiver to the caress
Of your whispered
‘Good morning’

I smile…
A knowing smile
To your whispered
‘Honey, wake up!’

I can see your subtle smile
As you picture my hesitancy
Willing me
To wake up

Basking in the sound of your
Deep-throated husky voice
I relish
That intimate ritual

My chest swells
Bursting with bubbles of joy
And in that single moment I realize
‘I love you,’ I whisper … to myself

(C) Angela Kateemu