Muhwezi Nicholas
My name is Muhwezi Nicholas, and I come from Kanungu district. I graduated from Busitema University with a Bachelor’s degree in Agribusiness.
A Turning Point
My life journey transformed when FAWE Uganda took us through the Extended Orientation Program (EOP), hosted at Mbarara University of Science and Technology (MUST) for two weeks. This became the foundation of everything in me. Topics in leadership skills, entrepreneurship, ICT skills, financial management, stress management, and adapting to campus life brought a positive change to my life. I put these skills into practice right away, and as a result, I have reached a number of milestones today.
Building a Business from Scratch
My entrepreneurship journey began immediately after attending the EOP at university. I have run several enterprises to raise income. In my first year, I started piggery and turkey projects, which only required feeding morning and evening, leaving me time to focus on my academics.
With allowances from my leadership positions at school, plus savings from the piggery and turkey business, I invested in a second-hand motorcycle, which I used to carry passengers as a boda boda, earning UGX 60,000 a week.
The motorcycle transport business ran profitably for two years, during which I saved UGX 2,000,000. I later sold the motorcycle for UGX 1,600,000, raising a total of UGX 3,600,000 altogether.
Having realized it was a profitable business, I reinvested the money, plus some additions, into a new project and bought a brand-new motorbike for UGX 4,600,000, which is still earning money through the COVID-19 pandemic period. In the beginning, it was challenging to balance academics, leadership, and entrepreneurship at the same time, so I chose to run projects that required minimal supervision, freeing up more time for my studies.
“Entrepreneurship has motivated me to further my journey even after campus — I can earn extra income to support myself and my family, and create employment for others in my community.”
These entrepreneurship skills have been key in my life. I am passionate about them because they let me earn extra income to support myself and my family back home whenever the need arises, as well as create employment for others in my community. I currently employ one person who rides one of my motorcycles, which enables him to support his own family too.
Growing as a Leader
Besides entrepreneurship, I have found great success in leadership. At Busitema University, I was elected Students’ Representative, serving for three years from 2017 to 2020.
This position let me practice my leadership skills, gain confidence, and take on other university leadership roles from my first year through my third. Among these, I served as Gender and Culture Secretary at Busitema University Arapai Campus (2018-2019), and later as Assistant Speaker, Minister of Transport, Welfare and Publicity (2019-2020), and Project Manager of the Busitema University Western Uganda Students Association.
What Leadership Taught Me
Leadership built my awareness and creativity in anticipating problems and designing solutions before they arise. It taught me to manage new challenges, take responsibility for group dynamics and project outcomes, and build my confidence, networking, and ability to manage pressure while serving in the top position of the Students’ Guild council. In recognition of my leadership, FAWE Uganda awarded me a Certificate of Appreciation, which gave me the impetus to keep working hard.
“I therefore thank FAWE Uganda and the Mastercard Foundation for the great support rendered to me to further my education. Without them, I wouldn’t have reached where I am today.”