Eriosi Nantaba

After his father was sacked from his job as a teacher at Shimon Demonstration School in Kampala in 2002, William Kabanda decided to hunt for any kind of job to foot pay for his education.

It had been his father's salary that they depended on as a family.

"I admired educated people and knew it was only through schooling that one could succeed in life," said Kabanda.

His first piece of work was as a potter at a nearby construction site where he could earn Ushs 3,000 per day. He used the earnings to foot her primary level school dues.

After completing his primary education in 2004, Kabanda decided to move to his uncle's home in Kampala to search for jobs during the vacation.

"I managed to get a job as a supermarket attendant and luckily I saved money which I paid for two years in a nearby secondary school," explained Kabanda. He managed to complete his Ordinary level in 2008.

It was after sitting his Ordinary level that he started renting a single bed roomed house neighboring his uncle.

He was still working as a supermarket attendant and earning Ushs 80,000 per month.

Later he was posted to another branch of the supermarket in Namasuba 5 km east of Kampala city center where he got an opportunity to learn compound designing from a nearby Institute.

"I spent half of my salary on training fees and the rest to look after my siblings in the village," said Kabanda.

Kabanda left the training center after getting acquainted with enough skills and experience to start his own business. He had saved Ushs 300,000 which he used as the starting capital.

"I bought the slashing machine, the compound rake and other equipment which was essential for the business and off I started designing people's compounds," explained Kabanda.

He started employing himself and left working for the supermarket in 2009. Today Kabanda owns a business and is no longer employed by other people. "I collected Ushs 200,000 from my earnings which I used to buy another slashing machine and started floriculture and foliage plants business," Kabanda said.

Nine months down the road in compound designing, Kabanda has managed to collect some good money to foot his Diploma education at Kyambogo University in Kampala.

His earnings have now risen to between Ushs 300,000 to Ushs 450,000 during high peaks of business and slightly low earnings in times of low business.

"Compound designing entails organizing a home in both its front and back yard to showcase the big and small ways that people can distinguish from the compound or gardens," explained Kabanda.

Kabanda explains that for one to effectively design a compound, he should consider the angles and the facings of the room because they depict the mood of a visitor and give a cheerful and bright colored look to the compound.

Designing compound also depends on the location of the home whether on a hill top or in a valley and the front and back views of the house.

"I hope to expand the business to employ other people who can do the slashing while I specialize in designing the compounds," said Kabanda. The first born of five children, 23 year old Kabanda is now looking after his parents as well as his siblings.

However the business cannot do away with challenges as any other business undertaking. "Business is not reliable because during the dry season customers are less as grass and flowers decline in growth," Kabanda said.

Setting the prices for the services is also a problem because it depends on the work load and the size of the compound.

Kabanda notes that it is never too late to fulfill one's dreams especially with regards to education and believes that at one time he will be a degree holder from Makerere University.