Mukwano an Industrialist is Leaving Good Legacy

Published by Roperfree

Mukwano (friendship) and his real name is Karmali started from humble background born in Bukandula- Gomba near the birth place of my mom – Gomba Nsavu about 87 years ago and his parents were from Indian who came under the British to build Uganda railways when Uganda was under British protectorate.

In 1972 when Amin had just been in power for one year he expelled Ugandan Indians into exile and Mukwano did not leave the country but decided to hide himself with assistance of his friends and when the smoke died down in 1980’s he rebuilt his businesses.

I happened & privileged to know Mukwano in person when I was a young child helping out in my dad’s store with my siblings and as we all started work when we were young emulating the Indian style of doing business.

Mukwano had a textiles shop selling fabrics on Luwumu Street and next to his shop was Ndembe textiles of Karim Hirji as our father had the same type of business on Kampala Road called Kabale Busega Stores Ltd, selling fabrics so they used to make referrals to each other in case the customers needed the type of materials we did not have and same applies to Mukwano enterprises Ltd but by the time of his death he had build a business empire from agriculture, real-estate, banking and logistics. Mukwano was truly industrialists and highly disciplined business man. 

I remember when Mukwano and Mulwana started Uganda Manufacturers Association (UMA) and invited my dad to join them to be a member because by then he was manufacturing by filling hair dyes called Evanol on behalf of Mr. Benton who was based in Britain but declined to join them and he told them that actually he was not a manufacturer but filling plant and he felt that does not qualify to be a manufacturer and the late Mulwana continued to supply him with the plastic bottles he used to fill the hair dyes.

Mukwano worked so hard that his products became Uganda household name while Mukwano Group employs about 17,000 direct or indirectly according to the reports.

Its subsidiary companies include Mukwano Enterprise Ltd, AK Oils and Fats, AK plastics, AK Detergents, Rwenzori Commodities, a forex bureau and Gulf Stream Investments Ltd.

In real estates, Mukwano built the first modern shopping mall in Kampala, the Acacia Mall and number of other malls in the city.

Following his deteriorating health, Karmali relocated to his home in Fort Portal leaving the business to his children led by his daughter Rukshana educated in Canada, university of Toronto.

The world needs transformation to make the future and the current people have better lives, good health & economic empowerment. Someone has to do it and sacrifice and no one deserves to live in poverty or to die young as we all have a purpose to fulfill and contribute to this wonderful world & to make it a better place to live in that is why as Roperfree we decided to fight malaria which is number one killer disease in Uganda and the rest of the Sub-Saharan Africa.

As Roperfree a social enterprise company established to fight malaria and rheumatisms and Kasumba Group of companies started by our beloved late dad Mr. Eriabu Kasumba running real estate, agriculture, shopping mall and the legacy goes on which have made economic transformation to the country and it will continue until Uganda becomes a middle income country.

Entrepreneurship is the answer to transform the country, politicians failed in USA and a business man Trump became the president that means that people are yearning for economic transformation not political for reasons known to the majority around the globe.

Roperfree a social enterprise company came into existence to provide solution to problem of malaria endemic countries in order to save lives & Roperfree Brand Products can be purchased on major e-commerce platforms such as; Amazon, eBay and Jumia or via the following outlets in and around Kampala:

                     Backpackers at Mengo where you will never get mosquito bites due preventative tools in place

Backpackers Hostel & Campsite- Mengo- Kampala 

Numack Pharmacy- Mengo, Kampala

Aidchild- Equation Gallery & Art cafe, Mbarara -Masaka Road

Kenjoy Supermarket- Najjanankumbi on Entebbe Road

Beauty Dreams Shop. No 63 Pioneer Mall, Kampala

Spring Pharmacy-Wilson Rd, Kampala

Mega Supermarket; Old taxi park & Garden City Mall

Friecca Pharmacy- Wandegeya

Majex Pharmacy- Kajjansi

West-Link Pharmacies; Lubowa Quality Village Mall- Lubowa & Kitende

Asian African commodities-Italian Supermarket; Muyenga- Kabalagala

John-Rich Supermarket- Kabalagala

Kasumba Square-Busega, Kampala

Malakai- Eco- Hotel- Kitende (for guest’s access only)

Eureka Hotel- Ntinda (on pilot project)

Ssese Beach Hotel- Ssese Island (for guests only)