Educate! Spearheads Nzabarinda’s Journey from Student to Entrepreneur
From an early age, Nzabarinda thought of himself as an entrepreneur.
During his childhood, he spent his free time selling food and collecting scrap alongside friends in his community, excitedly carrying on despite setbacks like food going bad before he could sell it. As Nzabarinda continued to grow, so did his passion for business.
In 2018, Nzabarinda had the opportunity to participate in the Educate! Experience, Educate!’s in-school model in Uganda, during his fifth year of secondary school. Through skills courses and practical experiences like making candles, shoe polish, briquettes, and liquid soap, Nzabarinda nourished his entrepreneurial spirit and also generated a profit that would allow him to continue his schooling despite financial constraints.
Reflecting on his time as an Educate! participant, Nzabarinda’s desire to strengthen his skillset shines through his stories. He recalls fundraising through relatives, calling an Educate! trainer for support over the school holiday, leading his team in winning first place at a business club competition, and earning a high-performing gold certificate, which he still has on display.
Liquid soap sold through Tuuza Industries.
Today, Nzabarinda is both a successful university student and business owner, crediting his experience in Educate! for laying the strong foundation he has continued to build upon in recent years. “My experience at Educate! made me see problems as opportunities. I became more creative and gained innovative skills.”
Seeking to improve the living standards of those in his town and beyond, Nzabarinda first applied the skills he garnered through Educate! to manufacture a liquid soap made to repel mosquitoes and reduce instances of malaria. This endeavor eventually led him to found Tuuza Industries, which deals in the production and supply of household cleaning products, probiotic beverages, and organic fire starters.
“I built Tuuza Industries based on Sustainable Development Goal 3, which focuses on good health and wellbeing.”
Fast forward to today, Nzabarinda is pursuing a degree in business marketing while simultaneously running Tuuza Industries Ltd, now a registered startup. Employing three full-time staff members and two part-time workers, the company has generated a gross profit of over USD $750 since its beginning in 2019.
Nzabarinda (second from the left) and this team.
Primarily serving restaurants and hospitals, Nzabarinda reaches his preferred customer base through social media marketing and e-commerce platforms. The company also lists its products through major retailers and even has a refer-a-friend program.
With his sights set on becoming the biggest producer and supplier of household cleaning products in East Africa, Nzabarinda is more motivated than ever to grow his enterprise. His current business goals include increasing market share, building new product features, optimizing efficiency, and growing shareholder revenue. Leveraging his experience in Educate!, Nzabarinda is also embarking on a project to support upskilling for young people in his local community.
“The skills I learned from Educate! have been critical to my success as an entrepreneur. They helped me to grow my business and achieve my goals.”
Nzabarinda's story is one of hard work and determination — and a clear reminder that it's never too early to start chasing your dreams.
Nzabarinda (red shirt) showcases Tuuza Industries at the International Youth Conference held at Makerere University Business School in Kampala.