I have spent almost my entire career with one company and can honestly say I have no regrets. I joined Motorcare Uganda, an automotive dealership, in the late 1990s after a brief spell with a local bank, and have since made my way up through the ranks from trainee to MD. The company is right for me as its values resonate with mine.
I have worked in every department at Motorcare. I’ve been a network administrator, a finance manager, a people/HR manager, sales manager and after-sales manager. I acquired a lot of knowledge and skills in accounting (I started out supporting the company accountant, and that ultimately became my role) without the benefit of any qualifications, before deciding to back those skills up by qualifying as an ACCA. Acquiring knowledge across all areas of the company won me the role of managing director.
It is exciting to combine your ideas with someone else’s to find solutions
I really enjoy my job. I like being responsible for daily operations while also achieving business strategy. I enjoy interacting with all our employees, coaching and mentoring them. And I love being able to offer quick solutions to challenges. It is very exciting to combine an idea of your own with someone else’s to come up with an answer that works. Finding solutions means satisfied customers, and that drives Motorcare’s growth.
New competition is a big challenge for the automotive sector in Uganda. New players entering the market with their own models, particularly in the economy vehicle segment, are steadily reducing the market share of the traditional brands. I believe the best opportunities will be in e-vehicles, including two- and three-wheelers. The sector also needs to look for more opportunities in the green space.
My favourite quote comes from Nelson Mandela. He said: ‘What counts in life is not the mere fact that we have lived. It is what difference we have made to the lives of others that will determine the significance of the life we lead.’ In my own journey I hope I have been able to touch some people, both personally and in their career.
I am one of very few female managing directors in the auto sector
Balancing my role as a mother and wife with climbing the corporate ladder has been my biggest achievement. I am the first female MD in this sector in Uganda and one of the very few in sub-Saharan Africa. I am also proud of the Vantage Award we received from Uganda Revenue Authority when I was finance director, for accurate and timely payment of all taxes.
If I had law-making powers, I would change pension legislation in Uganda to allow other players to enter the market. Eliminating the National Social Security Fund’s current monopoly would give working people more choice and a better deal.
If I wasn’t a qualified accountant, the job that would interest me the most is being an architect. Seeing my designs come to life is something I would greatly enjoy.
Outside of work, I enjoy travelling, listening to music and dancing. Listening to any kind of music is joyful and therapeutic for me. When I am at home, I always move around with my Bluetooth speaker.
