Fred Lukyamuzi operates a bushing press machine at his workshop in Mukono. PHOTOS/GEORGE KATONGOLE
Since 1996, Fred Musoke Lukyamuzi, the proprietor of Lutex Enterprises, has been repairing motorcycles, water pumps and small machines.
Lukyamuzi’s story begins like so many other start-up stories which involve little formal education.
Having dropped out of school before reaching Senior Four, Lukyamuzi’s father sought a better career for him.
“He was at first concerned about the shape of my left leg when I was 13,” Lukyamuzi, whose left leg developed an extreme arch, says.
The father of five did not think much of what to do with his life beyond childhood. But his father decided to take him to a friend’s garage in Abayita’babiri Entebbe where he would spend three years. Initially, his father wanted him to become a builder.
“That is where the interest
in mechanics really began. It shaped my career path in so many
unexpected ways but most importantly it taught me what it meant to be a
hard worker and an effective manager. Being a mechanic taught me how to
solve problems,” the father of five says.
With the skills gained from
Deo’s garage, his career took off and his life changed. His workday is
now full of satisfying projects. He has what he calls a stable career
with room to grow yet it allows him time for his family.
Learning on the job
“As
a learner, you do not get paid anything. To survive, I would collect
used nuts and bolts and sell them for my personal needs while my father
took care of the school fees,” Lukyamuzi says.
As a young
entrepreneur with big ideas, he found work in Kirinya-Bweyogerere in
Wakiso District where he thought he would find proper space to learn and
grow. But he was surprised that he already knew more than his boss.
Knowing
that, he sought to become independent repairing machines from his
two-bedroomed house in a nearby place called Kakajjo, where he rented.
This is actually where his business was born.
“Customers would find me home and I would use the spare time to go to my workplace,” Lukyamuzi explains.
Finally
he quit that place after about one year to take advantage of the
growing customers in the nearby district. He found space at a spares
shop in Mukono Town along Bugerere Road where he would repair
motorcycles.
“I was now ready to become independent because I already had my toolbox and kept the momentum going,” Lukyamuzi says.
All on, he had gained experience and was exposed to corporate clients, especially motorcycles for district employees.
“This was the biggest spares shop then and many district employees brought their motorcycles for repair,” he recalls.
His
first job was repairing the engine for a Honda XL 125 motorcycle for
the District Farm Institute (now Mukono Zonal Agricultural Research
Institutes). This built his confidence.
From that time, he has gone on to become one of the most respected mechanics for Japanese motorcycles in Mukono Town.
His line of clients includes Centenary Bank, Pride Microfinance,
Hilton Schools, St Peters Nkokonjeru, Riley Packaging Industries,
Kyetume CBHC, Seroma High School, NAADS, Festino Cite, VEDCO, Noah’s
Ark, Vision for Africa, MuZardi, Stella Maris College, Kyampisi
Sub-county, Mukono Municipality and St Joseph’s Naggalama for a range of
activities including generator and motorcycle repairs, compound
maintenance, trimmers and water pump repairs.
With motorcycles
increasingly becoming electric, he explains that mechanics need to keep
abreast. He personally browses through YouTube.
Pricing
One
of the most intricate issues in repair and service business is pricing.
Lukyamuzi says this is not fixed and cannot be anticipated. He says
maintenance costs vary depending on the machine’s condition, spare
availability and the specific repairs.
If it is a motorcycle, he
says, the services to consider in routine maintenance are oil and filter
changes as well as replacing broken parts.
“But sometimes the client may tell you to pick the motorcycle from a distant place,” You have to consider that too,” he says.
The main challenge to him though is about many clients who do not want to get a diagnosis first.
“Many
just ask how much it would cost even before you can assess the scope of
the work. This is why many go for cheaper options,” Lukyamuzi notes.
Inspiration
But his curiosity got the better of him as he continued to work hard and developed a reputable network.
Due
to the market changes, he was forced to change too. In the 1990’s the
motorcycle market was flooded by Japanese technology but it soon shifted
to Indian makers. This transition saw the arrival of Indian brands such
as Bajaj and TVS.
“The shop was closed by the owner and since I had little capital, I shifted next door,” he says.
Later,
he shifted his workshop to a rental near the taxi park in Mukono where
he used one room for his family. He has since established his own home
on Katosi Road where he keeps chicken for side income.
He is inspired by the fact that clients keep coming and the job has no age limit.
Lukyamuzi, left, shows his elder son Marvin Serugo how to drill.
Trust is key
Lukyamuzi explains that many owners can do the job from elsewhere. “So, what you sell to them is trust,” he says.
He still maintains some clients he had in the 90s or others that were recommended by satisfied clients.
“I
mind more about doing a great job than actually asking for money. A
satisfied customer is worth more than any amount of money,” he says.
Tools
The
biggest expense in garage business is the tools and equipment needed to
work on people’s machines. That means parting with large sums of money
for the essential kit.
Lukyamuzi explains that many motorised machine
owners can service and maintain their machines only that they seldom
have the right tools to perform more complex jobs. That is the reason
why they have to rely on mechanics like him to take care of their
machinery.
A mechanic’s tool box is an important investment in
their career. He says that mechanics buy tools throughout their career
as they replace old tools, buy specialised tools, or opt for top of the
line versions.
The typical toolbox has a hammer, pliers, screw
drivers, wrenches, ratchet and socket sets, drills, tools for electrical
work as well as miscellaneous tools such as hex keys, tape measure,
flashlight, safety glass and files.
Building a legacy
Looking into the future, Lukyamuzi yearns to pass on his knowledge to the younger generation.
In
2002, he established a vocational institute aimed at equipping the
youth and women with vocational skills, but it only became real in 2006.
Lutex
Enterprises now offers services including generator repairs, motorcycle
repairs, spare suppliers, trimmers, spares, mechanical engineering,
metal merchants, plumbing, skills training, power saws and water
pumps. They also do compound designing and maintenance.
“My
experience has taught me that there are many children who cannot afford
school and vocational education may be all they need to make it in life.
I now want to leave a legacy,” he says.
Since 2006, Lutex
Enterprises has been training the youth in vocational courses that
include: motor vehicle mechanics, catering and cookery. Others include
hairdressing and cosmetology, shoe-making, textile garment cutting and
design, welding and metal fabrication.
The institute partners with
institutions including schools, vocational institutions to train
students and community school dropouts under the supervision of the
Directorate of Industrial Training (DIT) and the Uganda Association of
Private Vocational Institutions. They work with JIT Engineering
Services, HARK Bakers, MK Auto Garage. TK Autos, Esther Saloon, Nabaya
Woodworks, MDK Technical Services. Lukabwe Kisakye Painters, Trudy
Fashions, Esmouc Civil Engineering, River Flow Vocation, Ken Shoemakers
and Music for life Africa Foundation.
Learners pay between Shs300,000
to Shs750,000 depending on the duration of the course. The courses go
for three months to one year.
Challenges
Lukyamuzi
explains that life working as a mechanic is not always easy. One of the
most outstanding challenges is access to quality tools.
“They come
at a huge cost. We need European standard tools and they are no longer
easily available to us,” he says. But the work also takes many hours on
the job. This limits family interaction and decreases job satisfaction
because customers always expect a quick turnaround.
Another everyday hassle is about the tendency by young mechanics to eat all the money without savings.
“The money you get as labour is not enough for personal development. You need to boost it with a spares business,” he adds.
But
on a daily basis they face know-it-all customers. He says such clients
know what is wrong when they really don’t. “When you tell them something
they don’t know they are always adamant. You don’t have to prove your
knowledge, instead show them your work,” Lukyamuzi says.
Lukyamuzi’s tips on garage operation
There are some sectors which do not necessarily come to mind when you think about small businesses.
Fred
Lukyamuzi, the owner of Lutex Enterprises in Mukono Municipality, gives
his advice to the overlooked small business of garages.
The
stereotypical view of a garage is one of greasy overalls and nuts and
bolts, but the industry is growing steadily. Most young people learn
from garages before they become independent.
Lukyamuzi explains that
the growing number of people using boda-bodas is providing a major
opportunity to venture into the business which he says is worthwhile and
successful. But to become a vital service provider, Lukyamuzi offers
tips to succeed.
Diversify with spare parts
Mechanics
and servicing, Lukyamuzi says, is not sufficient. “One should be able
to diversify and put up a spare parts business,” he says.
Lukyamuzi
says that daily income makes mechanics feel secure but if it is not well
utilised, they may regret it when they approach old age.
Grow your network
Lukyamuzi explains that it is important to get your name out there so that local businesses learn about your services.
He
says that any person in the vehicle maintenance business must
understand the importance of a strong referral network. He says these
networks are establish on trust you build with customers.
“This means you have to stay at the top of your game such that you do not disappoint the customers that come to you,” he says.
Lukyamuzi explains that it is also important to take a service-first approach.
“The more you focus on the work, you stand to be valued,” he says.
Keep learning
Lukyamuzi
explains that one does not need one to have a business background in
order to succeed in the garage business. While this helps, of course, he
says the key thing is having a willingness to learn.
He recommends YouTube as one great resource.
“Everything they talk about can help. You need to learn the principles for YouTube to be helpful,” he says.
As
his operations grew, it became unavoidable to register the company and
have a business plan while pitching to partners and banking
institutions.
“Corporate bodies like to deal with companies and
that is why it helps. You cannot win a big contract without
registration. Luckily, you don’t have to do it all by yourself. There
are a number of people who can do that for you at a cost,”
He says
that many garage businesses are owned by mechanics who, despite wanting
their business to grow, feel uncomfortable with the strategic side of
things.
“If you do not learn by pushing yourself, you won’t get anywhere,” he notes.
Social media
Lukyamuzi
says that to keep up with the trends, even small businesses must use
social media as an important tool for marketing. “On social media we
promote our vocational school and most importantly it keeps our name in
the people’s consciousness,” he says.
Although he is not a socials person, he has found social media to be an important tool the customers use to engage with him.
He says the Facebook page is growing with a spectrum of followers even beyond Mukono. “It is really helpful,” he says.
Creativity
Lukyamuzi explains that garage business is highly competitive especially with motorcycles which calls for creative thinking.
“You
have got to stand out of the crowd. At Lutex, we put emphasis on
completing the job such that our customer is satisfied. We allow people
to even pay us in instalments for labour. It has kept many coming even
though some dishonest ones may not pay us,” he says.
He suggests offering free checks for clients as another important key in the growth of the business.
Skilling others
Looking into the future. Lukyamuzi yearns to pass on his knowledge to the younger generation.
In
2002, he established a vocational institute aimed at equipping the
youth and women with vocational skills, but it only became real in 2006.
Lutex
Enterprises now offers services including generator repairs, motorcycle
repairs, spare suppliers, trimmers, spares, repair and maintenance,
mechanical engineering, metal merchants, plumbing, merchants, skills
training, power saws and water pumps. They also do compound designing
and maintenance.
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