By Ramadhan Rajab

Winston Churchill once said, "there is no finer investment for any community than putting milk into the mouths of babies".

For Ms Maureen Mugalla, 24, apart from being an employer has risen to become an epitome of inspiration that steers the youth in Mbale town to their dreams. With Sh10,000 the Form Four leaver had saved from her monthly Sh2,000 wage as a hotel waiter, for five months and started a chips business in 2007 .

Today, Mugalla owns a hotel, a salon and barber shop in Mbale town.

With a beaming face, she narrates how she has touched many lives. After starting the chips business, she felt the need to expand. She applied for a loan from the youth fund, and got Sh20, 000.

She says the youth fund has brought her fame and turned her into an entrepreneurial teacher.

During this year’s National Youth Employment Conference held in Nairobi, she was voted the best youth in the management of the fund.

"The secret is to repay loans faster so that they do not become a bottleneck to business growth," Mugalla said.

Scrap off

She says the youth should discard the stereotype that loans are for the rich.

"These loans should be our stepping-stone to propel us to our desires," she adds.

Though happy with the increased youth fund kitty, she says incentives, motivation, and training is key to nurturing young entrepreneurs.

"We need tax incentives to attract us to business and this monster of unemployment will be wrestled down," she said.

She says her motivation to go into business was fuelled by a dream she had of owning a hotel, an idea she picked from her home science lesson.

"My dream is to one day be the proud owner of a five star hotel in Mbale, with more than 400 direct employees," she said.

From her hotel, tagged ‘Cheers cafÈ’, and a barber shop-cum -saloon dubbed ‘Gravity centre’, she says more than 100 youths have been trained as waiters, barbers and hairdressers this year.

"I am proud since I know I am training someone and giving them a livelihood," she says.

She further challenges the youth to brace for self-employment. "Most youths adore celebrity lifestyle, developing a notion that life is all about entertainment and this is where we go wrong. We have to work hard," Mugalla advises.

Roles in society

Even though the youth are realising their roles, she says much effort should be geared towards changing the mindsets of the majority who believe in handouts.

"We need to prepare now, if we got to be tomorrow’s leaders lets lead now in our own capacities," she points out saying that this has been her driving force.

As she sums up the interview, Mugalla says that she dreams that one day through her business she will turn Mbale into a booming business hub.