By Tiffany Uwimana
Joy Christine Turamuhawe did not imagine she would ever own a cleaning company. Today, just a year after graduating from Makerere University Business School, she is the owner of Cjay Home Solutions, a company that offers cleaning services for commercial and residential premises.
Her business, Cjay – a portmanteau of Christine and Joy – was born out of a twitter post where she casually talked about offering cleaning services. When the post gained popularity, she had to quickly gather ideas on how to satisfy her clients. Each of her first clients paid her 30,000 Uganda Shillings for services that included laundry cleaning and general house maintenance. Her company has since expanded and now takes on much bigger jobs, ranging from cleaning couches, carpets, pavements and compounds for homes and office premises.
Turamuhawe was born on 26th December 1996 in Kabale district and attended Ainembabazi Primary School, Kabale Preparatory School, and Ngyeya Preparatory School in Bushenyi. She moved on to Mary Hill High School in Mbarara district, before changing to St. Peter’s Senior Secondary School, Naalya and later, St. Lawrence School (London College) – both in Wakiso district. She joined Makerere University Business School for the Bachelors in International Business, graduating in 2022.
Christine Turamuhawe at her graduation from Makerere in January 2022
The idea of starting a business arose in 2019, and it was not smooth sailing. Turamuhawe had to balance studies and work, and it helped that she attended the evening program, which allowed her to work during the day. Being at university comes with plenty of needs, and it may become overwhelming having to ask for money from one’s parents and guardians all the time. Turamuhawe says she worked hard to be able to provide for herself. She is a firm believer in hard work and that nothing comes easy.
Her company purposely employs university students and young people to help them earn some money. In so doing, Turamuhawe’s intention is to contribute to curbing youth unemployment and help young people, especially women, spend their time productively. She currently employs 12 people, and her goal is to expand her business within Uganda and in the rest of East Africa.
“I don’t like it when I see girls sitting waiting for things to be done for them; waiting for men to do things for them when they can work hard and fend for themselves,” she says. “Financial independence is very important for us, women, because we are usually viewed as inferior in society, yet we possess so much that only needs to be discovered and developed.”
Chrisitine together with some of the employees at Cjay Home Solutions
When she started her business, some people looked down on her because of her choice of vocation, but that did not deter her from following her path and successfully turning a basic skill into a means of livelihood.
“Cleaning is a basic skill that everyone ought to have. The difference, however, is that when it is done as a profession, one has to be thorough,” she says.
Turamuhawe is grateful to Makerere University for the flexible teaching schedule because it enabled her run her business without much interruption to her education. She also applauds the administration for introducing blended learning, which allows students to use their time effectively and profitably. She, however, says Makerere could do better at shaping and nurturing students’ passions through mentorship, among other ways. Facilitating interaction with alumni would help motivate students, build their confidence, and impart soft skills that many of them lack, she says.
Christine poses for a picture at the Cjay Home Solutions Office in Kira town.
Turamuhawe advises young people seeking to start businesses to be patient, willing to listen to advice, and not to compare themselves to others, because everyone has their own destiny.
“Seek advice from people in the area that you want to venture into. If you want to go to war, you ask those that are coming from it because it is those people that will give you the answers you are looking for,” she says.
Related News
Please join hands with the Makerere University Endowment Fund as it works towards attracting & retaining the best faculty, providing scholarships, and investing in cutting-edge research and technology.