Mubarak Waiswa has on several occasions been referred to as a child. But the 28- year-old has withstood all the bullying, teasing and community mockery to achieve what many of his contemporaries just dream about.
A graduate from the prestigious Makerere University Business School (MUBS)
where he served as guild prime minister, Waiswa is now a proud manager and director of his own company.
“My appearance and looks cannot stop me from achieving anything I need in life,” Waiswa told this reporter in an exclusive interview. He says he has never got any favours because of his appearance and has never
despaired because of his looks. Born to Abdul Isabirye and wife Nuubu Nakyanzi on June 8, 1995, Waiswa and his twin sister Sumaya Nakato were born normal but the former’s trajectory changed after he allegedly fed on a poisonous insect.
“I was told that when still a baby, I ate a poisonous insect that affected my growth genes but fortunately my brain was not affected,” Waiswa narrates, adding that his twin sister is normal and happily married.
He recalls falling sick severally and occasionally fainting while in Primary Five at Peace Infant school in Nawanzu from where he completed his primary level education.
“After scoring a second grade, I joined Iganga Star College Busagwa before
proceeding to Iganga Progressive SS where I completed my Senior Six,” Waiswa says.
While in high school, Waiswa says he got involved in students leadership, serving as entertainment prefect and academics prefect, among other positions. He joined MUBS after completing A’level to pursue a Bachelors in Business Administration and says life at the beginning was not a bed of roses.
“Many students didn’t recognize me as a mature person. They would jokingly refer to me as a kid and ‘wonder’ what I was doing at university,” Waiswa says with a smile.
He lauds the MUBS-Jinja administration led by Veronica Mukyala for pulling him closer and making him feel at home. Joining university politics while in his second year at campus, Waiswa ventured into university politics and was appointed Education minister in Abasoga Nseete as well as Minister in charge
of People with Disabilities. He later threw his hat in the ring contesting for the post of Guild Prime Minister,
the highest students leadership position at MUBS- Jinja Branch.
“I beat two contestants hands down in a highly competitive campaign,” Waswa
recalls.
He says this position helped him discover himself as a formidable politician and
endeared him to many people.
“I was elected because of my capability and the fact that I am down to earth and I
had already been tested as a leader,” Waiswa says.
Always sharp in dress, Waiswa says that immediately he assumed office, Covid-19
struck like a thief in the night and education institutions were forced to close.
“We operated underground and it is the reason I served for two years as MUBS
prime minister making me the longest serving prime minister in the institution’s
history,” Waiswa says.
The 3.4 feet tall director said he learnt during his reign that you can lead people
even if you are not physically present.
“We had to lead via online and we could initiate online meeting to discuss affairs
of the students,” Waiswa says.
The graduate of Business Administration has also never discarded his MDD skills
and is involved in the film industry attached to Oceans Entertainment Uganda.
“I am featuring in Enhike, a movie serie running on Baba TV,” he says. Waiswa says he is inspired by Osta Iheme, a celebrated Nigerian movie star, who has featured in several Nigerian movies. Astute businessman
Waiswa works with Butumwa Agro Processors dealing in Coffee Production and value addition as a sales and marketing manager.
His Director at Butumwa, Kawooya Aloysius, says he admires Waiswa’s work ethic and his ability to beat all the odds.
“Whenever we walk together, people mistake him for my son but he proudly responds to them and tells them that he is a man,” Kawooya says. He adds that Waiswa is a likeable and amiable person who is never offended by what people say about him.
“I am proud of him as he has made our sales department tick, he’s self-driven and a blessing to our business,” Kawooya says. When asked what makes him excel in his work, Waiswa says his self believe and hard work have been key to his success in life. He says he also does a lot of research to add on what he learnt at school and does not keep grudges. He looks at Director Mukyala veronica as his role model and always goes to her
for guidance and counsel. He also loves his parents because regardless of the family’s financial challenges, all his siblings have gone through school. Finding love
The CEO of Civil care Business Solutions, that deals in consultancy, stationary and agency banking in Iganga, said he’s looking forward to getting a girlfriend.
“The girls I have approached prefer being just my friends, you see many people tend to be judgmental,” he says. He is, however, optimistic that he will land on his soulmate. Waiswa has also appealed to government to increase funding to people with disabilities and he has also urged people with disabilities to stop despairing and work for their betterment. The second born in a family of seven says he is looking forward to establishing a business empire and having a foundation catering for People with Disabilities as
well as having a family in the next five years.
