Corinth Rebecca Nabukenya is the proprietor of Nakawere Wange, a growing company that specializes in caring for pregnant and young mothers. She met with our writer, Kyatusiimire Sharon, to take about the new business dynamics, challenges and aspirations. Here is the full interview;
- Tell us about yourself.
I am called Corinth Rebecca Nabukenya. I am a Ugandan from the central part of Uganda. I come from a family of 13 and am the third last born. I have a diploma in journalism and mass communication and have previously worked in several local media houses. I recently applied for nursing and hope to become a qualified care giver.
- About Nakawere Wange, when and how did the idea come to your mind?
Nakawere is a Luganda term to mean a woman that has just given birth, and Wange means mine. Whoever is taking care of that mother calls her ‘Nakawere Wange’. However, many young women/mothers don’t get the privilege of having a dedicated person to help them through that period and have to do everything on their own, which is emotionally draining, more than most people are willing to admit. I am a mother who didn’t have any support during that time. I did everything for myself. It wasn’t easy, and I am reminded of the consequences of overworking my body every day, especially since I am a C-section mother. I have to do checkups now and then to ensure I am well.
When my daughter made seven months, I decided I needed to look for jobs. I was offered a number of them, but I couldn’t handle them because I wasn’t well prepared, and I had not healed enough to endure the responsibilities of working for someone else. That’s when I started thinking about all the challenges young mothers go through and saw an excellent opportunity there. I realized that everything I was doing for myself as a Nakawere, I could do for another young mother and get paid for it. I immediately started to introduce myself on social media, and before long, I was contacted by mothers who needed my services.
- What services do you offer under Nakawere Wange?
We offer pre and postpartum care, everything concerning a nakawere and a baby for the first three months after birth. We run errands, give massage to the nakawere, cord care for the baby, take baby for jabs, carry the baby when the mother is resting, take the mother for postpartum exercise/walks, ensure all medications is taken according to the directions of doctors, pray with and for the baby and the mother, professional counselling for the mother among other things.
- What has the entrepreneurship journey been like?
The journey has been challenging. I have had to be patient with clients that take me as a maid, clients that get you on the road going to their homes and while on the way they stop you, some don’t want to pay, then there are other clients who appreciate what I do and pay willing, they even give tips, some pay you upfront, so there all sorts of clients.
- What has been your best and worst moment so far?
My best moment since I started was when a client hired me as a midwife. It was an ample opportunity because I ensured I engaged her and learned a lot. As we speak now, I know how to measure blood pressure and the signs of sepsis, I can manage jaundice, and take care of special needs babies, among others.
My worst moments have been, among others working and the clients don’t pay, and sometimes the client books and pays some commitment fee, then along the way, she withdraws and asks for a refund.
- What are your future plans?
My utmost goal is to put up a training centre for people who want to do this kind of work to improve the quality and professionality of our services.
The second one is to create more employment opportunities for fellow Ugandans. At the moment, I am doing this alone, but at some point, by the grace of God, I will deploy caretakers in hospitals and homes for mothers needing these services. I will also offer these services to mothers who can’t afford them for free.
- How do you handle clients that want to treat you as a mere maid?
At first, I used to be bothered when a client called or treated me as a maid but now, I don’t mind. As long as I perform my duties according to our agreement and get paid, the rest doesn’t matter. When I made my first post on social media about Nakawere Wange, I was overwhelmed by comments like, “where were you when I just gave birth? finally, someone has remembered us”. There was a man that commented “nze bukyanga nzalibwa kino sikilabangako”. That made me realize that what I was offering had value and was a needed service, so if anyone wants to undermine me because of what I do, that is their problem. On the list of my services, there used to be laundry and home cleaning, but I put those services on hold.
- What advice do you give to young aspiring entrepreneurs
What qualifies one as an entrepreneur is getting an idea and developing it. It’s like God instructing you to do something; you do it right away, and you don’t wait to have a lot of money to begin. An idea will find you anywhere, get to work the moment you get it. And above all, always trust in the Lord.