Grace Nakivumbi, the manager of “The Bar” and sister to the proprietor, says that they found it very hard to run a business line, which they had not been used to. She explains that their operating costs were too high yet the profit margin was minimal due to the lack of technical know-how.
Nakulabye’s popular hangout “The
Bar” has bounced back a year after operating as a
furniture shop. In 2020, when the government announced a nationwide lockdown and banned
all kinds of social gatherings, “The Bar” changed into a furniture shop.
The proprietor of “The Bar” ventured into second-hand furniture to keep
him moving since the bars were closed as part of the COVID-19 containment measures. However, “The Bar” has bounced back with the full reopening of the economy.
Grace Nakivumbi, the manager of “The
Bar” and sister to the proprietor, says that they found
it very hard to run a
business line, which they had not been used to. She explains that their operating
costs were too high yet the profit margin was minimal due to the lack of technical know-how.
“Even paying the rent for that
business was a battle unlike in the bar business. It was better to focus on
what we knew better thank God we hadn’t closed it fully” she told our reporter. She explained how they
have managed to sustain the bar business after closing the furniture business.
Luganda Audio
//Cue in; “nga tuzigya ewalala ………….
Cue out; ………… abamabaala
teyatulowoaza ko,”
About the planned reopening of the entertainment sector, Nakivumbi says that they are uncertain
certain until January 24th, 2022. She, however, says that they are ready for whatever comes their way. In
Nakulabye, many bars changed their business line.
The iconic Newlife bar, which started in 2001, sold off its premises
and changed to second-hand household items. However, the new shop, which housed the new business is empty and up for rent. Robert Mubiru, the
proprietor of the former Newlife bar, told URN in a
telephone interview that he has only dealt in one business in his entire life.
He explained that whenever he tries
out another business it ends in a bad gamble due to the lack of expertise. Without mentioning what his next
plans are since the president has announced the reopening of the entertainment
sector including bars, he
called upon bar owners to unite under their association to advocate for their interests.
Dennis Kasule Ssebunya
Freelancer