Story By Susan Abigaba.
In the rural setting of Nyamirami Sub County, where access to motorcycle repair services was once a challenge, one woman has risen to fill the gap; and is changing the narrative around gender roles in technical trades.
Jones Kabugho, a determined wife and mother of two, is a graduate of the Uganda Rural Development and Training Institute (URDT -I), where she trained in motorcycle repairing and mechanics during Cohort 5 in 2022. What sets her apart is not only her technical skill but also her courage to venture into a field traditionally dominated by men.
Motivated by the lack of accessible motorcycle repair services in her area, Jones took a bold step and enrolled at URDT-I. After graduating, she transitioned into the workforce in April 2023. With the support of her family and hard work, she established the only motorcycle garage and spare parts shop in her locality making her an indispensable asset to her community.
“I wanted to bring services closer to my people,” she says. “Before, people had to travel long distances for even minor repairs. Now, they come to me.” Jones kickstarted her business with a modest capital of UGX 800,000, sourced from the sale of crop harvests (UGX 300,000) and support from her spouse (UGX 500,000). Through resilience, good customer care, and transparency, her business has grown to a capital base of UGX 2,200,000 and earns her a monthly income of UGX 400,000
“I serve at least seven clients a day. It has enabled me to pay school fees for my two children who are in good schools,” she proudly states.
Like many women in male-dominated industries, Jones has faced her fair share of scepticism.
“The biggest challenge I’ve faced is being undermined because people think motorcycle repair is a man’s job,” she says. “But I have overcome this by providing quality services to my clients, and they have been my best marketers.”
Jones’s story is living proof that skill, not gender, defines capability.
Looking Ahead; Jones’s ambition does not stop at running a garage. Her five-year vision is to establish a wholesale spare parts shop and a training centre to equip at least 200 youths, especially young women, with motorcycle repair skills.
“I’m working toward this by saving UGX 100,000 monthly through two savings groups and supplementing my income through crop farming,” she says. “My goal is to grow and boost my business and help others do the same.”
Jones calls on URDT Institute and other stakeholders to advocate for mindset change in communities that still cling to outdated gender roles.
“I believe that what a man can do, a woman can do better. My advice to fellow youth is to seize every opportunity, be patient, resilient, and transparent. With good customer care, you will earn respect and grow wealthy.”
Her journey is a powerful testament to the transformative impact of vocational skills, family support, and the strength of a determined woman in defying odds and uplifting her community.
Jones is a testament of the 3,057 (1,671 F, 1386M) young people equipped with vocational and soft skills since 31st Sept,2020 in Kasese district local government; one of the 20 districts where URDT-I has implemented a Skilling Youth for Entrepreneurship and Dignified Employment project in partnership with Mastercard Foundation to transform lives of 70,000 young people under # Young Africa Works Strategy whose goal is to enable 4.3 million young Ugandans into dignified and fulfilling work by 2030.
| Jones attending to her client. | Jones inside her spare parts shop in Nyamirambi. |
