By Asenath Were
Tom Lowkii Choudry, popularly known as “Tommy Choudry,” a recent law graduate from Uganda Christian University (UCU), defied the odds and finished his studies while living off of his two businesses, TLC Clothing and TLC Safaris, which provided him with pocket money and accommodation.
When Lokwii joined the university, he was pursuing a degree in Bachelor of Laws, having completed his diploma at the Law Development Centre in 2019. In the first semester of his first year, he worked as a marketer for Captain Morgan’s drinks. This was not his first job, however, as he had gotten a deal to mark uniforms at Homisdalen Primary School and sell products in Kikuubo for a company earlier.
When tragedy struck and he lost his father in 2021, his mother, Harriet Nabwire, assumed full responsibility for the family’s financial support. The second of five children, Lowkii, shares that the void left by his father’s passing made life difficult.
“After the passing of my father, my class collected UGX600,000 to top up my tuition, and although we were united as a class, I did not want to burden them each semester,” he says.
He therefore tried applying for a job but was unsuccessful and decided that he should just stick to entrepreneurship, which he is doing up to date. He decided to start a clothing company and sell branded and non-branded T-shirts and other clothes. In addition to providing him with UGX300,000 as startup capital for the business, his sister Betty Apun Choudry assisted him in developing the brand name “The Lord Cares” (TLC), which is based on 1 Peter 5:7.
“We used this to support me during my first year, and then I started selling to Dubai, Saudi Arabia, Uganda, and Kenya, which is how I used to earn money to support myself. I was responsible for covering my hostel fees, food, and clothing, while my supportive uncle Fred Iriama would cover 90% of my tuition.” Lowkii shares.
He says he would make about UGX300,000-400,000 in profits per sale and UGX100,000-200,000 per week or per two weeks on days when business was not too good.
He did not depend on that business alone, however. He got other jobs and worked for Mccleo Tours and Safaris, a tour company, and also as a social media influencer for Tecno Mobile Uganda. This is how he met many people who, he says, have been there for him and assisted him in promoting his clothing business.
At some point, however, he had to put the business on hold and concentrate on his studies, something his mother asked him to do as he had not performed well.
He thus left TLC Clothing as an online business. “In the latter part of 2021, I then launched TLC Safaris. I am operating Safaris because I have dependable personnel who can run the business without me,” says Lowkii.
With help from his friends, Lowkii’s company has managed to take people on trips both within and out of the country.
It has taken groups like the Stanbic Bank group for team-building exercises and the guild government of Uganda Christian University (UCU) to Kenya. It also takes families to Zanzibar and Mombasa.
In a good season, Lowkii says he makes between UGX 2 and 3 million twice a year on average, which he uses to invest in other businesses and support himself and his family. He prays and hopes that his hard work inspires others to work hard as well.
Lowkii urges young people who are striving for business ownership to always register their businesses with the Uganda Registration Service Bureau (URSB), use the Uganda Revenue Authority (URA) to obtain a TIN, and obtain a trading license from the Kampala City Council (KCCA) to be legal. “If you are not legal, some people will not work with you,” he advises.
“The money starts to flow in when you register because it shows that you are trustworthy,” he points out.
Lowkii admits that juggling employment and education was extremely difficult for him, but he says he eventually learned to organize his days one night in advance. “I travel around with a notebook where I write everything I have to do each day and future schedules as well.”
He emphasises that he read every chance he got, which was primarily at night and utilised the group discussions.
He encourages students who are having financial difficulties to continually pray and ask God for favor in their lives so they can attract the things they desire and work hard. They should also not be scared of being perceived as hustlers.
His journey to success has not been without difficulties. Some things have not turned out the way he had planned. There has been procrastination, an uneven supply of TLC clothing, and more. Because of these difficulties, he believes prayer is the only way to overcome them. Lowkii aspires to become a commercial lawyer, and he is hopeful that with the experience he has obtained, he will be successful.
