By Agatha N. Biira
While the COVID-19 lockdown left multiple businesses crippled and many people jobless, it was also the start of an era of innovations and money-generating projects. Galaxy Clean Ug is one of those that began at that time.
Galaxy Clean UG, located at Adonai Complex in Mukono District, is a cleaning service company that offers cleaning services to commercial and residential owners. They use time-saving machines and eco-friendly cleaning solutions that do not affect the pH of the soil, thus preserving the environment.
It was started in 2020 by Jason Mbowa, who now runs it alongside his partner, Patric Mutabingwa, both third-year students of the Bachelor of Project Planning and Entrepreneurship Development at Uganda Christian University (UCU).
Having started out in the business world by making cleaning solutions, Mbowa saw what turned out to be an opportunity to establish himself. “My friend needed cleaning services during lockdown and I was helping him look for an already existing company.” But then, I decided to take on the job. I outsourced people that would help me and that was how Galaxy Clean UG was started, “Mbowa said.”
As much as Mbowa was excited to take on the job, it turned out to be rather challenging. “Your first steps are always hard, but if you don’t take those steps, you will not know how it is done,” he said.
Asked why Mutabingwa decided to join Mbowa, he (Mutabingwa) said he wanted to try out something else. “I was dealing with hide export but as a family business. I saw what Mbowa was doing and took an interest in it. I gave him ideas which he liked and we became partners,” said Mutabingwa.
Unlike many students that wait to finish their last paper at university to start out or even look for jobs, Mbowa and Mutabingwa decided to start early. “The course we are doing does not allow us to be employed but teaches us to create jobs instead,” Mutabingwa said.
Mbowa says it is better to start early and get exposed to the challenges. It is all part of the learning process. The earlier you get exposed to the challenges in business, the better because then you can identify solutions as you learn to grow the business, “Mbowa said.
Just like any start-up, they have had some challenges along the way, one of them being the fact that they are students. They say their first experience together was a rejection, largely because they were students. “We have been despised because we are students.” People think the youths are lazy and do not want to work but rather want to get fast money, “Mutabingwa said.
They are also still short on resources and finances since everyone willing to give them money wants to be part of the company, which they say is not good for them now. To get the exact machines needed, we need capital, but that is still a challenge. There is also stiff competition from companies offering cheaper labor, “Mbowa said.”
Nevertheless, these challenges have not been a setback but rather a stepping stone for them. Galaxy Clean UG has helped them grow and get exposure in the industry. Mutabingwa says running this business has opened their eyes to new ideas. “You cannot put all our eggs in one basket.” This business has made us think of other things we can do as entrepreneurs, “Mutabingwa said.”
Mbowa adds that they have mentors who are a great support system. “They have helped us learn how to face the challenges and also run the business better,” Mbowa said. “We started with an idea and now we have something in place.” The cleaning industry in Uganda is growing and there is potential. “
The team plans to grow Galaxy Clean UG into a big entity and create jobs for local people so as to fight unemployment. “We are not doing this for our own good but for the good of everyone,” Mutabingwa said.
They want to usher in a new era of cleaning in Uganda and do away with cheap labor. Asked how that will be done, Mutabingwa said, “Even in the toughest economy, there will still be development.” Mbowa says he wants Galaxy Clean UG to be the first company people think of when they want cleaning services.
So, why the name Galaxy Clean UG?
The team says they chose this name because it shows how big their vision for the company is. “We relate it to the galaxy and how big it is.” That is how big we want the company to be, “Mbowa said.”
