Help Kampala Save Time: Support Bugembe's Laundromat

My name is Dominick, and I am grateful that you are taking the time to read about this opportunity to support one of the strongest, most resilient, and lovable people I have ever known.

Back in 2019, as a Peace Corps Volunteer in Uganda, I met Bugembe (BOO-GAM-BAY) in a village outside of the capital city, Kampala. He was my homestay brother, so I lived with him for over one month. During that time, he taught me about the language, culture, customs, and food in Uganda. Bugembe showed me how to fetch water and which parts of town were safe. He took care of me. I was 8,000 miles away from my home, and he became my friend.

When I met Bugembe in 2019, he was in high school, but now he has since graduated and is trying to find work in a country where jobs are extremely limited. There are many reasons for this, but two reasons are most clear.

1.) Compared to other more developed countries, Uganda has few established companies that can hire workers and give them a consistent paycheck.

2.) Uganda’s population is booming. Uganda is the size of the state of Oregon, with a population of 49 million, while Oregon only has 4 million residents. Further, every year in Uganda, 500,000 new youths will attempt to enter the workforce. You get the idea. There are a lot of people, and there are too few jobs.

As a result, in order for anyone to make money, they cannot go the traditional route of finding a job opening, applying for said job, interviewing, etc. Instead, they have to make their own money. In other words, they have to be entrepreneurs.

That said, Bugembe has a business idea, and it’s a winner.

PART 1: The Problem With Washing Clothes by Hand

In Uganda today, it is estimated that 81% of residents—which comes out to 38 million people—wash their clothes by hand. People use up a vast amount of time gathering water and washing clothes when they could be going to school, doing homework, looking for gainful employment, caring for loved ones, participating in political life, and so on. Washing clothes takes up valuable time, and we cannot get that time back.

But what if it didn't have to be this way?

PART 2: The Laundromat Solution

To help solve this problem, Bugembe has proposed starting a laundromat business in the capital city, Kampala.

The business' likelihood of success becomes very clear after looking at just two numbers: 23 and 2 million.

Currently, there are only 23 laundromats in and around Kampala, which houses close to 2,000,000 people. Put differently, this means that there is only 1 laundromat for every 87,000 residents.

Therefore, it is abundantly clear that a vast portion of the population in Kampala cannot access the practical and time-saving services that a laundromat could provide.

Bugembe wants to change this by starting a practical business that can help students, parents, and children alike save time and money by providing laundromat services that are accessible, available, and affordable. That said, Bugembe and I will work together—in tandem with your generous support—for as long as it takes to secure the future of the business and bring about a practical solution for the residents of Kampala, Uganda.

Final points for clarification:

PART 3: Conclusion

That said, if you find any of this business venture worthwhile, interesting, or noteworthy, please consider donating to the fund, and help make Bugembe's dream of becoming a successful entrepreneur a reality.