FROM PETTY THIEF TO ENTREPRENEUR: MOSES MUTESASIRA ON KiBO’S INFLUENCE IN HIS LIFE

On a warm Friday afternoon, Moses Mutesasira, clad in his sky blue and grey over-all majestically walks to the place where his life took a complete U-turn…. KiBO Foundation. He shares his tale of transformation which was a result of the KiBO journey.

Before joining KiBO, Moses was a goon, a leader of a pick pocket racket on the streets of Kampala. Sleeping under tunnels, fighting, doing drugs, and leading a plan-less life was all he did. As a leader, he held strategic planning sessions with his loyal clique on where to go, who to target, and how to rob a potential victim. All this ended when he had an encounter with a one, Patrick Bwogi. It was at this point that he would hear of the name KiBO Foundation.  

In 2009, Moses enrolled for the KiBO program upon being recommended by Patrick. “In addition to the computer skills which I needed, I also wanted to improve on my communication and interpersonal skills”, says Moses about why he joined KiBO. His time at KiBO taught him more about life than anyone ever did. He recalls moments when he would disagree with some of his colleagues and burn with rage to the point where he wanted to fight. However, “KiBO’s environment was not appropriate for fighting”, he says with a smile. Moses summarizes what he learnt at KiBO in one statement, “KiBO taught me to believe in myself, to talk to people, and to bring a change in my community”.

Upon completing the KiBO course, Moses set out to begin anew. His first attempt in getting a job was futile. On three occasions, he went to the organization that had promised him a return call which never materialized. It was on his return from one of these visits to this organization that the idea of “Miracle Destiny Company” was born.

“I was walking back…, disappointed and pondering on what to do when I saw a sack of garbage at someone’s verandah”, recalls Moses. At that point he also recalls one of the many pieces of advice that Abraham Temu, the director of KiBO Foundation gave him, “find a social problem and get a solution to it”. He was paid UgShs 1,000 to carry this garbage and his life has never been the same. Miracle Destiny Company, a garbage collection company which is Moses’ brainchild currently employs six people (3 of whom are former street children), has a client base of over 200 people, and is growing in leaps and bounds. His vision for Miracle Destiny is “to diversify to a chain of businesses and make it the biggest brand in Uganda”.

His parting advice for any youth out there is powerful. He says, “The way KiBO changed my life is the same way it will change other people’s lives”.