J ✨

In 2005, I started a lorry transport business specializing in building materials. I had graduated from taxi business. My three lorries were sold to me by a friend of a friend completely on very little installment based on trust & my good image. By 2020, I was boasting of about 20 trucks. 17 years later in 2022, I wound the business. No money on the business account and no lorry in the parking space. In case you are new in the business & intend to start one, these are the things that crushed mine. 1. The COVID-19 two-year spell. Building material transportation was allowed to operate. But, I had limited supervision even when I was a police boss that was considered essential worker. I couldn’t tell where the lorries were. Some drivers leased out the vehicles to cement factories & were paid while they lied to me that the vehicles were parked. The stone boulders plus long distances from Karamoja wrecked the lorries. In 2 years, the highest amount I could sell the vehicle was 10m out of a possible 150m. 2. Drivers change tyres & replace them with old ones. Instead of tyres lasting 7 months and more, the 10 tires are changed twice or thrice in a year. 3. Drivers will hire out the vehicle to other unauthorized drivers who don’t care about the safety of the vehicle. They will drive day and night while you get nothing. One time, I woke up & saw a picture of my vehicle “resting”in someone’s home. It had failed to brake & rammed into someone’s home. Fortunately, no one was hurt. I was surprised to be told it was being driven by a third person & had paid for new brakes a week before. 4. You will find your vehicle parked on the road. “What’s the problem you ask”? “Afande it could not break”. After a bit of mechanical check the following day, you’re told that while it was parked, someone came & stole a starter system valued at 5m. What?😳 5. Every trip of sand the driver carries say from Lwera, is full board capacity. Then 1/4, is removed & powered at the drivers’ mound of sand somewhere in the city. Later, he starts carrying his own sand but will tell you he parked the lorry then whole day because he was sick or the vehicle had a fault. All the money made is his. 6. You will be called that NEMA enforcement found your lorry in a swampy area. They need 2m fine or pay a bribe of 500k. This happens to be connivance with your driver. You pay the bribe and they share. 7. Repairs are the most pocket ripping venture. You’re told this and that is faulty. You can’t be driving to garages all the time. Even if you went & bent your knee under the carriage of your lorry, you won’t tell a faulty propeller shaft from a good one. Either the vehicle is not faulty or the cost of spare parts is exaggerated. 7. The taxes. Do I need to say anything about this? You’re assessed money that buys a new truck in domestic taxes. All the time your vehicle was in garage, you should have notified URA. Tell me, which driver does this? So, all the small profit you made, is taken away by the taxman. 8. I swear, it’s like no truck in Uganda is supposed to last a year without terrible accidents. You’re always compensating for killing dogs, goats, destruction of houses, cars, or Petro stations. Hew! 9. The driver declares any money he chooses. No question. He calls for the shots. Not you. 10. If you buy a truck at 200m & it works for a week, it has lost value of 100m if you wish to sell it. Which business is this that makes assets depreciate in a week? My post is not meant to discourage you, but to give you background information so that you mitigate against these before you venture into this business. Do I talk too much? May be not!