UGANDA, Buwate | Real Muloodi News | Anna Kebba recently shared her story of constructing her dream home and becoming a Real Muloodi landlord. Against the odds, she oversaw a challenging and phased building project that took over ten years to complete. Her inspiring story shows just what is possible with hard work, perseverance and patience.
Anna grew up in Bugolobi flats. She says the experience inspired her dream of owning a mansion with a bedroom upstairs. She knew she would have to work hard to make her multi-storeyed dream home a reality.
Anna got her first job in 2002 and could only save USh50,000 per month from her meagre salary of USh250,000. “If I did any extra work for some clients, then I could save an additional USh50,000 to USh100,000. By the end of the year 2002, I had saved USh1,500,000,” she explains.
“In 2004, I joined another company with better pay, and I was able to save USh300,000 per month for about five years. I used some of the money to buy a plot worth USh9 million with the savings from that job. With the rest of the money, I made some investments in produce and farming,” Anna tells Daily Monitor.
She purchased her first plot of land in Mukono in 2010 for USh9 million, but sold it two years later for USh13 million because of its remote location.
Then, she purchased another plot in Kyaggwe, Mukono for USh10 million, but opted to keep looking because of delayed road construction. (She continues to own this land in Kyaggwe).
“This was very hectic because brokers would take me to so many places and I would not find anything appealing. After a long tiresome search, one broker took me to a plot in Buwate, and I immediately knew that was mine. I went to the real estate agency and was told it cost USh35 million,” she tells the Daily Monitor.
She did not have the entire amount. She deposited USh10 million, which the agency approved on the condition she paid the remaining USh25 million in installments. In 2013, she cleared the debt.
“I was able to complete payment in 2013 because of the discipline of saving for my dream, as well as investments I had made. At that time, I was saving between USh1 million and USh2 million per month, depending on how much money was coming in.” Anna shares with the Daily Monitor.
She had USh10 million to begin building. She got quotes from various contractors, but many informed her that her money would not be enough to start on the house she wanted. Anna put the idea on hold for a while and focused on her side business.
She started working for a third firm in October 2015, where she was earning more. With her pay and other investments, she could save up to USh4 million every month.
Anna decided that instead of building one residential unit, she would build rental apartments. Since she was doing it by herself, people claimed she wouldn’t be able to finish it. She disproved the doubters; they were a source of inspiration for her to keep going, she says.
For Anna, this opportunity was not just for her, but also for her children. It was their home and a foundation for their future.
Anna completed the first phase of construction in January 2016.
“That is when the money ran out, so I could not continue. I sought quotes for the second phase. They were alarming, so I took a break and left the building site, knowing I would never complete. I even considered selling it off,” she tells the Daily Monitor.
She got another better job, as well as some side income. By November 2017, she had saved another USh50 million. However, after roofing, the finishing process slowed down because of low savings.
Sometimes she would skip some months because she did not have the money. She also had to cater for her children’s tuition and upkeep, on top of other responsibilities. She had no one to turn to for help.
“Oh, those were tough times. I had to forego so many luxuries just to save for construction.” Anna recalls.
She found the cheapest options available. Anna inquired about hiring casual workers that she could pay daily.
“The rates were lower than paying an engineer, so my hope was restored. I did all calculations and made plans to begin again from the savings I had, which completed a substantial amount of work,” she further recounts.
In August 2020 she moved into the unfinished house to keep a closer eye on it. Living in an unfinished space was frightening, but she clung to the satisfaction of living in her own home, and the promise that God protects her.
Slowly but surely, she completed the construction of her dream home in December 2020.
The entire construction project taught her never to give up on her dream and to strive for success in every way she can. Today, she rejoices in a journey well accomplished in a completely furnished duplex and gives thanks to God for His abundant favour, the Daily Monitor reports.
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