The Success Journey of the Youthful, C.E.O of Haruna Enterprises (U) Ltd
In 2005, with accumulated personal savings, Sentongo Haruna Segawa acquired a furniture store on Ben Kiwanuka Road, in Kampala and started importing furniture from China and would distribute it to homes, offices and hotels in the entire great lakes region. In 2007 he diversified into the importation of garments from Southeast Asia with distribution in the countries of the East African Community.
In 2011, he established Haruna Enterprises Uganda Limited, a limited liability company and ventured into real estates; constructing his first mall; Haruna Towers. With more capital inflows, he continued buying more land and developing more shopping malls and arcades in the city of Kampala. Today, Sentongo is one of Uganda’s top tycoons
Summary
At 16 years, Sentongo was involved in importing ladies bags and garments and in his early 20s, he established a furniture shop on Ben Kiwanuka street, before he registered Haruna Enterprises and went into property development while at university.
One of Uganda’s most celebrated real estate entrepreneurs and property developers, Segawa Sentongo Haruna, attributes his success to financial discipline and bank loans well managed.
The beginning
“I started out 16 years ago in my O level vacation at the age of 16, as a small retailer dealing in ladies’ handbags which I could import from china with support of my father, I later started wholesaling and could save my profits. In 2005, I had accumulated reasonable savings and started a furniture store on Ben Kiwanuka Street in Kampala, I kept saving my profits and in 2007, I expanded business into garments distribution. I could import in very large quantities from china and distribute all over the great lakes region. I could later start buying prime commercial plots of land in different City suburbs around Kampala and in 2011, I incorporated Haruna Enterprises U Ltd, through which I started constructing Haruna Towers in Wandegeya. With more capital inflows, I continued buying more land and developing more shopping malls and arcades and in 2014, in concentrated in the suburb of Kisenyi where I started mass transformation,” Sentongo told The Capital Times.
Haruna was born on 30 November, 1987 in Kalungu town, then in Masaka District, present day Kalungu District in greater Masaka region of Central Uganda.
Family
His father, Hajji Segawa Haruna, is an established businessman and no wonder his children followed his footprints. Hajji Segawa encouraged his children early on to do business and supported them.
Education
Sentongo attended primary school in Masaka and joined Kabojja international School for O ‘level, and finished A ‘level at East high Ntinda. He joined Makerere university before starting his real estate business. It was at University that Haruna started his company, Haruna Enterprises (U) Ltd.
Sentongo through the Company now own a number of Commercial properties around Kampala City, some of which include: Haruna Towers Wandegeya, Haruna Shopping Mall Ntinda, Haruna Towers Kisenyi, Nakayiza Market Kisenyi, N.M Apartments Kisenyi, Segawa Market in Kisenyi, Haruna Agro-Market in Kisenyi and several plots around different Kampala Suburbs.
Other Business Interests
Han Cinemas
In 2015 Haruna Imported and installed 7D, 5D and 3D Cinemas and successfully launched the business to the Community under the trade name of Han Cinemas in Ntinda.
Han Fitness Centers
Haruna also ventured into the health & fitness business, setting up a chain of Fitness Centers in different suburbs around Kampala with sauna and steam, trading as Han Fitness Centers.
Manufacturing
Haruna started manufacturing and processing: Bottled Mineral water (View Water, Soft Beverages (Salaam Juice), Skin Care Products (Cash and Roxy Beauty Products) and a range of House hold Consumables among which include: Hand Sanitizers, Laundry and toilet Soap, Candles, Confectionaries among others through a number of factories, based in Nakatema off Nsangi Masaka Road operated under View Investments (U) Ltd.
His business has a combined annual income of some $24-$26 million, employing about 700 people.
Sentongo told the Capital Times that he plans to build a 213.4 meters /700 feet tall, 28 floor 5-star banking and Office Plaza at an estimated cost of US$250 Million at Nakasero hill of Kampala city, in the next few years.
