Ssentongo’s is planting his fortune in potted plants, flowers

A few metres from the Northern-by pass in Naalya, 24-year-old Henry Ssentongo has turned a simple passion for plants into a thriving business.

Born in a family of eight, Ssentongo says since childhood, he had a passion for plants and flowers.

“I would go to the bush and collect these wild flowers and bring them home. My grandmother would ask me why I loved flowers,” he says

After completing his A-level in Masaka in 2016, Ssentongo decided to come to the city to live with his older brother in Mulawa, Wakiso.

He was ready to do any kind of work to earn a living. He started by doing odd jobs until he connected with his childhood dream.

“One time I had gone to slash someone’s compound and he had these beautiful flowers. So I asked them where they go them from and he directed me,” Ssentongo said.

When he went to the place where he had been directed in Naalya, he could not believe it. The place is a valley.

He immediately struck rapport with some of the sellers and asked if he could help some of them.

“Nearly all of them refused because they were suspicious of me. They thought I was a thief,” he says.

On the first day he left frustrated but after a few days he came back and made his plea. One of the women agreed to hire him and like they say the rest is history.

“I observed how the woman tended to her plants, watering them every morning, cutting the overgrown leaves and I was impressed,” Ssentongo says.

In 2021, he branched out on his own after he hired a small piece of land from someone who was leaving the business.

He says he started with modest capital but he knew the ins and outs of the business.

He deals in lemon grass, sweet rose flowers, aloe vera plants, shrubs and fruits like oranges, mangoes, avocado, jackfruits and others.

Earnings

Ssentongo’s business has grown significantly since those early days. On an average day, he makes between Shs 50,000 to Shs 100,000, depending on the season and demand.

“There are seasons like like Valentine’s Day, Christmas, and weddings where we see an increase in sales of roses and other flowers but mainly I get people who want to plant specific types of fruit trees,” he says.

He says he has used the money to buy a piece of land in the village and educate his young siblings.

But his biggest achievement, he says is building a loyal customer base, many of whom appreciate the quality and variety of his plants.

Challenges

But the flower business has several challenges, Ssentongo says.

One of the biggest challenges he faces is competition. “There are many other vendors selling similar products, so I have to constantly find ways to stand out,” he explains.

This often involves sourcing unique and rare plant species, which can be more expensive and harder to maintain. Weather, too, can be a challenge. He