By Irene Best Nyapendi
When Trevor Wabwire qualified to join a university, his parents gave him two options: Either pursue a course in law or journalism. He chose the latter.

He said he feared to pursue a Bachelor of Laws because he had the impression that it was a tough course. But deep inside Wabwire, he preferred neither of the two courses. His heart was set on business. But his father said “no,” and Wabwire obliged.

At Uganda Christian University (UCU), Wabwire pursued a Bachelor of Journalism, Media and Communication. The pressure to please his parents was heavy, but Wabwire’s brilliance was not shaken. He sailed through his classes with ease, until he hit a wall during a field internship. Once in the world of work, he saw journalism’s rough side: long hours, low pay and grumpy mentors who made the job sound like a dead end. His passion for it faded fast, and his grades started to slip. Still, he pushed through, and graduated in 2021.

With his degree in hand, Wabwire did not look back. He ditched newsrooms for his real love – business. 

Wabwire’s passion for business emerged early. Growing up in Busia, a town on Uganda’s border with its eastern neighbor, Kenya, Wabwire noticed a gap in the market for paraffin. In Africa, paraffin, often referred to as kerosene, is primarily used as a source of fuel for cooking, heating and lighting – especially among the poor. As a teenager, he started buying it cheaply in Kenya and selling it in Uganda. Easy money, right? Not to his parents. They thought that act was embarrassing to the family and even punished him for it. But Wabwire wasn’t the type to quit. Their disapproval only firmed his belief in entrepreneurship.

When he got to UCU, he turned his hustle a notch higher. He sold sweets to classmates and owned a chapati stall that he gave someone to run for him in Busia. This taught him important lessons about trade, customer service and hard work, which laid a solid foundation for his after-school business – confectionery. 

His “Uncle Trev’s Eateries” is known for snacks like samosas, pies, juices and pastries like cakes and fresh bread.

Among the many products he offers, Wabwire particularly enjoys making passion fruit juice mixed with carrots and ginger. When asked why he chose the food business, he replied; “Food is a basic need of life. People eat every day, which is why I chose this path.”

At 30, Wabwire is not just running a business, he is building a name. He called his place Uncle Trev’s Eateries because he wants it to last – something his children and their children will know. 

Since opening it in 2023, his bakery has quickly become the supplier of bread to local schools in the eastern Uganda district of Busia. His consistency and commitment to quality and community service sets him apart, he says.

One could easily say that business runs in Wabwire’s DNA. His grandmother had a successful chapati business, and his mother, too, operated a dry-cleaning business.

One of his proudest moments in pursuing his passion for business was securing a contract with Hot Loaf, a bakery and confectionary company in Uganda. This achievement cemented his belief in his purpose and dedication to his craft. Hot Loaf has been a trusted brand since 1986, widely preferred for bread, and pastries. 

Through this partnership, Wabwire benefits from franchising, which allows Uncle Trev’s Eateries to operate under Hot Loaf’s brand name, business model and product offerings. This arrangement enables him to leverage Hot Loaf’s established reputation, marketing resources, and operational support, enhancing his business’s success.

Wabwire started off with Sh10,000,000 ($2,726), putting together his savings and some help from friends and family. At first, his mother was not excited about his switch from journalism to business. But when she noticed his passion, she has now become his biggest cheerleader. 

“I proved to her that business is my thing,” he said.

Wabwire has his eyes on the future. He is opening a restaurant at UCU’s Highfield hostel in May, and plans more of such.

Looking back on his time at UCU, he is grateful for the well-rounded education he received. Prior to joining UCU in 2017, he attended Busoga College Mwiri for O’level and St. Peter’s Naalya for his A’level.

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