MUNICIPAL DEVELOPMENTS
This document highlights various projects and initiatives by the Sembule Group in partnership with local municipalities in Uganda, including Kampala City, Nkokonjeru Town, Entebbe Town, and Jinja Municipality.
Sembule Electronics
In the early 1990s, Sembule Electronics—a division of the Sembule Group—won a landmark tender to provide traffic and street lighting for the city of Kampala. This was the first time a Ugandan company secured such a major contract for city services.
In addition to managing street lighting, Sembule Electronics produced electronic appliances such as radios and televisions under the popular brand name “SEMBULE MAKULA.” These radios, which could operate on batteries or electricity, became favorites among Ugandans in both urban and rural areas. The division later expanded into tele-electronic equipment, manufacturing telephone sets, switchboards, and transformers for offices. The technology transfer for these products came from India through Sembuya’s business connections, enabling the group to supply goods throughout Kampala and across the country.
Sembule International Ltd
Sembule International Ltd, another entity in the group, focused on projects in Entebbe. It successfully tendered to install street lights along the Kampala–Entebbe road and managed maintenance and repairs on these traffic lights until 2005. In addition, the company expanded into the construction sector by winning major tenders for projects in ministries, universities, hospitals, and private businesses in Uganda.
Sembule Steel Rolling
As part of its consolidation efforts, Sembule Steel Mills advanced its operations by establishing a steel rolling mill. Rather than relying solely on imported iron bars, the mill processed and smelted steel locally. This innovation not only enhanced the quality of steel available in the market but also contributed significantly to the growth of Uganda’s construction industry.
ATC Sembule
The group diversified into the technology sector with ATC Sembule, which ventured into the production of computers and cell phones. This initiative opened the door for greater participation of African entrepreneurs in the mobile technology market.
Television
Christopher Sembuya also played a key role in launching a television venture, Cable Television (CTV), through strategic partnerships. Although another company later rebranded the service, this project helped spur local interest and investment in the radio and television industry. Sembuya’s vision was always to promote Ugandan manufacturing and empower local businesses.
Nkokonjeru Municipality
Nkokonjeru, the birthplace of C. Columbus Sembuya, holds a special place in his heart. His father, who was a prominent farmer in Kyaggwe, owned over 250 acres of cocoa farms in Kikwayi and Lugonjo and employed around 200 workers. A noted philanthropist, his father supported various causes through local churches and mosques. Inspired by these values, C. Sembuya dedicated efforts towards developing his hometown.
Managed by H.W. Buwule, the project aimed to elevate Nkokonjeru to town status. Key initiatives included:
During 1986 to mid-2010, Sembule Commercial Bank established a branch in Nkokonjeru to serve the local community. Furthermore, C. Sembuya and his brother Buwule supported the ongoing development and maintenance of the cocoa farms. In the early 1990s, their father Mr. Magulu transferred the farms to Sembule for long-term development. C. Sembuya also oversaw the operations of the “Magulu Day and Boarding Primary School,” founded by his father, while maintaining strong ties with various local religious institutions. The lasting legacy of these efforts continues to benefit the community.
Jinja Municipality
Jinja was also a focus of municipal development under the leadership of C. Sembuya and his board of directors. Sembule Commercial Bank established a branch on Jinja Main Street to extend banking services to the people of Busoga.
C. Sembuya fostered strong relationships with influential figures, including Henry Wako Muloki the Kyabazinga of Busoga and government ministers at the time. As a traditional industrial hub in Uganda, Jinja was a strategic location for expanding business and banking services.
The Christopher Columbus Sembuya Foundation is committed to share these historical developments started by the phenomenon industrialist and innovator Christopher Columbus Sembuya.
It promotes to steer discussion on growth and development of towns and cities through personalities of the kind of C. Sembuya. The foundation promotes a record of archives of that should repetitively be brought to life for the society to learn from and continue developments.
Lessons are drawn from such personalities as C. Sembuya’s work and therefore continuity of society.
Written by Rita Ddungu Sembuya and edited by Patricia Namulumba.