Little did we know that a simple visit by a short slender gentleman would result in our present status.

As a one man’s organisation I had started this project as a small timber sales with one carpenter by the side of our timber stall to turn spoilt timber into some furniture. Eventually some boys from the village (school dropouts) used to come and help us offload timbers brought in this premises and at times help our customers carry their timbers to planing and ripping machines.

I agreed with some of them to train them in simple carpentry work whenever they would have no customer to help in return they would serve my customers and offload my timbers.

I found I had one carpenter with a fluctuating number of 3-5 trainees.

One morning in September 1996. The short slender man came to my workshop and interviewed me for over 3 minutes. After two months he came back with another taller man whom I later came to know as John who also gave me another interview and proceeded to interview my boys as well.

After one month an invitation letter came to our office inviting us for some training and conference. In this workshop we elected an executive and formed NOKA.

Later we were promised tools from well wishers abroad and every group made a list of its tools. Mr Dembe Godfrey (the short slender man) was elected chairman and kept informing us that anytime tools would come.

The D-day was 23rd July 1998 when our tools arrived.

Who were the benevolent suppliers? Tools for Self Reliance a body in the United Kingdom. They deserve a great deal of thanks from all well wishers.

The tools marked a very big difference. I found that I needed more manpower to use up these tools and I found the best way to utilise these tools was to have an expanded programme of trainers and managers. I therefore called three of my friends plus one more carpenter whereby we formed a group of five men whom we suggested should be registered as a training company.

We agreed that 20% of the profits made should be injected in training these young men to become craftsmen who would eventually expand our carpentry production. Training hasn’t been all that easy as most of these young men want quick money. But I am proud of two of them right now can produce reasonable work in carpentry and one underwent metalwork training which he has completed.

We attained a name of Kwatampora Workshop Company Limited on 23-6-1999. We are now limited by shares.

I am proud that now we are a recognised company all around Kasese Town and beyond.

Recently we won a tender to complete two classrooms and construct 36 desks for Kanyonza Primary School in Kabarole District.

Kasese Cobalt company recognised us and we usually supply them with timbers and furniture.

Hime cement also became our major client after registration for supply of timber and furniture.

In summary it wouldn’t have been able for Kwatampora to run all this distance without the precious aid of the Carpentry tools that NOKA organised for us from the UK.

May God give tenfold more to those who give.

Kwatanpora workshop is located at Plot 6 Kogere Road Kilembe Quarters Kasese Town Council Our address is P.O. Box 27 Kasese Uganda Telephone 0483 44542

Come and see us.