Manicure will earn you quick money at campus

Several students struggle while at university because campus life comes with financial burdens.

Having a side hustle can shield one from the stress of meeting tuition, accommodation and general maintenance. 

I was a vendor, manicurist 

For three years, Allan Ssembuusi curved himself a niche as a manicurist at Makerere University where he pursued a bachelor of environmental health science. 

He would traverse halls of residence and hostels while offering manicure and pedicure services. He was christened; the manicure guy. 

Ssembuusi was so popular that his clientele stretched to Kyambogo University, Uganda Christian University (UCU) Mengo campus and Makerere University Business School (MUBS). One had to book him days before.

However, this hustle did not stop Ssembuusi from becoming a class coordinator. He also topped his class when he graduated with a first class.

“I learnt this skill from a saloon and used my savings to buy the tools I needed,” he says. 

He started with classmates before moving to halls of residence and other universities. 

Coming from a humble background, Ssembuusi had to work hard to complete school. The hustle was challenging because some students underlooked him but he developed a thick skin to the ridicule and focused on making money. Thankfully, he had previously done odd jobs including vending drinks and sugarcane, worked as taxi conductor, porter and houseboy.

 “I was able to pay sh300, 000 for accommodation at Lumumba hall every semester and would buy all the requirements; food, handouts and clothes,” he says.

Ssembuusi says, manicure is a lucrative business but challenging to men because, some female clients are provocative. Some would invite him to their rooms only to find them skimpily dressed.

“I moved with towels to cover their thighs before working on them. I also limited the conversations to academics,” he says.

Other businesses to consider

Donna Keirungi, Warden at Makerere University says, some students make and sell snacks, art pieces, jewelry, crotchets and mobile money.

Selling print-on-demand goods is another great business. Use your artistic skills to print designs on T-shirts, caps and mugs.

You can also do freelance work like editing, illustration, research, graphic design and marketing. Market yourself on social media.

However, Keirungi advises students to prioritize their studies before anything. Remember, students are guided by the rules and regulations. Running businesses in places like rooms which can inconvenience others is not allowed.