PIC: From left, Dean of Law in Cavendish University Uganda, Dr. Olive Sabiiti, the in charge of Equity and Merit Scholarships for Manchester University, Joanne Jacobs and corporate lawyer and old student of Manchester University, Sheila Abamu at the function. (Credit: Ronnie Kijjambu)
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When he graduated in 2013 with a Master’s of Arts in Global urban planning and development from Manchester University in the United Kingdom, Andrew Amara came back not only with a prestigious degree but a brilliant idea that is now changing people’s lives in Nansana.
He used his experience at the university to set up low cost modern buildings in Nabweru slum, Nansana. His first project was to build a house for a family of nine.
“Initially they were skeptical that we could build a house within a particular price. But they were also enthusiastic at the process with lots of ideas. Especially the mother and the children, who had a vision of what their dream house could look like,” he said.
The houses are built using locally available materials such as bricks and cement but in a pocket friendly way that every individual can afford to have one using the little money they have.
Amara, who now runs Town Build, a construction and urban development consultancy firm, said that his idea was born out of desire to help local governments and communities develop their settlements in a much better and more sustainable way.
“It’s rewarding that a man who’s selling fish or a lady who has a market stall here can not only build a house, but also build it in a responsible way,” he stated.
Amara’s story was among the three testimonies that were showcased at Serena hotel on Saturday, last week, during a celebration to mark 10 years of existence of the University of Manchester’s Equity and Merit scholarship in Uganda since its establishment in 2007.
The celebration was attended by the University’s alumni who went through the scholarship program to study Master’s programs for one year. A few among them were those who studied PhD’s
[Source”timesofindia”]
