Context
In the year 2006, Santos Mubiru a senior one school dropout and a former hawker of metal scrap
started Santos Metal Works. The business is located at Wampeewo along Gayaza road in Wakiso
district. It deals in fabrication and welding of metal products such as windows, doors, gates, beds
among others. Today the business employs about 35 youths coming from across all regions in the
Santos had a high level of skill and experience in metal fabrication obtained in his early years as
an apprentice in several metal workshops. On starting out he says, “I aimed at employing young
listening and hardworking people. In turn, my business strived to satisfy their needs”. However,
the youth employed had different backgrounds and varied manners. Some were drug addicts,
thieves but majorly school dropouts. They could hide to take drugs during work time and would
become hostile. At times, they would end up sleeping for long hours, which wasted a lot of time
meant for work. Fights were a usual occurrence at Santos Metal Works, which compromised the
Workers stole tools such as tape measures, overalls and axel blades; and sold them to nearby
metal workshops. They stole the remaining pieces of metal, equipment from customer sites and
connived to steal money for small welding orders. These orders included welding saving boxes,
metallic tap units and other small fixtures. Some of them completely left work after stealing and
efforts to trace them were fruitless. Complaints over unavailability of tools were common and
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They would abuse one another over small matters such as mobile phones and tools. Many of
them were bigheaded and hardly adhered to instructions from their boss. They reported late for
work, those who came early spent more time taking tea and conversing. This resulted into delays
Although Santos gave his workers a monthly pay, whenever he was away buying materials and
visiting customer sites, they did not work. They spent most of the time arguing about football
matches, relaxing and went to bating houses. Others would leave work early and some were
often absent without notification; few employees did the work. A lot of time meant for work was
The work at Santos Metal Works rotated around cutting metals, welding, finishing and spraying
done in that order. Some employees for those who welded to do their work cut metals to the right
measurements. Whereas those who sprayed had to ensure their colleagues did finishing properly.
However, workers who cut metals and did welding took longer than expected and often teased
colleagues who sprayed for doing minor work at the workshop. Workers who welded gates
bragged that they brought in more money to the business compared to those who did other tasks
such as welding windows. This created redundancy, divisions, hatred and mistrust among
workers.
Majority of these workers hardly knew what to do; they had obsolete skills such as welding
ordinary windows and doors that are hard to open, and untidy rough works. They could not do
fine finishing and spraying on welded works. Embracing new trendy designs such as making
modified wide sliding windows, doors and gates that easily opened was hard. Santos spent a lot
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of time teaching them what to do which resulted into failure to meet customer deadlines,
The old workers hesitated to teach their new colleagues designs that Santos had trained them.
They refereed them to Santos saying, “after all he had hired them”. Whenever Santos was away,
new employees would be stuck with work or they would do shoddy work. This led to divisions
Santos turned down invitations from workers to attend birthday parties or introduction parties
and he neither invited them. When they lost relatives, he never attended burial ceremonies and
did not allow other employees to go along. The business opened daily without fail and they
would close late. Workers felt unhappy and feared to inform him when they had challenges both
However, some workers moved to other workshops that promised them a better pay and others
even opted to start their own workshops. Nevertheless, they left at a time when the business
would have benefited from them by training others. Nearby competitors replicated Santos’s
The competition from mushrooming metal fabrication workshops in the area drastically checked
his profits. Given this poor performance of his business, Santos sought for ways he could
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Actions
and owners of small businesses in Uganda. They taught them about the value of employees in
their businesses, how to work together and to treat them well for the business to succeed.
He held meetings and cautioned workers to restrain from their bad habits of taking drugs,
stealing and bating. He told them about the associated dangers and reminded them that they were
still young people who had to work hard but also had a stake in the business. “This business and
Every time there was a disagreement, they met to resolve it and encouraged employees to respect
one another despite their different backgrounds. He emphasized that they needed one another;
those who cut metals wanted someone else to weld and those who finished required others to
spray. He encouraged those in wrong to apologize to their colleagues and everyone approached
him whenever they had a problem. During such meetings, workers opened up and expressed
discontentment about issues that affect them. . For example, workers voiced out their concerns
Santos started paying his workers daily based on the work they did but allowed them to give
their opinions about the rates for every activity. These ranged from minor welding orders, cutting
the metals, welding, finishing and spraying to installation at customer sites. Every evening, he
paid them accordingly but kept money for those who preferred so. In case of any changes in
rates, he informed them on time and paid advance those who approached him with challenges.
He required every new worker to provide an identity card, a letter confirming residence from
Local Council Chairman and disclosed his or her next of kin. He started attending functions such
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as birthday parties, introduction ceremonies of his employees and gave a hand when necessary.
He identified someone to supply food for lunch and whenever he was around, he ate together
with the workers. He sympathized with them when they had challenges; for instance, one
employee confessed; “when I lost my grandmother in Luweero, Santos provided vehicles with
At the end of the year, Santos held a thanks-giving party at his home to celebrate the milestones
of Santos Metal Works and all employees were invited. Such milestones included hitting sales
targets for the year and for the increased customers who gave them business. He gave gifts to
employees for the good work and served them with eats and drinks. He also invited workers and
their children for his children’s birthdays and told them to relax, feel at home and have fun.
Santos being a hands-on boss, he set up an open workshop where all employees work together
and he worked side by side with them. “I cannot keep away from the actual work that made me
what I am today, I have got to roll up my sleeves”, Santos said. He moved around thanking those
who did a good job and guided on reworks where necessary. He engaged in discourse with
workers; occasionally initiated jokes and advised on the viability of new ideas.
Santos put employees in groups and took them through trainings of new trendy designs in the
metal fabrication industry. For instance, he trained them how to make modified wide sliding
windows, doors and gates that were soft and opened with ease. He also took them through the
basics of cutting metals to the right measurements, welding, fine finishing and spraying in their
respective groups. He cautioned those who welded to ensure that their colleagues who cut metals
did it as required and those who sprayed to check out for proper finishing.
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Santos started rotating employees with whom he travelled to customer sites and gave everyone
chance to. He negotiated with the customer in their presence and took measurements at the site
with them. Every morning, he distributed work to employees and discussed with them the needs
of the customer in each particular task. He apportioned work fairly among workers and cautioned
He told new workers to consult as much as possible and encouraged the old workers to spare
time and train their new colleagues. “Namwe mwaliko abapya”, said Santos whenever he
introduced new workers, which meant that someone else had spared time for old workers. He
involved old workers in hiring and attached new employees to anyone who was part of their
recruitment.
Results
Santos Metal Works is family and employees feel happy and energized working for such an
understanding boss. About eight employees have stayed in the business for over 7 years and one
of them confessed, “so far, I have no reason to leave, I am part of this business”.
There is high collegiality among workers as they consult one another during work and old
workers are willing to teach new ones. They attend parties of their workmates and stand by each
other during challenging times. For instance, they visit sick colleagues and in case one is absent,
Workers now respect and accept one another despite their differences. One employee confessed;
“none of us is good at everything, we need each other”. Whenever there is a task, they share the
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Santos is proud of a team of young skilled and experienced employees with new trendy designs
in Metal fabrication. Santos says, “even if I was away for a month, my boys have the capacity to
do any work to the required standards”. They possess a high level of expertise in cutting metals,
welding, finishing and spraying of metal products. They have the ability to modify metal and suit
the needs of all customers. Each one of them is good at something; there those excellent at
making windows, some are superb at making doors while others are outstanding when it comes
to gates.
Workers respect Santos; appreciate that he has many years of experience, and can always offer a
better perspective. Workers take his feedback positively and whenever they encounter challenges
at work, they easily consult him. They have confidence in him and can rely on him when they
experience problems.
They look at him as a humble boss but at the same time as a colleague working together towards
the same goal. They refer to him as “Santos” and his usual wears are jeans, fitting t-shirts and
sneakers, a usual outfit for his employees. Workers credit him for his work ethic; he is the best
Employees are now working hard, they report early, take their meals in time and cases of
absenteeism have reduced. Support one another to ensure that they complete tasks in time, meet
customer deadlines and can now work in Santos’ absence. They have transformed from bad
habits into responsible citizens who value work and can support others.
Working at Santos Metal Works is fun; workers freely interact with one another and can confide
in their boss when they have challenges. Santos acknowledges, “much as I want them to work for
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me, as young people they have to enjoy their lives. They are also prone to challenges in life”. He
listens to them when they notify him that they are unable to report for work
Today, Santos Metal Works is a recognized brand in the metal fabrication industry. The business
contested in the New Vision 2017 Annual Pakasa Youth Awards competition. Early this year, the
business emerged as the winner for the most portfolio entrepreneur and given a certificate and an
award.
The business is reputable in the eyes of the public for its superior quality products with trendy
designs that are distinct. The business thrives on the urge to meet the needs of customers as
Santos acknowledges, “it is not all about money but giving a customer value for their money”. It
Santos now has three branches located in Wampeewo, Gayaza-Bulamu and Manyangwa. It has a
wide product range from mere metal fabricated products to concrete and hardware. The business
purchases materials used in welding from their own hardware, which has increased the
business’s profitability.