While some teachers say they earn a meagre salary, Elias Uwizeyimana, a Biology teacher at GS Rutonde in Ngeruka Sector, in Bugesera District, has defied the odds by making use of loans from Teacher’s Saving and Credit Cooperative to start businesses from which he is generating huge income beyond his teaching job.

Uwizeyimana was recently awarded a motorcycle for being an outstanding teacher who has made use of loans provided to teachers to develop themselves.

He was awarded at provincial level in Eastern province.

"In 2012, I acquired a Rwf600,000 cash advance loan and  managed to start a stationery company dubbed " Papeterie Umuryango Ltd”. I opened this business in our area because there was only one stationary shop yet there was high demand for such materials from schools, offices and others,” he said.

At the time he opened a stationary shop, his salary as a teacher was Rwf21,000 per month on A2 degree.

"I started with one photocopier and a few stationary products. I started with renting the shop at Rwf25,000 per month. I am the first person who introduced photocopier machines in the area and therefore I had a market. I kept expanding the stationary store using emergency loans and salary advance loans,” he said.

In 2018, he spent part of income from the stationary business and opened another business where he buys agricultural commodities and supplies them to different markets and schools.

He said he opened another stationary shop in Kamabuye sector and in 2020, he also launched a beekeeping project.

"Using the income from the stationary business, I bought land where I am implementing the beekeeping project. I am already supplying honey to the market. On the same land, I also set up banana plantations and forest plantations,” he said.

The 44-year old biology teacher, who is a father of three children, said that he bought a house with annexes in Ruhuha centre and has also started a brick production business.

"This house generates income because people rent and pay me on a monthly basis. I used to rent the house where the first opened stationary shop is located but later I bought it and it is now my own property,” he said.

All the businesses he owns, he said, generate between Rwf600,000 and Rwf800,000 every month making between Rwf7.2 million and Rwf9.6 million per year.

Currently, he estimates, his businesses and properties he made since 2012 have the value between Rwf60 million and Rwf80 million.

"I have a vision to continue expanding my stationery business and other businesses. The business doesn’t affect my teaching job. I continue teaching as my passion.

I employed people who help me to run these businesses while I am at school. During my holidays, I get time to think of improving my business,” he said.

New plans

He said that he has more projects he is planning to submit to the cooperative for financing.

"I want to tap into a school feeding programme to get a market. I am also mulling over setting up a maize processing plant,” he said.

Uwizeyimana advises other teachers to leverage Teacher’s Saving and Credit Cooperative to generate extra income as a way to cope with the meagre salary teachers get.

"For instance beekeeping is something which can be easy for teachers to do. One litre of honey goes for between Rwf5,000 and Rwf6,000. Poultry is another viable business you can start with little resources. Teachers can request loans from their cooperative because the Interest rate is 11 percent which is lower compared to other banks,” he said.

What others say about him

Norbert Musangamfura, a teacher at the GS Rutonde, said he has been inspired a lot by teacher Uwizeyimana.

"Hardworking is a good inspiration. Leveraging bank loans and doing viable small income generating businesses is a good move that should inspire all teachers. It is amazing and interesting that he manages to run a business and also does her teaching job well. In the ordinary level where he teaches biology, students perform well in national exams as we all observe it in school,” he said.

Jean Marie Vianney Nsengimana, an employee of Uwizeyimana at the stationary, said he was unemployed before meeting the entrepreneur.

"I had pursued accountancy at school but I went two years looking for a job. I was lucky to be employed as a teacher. If all teachers diversify sources of income, they can create businesses and employ many youth who are jobless,” he said.

He said he managed to buy a land plot and got married thanks to the job.

"I satisfy my family needs through this business. I was inspired by this teacher that it is possible to start with small capital and start a small income generating business,” he noted.

Jacques Gashumba , in charge of education in Bugesera District urged teachers to change their mindset and diversify sources of income.

"Often, teachers say they earn a meagre salary but if they change their attitude, they can realize they have opportunities available at Umwalimu Sacco that can generate huge income. We have many teachers like Uwizeyimana who are now millionaires because they have leveraged the opportunities,” he said.

Umwalimu SACCO has granted loans to its members amounting to over Rwf260bn since 2008.

Uwizeyimana was rewarded with a motorcycle for his exemplary use of loans provided to teachers to develop themselves.