To be a champion, you have to see the big picture.
It’s not about winning and losing; it’s about every day hard work and about thriving on a challenge.
It’s about embracing the pain that you’ll experience at the end of a race and not being afraid.
I think people think too hard and get afraid of a certain challenge.
A 35 year old Ugandan businessman who is now worth $35million attributes all his success to hard work and taking on new challenges.
Cameroon Gitawo whose real name is Chris Mbibo is a Ugandan based in South Africa and is soon extending his services to the people of his home country, Uganda.
Our Highly placed snoops in South Africa sat him down and he narrated his success story.
Who is Gitawo?
Cameroon Gitawo as he is famously known, was born, raised and studied in Kampala, Uganda.
At the age of 18, he left Uganda for University of South Africa where he graduated with a degree in Entrepreneurship and Business Administration.
Upon finishing his degree at University of South Africa, He went on and studied a postgraduate diploma in Sales and Marketing from Rochester, New York, United States of America.
Entrepreneurship Journey
Gitawo says his business oriented approach dates way back in school days.
He says he worked so much in sales and marketing departments of several real estate firms and this gave him a lot of ideas and the experience in the real estate business
“At Rochester, i got more involved in sales which led to the creation of my first company, Kristel Property Group.
“Kristel Property Group manages more than 250 residential houses with a number of students’ accommodation blocks. It also deals in developing, home renovations and property administration.”
Gitawo also owns other businesses in the education sector and they include; Sandton Technical College under Sandton Education Group and Sandton media collage.
He also has Kristel family Foods with two branches in Sandton and Pretoria the capital of South Africa.
Business Bottlenecks and shortcomings
As any other hustler, business was never straight but he had to sail through.
“I had a rough ride since i wasn’t a South African citizen so it was hard to penetrate and get strategic partners to work with and again real estate industry here is mostly for whites so it was until Mbeki regime that blacks got involved,” explains Gitawo.
“What kept me moving is that i grew up loving real estate so it was hard for me to wait for a market which only favoured the white people. I pushed myself in since i had a good background in sales.”
“For now the business is smooth, we don’t experience a lot of challenges since we are permanent residents. We are successful businessmen and South African Economy needs us.
Social Life and Social responsibility
Gitawo being a father of three children, he says he spends most of his time with his kids and brainstorming business related ideas.
Gitawo also has love for posh cars and he owns several cars that include; Bentley Continental, BMW, Mercedes SL 65 AMG, Range Rover, Lexus Convertible, Porsche Cayenne Turbo (2015) and many more.
On cooperate social responsibility, Gitawo is the founder of Sandton Charity Organization.
Gitawo explains that they are soon expanding the services of Sandton Charity Organization to Uganda.
In addition, he is the founder of TMT Africa, an organization that aims at inspiring the youth to work hard, Funding organizations that help to bring the best out of the youth.
“Introducing TMT music promotions to East Africa will create more jobs for the youth here,” confirms Gitawo.
Money and Gold Party
TMT Africa will be officially launched in Uganda on December 30, 2015 at the industrial area based Club Guvnor.
“Money and Gold party will be huge and massive,” said Gitawo before adding that; “TMT Africa has already authorized more than 450 million. This money is already in the hands of TMT Africa, money and gold management team.”
This party was introduced not to necessarily to show off or show disrespect to the youth but a base line and motivation to the youth that anyone can make it in life.”
“We want to use the Money and Gold party to introduce TMT Africa Music Promotions to East Africa to help improve the music industry in Uganda.”
Message To The Youth
My message to the youth is very brief, focusing on education, self-discipline and the choices they make.
The youth must understand that your future is what you do today not tomorrow.
If there certain things you don’t want in your life you must stop them today not tomorrow because in my opinion i have never seen tomorrow.