From the Gulf to Kyanja: How 3 years in Dubai funded Derrick Kamanyi’s phone business in Kampala

What the report says

The Independent Uganda reports on Derrick Kamanyi, a Kampala phone trader whose business in Kyanja was financed by savings from three years of work in Dubai. According to the article, Kamanyi, originally from Kasese in western Uganda, returned home with capital and entered the phone retail trade after seeing a friend succeed in the sector. He now operates in a crowded market selling new, refurbished, imported and second-hand phones.

The feature says Kamanyi has turned TikTok into the main marketing tool for his shop. Each morning, he films stock, explains features, shares prices and posts updates to reach customers before they visit the market. The piece presents this as a low-cost way for a small trader to stand out amid strong competition and changing exchange rates, while also building trust through direct, regular visibility.

The article also notes the pressures facing phone traders in Uganda, including security concerns and accusations of over-taxation. It says Kamanyi suffered a major setback when the Uganda Revenue Authority confiscated his phones, though the story does not give full details of that incident. He later restocked and continued operating.

Beyond day-to-day trading, the report says Kamanyi has acquired land and hopes to become one of Uganda’s best-known phone sellers within two years. His story is presented as an example of overseas earnings being converted into local business capital, with resilience and social media helping drive growth.