When Moses Laliza joined CWG Uganda in 2013, it was not as an engineer, technician, or software specialist, but as a gateman. Fresh from Senior Six and still grappling with the loss of a parent, university was not in sight. A friend connected him to CWG, where he was stationed at the company gate.
For five years, Laliza kept watch over the entrance. But the gate was rarely busy, and he often found himself dozing until one day he was caught asleep by Peter Tumusiime, the Country Director of CWG Uganda. Instead of sending him away, Tumusiime offered him advice that would change his life: “Why don’t you find yourself something productive? We have internet here.”
That conversation sparked a transformation. Laliza requested the company’s Wi-Fi password, borrowed one of the old desktop computers, and began to teach himself IT basics. Though he had no prior interest in technology, he started asking CWG staff questions and digging into free online courses.
His curiosity grew into passion. Soon, he was trusted to handle light paperwork, deliveries, and later minor repairs. But most of CWG’s staff were focused on software. Laliza saw an opportunity in hardware and began specializing. He took every free resource he could find online and kept asking to practice on customers’ laptops.
At first, his supervisors were hesitant. Breaking a client’s computer was too big a risk. Yet, Laliza persisted until one day he was given a chance. He repaired a laptop successfully on his first try—and earned his colleagues’ respect.
Recognizing his potential, CWG offered him a place at its academy, where employees are trained not just in technical skills but also in professionalism—customer care, corporate etiquette, and communication.
“The academy taught me how to fit into the corporate world,” Laliza says. “It was more than just technical training. It was learning how to handle people, how to present myself.”
After completing the one-and-a-half-year program, Laliza continued to pursue formal certification. Encouraged by peers, he joined Makerere ICT in 2023, balancing his knowledge with recognized qualifications.
“I knew everything they were teaching me,” he recalls, “but I needed the certificate. Papers matter because one day someone else with the right qualifications could take your place.”
Armed with both practical skills and academic papers, Laliza’s value to CWG became undeniable. Customers trusted him, often asking for him by name and even sending him gifts. His bosses rewarded that trust by appointing him as an End User Support Engineer, a position he now holds proudly.
The difference between life as a gateman and his current role is stark. Back then, Laliza survived on chapatis and long walks to save transport money. Today, he earns a professional salary, enjoys insurance benefits, and supports others behind him. “I am no longer on an empty stomach,” he says with a smile.
Reflecting on Laliza’s journey, Peter Tumusiime praised his resilience and determination: “Moses’s story embodies the spirit of CWG—where passion and persistence are valued just as much as formal qualifications. He turned what looked like a dead-end job into a doorway of opportunity, and today he is an inspiration not only to his colleagues but to the entire organization.”
Laliza’s story is proof that with mentorship, self-belief, and the right environment, talent can be discovered in the most unexpected places. From the gate to the server room, his journey is a powerful reminder that determination and opportunity can rewrite anyone’s future.
Laliza’s journey is a powerful reminder of resilience, curiosity, and the transformative role CWG can play when it sees potential beyond a CV.
From the gate to the server room, his story is proof that determination, mentorship, and opportunity can rewrite anyone’s future.