In a time when the cost of living continues to rise across Uganda, finding practical ways to earn a reliable daily income is becoming more important than ever. While many people turn to online businesses for side hustles, the reality is that not everyone has constant internet access, a smartphone, or digital skills. Fortunately, several offline income-generating opportunities can help Ugandans earn at least 150,000 Ugandan shillings per day, especially when approached with commitment, smart planning, and a bit of startup capital.
Here are 10 ways you can start earning offline today:
1. Start a Chapati or Rolex Stall
Street food continues to be one of the most profitable small-scale ventures in Uganda. With a simple setup, a charcoal stove, a frying pan, ingredients, and a working space, you can start making chapatis and Rolexes (chapati with eggs and vegetables). The profit margin is high, and with good location and hygiene, you could easily sell 50–100 Rolexes a day. At a profit of 1,500 UGX per Rolex, that’s up to 150,000 UGX daily. It requires waking up early and working long hours, but it’s a consistent and scalable business.
2. Bricklaying and Selling Building Bricks
If you live near clay-rich land, brick-making is a solid opportunity. It requires hard work and patience, but demand for building materials is constant in both urban and rural Uganda. A single brick sells for about 300–500 UGX, and producing 500 bricks daily can generate over 150,000 UGX. The work is seasonal, as it depends on dry weather, but it can bring huge returns when managed properly.
3. Boda Boda Transport
The boda boda business remains a key part of Uganda’s transportation sector. With either your own motorcycle or one obtained through a hire-purchase system, you can earn between 30,000 and 200,000 UGX a day depending on location, time spent, and fuel costs. Busy towns like Kampala, Jinja, or Mbarara provide higher chances of meeting your daily target. Ensure you have a rider’s license and follow traffic laws to stay in business.
4. Local Poultry Farming
Keeping local chickens is a low-maintenance but high-potential business. Eggs from indigenous breeds are in demand, and chickens can be sold for meat. With as few as 30–50 birds, you can start making 100,000 to 150,000 UGX daily, especially when selling directly to homes, restaurants, or roadside vendors. You’ll need space, feeds, and disease control, but it’s a reliable income stream in both urban and rural areas.
5. Produce Selling at Local Markets
Buying fruits and vegetables in bulk from farmers and reselling them in town markets or roadside stalls is another offline business that can reach your target. For instance, buying 100kg of tomatoes at 800 UGX per kilo and reselling at 1,500 UGX gives you a margin of 70,000 UGX+. Doing the same for onions, green pepper, or pineapples boosts your chances of hitting the 150,000 mark. Consistency and strong bargaining skills matter a lot here.
6. Salon or Barber Shop Business
If you have skills in hairdressing or barbering, this is a dependable daily source of income. Even in small trading centers, you can serve 15–20 clients a day. With each haircut costing between 5,000 and 10,000 UGX, your daily income can easily cross 100,000 UGX, not counting other services like beard trims or hair treatments. A clean environment, good customer service, and some soft background music can help build loyal clients.
7. Mobile Shoe Repair and Polishing
It might sound small, but mobile shoe repair is still a thriving business in many Ugandan towns. With a portable kit and shoe polish, you can move from place to place, especially in business areas, and offer polishing, stitching, and sole repair. You might charge 2,000–5,000 UGX per service, and with 30 or more customers a day, that’s 60,000–150,000 UGX. The key is positioning yourself in high-traffic areas and maintaining excellent customer interaction.
8. Urban Farming: Vegetables and Herbs
Urban farming has become more popular due to limited land and rising food prices. Even with just a backyard, verandah, or sacks, you can grow sukuma wiki (collard greens), dodo, nakati, or herbs like basil and mint. Selling to neighbors, restaurants, and market vendors brings quick returns. It may not produce 150,000 UGX daily at the start, but when expanded and combined with value addition (like drying herbs or packaging), it can meet or surpass that goal.
9. Local Tailoring and Clothing Repairs
With a sewing machine and some tailoring skills, you can set up shop in your community. Many people need school uniform adjustments, zip repairs, or custom-made clothing. One item might earn you between 5,000 and 20,000 UGX, and tailoring 10 pieces a day can give you your target income. The beauty of tailoring is that word-of-mouth marketing works very well, and satisfied clients always bring referrals.
10. Offering Manual Labor or Construction Help
If you’re physically fit, casual labor on construction sites pays well depending on your skills. Daily wages for site workers range between 20,000 and 50,000 UGX, but if you can do masonry, tiling, welding, or roofing, you can earn much more, sometimes over 150,000 UGX in a single day. Find ongoing projects in your area and ask supervisors for work. Showing up early and being reliable often secures longer-term opportunities.
Conclusion
Making 150,000 UGX per day without going online is very possible in Uganda, but it requires more than just showing up. It demands consistency, a good work ethic, and the willingness to adapt based on what works in your specific location. Whether you’re selling food, offering services, or working with your hands, every idea listed above has proven to work for many Ugandans. Start small, stay disciplined, and reinvest your profits you might find yourself earning even more than you expected.
