From phones charging to piggery: how Profesa Maros branded himself

Maros Pub, a place of hangouts and drinks, Profesa Maros says is one of the achievements he is proud of as a musician and farmer.

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Oyam – December 30, 2021: Some popular artists in Uganda today chose the hard path to becoming who they are today. Without mentioning any, apart from our Guest for today, entertainment, in general, is what keeps society moving.

Great musicians have produced melodies – some have healed the sick, some have caused more pain to both the sick and those feeling fine. 

In today’s edition, TND News sits down with Maros Atine, a man widely known across Uganda and in the region by his stage name, Profesa Maros to tell us how he started branding himself.  

Profesa Maros, 32, was born in Baala sub-county, Kole South in Kole district.

He is married to Grace Atine with whom they have children. Their firstborn is named Casey Atine.

In July 2011, Atine released his first song, ‘Ovacado’ that immediately stormed the airwaves of local radio stations across the region.

“On October 9, 2011, I got paid shs110, 000 for performing at the concert where I officially launched my Ovacado hit. I used the pay to buy a charging box and phone chargers for business,” he tells TND News.

“I later positioned my phone charging booth at Angwet-angwet on Lira-Soroti highway from where students of Jerusalem Institute of Science and Technology would come to charge their phones and laptops.”

Maros tells TND News further that because there was no power at the institute then, students would come to his booth to charge phones and laptops. “Daily I would make between shs30, 000 to shs40, 000.”

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After getting more than shs1m within a month in phone charging, he says he later opened “Hot Soup Salons” at Kakoge and Odokomit areas; the two highly populated suburbs in Lira town, respectively.

“From salons alone, I was able to get shs3.6m within two months. I paid my workers, myself; dressed my wife and we fed well.” 

Getting into piggery

In 2013 after amassing a lot of cash from phone charging, salons and monies from music gigs, Atine decided to get into piggery farming.

“I bought eight local breed of pigs at shs400, 000. I built their shelter and carried out vaccination which costed me shs80, 000,” he says of his journey into piggery.

The musician cum farmer says he had saved close to shs12m in profits in months. The money was an accrual from piggery business which he would vend during Independence and Christmas.

Challenges

“In 2014, I almost lost my venture (piglets) and adult pigs to disease outbreak,” he recalls, adding: “My workers didn’t detect the outbreak which costed me much on vaccination.”

Successes

“From previous dealings but most notably piggery, I was able to buy 2 acres of land at shs10m.” 

Other achievements are; inspiration and mentorship which he instilled in youth who later took up the venture; taking care of his family, siblings, among others.

It is worth noting that Maros did not only stop with Salons, piggery but later opened ‘Maros Pub’ in Tesobar, Adyel division (currently Lira City West Division). 

Maros Pub, a place of hangouts and drinks, Profesa Maros says is one of the achievements he is proud of as a musician and farmer.

“I remember having a plan for the short future by opening a pub for my fans. If there is any better way I can thank them, then Maros Pub I intend to officially open before Independence is their gift.” 

Like any other business when Covid hit the world and the country, Maros Pub was not omitted. 

Musically, he plans to improve on his music since it has brought him far and gained him wider recognition.

Awards 

Maros has won a record number of Lango Entertainment Awards (LEA) and also became the first Lango artist to win the Prestigious HiPipo Music Award in Kampala. 

Advice

“There is no enough money always. Any youth or person who can save shs5, 000 daily is better than a person who earns millions in a month and spend it all instantly,” Atine counsels.

To fellow musicians, he says they have to consider other businesses since music has become low paying yet demanding.

“We spent monies on recording songs, shooting videos and later gain nothing. The people who gain are those who convert to people’s memory cards.”