Q1. For those who may not know you yet, who is Beatrice Babirye in a few words?
A. Beatrice Babirye is the Managing Director of Vast Publishers Uganda Limited. I am an accountant by profession, a mother and a wife.
Q2. What inspired you to enter the publishing industry, especially knowing it has been largely male dominated in Uganda?
A. My childhood dream was to become a teacher. During my S.4 vacation, I volunteered to teach at a certain school in my village. During that period, I needed good books to complement my teaching but there were hardly any. My turning point was when I became a mother and finding good clean reading material proved difficult. So when the publishing opportunity presented itself, I took it by the horn.
Q3. You recently took over the stake of Moran Publishers (formerly Macmillan) to establish Vast Publishers Uganda Ltd. What motivated this bold step?
I had previously worked with Macmillan and Moran Uganda Publishers Limited. When the opportunity to take over the stake presented itself, I realised that I was the most suited candidate to take it to the next level. It would also give me a chance to write books in the way that I had imagined and wanted.
Q4. Can you tell us more about Vast Publishers Uganda Ltd—its vision, areas of focus, and what makes it unique in the Ugandan publishing landscape?
A. Vast Publishers Uganda Limited is a private limited company that specialises in commissioned and non-commissioned publishing for all educational levels. With a tag line of “excellence with a passion” our vision is to be the leading and most reliable publisher of quality educational materials within the East. Africa and beyond. Our uniqueness stems from our core values of growth through creative invention and innovation and integration of honesty into all aspects of our business functions.
Q5. Your company is already supplying educational books and competing for government textbook tenders. What has this journey been like so far?
A. Competing for government textbook tenders has been rewarding but also challenging. It’s rewarding in the sense that the government buys in bulk, so money comes in bulk. It’s also a marketing strategy in itself. Schools get to know and trust books that have been approved by the government. The challenge has been call-off orders that are issued in a phased manner and late payments that make business forecasting difficult.
Q6. What challenges have you faced as a woman publisher in this space, and how have you managed to overcome them?
The female gender has usually had its share of discrimination in whatever field. Being a woman does not mean less able. The fact that most women are inadvertently nurturing gives us an edge in many businesses, including publishing. Women tend to be more meticulous, which is a very necessary aspect in publishing. I have managed to overcome stereotyping by sticking to my former school motto of “Never give up” and borrowing the former US president Baraka Obama’s campaign slogan of “Yes you can”.
Q7. How do you see the future of publishing in Uganda, especially in terms of opportunities for local publishers?
The future of publishing in Uganda is bright. More users are demanding locally written material. So yes, the opportunities are there.
Q 8. What role do you think publishers like yourself can play in shaping the education sector and promoting Ugandan content?
Publishers like myself should write everything Uganda. Many authors from African countries are now writing content inspired by their reality. Often telling their stories through their lived experiences, speaking their “Africanacity”. When we write and teach our children and future generations content they relate to, we widen awareness of our Ugandan content.
As such, we should encourage the use of local authors and local content and even illustrate using known local materials.
Q9. Who or what has been your biggest inspiration or support system in this journey?
My family has been my greatest inspiration and support system. It can get very demanding, especially when we are preparing for bid submissions. During this period, it’s not uncommon to leave office after midnight; their support has gone a long way in making my work successful. My staff have also moved this journey with me, and I appreciate them for that.
Q10. What advice would you give to young women or aspiring entrepreneurs looking to break barriers in male-dominated industries?
There is nothing they can fail to achieve with commitment and integrity. As women, we have some catching up to do in so many sectors, and although it’s important to work hard, it’s even better to work smart. Teamwork and listening to opinions of staff is important and creates an empowering work atmosphere, which translates into thirst to excel. But above all, pray to God for guidance and favour.
Q11. Beyond business, what personal values or passions drive your work?
Integrity, honesty, and compassion are at the top of my personal value chain.
Q12. Finally, what message would you like to leave with readers about your journey and vision for Vast Publishers?
It’s never too late to chase your dreams or change careers. As long as you have the passion and commitment, the rest is background noise.
Vast publishers’ vision is to be the most reliable publisher of quality educational material within East Africa and beyond and we aim to achieve this.
This is really profound