From a small barber shop to a Kampala salon business with two training campuses, Ugandan hairstylist Kennedy Zziwa is building a business that combines hair services, vocational training and employment opportunities.
Ugandan hairstylist Kennedy Zziwa has expanded his Hair by Zziwa brand beyond salon services, establishing a hair and beauty academy that trains students in several areas of the beauty industry.
The business, which began with a small barber shop, now operates a salon in Kisementi, Kampala, alongside Zziwa Hair Academy campuses in Banda and Nansana.
Zziwa founded Hair by Zziwa in 2016, according to the company’s official website. The academy, established in 2018, offers training in hairdressing, braiding and extensions, barbering, makeup artistry, nail technology and bridal styling.
The expansion reflects Zziwa’s effort to build a business around both providing beauty services and developing skills among people seeking opportunities in the industry.
From a small barber shop to a Kampala salon
Zziwa’s entry into the beauty industry dates back to 2009, when he operated a small barber shop in Gayaza.
In a 2016 interview with Sqoop, he recalled that the shop had one waiting bench and a single barber’s chair, with haircuts costing Shs500.
He later established Hair by Zziwa in Kisementi, moving into a more developed salon business that offered services to men and women.
His business attracted further attention as he built a clientele that included public figures and entertainment personalities.
A 2017 profile by Daily Monitor documented his decision to leave the corporate world and concentrate on hairdressing. The publication reported that he had studied computer science before pursuing the beauty business. Monitor
Building a training institution
One of Zziwa’s significant business developments was the establishment of Zziwa Hair Academy in Banda in 2018.
The institution was created to provide practical training in beauty-related skills, including areas that have traditionally relied heavily on informal apprenticeships.
Its programmes cover hairdressing and styling, braiding and extensions, barbering, makeup artistry, nail technology and bridal styling. The academy also offers fashion and design training, according to reports published during its expansion in 2024.
In May 2024, Zziwa expanded the academy by opening a second campus in Nansana, Wakiso District.
The launch coincided with a graduation ceremony for 56 students from the Banda campus. The graduates received diplomas and certificates in different beauty-related disciplines.
The event was attended by former Trade Minister Amelia Kyambadde, who officiated at the launch and spoke about the importance of vocational training in creating employment opportunities.
The academy’s growth has also involved partnerships with organisations including Cantu, KCB Foundation and Strait Bridals, according to a report by Pulse Uganda.
Employment and opportunities in the beauty industry
Beyond training, Zziwa’s business has created employment opportunities within its salon operations and related activities.
At the 2024 academy expansion, Pulse Uganda reported that Hair by Zziwa had grown to employ more than 60 people, according to Zziwa.
The publication also reported that the business had started with six stylists, including its founder. Pulse Uganda
The academy provides another route into the industry by equipping students with practical skills that can be applied in salons and independent businesses.
One graduate, Arnold Tumusiime, told Matooke Republic that he had worked at Hair by Zziwa during his training before establishing his own salon, Apuuli Makes Hair, in Kisementi.
His experience illustrates one possible pathway from vocational training into self-employment, although the available reporting does not establish the employment outcomes of the academy’s graduates as a whole. Matooke Republic
Developing a brand beyond salon services
Zziwa’s ambitions have also extended into hair products and other beauty-related services.
A 2017 Daily Monitor profile reported that he was exploring the production of wigs, human hair extensions, shampoo, treatments and conditioners as part of his business expansion plans. Later reporting also linked the Hair by Zziwa brand to the development of hair products.
The business continues to offer services including haircuts, braiding, weaving, colouring, dreadlocks and bridal styling.
Its current salon is listed at Krishna Mart, Cooper Road, Kisementi, Kampala, while the academy operates in Banda and Nansana.
Learning the craft
Zziwa’s professional development involved both formal instruction and independent learning. He says he received basic training at a beauty school before developing his skills through online tutorials and learning from hairstylists in other countries.
“I went for some basic training at a beauty school, but the rest are self taught from you tube and other stylists from different countries,” he said.
He identifies 2014 as a turning point in his career, when he began working with Arab colleagues.
“My big break was in 2014, when I started working with my Arab colleagues,” he said.
On hair care, Zziwa advises people to limit unnecessary heat and occasionally use protective hairstyles.
” Avoid any unnecessary heat on your mane. Wear some protective styles once in a while,” he said.
Bookings and academy enquiries
Hair by Zziwa’s main salon is located on the third floor of Krishna Mart, Cooper Road, in Kisementi, opposite Acacia Mall in Kampala.
The business publishes information about its services, appointments and training programmes through its official website and social media platforms.
- Salon: Hair by Zziwa official website
- Academy: Zziwa Hair Academy
- Academy enquiries: 0200 905 626.
