Dr Rose Kamakune’s journey with ERAM Uganda Limited began on January 3, 2008,
immediately after graduating from veterinary school. From the moment she walked through ERAM Uganda’s doors as a fresh graduate, Kamakune knew this was more than a job.
O ver 15 years later, she has risen through the ranks. Today, as the branch manager at the company’s Container Village branch, she reflects on a journey shaped by opportunity, mentorship, and a sense of family that extends beyond the office walls.
Kamakune’s decision to join ERAM was no accident. As a student, the company’s strong reputation and standing in the industry preceded it.
“ During our time at campus, we only knew three companies; ERAM, Cooper Uganda, and Quality Chemicals. If you managed to get one of the three, you were set,” she recalls.
A perfect fit Kamakune began as a technical sales executive, a seemingly unconventional role for a veterinary doctor. But at ERAM, technical knowledge and practical application go hand in hand.
“The sales we do are not ordinary. You need to understand the product, explain it to the customer, and provide solutions,” she says. “ We don’t just sell products, we sell a service.”
This philosophy has been central to ERAM’s commitment to professional development. The company invests in both local and international development programmes, ensuring staff gain confidence and expertise.
“ We have learned over the years that ignorance of the product is the highest form of competition. High quality products coupled with ex- pert knowledge attract farmers to ERAM,” she explains.
ERAM as family The company’s culture of sup- port extends beyond professional growth. For Kamakune, ERAM has always been more than a work-place. “ It’s a home away from home,” she says.
She recalls moments of personal loss, including the passing of her parents, where ERAM’s response went far beyond professional courtesy. “ They stood with me, gathered me, and helped me through those moments. ERAM is a family,”
she reflects.
Even in challenging situations, the company’s culture of openness and support keeps her motivated. When she once needed to attend a training in Spain but had exhausted her leave days, the management encouraged her to go, recognising that personal growth benefits both employee and company.
Lesson in Leadership Kamakune acknowledges that leadership is not about titles. It is about teamwork and exemplary performance. O ver the years, she has learned that no role is too small when the goal is shared.
As she puts it, “Even if I’m the leader, I cannot exhaustively do something on my own. We need to work as a team,” she says.
At ERAM’s Container Village branch, the mother branch for all others, her performance often sets the tone for the rest. She knows that if systems falter there, they ripple across the network.
“If something fails here (at Container), that means it will not work out anywhere else. So we always have to be exemplary in whatever we do,” she explains.
With her leadership revolving around customer satisfaction, Ka- makune believes the best leaders keep their focus on impact.
Every product, she insists, should genuinely serve the farmers who depend on it. Her approach blends accountability with empathy, from keeping follow-up systems for product performance to maintain- ing open channels with clients and staff alike.
Looking ahead Kamakune envisions ERAM not just as a national leader but as a regional powerhouse. With local production underway and a growing regional presence, she sees ERAM as a reference point for quality solutions across East Africa.
“The sky is no longer the limit. ERAM is reaching every corner of the country, and beyond, to Kenya, Congo, Sudan, and South Sudan. In the next 50 years, I see ERAM as the best in the region,” she predicts.
For Kamakune, the story of ERAM Uganda is inseparable from her own. It is a story of growth, trust, and a company that has turned ambition into action, one satisfied client at a time.
