By Erias Serugo Muhoozi
Africa-Press – Uganda. There’s a certain kind of silence that falls on a room the moment you mention network marketing in Uganda.
It’s the kind of silence that’s not quite quiet. It’s tense, cautious, even judgmental. It sits on the edge of your words like a parent being told their child has decided to pursue dance instead of law. You’ll see the raised eyebrow, the polite nod masking suspicion, and—if they’re brave—a pointed question: “So, is it a pyramid scheme?”
And I understand that suspicion.
I’ve been in this business long enough to know where the ghosts are buried. And I’ll be the first to admit: some of us in the network marketing space buried them ourselves—beneath layers of overpromising, aggressive sales pitches, fake “life-changing” testimonies, and get-rich-quick illusions that collapsed just as quickly as they were spun.
But let me say this now: the problem is not network marketing. It’s how we have marketed network marketing.
A Brief Primer: What Network Marketing Really is
Let’s get academic for a second, shall we?
Network marketing, also called multi-level marketing (MLM), is a legitimate business model where a company sells products directly to consumers through a network of independent distributors. These distributors earn commissions not just from their own sales, but also from the sales made by people they introduce to the business.
Done right, it’s beautiful.Done wrong, it’s a con job wrapped in a suit and drenched in motivational quotes.
At OQATA Wellness Solutions, we sell wellness products—high-quality supplements like Muscle-Bone for muscle, bone, and joint health, Liver-Care, Andro-T (a natural testosterone booster), Colon Detox for gut health, and many others. These products are researched, formulated, and manufactured with integrity in partnership with our manufacturing partner, Earth’s Creation Inc., USA.
Our focus is health, wellness, and the transformation of lives.But beyond that, we offer a business opportunity.
Now let’s be honest—most Ugandans never even look past that phrase: business opportunity. Because somewhere in our collective memory, there’s a trauma trigger. A cousin who sold moringa supplements and was told he’d be a millionaire in six months.
A friend who paid for a package of products after attending a seminar at Hotel Africana—and those products expired in the cupboard before getting customers.
Why It All Went Wrong?
Here’s the truth no one in this industry likes to say out loud: many Ugandans distrust network marketing not because of the business model itself, but because of the way we’ve marketed it.
We’ve overpromised.
We told people they could quit their jobs tomorrow and fly to Dubai next week.We sold hype instead of value.We recruited instead of teaching.We built excitement instead of educating.
Instead of saying, “This is a long-term business that requires patience, consistency, and people skills,” we said, “Just bring two people, who bring two people, and boom—you’re rich.”
No, sir. That’s not business. That’s organized optimism bordering on fraud.
At OQATA Wellness Solutions, we’ve had to build differently. Deliberately. Slowly. With the understanding that trust is a currency far more valuable than commissions.
What You Should Know Before Joining Any Network Marketing Company
If you’re reading this, perhaps you’re curious. Maybe you’ve been burned before. Maybe your WhatsApp is full of people asking you to attend “something amazing” this Saturday.
Let me give you a quick checklist before you even consider joining any network marketing venture:
Is the product valuable on its own?If the product can’t be sold without a compensation plan, run.
Is there training, mentorship, and ethical guidance?If all you’re getting is hype, volume-based pressure, and shallow “motivation,” run faster.
Is there transparency in pricing, commissions, and returns?You should know how much you earn, how you earn it, and how sustainable it is.
Can the product sell outside the network?At OQATA, 70% of our sales come from people who are not distributors. That’s how you know it works.
Rebuilding the Reputation of Network Marketing
My personal mission, and that of OQATA Wellness Solutions, is to repair what others broke.Not by shouting louder or recruiting more, but by being honest.
We want to attract people who are patient, curious, willing to learn, and passionate about health and entrepreneurship. Not people chasing easy money. There’s no such thing here.
We teach our people to sell less and serve more.To educate before enrolling.To put wellness above wealth.
Because if a product truly improves a life, the business will follow.Slowly. Surely. And sustainably.
In Conclusion: Let’s Grow Up
It’s time for us as Ugandans to mature in how we see business models that are different. Not everything unfamiliar is a scam. And not everything labeled “network marketing” is a pyramid waiting to collapse.
Let’s ask better questions.Let’s demand transparency.Let’s refuse hype and instead choose impact.Let’s empower ourselves with the discipline of delayed gratification.
Network marketing isn’t bad. But it requires good people. Grounded people. Like you.
At OQATA Wellness Solutions, we’re building something worth trusting.Not overnight. But over time.And you’re welcome to walk that journey with us.
The writer is the CEO of OQATA Wellness Solutions, a health and wellness company committed to transforming lives through quality natural products and ethical entrepreneurship.
He is a seasoned network marketing professional with over a decade of experience in building sustainable sales teams across Africa.
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