If businessman Robert Zikusooka walked on the streets of Kampala, not many people would identify him. In fact it is difficult to find a clear photo of him. Zikusooka is the founder of Royikems Industries Limited best known for its Rose Foam brand of mattresses.
Said to be in his mid-40s, Zikusooka started his entrepreneurial journey in the early 1990s in Kamuli. He used to own a big wholesale shop that sold mattresses and general merchandise in Kamuli town.
According to someone who knows him, Zikusooka was always a person of big dreams.
“He used to say that he will one day own one of the biggest mattress factories in East Africa. That was around 2006,” said someone who has done business with him.
In late 2010, Zikusooka embarked on the journey to realize this dream. He bought a three acre piece of land in Mbalala Industrial Area, on the outskirts of Mukono Municipality, where he started constructing his factory.
On November 25, 2013, the factory started operations under the name Royikems Industries Limited (RIL). It is believed that the name “Royikems” is a combination of Zikusooka’s names and those of his children.
Today, the factory has become one of the leading manufacturers of mattresses and has weathered competition from foreign owned mattress firms to establish a footprint.
Letters to My Younger Self: Winnie Nakimuli—"You Are Worthy Simply Because You Exist"Royikems manufactures 500,000 pieces of mattresses per month and employs more than 600 people. It has depots in all the major towns of Kampala.
When he set out to establish a mattress factory, Zikusooka says he wanted to come out with a superior product that was not only comfortable to use but which also put into consideration the health of the customer.
“I wanted to create a different kind of mattress company with the Rose Foam brands which is true to quality excellence and durability and health considerations. Our job is to provide our customers with the best suited mattresses for them at the most affordable price possible,” he said.
This gave rise to the company tagline: A good night’s sleep begins with a great mattress”.
According to statistics from Uganda Revenue Authority, the firm registered a turnover of Shs 86 billion in 2021 and a net profit of Shs 5 billion.
When President Museveni officially commissioned the firm in 2021, Zikusooka told him that high taxes had taken a toll on his business.
“We request you sir to look into this matter because some factories are closing meaning that people are losing jobs,” Zikusooka said.
The company has also ventured into manufacture of disposable plastics under its subsidiary, Five Star Plastics. Five Star manufactures a wide range of disposable plastics including cups and plates.
