November 13, 2025 – Every great career begins with a first step! A recent university graduate, Travor Kimbugwe joined the Finance Department at Ugacof – Sucafina’s sister company in Uganda – one year ago. He’s already learned a great deal and made valuable contributions to the team.
Supporting team members to grow and develop is a major focus of Sucafina’s Caring for People sustainability pillar. One of the ways we do this is by giving promising university graduates a head start on their career journey through mentorship, hands-on experience and opportunities for growth for the next generation of industry leaders.
Travor joined the Finance Department one year ago as part of Ugacof’s Graduate Trainee Program. He describes this as a period of learning, transformation and purpose-driven growth. Through his experience, Travor has seen how Sucafina’s purpose of creating opportunities to improve lives helps build tangible, long-term impact.
The transition from classroom to career has been eye-opening, he notes. Studying finance at university gave him the formulas, but real-world experience has helped him to apply them meaningfully.
Travor believes growth comes from reflection, adaptability and continuous learning. So far, he’s experienced a series of small wins that continue to shape his professional journey. He appreciates how each task, no matter how simple, contributes to something larger. He adds that paying attention to detail has taught him to find value in even the smallest things. “If I pay attention to detail today, it’s because I have learned to find the material in the immaterial,” he explains.
Mentorship has been key to his development. Learning under the guidance of his supervisor, Brian Munana (Accountant), and Head of Department, James Njoroge, has reinforced Travor’s belief that true leadership is built on empathy and teamwork.
Reflecting on his journey, Travor believes that real growth comes not from accumulating knowledge, but from applying it with discipline, humility and purpose. His advice to young professionals is simple: “The world is self-service, so don’t do yourself a disservice. If I could speak to my ‘first-day self’, I’d say, trust the process. Progress may feel slow, but each day compounds into something meaningful.”
Joe Hage-Chahine, Head of Africa; Travor Kimbugwe, Graduate Trainee; Max Veglio, Managing Director, Ugacof.