The Sununu Effect Masterclass was a beautiful celebration of beauty, business, and bold beginnings. Organized by Claret A. Baraba—the founder and creative force behind the Sununu Effect—this was her very first masterclass, and it was nothing short of inspiring. The ever-cheerful Daisy Sunshine kept the energy high as the MC, guiding the day with excitement and grace. Claret officially opened the event with warmth and passion, setting the tone for what became a day of deep learning and encouragement.
Brian Mulondo, the Local Content Manager at MultiChoice Uganda—one of the sponsors—took a moment to speak to the audience. He praised the talent in the room and gave a special shoutout to makeup artists who have worked on award-winning shows like Damalie, Sanyu, and others airing on Pearl Magic.
The first speaker on the lineup was corporate and commercial lawyer Miriam Okello Atim, who shared valuable insights on setting up, registering, and protecting your business. She emphasized documenting business processes, understanding how money flows in and out, getting insurance, and maintaining confidentiality.
Mrs. Kalanda Hauda Tusubira, a tax officer at URA and a financial coach, followed with eye-opening truths about money. She believes financial literacy should be taught in schools and encouraged attendees to treat their business like a relationship: when you pour into it, it grows. She discussed common reasons businesses fail at the grassroots level and urged the audience to be intentional, set revenue targets, invest in unit trusts, and separate personal finances from the business. She reminded everyone that “good vibes and inshallah” are not business strategies. Before leaving the stage, she gave homework: write down your revenue goal, one habit you’re going to start today, and one area in your business you’ll take more seriously.
After a short break, international makeup artist Muthoni Njoba took the stage with both skill and storytelling. A single mother who left the corporate world to pursue makeup, she spoke about the power of knowing your worth. She recalled a moment early in her career when she was offered $50 for a job worth $800. Instead of settling, she let it go, told the client to return when they were ready to pay her value—and three weeks later, they came back with a $1,500 job.
During her session, Muthoni did a live natural makeup demo on a bride who was initially dressed in a robe. Once the glam was complete, the bride changed into a beautiful Strat bridal gown and wore her bridal box jewelry to show the full transformation. Muthoni did some final touch-ups with her, and the bride gracefully posed for photos, giving everyone a real glimpse of what a natural makeup look bride would look like on her special day. Muthoni also shared slides of recommended products and walked us through her rate card, leaving attendees with practical tools and inspiration.
After lunch, certified skincare coach and founder of Harmony Skin Aesthetics, Mrs. Kezia Nayebare Matsiko, took the stage. She emphasized the importance of constantly learning and understanding different skin types. Her message was clear: if you want to thrive in the beauty world, skincare is not optional.
Next up was special effects makeup artist Esther Nakaziba, who amazed the audience with a live demo. As she worked, she answered questions and shared that she learned most of her skills from YouTube because there are few people teaching special effects makeup locally. Her session proved that with curiosity and consistency, anything is possible.
To close off the event, Claret returned to the stage alongside Hauda, Kezia, and Esther to answer final questions from the audience. The day ended on a high note with a certificate ceremony for all attendees. We are all looking forward to a second edition.
