When you step into Doreen Natukunda Opio’s compound in Namugongo, you’re immediately struck by a peaceful calm — and a quiet hum of activity. A boda boda rider revs his engine, ready to deliver one of her framed art pieces to a waiting client.
From the outside, you’d never guess what lies within: a lush garden shaded by mature trees, a pigeon house alive with coos, a table set for outdoor work, and two friendly dogs padding about. Two houses share the compound — one her family home, the other Art Kadowaz Studio, a vibrant hub of color and creativity.
Inside the studio, walls and shelves burst with intricate artwork — many engraved with Bible verses or adorned in bold, African-inspired abstract designs.
“Art and creativity come naturally to me,” Doreen says, smiling as she moves between pieces. “I don’t just do wall art — I design jewelry, wedding décor, and outdoor art installations too.”
A Spark of Divine Inspiration
Her creative journey began with a desire to brighten up homes.
“I noticed people had nice furniture and décor, but something was missing that spark that brings a space to life,” she recalls. “At first, I thought people should just buy what was available. But I realized they wanted me to help bring their own ideas to life.”
Before she became a full-time artist, Doreen ran an arts and crafts shop called Calabash in Mbarara from 2009. When she moved to Kampala after marriage, she became a stay-at-home mum but the business instincts instilled in her by her parents never faded.
“I’d see beautiful things online and wish I could have them,” she says. “But no one was making them here — and the few that were available were imported. So, I thought, why not make my own?”
Her art, she says, is divinely inspired. That first moment of inspiration came unexpectedly during a Sunday service at Watoto Church in 2013.
“Children from Sunday school were performing in kitenge outfits, and as I watched, an idea came to me,” she recalls. “The next day, I made an art piece based on the sermon from Joshua 24:15 — ‘As for me and my house, we will serve the Lord’ — framed with a kitenge design. It sold immediately.”
That moment, she says, confirmed that her creativity was a gift from God.
An Artist Reborn During Covid
For years, Doreen created and sold her pieces quietly — mostly to family and friends. Then came Covid-19, which she calls her game-changer.
“You know how business starts — first you sell to your sisters, then their friends, and then you run out of customers,” she laughs. “But during Covid, everything changed. My husband started posting my work on social media, and that opened doors.”
Her husband, who previously traveled frequently for work, became her unofficial manager and social media strategist. Through platforms like X (Twitter), Instagram, and Facebook, her art reached a wider audience.
Prominent figures like Robert Kabushenga and AIGP Asan Kasingye took notice, and soon corporations began commissioning her to beautify their offices. During the Non-Aligned Movement (NAM) Summit, she produced and delivered more than 50 artworks gifted to visiting heads of state.
Today, Doreen exports her pieces to several East African countries.
A Day at Art Kadowaz
Each day at Art Kadowaz begins with prayer.
“We start with Morning Dominion Hour, a 40-minute prayer led by Pastor Ben Nebechukwu, my spiritual father,” she says.
After prayer, Doreen checks client orders — both from walk-ins and online — before deciding which projects to start. Her materials come from Uganda, South Africa, Kenya, and Australia.
“Getting materials was tough at first,” she admits. “It’s still not easy, and that’s part of why our work can be expensive. But we’ve learned to innovate.”
Every project starts with a mental image — a parrot, a sunset, a verse — followed by research, prayer, and finally, design. Once complete, the artwork is printed or engraved and framed.
With demand growing, Doreen’s studio has embraced technology, using 3D printers and laser cutters to achieve precision and efficiency.
Roots of a Creative Mind
Born in the early 1980s in Nairobi, Kenya, Doreen grew up in a family of teachers-turned-entrepreneurs. When her parents returned to Mbarara, they left teaching to start Jobe Fashions, a successful tailoring business that made school uniforms.
“We practically grew up in the shop,” she says. “During school holidays, my sisters and I helped with ironing, buttoning, and packaging. That’s how I learned discipline and the value of work.”
Her late father was strict and industrious, discouraging idleness and keeping his daughters focused. Her mother, a skilled tailor, inspired Doreen’s creativity, while her brother channeled his artistry into furniture design.
“Creativity runs in our family,” she says proudly.
Doreen attended Boma Primary School in Mbarara, Bweranyangi Girls’ School for both O and A Levels, and later joined Makerere University, where she earned a Bachelor’s degree in Social Sciences, majoring in Social Administration.
Growth, Systems, and Balance
From a one-woman operation, Art Kadowaz has grown into a registered business employing an administrative assistant and two operational staff. The company pays taxes and regularly hosts interns from Kyambogo University, offering hands-on experience in the creative industry.
“Many artists shy away from structure,” she says. “But real growth needs systems — even if clients who knew you informally resist at first.”
Balancing business and family is one of her biggest challenges.
“It’s about priorities,” she says. “When I’m with my kids, it’s their time. When I’m at work, it’s work time. Sometimes the two merge — but I try to be present wherever I am.”
Though she avoids mainstream art exhibitions, Doreen hosts a cozy event at her studio called “Chai and Art.” Guests are served tea, cookies, and cake as they browse her work in a relaxed, homey setting.
“It’s not about profit,” she smiles. “It’s about connection and appreciation. Art should speak to the soul.”
Faith, Family, and the Future
For Doreen Natukunda Opio, art is not just a profession — it’s a calling. Her work, rooted in faith and family, transforms scripture into color, and everyday materials into inspiration.
And as she looks to the future, her vision is clear: to keep creating art that reflects God’s beauty — one piece at a time.
