Ntinda’s Yakobo pork joint ‘s founder Mzee. Tonny Kizito who passed on February 24th has been laid to rest in Mityana district . The late Kizito was a visionary entrepreneur who built the famed Yakobo Pork Joint into a household name and a symbol of Uganda’s thriving pork culture.
Mr. Kizito died at dawn on February 24, 2026, sending shockwaves through Kampala’s food industry and the thousands of people whose livelihoods were tied, directly and indirectly, to his enterprise.
For years, the smoky aroma rising from Yakobo Pork Joint drew crowds from every corner of the city.
What started as a modest backyard roastery in Ntinda gradually evolved into a bustling pork empire, redefining how Ugandans experienced roasted pork.
Under Kizito’s stewardship, pork was no longer just street fare — it became a mainstream culinary experience, complete with organized service, branding, and an atmosphere that blended tradition with modernity.
Regular patrons recall how Kizito would often stand among his customers, greeting them with a warm smile, checking on the quality of the meat, and ensuring every plate met his standards.
“He treated everyone like family,” said one long-time customer, fighting back tears. “Yakobo was not just a place to eat. It was a community.”
Colleagues and industry players say Kizito’s impact stretched far beyond the walls of his eatery. By building a reliable supply chain that linked pig farmers, transporters, butchers, roasters, waiters, and vendors, he created what many now describe as a pork economy.
From rural farmers in central Uganda to urban youth employed as servers and grill masters, countless households depended on the success of Yakobo Pork Joint.
In a country where youth unemployment remains a pressing challenge, Kizito’s enterprise stood as proof that innovation and grit could open doors. He never held political office, nor did he seek the spotlight in government circles.
Yet through business alone, he generated income opportunities for multitudes. Industry observers note that before the mid-1980s, pigs were often kept more as backyard animals than as the foundation of a large-scale culinary industry.
Kizito saw potential where others saw little more than tradition.
Over time, Yakobo Pork Joint became more than a restaurant; it became a landmark.
On weekends, the venue was packed with families, corporate workers unwinding after long days, and revelers seeking Kampala’s most talked-about pork.
In death, Tonny Kizito leaves behind more than a successful business. He leaves behind a transformed culinary landscape, a network of empowered farmers and workers, and a generation inspired by his story.
From a simple backyard roastery to a pork empire that redefined taste and opportunity, his journey stands as a testament to vision, resilience, and the power of believing in one’s craft.
As smoke slowly rises once more from the grills of Yakobo, it carries not just the scent of roasted pork, but the memory of a man whose dream fed a nation — and whose dawn departure has left Ntinda in mourning.
