Society and Business #Uganda: THE RETURN OF THE ASIAN COMMUNITY IN UGANDA

THE RETURN OF THE ASIAN COMMUNITY IN UGANDA:

In 1972, the president of Uganda, Idi Amin led a countrywide expulsion of all South Asians; mainly Indians from India and Pakistani out do Uganda.

Idi Amin’s government claimed that the Indians and the Asian Community were exploiting indigenous Ugandans, which they believed that it, sabotaged the Ugandan economy in which they were the higher member’s of the community working and managing most of Ugandan business

But this blog is not about the past; it is a blog about the current Uganda…at the dawn of the new millennium came new waves and ideas of doing business; at only 50 years old the Ugandan economy seems to be on the uprising; with massive corruption and lack of public services or very poor public services, the private sectors hopes to makeup the services needed for the raising middle class Ugandans.

The Indian Community in Uganda recently celebrating a holiday; picture credit: VISION GROUP UGANDA

Uganda’s leading private sector businessmen and women are mainly people those who have a very good connection or relationship with the government; therefore they have access to all the theses of operating a high-end business in Uganda or they are foreigners.

The majority of the players in the private sectors in Uganda are however foreigners; who enjoy massive tax cuts from the government due to large amount of money they push into the Ugandan economy. 

The recent technology business boom that has swept the African Continent has seen the coming of telecom companies, media houses, a small printing press on the raise and most of the world runs on digit media so does Uganda.

This has introduced a new business class to countries like Uganda; the technology industry has grown very much in the recent years; and with none or with small human resources to cover the technology boom. African countries like Uganda have had to depend on foreign human resources to cover what they lack.

Which brings me back to the title of this blog, THE RETURN OF THE ASIAN COMMUNITY IN UGANDA.

When it comes to IT and technology business in general, South Asian countries have invested heavily in that education which in return has seen a massive and rapid business migrations over the years to countries like Uganda.

Uganda is one of those countries that have welcomed the business immigrants and this has caused many South Asian natives to return to Uganda.

Indians in Uganda are in charge of some of the biggest banking systems, some of the CEOs of Uganda’s largest telecom companies are Indians and along with most of Uganda’s largest IT and printing companies.

They are in charge of many and most of the best schools, especially international schools and so many high end business of all kind.  

WELCOME TO UGANDAN CHURCHES: THE MOST HOMOPHOBIC PLACE ON EARTH!

South African reggae star, the late Lucky Dube once sang that “you should stand for the truth even if you stand alone.”

The debate on homosexuality in Uganda has been the most talked about single event in Uganda lately and even if one does not want to take part in this debate, it is had to go by a day without hearing someone mentioning their hate for homosexuals. Even at church! 

I would have no problem if the debate was taking place in only bars, restaurants, media houses and places of other nature. But I hate the fact the debate has spilled into most of the places of worship; or rather the places I attend for worship on Sunday.

As a committed Anglican, I rarely miss church on Sunday and I have to say for the last six or so  months the views about homosexuals in the Anglican churches I attend are having me question the very faith and practices of the Anglican Church in Uganda.

I could easily understand why politicians in Uganda could support, pass and sign a bill against homosexuals in Uganda.

It is a proven fact that most Ugandans are homophobic, and on any given day, any given politician would play any given trick to be on the side of the so called popular view of any issue anywhere in the world. 

But I get confused when the people that are “ordained”, bishops and reverends are the ones preaching pure hate from their pulpits.

I question the integrity of such men who preach hate against other human beings but yet in the same sermons they preach about “loving your neighbor as yourself,” so what if my neighbor was gay! 

Well according to the recently passed law! I should report them to the moral police or else I risk punishment also. 

The fact the Christian leaders have supported the bill from the get go even when if pronounced a “death sentence” for the gay community makes wonder what bible these fellows read.

They would be quick to tell me that the bible is against homosexuality and that it is a sin, however the bible is also against abortion, which I believe in the Christian world they considered murder…murder is sin, question is why ain’t we passing laws against, abortion/adultery hello along with lusting are all sins, where are the laws against those sins…and why isn’t the “Church” leading that fight against those things. I am left wondering…

Somewhere I have read that church and state/government are supposed to be separate. 

I cannot agree more with this…it puts me to questioning my views of what I thought church should be…no wonder most pews are empty on Sunday and only fill up during Easter and Christmas!

Have a good weekend my gay and straight friends.

stand for the the truth ....

Bishop Kiwalila of Namirembe, homophobe! 

#Ugandan Profile: Mugisha Muntu

Profile: Gregory Mugisha Muntu: Ugandan Politian

Story by Muniini Mulera

Jeremy Jjemba, Blogger +UNAA DALLAS 

Gregory Mugisha Muntu, the President of the Forum for Democratic Change (FDC), was born on October 7, 1958 at Kitunga village in present day Ntungamo District, Uganda, to the late Enock Ruzima Muntuyera and Aida Matama Muntuyera. He had his early education at Mbarara Junior School and Kitunga Primary School. He completed his O-Level at Kitunga High School which was later renamed Muntuyera High School, in memory of his father.

Muntu attended Makerere College School for his A-level before entering Makerere University where he graduated with an honors degree in Political Science. While at Makerere University, Muntu’s desire for service inspired him to actively participate in guild politics and was honoured to serve as Vice President of the Makerere Students’ Guild in the government of now Prof. Werikhe Watuwa. 

Videos to follow of Muntu defending his record as commander for ten years....picture by Jeremy Jjemba! +UNAA DALLAS 

Seven days after completing his degree at Makerere, Muntu left all the luxuries at his disposal to join the National Resistance Army (NRA) to the surprise of his family and the leaders of the Uganda People’s Congress (UPC), the party that his father fervently work for.

Early into the rebellion, Muntu was shot and severely wounded in the chest and leg. He was brought to Kampala for treatment and many thought he would not return to the ranks of the NRA in the jungles of Luweero. To the surprise of many, he returned to the bush.

Source: UNAALIST

Dallas Cops Raid the 25th Annual Ugandan North American Association Convention and end it with a BANG!

Ugandan flag flew over Dallas Texas for three days as Ugandans gathered for their Annual Convention: 

+UNAA DALLAS 

By Jeremy Jjemba, Author! 

I was on the 11^th floor of the Omni Hotel on Lamar Street in downtown Dallas when suddenly I saw a group of Dallas DP running up and down the hotel floor. I have a bad history with Dallas cops and let’s not mention I have what I call BPCS: which is “black people cops syndrome” …I am scared of cops running around with drawn guns. Dying to save my reputation, I immediately took cover in the elevators heading downstairs to the third floor where I thought the closing ceremonies were still ongoing.  

From when the elevator doors opened a sea of drunken people came rushing in the elevator. Like drunken people are, some seemed to be talking in tongues …they were saying the convention was shut down…of course people were sayings all kind of reasons why. I paid little attention to the closer of the dance floor. I am not big on the dance floor, unless it is real good music. I will leave that at that….

I have talked to many people since Sunday and some are happy some are crying foul. It is unbelievable…that the most memorable event of the whole sag was the shutdown of the last night…  It seems like there are a lot of people who want to place all the blame on everyone else except themselves….even for all the other things that went wrong…I still would not place all the blame on the organizing committee.

And, “Oh how they were so disorganized,” and oh how “this and that went wrong.” I find that very bad spirit. My question to you would be as such, where the hell were you not to help out to make sure everything was running well? 

Since I never really offered to help out I am going to choose not to complain about how a better of a job people would have done. I am going to approach things from a very different view.  

  
There were a lot of convention crashers who were not planned for but showed up to the event…..rumors are most of them where from the Dallas/community…there is no way all the people in attendance on the closing day were registered to be there; therefore most were indeed trespassing.

  …..I pause here; because the following words do not apply to all who came unregistered…..some were very respectful and stayed away from the actual events which were reserved for registered members...for example I traveled with an 18 year old who refused to pay registration fees…but to his defense..he had no interest in any convection event…I doubt he spent much time trying to access the ballroom…

But the likes of grown men and women who chose not to pay UNAA fees but yet booked hotels rooms and flooded them with guests who ended up crushing the convention, these cheapskates (traditional in our communities) who came from everywhere, some us far as UGANDA itself (Oh dear lord do not let me name drop!)…..and quit honestly some very prominent in our society and could afford but did not register for the actual convention are partly to blame for bad timings of events; bad planning of security etc …if you think about the whole reason why the cops where called is because security refused entry to someone who did not need to be there………to call you a cheapskate is to actually hold my words of what I exactly think about you…

          I find it shocking that in a three day convention filled with so many activities, most of those I have contact with on UNAA LIST, FB, EMAIL etc are mainly disappointed because they did not get to shake their bones on Sunday until 4AM….

I am not one of those night owls…I am not disappointed…I had a great time…I mean I met so many prominent member’s of Ugandan society residing in North America, I even met a Ugandan brain surgeon from Canada, all the politicians I met. Only Mugisha Muntu and Proscovia Musumba impressed me….the others were full of shit as usual…I won’t name drop.  

          To drive the point home, I say before blaming the organizing committee, or the hotel staff…let’s look in house first, pay your UNNA dues or do not attend the functions…respect the venue rules…I doubt the Omni had Uganda Waragi on sale but some of us were walking around with huge bottles of it even after the hotel staff asked us not to bring in outside liquor……drink in your rooms!.....what does this  say about us as a community…...

Overall I am looking forward to maintaining the connections I made over the three days…I am looking forward to serving the newly elected leadership of UNAA and I pray to God that these gatherings become less about the partying and dancing moving forward! Because from what I understand...something similar happened in Philly..I wasn't there

From a very hot summer morning in Houston, Texas I am Jeremy Jjemba and these are my personal reflections…see you in San Diego next year!  

"I am multicultural, multilingual.." +UNAA DALLAS