The Promota Africa Magazine

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2011-12-19T09:43:00.000-08:00

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Cover Story: Iryn Namubiru PAM Awards Artiste of the Year 2011

2011-12-18T17:38:00.000-08:00

What are the factors that have led to your success?
I think it’s hard work and perseverance, and being surrounded by positive people.
Are there any people who have contributed to your success and if so, who are they and in what ways have they helped you?
It is mainly my mother, my manager Thadeus Mubiru, some few close friends and my family by always being there for me, listening to me, giving me moral support and advice without necessarily judging my actions.

You are a wife, mother and successful musician. How are you able to balance the three roles?
I have answered that a million timeS, it all comes down to organization. At the end of the day, I work like any other working woman in Uganda but there is always time for everything. At time we have to sacrifice though.

What have been the main highlights of your career?
When I first recorded with a record label and working with some renown international stars.

What challenges have you faced on your road to success and how did you overcome them?
There are so many, but right now, it is mainly the fact that whatever I say in written interviews can be modified. At times, we tend to look or sound stupid and most of the time, the impression that is given of us is not at all representative of who we are.

Have you experienced any low points in your career, and if so what were they?
Yes, I have, when stories are fabricated and I do not have the means or the courage to defend myself, yet many people take them to be true.

Many people believe that when a woman becomes successful, she ceases to respect her husband. What are your thoughts on this belief?
I do not believe this, but I think men are just insecure with independent or learned women. Gone are the days when women just sat at home and waited for men to bring bread home. I would respect my man as much as he respects me. I am not a star at home but there is a limit between being respectful and stupidly submissive.

In your opinion, why are there so few women at the top of their respective careers?
I think it is because we are still considered the weaker gender, yet many times, women are far better than men in many different areas.

You have demonstrated that it is possible to have both a successful career and marriage. How have you succeeded in doing this?
My advice to other women, who believe you can have one or the other but not both is: it is not always a bed of roses, you cannot be blinded by success, and first priority has to be your marriage. While you might lose your career, you may not be able to live without your family. I think it’s the main pillar of everything; its failure might affect your career too.

Exclusive Interview with His Excellency Maurice Peter Kagimu Kiwanuka Uganda’s Ambassador to Switzerland

2011-12-18T17:37:00.000-08:00

The Promota: Can you give us a brief biographical background and current duties?

Maurice: I am Maurice Peter Kagimu Kiwanuka, 50 years old, married, with 3 kids. I am a son to the former Chief Justice the late Ben Kiwanuka, murdered by Amin and his regime.

I am Uganda’s Ambassador to Switzerland and Permanent Representative of Uganda to the United Nations, World Trade Organisation and Other International Organisations. I am based in Geneva. Formerly, I was the Minister of State for Economic Monitoring, ofﬁce of the President, and an ex-ofﬁcio Member of Parliament. Before that, I was a Member of Parliament for Bukomansimbi constituency in Masaka District from 2002 to 2006. In 1994, I represented my constituency in the Constituent Assembly that drafted Uganda’s current Constitution.

I hold a Bachelor’s degree in Economics from Makerere University, Kampala, and a Bachelor of Philosophy degree of Urbaniana University, Rome.

I worked in Bank of Uganda as a Banking Ofﬁcer in the foreign exchange section and in National Housing and Construction Corporation as an Administrative Ofﬁcer in charge of ofﬁce administration and group employees, who were so many in this Housing Corporation.

I was at one time an Importer of hardware from Dubai and an Importer of motorcycles and motor vehicle spares from Japan.

What is the role of the Mission in Geneva and how has it promoted trade between Uganda and multinational organizations abundant in Geneva?

Maurice: Brieﬂy, we handle multilateral diplomacy in Human rights and trade among others. In multilateralism, countries negotiate together. In human rights, all countries come together to ensure that all of them respect human rights and the rule of law.

In trade, in the world trade organization, countries group together according to regions like the LDCs (the least developed countries), ACP (Africa, the Caribbean and Paciﬁ c countries), AG (the African group) among others, to ﬁght for common interests. Uganda belongs to the 3 groups.

Currently, we are ﬁghting for Market access to the Western markets which seem to be very closed. Though they seem to open up, regulations like the phyto sanitary standards, carbon prints, among others make it look like someone giving you with one hand and taking away with the other.

We are now ﬁghting to see that in the ministerial conference in December, (for 10 years the world has failed to implement what they agreed upon in the Doha round) they give LDCs an early harvest (a special package) they agreed upon in HongKong in 2005. In the package were items like DFQF (duty free quota free) market access, services waiver, remove the cotton subsidies given to western farmers among others. However, this is still a very uphill task.

There are also other organizations like Unctad, EIF etc…which give technical support to countries.

WTO is now opening up to support infrastructure development by assisting regions to acquire world bank loans to put up regional infrastructures.

We also do bilateral relations with the government of Switzerland. Currently, we are in the process of re-drafting the investment treaty between Uganda and Switzerland which was last signed in 1971 and which expired in 1976 ! This is a very important treaty on which investors insist because it protects their investments.

So far, more than half of Uganda’s coffee is sold in Switzerland though now our government insists on promoting value addition. So far, a company called Masaba has started selling processed coffee. There are also several Swiss companies in Uganda like Roko.

Swiss companies deal more in pharmaceuticals. For Nestle, we have tried to lure them though not with much success. But we are luring some German companies and recently German businessmen visited Uganda to explore investment opportunities.

Do you think Diasporas have a role to play in Uganda’s development ?

Maurice: Oh my God ! a lot! In fact that’s why I want to come and talk. at next year’s Convention in the UK. Our proverb says : obwavu lwoya lwa mu nyindo, olwejja wekka mu nyindo and Nkoba za mbogo, zejja zokka mu bunnya and omugg’oguli omwa munno tegutta ngo etc….

Many people think that that there is an uncle in Europe who loves us very much and who will come to develop our country. This is very wrong, people come to make dividends and siphon them away ! Take the example of Barclays bank. For how long have they been in Uganda? But look at their poor structures. They would be owning 20 workers houses!

The diaspora sends a lot of money to Uganda : about $1bn a year but it is mainly in real estate and recurrent expenditure for relatives. Its impact is not felt. This is because it is not channeled into production. This is my point and that’s why I want to come and give a talk, to sensitize our people so that even the conventions can have an impact. They have been taking place in the US for long but with little impact apart from housing companies going there to advertise houses for the diaspora to buy!

We have to organize ourselves and invest together. It is high time the elite entered production like for example through large scale mechanized farming. The peasants can no longer feed us plus the region. They are not credit worthy. They cannot qualify for a billion loan. The elite should stop looking at farming as a domain for the uneducated and failures. In the West, farmers are billionaires and educated. All the food is going to Southern Sudan and Kenya. This is a huge opportunity to make money but we need to be organized ﬁrst. Everybody who gets money only thinks of building a house ! I will develop these points when given a chance to talk.

The mobile telephone companies are siphoning out a lot of dollars. Actually they are the ones which keep the exchange rate high because each buys almost US $ 30million a month to take out and they are about 6 ! Imagine !

Putting up a mobile telephone company requires US $ 100 million. This is a tenth of what the diaspora sends home. If we team up we can do a lot and save our country’s foreign exchange for further development. The sky is the limit. We need to set up a credible company run by serious and credible managers from companies recommended by companies like PricewaterhouseCoopers etc…. This is because, with such companies involved, people can entrust you with their money and besides, one is sure they know what they are doing. These can do great wonders.

Do you think missions in Europe have done enough to mobilise Ugandans in the Diaspora?

Maurice: No, not all. There is plenty we can do. People in the diaspora usually just criticize government, forgetting that problems are opportunities. If we are organized, we can set up a powerful garbage collection company which can do a good job similar to that done in Europe. We can go into a joint venture with an experienced European company because we need expert management.

Do you buy into the new idea that each mission should have a dedicated ofﬁcer dealing with Diaspora issues, especially guidance and investment support?

Maurice: Deﬁnitely, but we have to do something ﬁrst. Government will just beg us to do that.

What is your opinion on initiatives like the Ugandan UK Convention ?

Maurice: This is a wonderful idea but we should do performance evaluation. Since the last convention what has been achieved? We should set up charters, set goals, make performance evaluations etc….so that it does not become a social gathering. I am yet to see the impact of the US Convention which has been there for many years.

The remittance sent back home by Diasporas is close to a $billion a year. As a former Minister for Economic planning, do you buy into the notion that if Diasporas are empowered, they can even multiply the money they send back home? This includes setting up incentives and policies that are conducive for Diaspora investment.

Maurice: Deﬁnitely. The incentives are already there like tax holidays, but they are enjoyed by foreigners. I think before we ask for more favourable policies, let’s use the already available ones. You see, people ask God for blessings without exploiting ﬁrst those he has already given them !

What do you think about new schemes, like Diaspora bond ?

Maurice: Very wonderful. They can be an addition to what I’ve explained above.

Do you support the idea of setting up a Diaspora Ministry with representative in the parliament to lobby for Diaspora affairs?

Maurice: Deﬁnitely, but we have to do something ﬁrst. It will be automatic. If we lobby for it ﬁrst it will be like one making way for an ugly princess ! He has to invest a lot in shouting !

Any word of wisdom to the Diasporas?

We can neither become rich individually nor develop our country without coming together to invest together. We should stop thinking of working for our families alone, the ‘nnaasiwa mukange’ business ! -‘only me’ business. P

Contacts: The Permanent Mission of the Republic of Uganda Rue Antoine Carteret, 6bis, 1202 Geneva, 1st Floor Tel: +41 22 339 88 10 Fax: +41 22 340 70 30

Email: Chancery – chancery@ugandamission.ch Visa Applications – consular-visa@ugandamission.ch

Golola Moses has always been a joke

2011-12-18T17:34:00.001-08:00

I have always said that Golola Moses is a big joke, and now, as it has turned out, he has made Ugandans bigger jokes than he is. Here is why:

Not many people have heard of Jona Kagimba, and even less know him. But this mystery man, a graphic designer by profession, is reportedly the real genesis of all this Golola Moses drama. He is the man who started it all when, while living in Malaysia, he created the Golola Moses facebook page.

And get this, by the time he started the page he had never met the man, never knew what he was like or what he represented. All he did was watch a video on YouTube from NTV’s Point Blank, and he got a brainwave.

“I started it in early 2010, mainly for fun, as a joke,” Kagimba says. “I didn’t really think it would go anywhere...just added a few friends and started those jokes like he can tear facebook pages and all that...then people started joining really fast... then I started making videos( like the Hitler video and many others) and this made even more people join. I also did some funny pics about him and all of a sudden there were more than 3,000 people on the page, all sharing Golola Moses jokes.”

It moved from facebook to the main stream media, and soon newspapers and TV and radio stations were all on the wagon.

What Kagimba does not say is that it had all been done before, except it was for different people and in different countries.

It really started with Chuck Norris, the legendary Hollywood martial arts movie actor. In all his movies Chuck Norris does almost the impossible when beating extreme odds. That’s when the jokes started about what the man can do.

“If you want a list of Chuck Norris’ enemies, just check the extinct species list. When Chuck Norris had surgery, the anesthesia was applied to the doctors. Chuck Norris has already been to Mars, that's why there are no signs of life. Chuck Norris can sneeze with his eyes open. Chuck Norris wears a live rattlesnake as a condom.”

Sound familiar? And that was decades ago. Even the Kenyans had their version of Chuck Norris, a fictional character they named Makmende (apparently some native Kenyan mispronounced Clint Eastwood’s famous line ‘make my day’). Makmende could do anything, and fought with everybody, and beat them.

After the Makmende character was used in a music video by the Kenyan group Just A Band in 2009, it got so got so popular in Kenya that CNN did a feature on it. But it was all fiction, of course.

That was when Kagimba decided it would be interesting to turn that funny-sounding guy he saw on TV into a Makmende-like character.

Is the rest history, as they say? Unfortunately not, because the joke is still on us. When the real Golola realized he was famous on I the media (or some people told him he was), he started believing he was actually a super hero, and many Ugandans started believing it along with him. They thought the man was funny, and a genius, where did he get all those jokes and lines? So last week they turned up in their tens of thousands, and paid their tens of thousands of shillings to see their superhero do all the things he said he could do.

But Golola Moses (who along with most Ugandans cannot differentiate between a first name and a surname) is not funny, or a genius. He can’t even fight. He is just a big joke that Kagimba created, and the joke is really on all those gullible Ugandans who took it all so seriously. And you know what? It’s not even Golola who went smiling all the way to the bank.

Uganda Judge criticises bail law

2011-12-18T17:33:00.001-08:00

Justice Anup Singh Choudry of the High Court has criticised the provision of the Magistrates Court Act that allows the automatic cancellation of bail on committal of a suspect to the High Court for trial.

Referring to former VP Gilbert Bukenya’s case, the judge said automatic cancellation of bail not only infringes on people’s rights, but also causes a grave miscarriage of justice.

“The laws are meant to ensure justice. However, the provision takes away the person’s liberty and violates human rights obligations. It is quite improper to send someone to jail and ask him to apply for bail, which does not make legal sense,” Choudry said on Thursday.

The Magistrates Court Act should have intended to empower the magistrate to cancel bail in circumstances where fresh evidence at committal demonstrated that there was a real danger of the accused person absconding or interfering with witnesses and it should then have been invoked in the interest of justice, but not otherwise, unless the bail terms were to be varied.

“Unilateral cancellation of bail without the accused’s right to be heard is contrary to principles of natural justice,” Choudry asserted.

The judge was recently releasing on bond three men, including the prime minister of Teso, Paul Sande Emorut.

The others are Swaibu Buyinza, a resident of Iganga and Joshua Mayanja of Kirowa Zone, Bugumba Parish, Iganga district.

The accused were represented by Charles Dalton Opwonya, Richard Okalany and Kenneth Omoding.

Senior State Attorney Mary Kamuli Kuteesa, who represented the state, did not oppose the application.

Three sureties, who included Steven Ongaria, 71, commissioner Electoral Commission; Geoffrey Ekanya, 40, Tororo Municipality MP and Fred Muapsi Nyapindi, 60, of Rock Petroleum, each bound himself in a sh1m bond for the accused men.

The defence lawyers also referred to the provision of the law as obsolete and were happy about the judge’s observations.

It was alleged that in August 2011, the men were found in possession of uncustomed 540 cartons of Super Match cigarettes, worth over sh200m at Kitgum customs post.

The prosecution alleges that the cigarettes had been smuggled.

However, the defence lawyer told court the suspects were arrested as they were trying to re-verify that the cigarettes were made in Uganda and could not have been smuggled.

They told court that they were returning to Uganda with the cigarettes after failing to get market in Southern Sudan.

“As they did not find satisfying market, they returned with them with a view to re-exporting them to another country after re-verifying them with the authority,” the defence lawyer said.

Bukenya opponent demands sh600m in court costs

2011-12-18T17:32:00.001-08:00

By Andante Okanya

Hussein Kasta (DP), the political rival of former vice-president Gilbert Bukenya (NRM), is demanding sh606m as costs for winning the election petition for the Busiro North parliamentary seat.

The particulars of Kasta’s bill of costs includes lawyers’ fees, money spent on interviewing witnesses to the electoral crimes, drafting and swearing of affidavits, plus money spent on his election observers.

Bukenya lost the seat on October 5 after court ruled that evidence had been adduced to the effect that he bribed voters. He was ordered to pay costs to Kasta.

Bukenya has since bounced back as MP after he won the December 1 by-election with 10,728 votes, while Kasta was second with 3,035 votes.

On Monday, the High Court in Kampala had scheduled a hearing for taxation in relation to the bill of costs filed by Kasta’s legal team,

The assistant registrar of the civil division, Eudes Keitirima, was supposed to hear it.

But Kasta’s lawyer Julius Galisonga told Keitirima that Bukenya’s lawyer Kiyemba Mutale, who was absent from court, had requested for more time to explore whether the parties could reach an agreeable sum.

Galisonga asked court to take note of the fact that the taxation hearing had been delayed for the second time after it failed to be heard on November 10 when Mutale asked for more time.

Accordingly, the hearing was adjourned to tomorrow.

10 Questions for Morgan Tsvangirai

2011-12-18T17:26:00.000-08:00

A leaked U.S. diplomatic cable suggests President Robert Mugabe — once your adversary and now
your partner in government — has cancer. Is this true?
There's no acknowledgement of bad health. All we know is that he has been attended in Malaysia and recently Singapore. He has been going for medical checks. The state of his health, whether he is ailing, one cannot tell.

What happens if he dies in office?
In the case of the President, it would be one of his advisers for the next 90 days, constitutionally, to take over and run it until the election is conducted.

But does his party, the Zimbabwe African National Union — Patriotic Front, really exist beyond Mugabe?
They have a problem. You see, it's a party that has earned its legacy from the liberation. But Mugabe's hanging on without a definitive successor. If he should collapse dead today, it becomes a national concern.

What, then, are you achieving in coalition with this regime?
We're creating a transition. You can remove Mugabe as an individual, but his party has been so entrenched for the last 30 years that what you need is actually serious transformation of the institutions.

How can you trust Mugabe when his backers still threaten you with violence?
What is trust? We've had a working relationship. But obviously, with elections coming soon, one begins to see the elements undermining this working relationship.

There was a time when Mugabe wanted you dead.
We're always conscious that the fact that what they've done to us and the opposition is unacceptable. [But] if the nation is to move forward, then one cannot always go back to that, because it will only mean that you'll have to engage in retribution. We are very conscious of the acts against myself as an individual and all our supporters who died during this struggle. But the question is, then, How do you balance between the cries of the victims and the fears of the perpetrators? There is a price to pay for stability and peace.

What legacy have people like Muammar Gaddafi and his friend Mugabe left Africa?
It is a phase that Africa should accept — mistaken policies, mistaken positions — but it's a phase all the same. What these nationalists and liberators created was one-man rule, family dynasties. We can't have that in Africa if it's going to be accepted as part of the democratic and prosperous future.

Is China the new imperial power in Africa?
No, I don't think so. But they are not missionaries, all the same. They're after business interests. China knows that there is going to be a scramble for resources.

What do you hope readers will take away from your book?
It is a story of the democratic struggle and the various trials and tribulations we face in the struggle for that objective. How do you fight a dictatorship using democratic means — without necessarily resorting to violence, without necessarily resorting to unorthodox means? It's largely a message of transition and a struggle which I think is unique and a lesson to others.

You've been through harassment, violence. Has it been worth it?
I'd do it again, given the state of people's desperation. I'd do it again. The people of Zimbabwe have lost loved ones. They have been brutalized. They've faced all sorts of trauma. So it is very important to always look back and say, These people have not struggled in vain. You need to create hope.

Publisher’s Letter - issue 25

2011-12-17T08:09:00.000-08:00

Obstacles don't have to stop you. If you run into a wall, don't turn around and give up.
Figure out how to climb it, go through it, or work around it. - Michael Jordan

This year has ended with some profound and significant historical events...the death of Colonel Ghadaffi ─ (celebrated by some, regretted by those who benefited from his generosity), the wave of political changes in the Maghreb, the struggle and near collapse of western economies, not to mention the world economic downturn. Despite these hard economic times, Africa still presents vast opportunities.

This year, we saw a series of investment seminars across Europe, showcasing opportunities in mother Africa. However, the onus is on our leaders to create a level playing and conducive environment to attract investors to propel Africa’s economic status to comparable levels with the rest of the world. We’ve just celebrated the World Aids Day; this killer disease is still looming and claiming the lives of many of our people. Alarmingly, most of the donor countries have cut aid towards ARV provision to the poor African populations.

All was not too bad for Uganda in 2011, as it was named the number one tourist destination for 2012. This is stressed in the exclusive interview with Ambassador Patrick Mugoya, the Permanent Secretary for Ministry of Tourism in Uganda, who also accentuated the importance of the Diaspora and the role they can play as Uganda’s Ambassadors abroad. In this issue, Bank of Uganda is reaching out to the Diaspora and highlights the significant socio-economic contribution they make. Provisional estimates indicate that about US$768 million was remitted to Uganda in 2010. Thus, Ugandans are encouraged to remit their money through official channels, so that up-to-date data for better estimation of remittances can be obtained.

In every issue, we serialise an article about the Diaspora making a difference and inspiring others. This time, we selected Emmy Wasirwa who is at the forefront of revolutionising the liquefied gas retail industry in Uganda. Our second choice is Iryn Namubiru, a Ugandan artist based in France. Despite being in the Diaspora, she has managed to win Uganda’s music industry as the best female artiste, clenching the PAM award Artiste of the Year 2011, not to mention other accolades.

In an interview with Mark Perryman, MoneyGram’s boss in the UK, he stresses MoneyGram’s commitment and passion to supporting African communities through sponsoring various community initiatives.

Diasporans are returning to Africa in big numbers, and we at the Promota always advise people to plan well, before making that last journey back home. For those seeking financial support, read through the Promota, where we list various organisations offering advice and funding for projects.

We at the Promota advocate strongly against bad traditional practices in Africa, like mutilation of children in traditional witchcraft practices.This was rubber stamped by Pope Benedict XVI’s recent visit to Benin, where he urged Catholics to abandon traditional practices that clash with Christianity, which he said “liberates from occultism and vanquishes evil spirits.

” Forbes produced a list of Africa’s billionaires. Can we be surprised that former Kenyan President Daniel Arap Moi is among the richest in Africa, recognised as a billionaire? Whether he made his money legitimately and ethically, you are the judge!

New Year’s tip from me: “Focus on solutions, not problems and Focus MORE on what worked in 2011.”

Who's the most attractive partner for Africa? All of them.

2011-12-14T23:28:00.000-08:00

As Europe’s debt crisis continues to rumble on, it’s not difficult to see why Africa’s relationship with China is growing so fast. For an African leader deciding on whether to align themselves with one or the other of Europe or China, the latter would appear the more forward looking choice, especially considering China’ eager and encouraging attitude to engaging politically with African leaders. Often economic relations with Africa are depicted as a zero sum game for Europe and America. In the media especially, Africa’s political and economic relationships are understood as a competition between China and the West. The reality is quite the opposite.

It is in fact China’s role in catalysing Africa’s growth which has caused Europe and America to reconsider their preconceptions about Africa. At the moment the developed world is struggling to shift its perspective and lazily reverts to Cold War conceptions of spheres of influence. In the past it mattered that big resource suppliers were in a Western sphere, because of the economic apartheid imposed by the Cold War. Today, much of the copper and oil that China ‘grabs’ will end up in Apple’s iPads, or will power their manufacture. Global supply chains and markets are so intertwined that the issue of strategic resources should not carry the same weight it once did.

While Chinese and Western firms occasionally compete for African resource contracts, the big deals still tend to be won by industry leading Western firms. Where China is ahead is in the sheer scale of trade, investment and economic integration it is realising with Africa. Chinese firms are only gradually building the skills needed to run large scale resource projects in foreign countries, as Reuters backhandedly report this week. Until they do Western firms are still likely to snap up the most attractive new concessions.

The reason for Europe’s failure to take advantage of Africa’s opportunities is down to two factors. Firstly it lacks the economy to engage with Africa in the way that China has. Europe lacks the small scale manufacturing and cheap infrastructure industries which Africa’s economy requires. Secondly Europe lacks the appetite for African engagement. Politically Europe does not give place the same importance on its relations with Africa. As individual states and as a union Europe fails to engage with African politicians and businesses to anywhere near the same degree as its Chinese counterparts. This is in part a flaw in Europe’s perception of the continent in obsessing about an aid based relationship, and a paternal responsibility to save Africa. It is growth in the developing world - both as a market and a source of innovation- which will eventually allow the European and the US economies to recover. Both should focus on how their economies can service a changing world market rather than attempting to hold back China’s growing relationship with Africa.

But it is also due to the fact that Africa’s success over the past decade is fundamentally aligned with China’s rise, and that as the last great developing market and holder of huge swathes of the world’s remaining untapped resources, Africa is a natural partner for China. Had Europe and America decided in 1999 to pursue a policy of engagement and investment in Africa similar to China's, they would have found it impossible to achieve the same results. Europe and the US’s recent realisation of African potential is completely predicated on the positive impacts of high resource prices and improved infrastructure driven by China’s engagement.

In the mid-1990s President Clinton was sending Robert Kaplan’s apocalyptic note on Africa (The Coming Anarchy) to all of his African embassy staff. Business leaders were unlikely to consider an office anywhere but perhaps South Africa. Asia was in vogue while Africa had been forgotten with the end of the Cold War. But now, after a decade of impressive growth Western institutions like McKinsey and PWC predict Africa’s take-off, and funds increasingly search for ways in to Africa. Nevertheless engagement is tentative, reactive, and politically naive.

There is an oft quoted principle that the Chinese economy must grow at 8 per cent per year in order for the country to avoid serious civil revolt. Therefore the continuing fragility of the in the Western world is likely to be of concern to China. In order to offset the risk of US and European markets ceasing their seemingly inexorable increases in imports from China, Beijing needs to find new markets to buy their goods. China knows better than most that a large population is a powerful tool. Therefore as well as providing resources to China’s industries, Africa holds special potential for Beijing. There should be more consideration of this long term potential as a market in Europe as well.

This represents a significant change in the geopolitical importance of Africa. While Asian markets remained undeveloped they were a less risky place than Africa for the developed world to invest. Western firms have sought to build their brands in Africa over the past few decades, but generally other regions have been the real prize. While seeding the Coca-Cola brand in Africa was seen as an important part of the long term strategy, it was not a significant investment, as the big profit was to be made elsewhere. However in the emerging world economy growing powers such as Brazil, China and India will need to find new markets for their exports if they are to grow. In Africa this means stimulating demand as well as meeting it. The African consumer class is growing, but urbanisation and more widespread wage labour will be necessary in order for African consumers to make an impact on the world market. China, Brazil and India therefore have a vested interest in Africa’s development, as they may be dependent on Africa’s one billion population for their future success.

Europe and China have fundamentally different interests in Africa, but both should benefit from its rise. Europe and the US need to free themselves from the misconception that they are in competition with China in Africa, and find their own ways to innovate and help. This must focus on the private sector rather than charity, and leverage what the developed world is best at. Europe must cease in their attempts to compete with China at what they do best, and should focus on their own strengths. Europe and Africa share a long and often successful relationship and despite sensitivities around colonialism, attitudes towards Europe are often very positive. Europe should concentrate on building constructive relationships with regional and national bodies, and lead trade trips for European business, and entrepreneurs to Africa’s key markets. Diasporas are also potentially powerful tools, but the key change should be to engage Africa in a business friendly and positive manner. European leaders grant much lip service to private sector engagement, but little is actually done. In whatever state Europe eventually emerges from its credit crisis, its constituents will need to reengage with the parts of the world that are growing. Increasingly, that’s Africa.

Cover Story: Iryn Namubiru PAM Awards Artiste of the Year 2011

2011-12-13T21:45:00.000-08:00

What are the factors that have led to your success?
I think it’s hard work and perseverance, and being surrounded by positive people.
Are there any people who have contributed to your success and if so, who are they and in what ways have they helped you?
It is mainly my mother, my manager Thadeus Mubiru, some few close friends and my family by always being there for me, listening to me, giving me moral support and advice without necessarily judging my actions.

You are a wife, mother and successful musician. How are you able to balance the three roles?
I have answered that a million timeS, it all comes down to organization. At the end of the day, I work like any other working woman in Uganda but there is always time for everything. At time we have to sacrifice though.

What have been the main highlights of your career?
When I first recorded with a record label and working with some renown international stars.

What challenges have you faced on your road to success and how did you overcome them?
There are so many, but right now, it is mainly the fact that whatever I say in written interviews can be modified. At times, we tend to look or sound stupid and most of the time, the impression that is given of us is not at all representative of who we are.

Have you experienced any low points in your career, and if so what were they?
Yes, I have, when stories are fabricated and I do not have the means or the courage to defend myself, yet many people take them to be true.

Many people believe that when a woman becomes successful, she ceases to respect her husband. What are your thoughts on this belief?
I do not believe this, but I think men are just insecure with independent or learned women. Gone are the days when women just sat at home and waited for men to bring bread home. I would respect my man as much as he respects me. I am not a star at home but there is a limit between being respectful and stupidly submissive.

In your opinion, why are there so few women at the top of their respective careers?
I think it is because we are still considered the weaker gender, yet many times, women are far better than men in many different areas.

You have demonstrated that it is possible to have both a successful career and marriage. How have you succeeded in doing this?
My advice to other women, who believe you can have one or the other but not both is: it is not always a bed of roses, you cannot be blinded by success, and first priority has to be your marriage. While you might lose your career, you may not be able to live without your family. I think it’s the main pillar of everything; its failure might affect your career too.

An exclusive interview with Julius Mucunguzi A young Ugandan journalist making headway at the international scene of journalist

2011-12-12T02:00:00.000-08:00

Julius Mucunguzi,36, is a Spokesperson for Africa at the Commonwealth Secretariat, an international intergovernmental body of 54 countries based in London. He is also responsible for managing communications and public affairs of the organization on economic, trade, investment, climate change and export promotion. Before joining the Commonwealth in 2006, Julius managed Communications for World Vision International in Uganda, taught journalism at the Department of Mass Communications and Makerere University, and before that, reported for The Monitor and New Vision newspapers in Uganda.

Why did you decide to study journalism?
While growing up, my ambition was to become a Primary school teacher of Social Studies and Geography. That was because we used to get “Student Teachers” from Teacher Training Colleges who would come to our school occasionally to do “Teaching Practice.” They were good, and I liked the “Title Student Teacher”. It sounded very exotic. But then my focus changed while in A Levels at Kigezi High School where I met Dr Shaka Ssali of Voice of America and Andrew Mwenda of Independent. At Monitor, two journalists who used to expose ills in society, standing for truth, providing a voice to the marginalized and vioiceless, and the opportunity to enter the corridors of power and ask tough questions to those wielding power—I changed my mind and worked towards joining journalism school.

What is that one exciting story you ever worked on and why?
Most exciting story? Well, let me see. I have written many interesting stories, but perhaps a piece I wrote around 1999 about a survey that was carried out by the Consumer Protection Association of Uganda about the quality of bread that was being sold in markets and streets in Kampala.

The survey looked at several benchmarks, including whether or not the packaging had expiry dates on them. But perhaps what struck me most was the fact that over 85 percent of the bread that was on the market was underweight. That is,a loaf of bread supposed to weigh one kilogram (1000 grams) would often be less in weight by up to 200grams! So, I wrote the news story with the headline ‘85 percent of bread on the market underweight’, survey reveals. A day later, on further reflection, I realized there was a bigger story. I asked myself what the cost of this shortfall to a family that buys a 1kg loaf of bread a day would be in a month and in a year. At the time, a 1kg loaf of bread cost Ush1000. So it meant generally, if this family was buying a loaf that was 200grammes less a day—the loss would be Shs 200 per day. In 30 days, it would amount to Shs 6000, and in a year, this would come to Shs 144,000! This was a huge amount then, equivalent to two terms school, fees for a secondary school student in a day school! I sat down and wrote that commentary and had it published in The Monitor under the headline: “You lose Shs 144,000 a year by buying underweight on the market! A story that I thought was juts simple, became a subject of discussion on radio, television and drew many letters from angry consumers calling on the government to protect them from unscrupulous bread makers.
The Uganda Consumer Protection Association (UCPA) taunted my article as an example of good and empowering journalism. Culprit bread makers were named and shamed, and another survey carried out a few months later found that the percentage had fallen to 40 percent. I felt a sense of satisfaction that I had in humble way made a contribution to community enlightenment. The former director of UCPA Henry Kimera was to tell me as recently as two years ago, that he considered my piece as one of the best in advocacy journalism.

Do you think journalists’ work can change the world?
I believe good journalism can act as a fulcrum to oil the process of positive change in the world. Journalism alone can’t. It needs a host of other actors—civil society, law enforcement, a good education, etc. But definitely, good journalistic work can help make changes in the world.

What is your opinion on journalists who want money to write or cover a story. This seems to be the trend in Uganda?
It is wrong for journalists to demand money from sources to write a story about them. This compromises their credibility, both from the person they are seeking cash from, and to their inner souls. When a journalist demands money in order to write or influence the manner in which he writes the story, the source will just look and weigh you on the basis of the money he/she gave you.
You would never be taken serious. I know the pay for journalists in Uganda and a number of other developing countries is poor, but the solution is not for individual journalists to extract payments from sources. It requires greater injection of cash in media houses and properly running them as profitable business—and then paying well, “the cows that lay the golden eggs”—the journalists. Good, independent and credible journalistic work is profitable—both to the media house and to the individual journalist.

My advice to a journalist that currently feels that he/she is being paid peanut is: Keep doing and writing good stories. Don’t compromise the quality of your work, because you are paid less—because the reader does not know, or even care about how much you are paid. You are judged by the quality of the content carried by your byline—so, keep it credible. It will pay dividends, sooner, rather than later.

Again, I would like to know your thoughts on journalists who blackmail people with stories,. Is it ethical?
That is unethical and a total abuse of the special role and place of journalism in society. It is betrayal of the trust society bestows on journalism. It is abuse of the ‘power of journalism.’ It is not different from the vices of corruption and abuse of office that form the fodder of most journalistic work. It is wrong and criminal.

How did you come to work at the Commonwealth?
I applied for the job I am doing after reading an advert in The Economist while in Uganda. I remember the date. It was 6th February 2006. I was in office reading the magazine, and saw this job. I read the advert three times, and told myself this: ‘Julius,this is your job. It fits you, and you fit it’. Immediately, I typed out a cover letter, explaining why I believed I was the best placed person to be considered. I polished and updated my CV, included samples of some of the best pieces of my work—newspaper articles, reports I had produced, video documentaries I had directed, and chapters of books I had published. I put all these in an envelope and headed straight down to General Post Office on Kampala Road, and off—I sent them off to Human Resources Section at Pall Mall, London. About two months later on 3rd April 2006, I received a call from a lady in London asking if she was speaking to Julius Mucunguzi. I replied in the affirmative. She told me I had been shortlisted for an interview for the Communication Officer position and that I was required to travel to London for interviews. The Commonwealth arranged all the logistics—visa, air ticket and accommodation. On arriving in London, I found that I was competing for this job with a Briton, a Jamaican and a Trinidad and Tobagan.
We did the interviews over three days—including a written assignment, a group work and facing the panel—and at the end of the process—on the third day, I was called and informed that I was the successful candidate. That was it.

What would you advise Diasporans or Ugandans who would want to reach a position like yours, working at institutions like the Commonwealth Secretariat?
I am still on a journey. I am not there yet—but I can share a few tips which have worked for me. One: you have to believe in yourself and refuse to have the type of thinking that some jobs are meant for others, not you. Two: it matters where you get your information from.
In other words, it matters what you read. If you read local newspapers, you will find local opportunities advertised there, if you read national publications, there will be national offers, if you read regional publications—it will be regional offers, and if you read international publications like The Economist, you are likely to find international opportunities.

Three, this idea that you must have a ‘godfather’ in an organization before you can apply or to be able to get a job is a ‘cancer’ that we must fight. It kills morale and destroys self confidence. Four, we must always strive to improve our skills and competencies—meaning, we have to hit and read those books. Five, when you get on a shortlist, give the interview your best. Do not leave anything to chance. Plan, prepare, rehearse—so that there is no room to say afterwards, that I wish I had done this or that.

What do you think about press freedom in Uganda?
I think Uganda has some of the most vibrant press, not only in Africa, but the world. The scope of freedom of the press in Uganda has been expanding over the years. But of course with freedom, comes responsibilities. Freedom without responsibility leads to anarchy—and no one wants anarchy. The fact that a number of laws on our statute books have been successfully challenged in the courts is a sign of good progress.

If you were the Minister of information in Uganda, what are the two things you would transform?
Tall order, but I think I would work to improve the coordination of information and messages from different government agencies to make them more coherent, and two, I would ensure that the public and media is better informed of both the successes and challenges of government in dealing issues at hand in a transparent and respectful manner.

This would be aimed at ensuring that there is greater awareness, appreciation and support of government programmes. There is a lot of the untold potential of Uganda as an investment and tourism destination—for both Ugandans and foreigners.

Who inspires you?
I am inspired by hard working people who have made it through honest means. Dr Shaka Ssali and Dr Ruhakana Rugunda, the current minister of ICT in Uganda are some of them.

2012 most important career planning tips

2011-12-12T01:57:00.000-08:00

1. Never Stop Learning
Life-long learning is your keyword.

The world is constantly changing, and everybody is looking for new ways of doing business.

If you have decided that your current skills are good enough, you have also decided that your current job is good enough. But if you want a career in the future, you should add regular updates to your skills and knowledge.

2. Ask, Listen And Learn
A good listener can learn a lot.

Listen to your co-workers, your boss, and your superiors. You can learn a lot from their experience.

Ask about issues that interest you, and listen to what they say. Let them tell you about how things work, and what you could have done better.

Most people will love to be your free tutor.

3. Fulfill Your Current Job
Your current job might be the best place to start your career.

It is often very little that separates successful people from the average. But nothing comes free.

If you do your job well and fulfill your responsibilities, this is often the best way to start a new career.

Talk to your supervisor about things you can do. Suggest improvements. Offer your help when help is needed. In return ask for help to build a better career. It is often possible - right inside your own organization - especially if you have proved to be a valued employee.

4. Build Your Network
Your next career step might arise from your contact network.

Did you know that more than 50% of all jobs are obtained from contact networks?
If you have a good contact network, it is also a good place to discover future careers, to explore new trends, and to learn about new opportunities.

Spend some time building new contacts, and don’t forget to maintain the ones you already have.

One of the best ways to get serious information from your network is to regularly ask your contacts how they are, what they do, and what is new about their careers.

5. Identify Your Current Job
Your current job should be identified, not assumed.

Make sure you don’t work with tasks you assume are important. This is waste of time and talent.

When you start in a new job, talk to your superior about your priorities. If you’re not sure about what is most important, then ask him. And ask him again. Often you will be surprised about the differences between what you assume, and what is really important.

6. Identify Your Next Job
Your dream job must be identified.

Before you start planning your future career, be sure you have identified your dream job.

In your dream job, you will be doing all the things you enjoy, and none of the things you don’t enjoy. What kind of job would that be?

Do you like or dislike having responsibility for other employees. Do you like to work with technology or with people? Do you want to run your own business? Do you want to be an artist, a designer or a skilled engineer? A manager?

Before building your future career your goal must be identified.

7. Prepare Yourself
Your dream might show up tomorrow. Be prepared.

Don’t wait a second. Update your CV now, and continue to update it regularly.

Tomorrow your dream job may show up right before your nose. Prepare for it with a professional CV and be ready to describe yourself as a valuable object to anyone that will try to recruit you.

If you don’t know how to write a CV, or how to describe yourself, start learning it now.

8. Pick The Right Tools
Pick the tools you can handle.

You can build your future career using a lot of different tools. Studying at W3Schools is easy. Taking a full master degree is more complicated.

You can add a lot to your career by studying books and tutorials (like the one you find at W3Schools). Doing short time courses with certification tests might add valuable weight to your CV. And don’t forget: Your current job is often the most valuable source of building new skills.

Don’t pick a tool that is too heavy for you to handle!

9. Realize Your Dreams
Put your dreams into action.

Don’t let a busy job kill your dreams. If you have higher goals, put them into action now.

If you have plans about taking more education, getting a better job, starting your own company or something else, you should not use your daily job as a „waiting station”. Your daily job will get more and more busy, you will be caught up in the rat race, and you will burn up your energy.

If you have this energy, you should use it now, to realize your dreams.

Karamojong folk: give them a chance

2011-12-12T01:55:00.000-08:00

For the last 3 years, I have spent Christmas day in Kisenyi, a slum in Kampala, hosting a party for over 700 children. These children originate from Karamoja and spend part of their days begging in the hot scorching sun on the streets of Kampala.

So offering these less privileged children a decent meal and a piece of clothing plus a pair of shoes/sandals once a year is not asking for much, is it?

It all began 4 years ago when I read an article in the Monitor written by my niece Lulu Jemimah on the plight of the Karamojong babies begging on the streets of Kampala.

I was born in Uganda but had never heard or seen babies as young as 12 months begging on the streets.

That December 2008, I hosted the first Christmas party attended by over 700 children. Having collected a tonne of clothes and shoes donated by my church and work colleagues, they all got something.
Last year 2010, I collected lots more children’s clothes than the previous year, enough to go round in Kisenyi and managed to take some to Karamoja celebrating new year with the Karamojong. The children in the village were excited as some of them had never seen a cuddly toy in their lives.

It’s not every day that one holds a party and gets 700 guests. It gives me such pleasure to be giving back to my country and making a difference. One would ask what I give to the UK; I pay my taxes!!!!

The Karamojong are a minority in Uganda and therefore they are looked down upon and discriminated against. Having lived away from my birthplace, (Uganda), and travelled to different parts of the world, I know exactly how being a minority feels. I relate with them.

I decided to take on the task of making a difference to Karamojong Street children and their families. We have embarked on training the Karamojong women in candle and bead making, setting up small businesses selling beans/maize, and most recently working with the whole community in the Napak district (Karamoja) by assisting with the planting of acres of cassava. I have also encouraged the women to plant trees. This we have done both in Kampala (Mulago roundabout to Bwaise roundabout), by Kololo airstrip and in Karamoja. This is their way of giving back to the community.

I count my blessings as God has given me the opportunity to make a difference. I wouldn’t say that Iam an ambitious person, but I think I was in the right place at the right time to be able to do what I am doing for the Karamojong folk.
One of the best pieces of advice that I got years ago was, ‘Surround yourself with people who are better than yourself’. I have a fantastic group of Trustees who have helped me achieve the charity’s objectives so far.

My personality and my skills and traits are probably the complete opposite of what you’d expect a leader to be. I don’t have degrees in international work and am not as ‘hard as nails’. My 9-5 job is as an Administrator with the UK Civil Aviation Authority. I am extremely emotional and will easily burst into tears. But somehow or other, God has just used my real personality. Becoming a director of a charity wasn’t through my ambition, but for some reason, God seems to want me here.

I fundraise for my charity here in the UK by organising African dinners, cake sales, 10 K runs and watch out for the very first International Christmas Carols bonanza on the 10th December 2012.

There is nothing that you can’t do if you really want it badly enough. If you really are interested in something and you want to do it, then just go for it!!! There are always challenges but you’ve just got to keep trying the doors.

One might wonder why I do this. Some of my friends have even asked me why the Karamojong and not the other tribes. My answer to them is: “WHY NOT” or even “BECAUSE I CAN”!!!!!.

Surveys have been done saying that people who volunteer for selfless acts are often looked upon with suspicion, even disliked for ‘raising the bar’ for others.

I would like to share with you John Wesley’s view on good works:

Do all the good you can,

By all the means you can,

In all the ways you can,

In all the places you can,

At all the times you can,

To all the people you can,

As long as ever you can.

I hope you can join me and my Karamojong brothers and sisters to celebrate Christmas this year.

Maureen Mwagale
help the children by helping the families and the community www.kaana.org.uk

Ugandan Asian Re-Union Ball 2011

2011-12-12T01:54:00.000-08:00

Ugandan Asians who left East Africa in 1972 for Europe, held a re-union ball at at The Thistle Heathrow Hotel on 26 November. The idea was to bring together families who left Uganda for a nostalgic evening which involved entertainment by the ACDArts, a Ugandan troupe in the UK. Guests were hosted to a 3 Course Sit-Down Dinner including popular dishes like Pilli Pilli Muogo, Lake Victoria Tilapia, Machuzi Kuku, Boga , all prepared by the famous Madhu’s Caterers. The Chairman said that most of us still have so many wonderful memories of such a beautiful country.

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INTERVIEW WITH SPORTS’ AGENT: GAVIN MKANDLA

2011-12-12T01:53:00.000-08:00

Gavin Mkandla is a new entrant into the sports agent profession, and he plans to make quite a splash with the representation of his players.

PROMOTA: What made you get into the profession as oppose to other avenues such as coaching or media work?

GAVIN: I first got into agency work because when I came out of football through injury at 17, I didn’t feel that people would particularly take me seriously as a coach nor did I have the profile at the time to go into media.I also was not good enough to make it as a pro footballer in Europe.

PROMOTA: You came into the industry as an ex-player. Do you think that gives you a unique advantage when speaking on behalf of a potential client?

GAVIN: I do genuinely feel that being an ex- player gives me an advantage over agents who haven’t played the game. In addition to my love and passion for the game of football, sports psychology, I also have an entrepreneurial spirit, and experience selling to and managing relationships with senior executives at Futse 100 companies provide all of the skills needed to successfully advise professional athletes.

PROMOTA: The transfer window hadn’t even opened and already some deals were supposedly near completion. Is it normal for transfers to be organized prior to the window opening, despite not being publicized?

GAVIN: It’s always difficult trying to forecast what will happen on the transfer window. We all know how each window seems to bring surprises in the way of trades or particular players rising or falling from their projected spots.Negotiations often begin outside of transfer windows as clubs can actually sign players outside of transfer windows too but they can’t be registered. This just means they aren’t eligible to play until they have been registered.

PROMOTA: Are you recruiting other potential clients now that you have your first big client under contract? If so, what is your recruitment strategy and what tactics have you employed?
GAVIN: Right now the main focus of Ethicalsports Sports Management is preparing players for the upcoming transfer window and supporting their transition to life as a professional athlete.
It is truly a blessing to have these players as clients and we will actively recruit other potential clients. Our strategy is to pursue individuals who are high caliber athletes and outstanding individuals. We are implementing an agency model that will engage clients in business, personal and professional development opportunities that are unique and different to the traditional sports agency model, and have the potential to extend beyond their sports careers. So with that, there must be the right fit for both the athlete and Ethical Sports Management.

PROMOTA: The whole industry of sports management seems almost flooded with agents. Does that make your job more difficult?

GAVIN: There are over 450 licensed agents in England now but there are only a handful of credible ones. It doesn’t make any difference with our dealings with clubs as we are very well respected. If anything, it has more of an effect on young players and their families as they have so many agents to chose from.

PROMOTA: What’s the most frustrating thing when a player is moving clubs?

GAVIN: As long as the player is happy once he has moved, I don’t really find anything frustrating about the process.I have been on 4 continents in 8 months just this year alone. Players are prepared to move if the deal is right.

PROMOTA: To be a licensed football agent you need to pass a law-based exam. Is there anyway you’d reform the process?

GAVIN: I have a Law degree myself, the exam itself has a 10% pass rate as most people find id difficult.There are many ways in which the current licensing process could be reformed, but generally it has more to do with who is allowed to take the exam in my opinion. FIFA have now decided to deregulate agents as of November 2011 so the next ten months should be quite interesting.

PROMOTA: Give a piece of advice to our readers who hope to one day break into the business of representing athletes.

GAVIN: My career advice is always to follow your passion. After doing many things, I have been blessed to have the opportunity to do just that and meet great sports people. But assuming that’s why your readers subscribe to Promota and visit your site, I know it’s an old cliché, but this is a business. It’s a multi-billion dollar industry and your career comes with lots of personal and professional responsibilities that are 24/7. I believe success in business comes from finding a niche, be it by sport, geography, type of athlete/personality you want to work with, or service you want to provide. Then prepare, deliver what you say you will, and work hard.

The Agha Khan Economic Planning Board Opportunity Africa

2011-12-12T01:45:00.000-08:00

The Agha Khan Economic Planning Board hosted an international conference entitled “Opportunity Africa” at the Ismaili Centre in London over the weekend of 12th -13th November 2011.

The aim of the conference was to highlight opportunities in Eastern Africa with a key focus on a handful of countries including Uganda. The conference focused on business, investment and employment opportunities in the sectors of hospitality/leisure, agriculture, real estate and manufacturing industries.

Mr Kalonzo Musyoka, Kenya Vice President, invited investors to take advantage of the vast opportunities that emerged from the amalgamation of East Africa.

The Uganda High Commission in India, H.E Nimisha Madhvani cautiously advised investors to practice the 3 Ps; Patience, Preserves and Perseverance. She said that the “World Bank is still lacking confidence in East Africa but between ourselves, we can give confidence to the World Bank to lend money for infrastructure projects”.

H.E Joan Rwabyomere, High Commissioner of Uganda to the UK said that Uganda has opportunities in coffee, seed and cotton. A modernising drive, investment in agricultural storage and irrigation to minimise post-harvest losses and reliance on rain was urgently needed. Other sectors she mentioned were banking and financial industry; oil and gas and new and renewable energy sources; health and education and infrastructure.

Uganda’s housing sector presents a lucrative business and investment niche as well as the commercial and residential construction market. Other sectors to consider are telecommunication, tourism, fish farming and processing, chemicals used for value addition in the fishing sector ect.

The bureaucracy and cost of establishing a business in Uganda has been minimised and a One-Stop shop is in place where prospective investors can register a business within 3 days with no bottlenecks.
H.E Joan Rwabyomere ensured investors that Uganda is stable with a liberalised economy and a government committed to the private sector as a potential for growth. Uganda allows total repatriation of funds as one of the incentives given to investors and has a scheme to lease land for interested parties.

The Rwandan High Commissioner to the UK H.E. Ernest Rwamucyo reiterated that Rwanda has a 0% tolerance on corruption. It has also abolished the need of work permits for East Africa nationals moving to work in Rwanda and this presents a good opportunity for skilled labour force. The High Commissioner also spoke of the Rwandan Embassy One-Stop shop which hosts an online business registration, and assured that the Embassy can allocate someone to accompany an investor to Rwanda as he begins his business journey. “Multiple-citizenship is in place and this is easily accessible” H.E Rwamucyo stressed.

Are you using a regulated immigration adviser?

2011-12-12T01:43:00.000-08:00

In the UK it is illegal for anyone to give immigration advice or services without being regulated.

Suzanne McCarthy, the Immigration Services Commissioner, warns, “For your own protection, make sure your adviser is regulated by the Office of the Immigration Services Commissioner (OISC) or in England and Wales by the Solicitors Regulation Authority, the Bar Council or the Institute of Legal Executives. As the Immigration Services Commissioner I ensure that only fit and competent people are allowed to work as OISC regulated immigration advisers. There are just under 2,000 OISC regulated organisations currently operating in the UK.”

Mrs McCarthy also advises that, “All OISC advisers must keep up to date with relevant law and the immigration rules, abide by the Commissioner’s Code of Standards and Rules and maintain proper records”.

If you are considering using someone to give you immigration advice:
Check that the person is regulated. You can do this by going to the OISC’s website www.oisc.gov.uk and clicking on „Find an adviser’
Look for the OISC certificate and OISC global tick logo – these are only issued to OISC approved advisers, and both should be on prominent display at the adviser’s premises.
Remember that no one can guarantee that your application will be approved – even if you use a regulated immigration adviser.

The OISC as a regulator does not itself give immigration advice.
The OISC also handles complaints about immigration advisers. All complaints received are treated as confidential. Mrs McCarthy suggests that, “If you are unhappy with the services of your immigration adviser, you can complain to the OISC. Making a complaint will not affect any application you have made or intend to make to the United Kingdom Border Agency (UKBA)”.

For Information visit www.oisc.gov.uk or call 020 7211 1500 or 0845 000 0046.

Interview with Clyde James Head of Policy, Publications & Stakeholders, Office of the Immigration Services Commissioner (OISC)

2011-12-12T01:41:00.000-08:00

Could you give us a brief overview of OISC?
We are responsible for the following:
Strategic policy –our code of standards, rules and other regulatory documents, plus guidance
Publications – as far as possible we ensure that our publications are up-to-date and relevant. This includes our website
Stakeholders –we are responsible for engaging with stakeholders, internal customers, regulated advisers, the wider immigration and legal advice community, Government and the general population

How do you identify a certified immigration advisor?
A regulated adviser appears on our website under the Find an Adviser section, further, all regulated advisers must display their certificate of regulation, signed by the Commissioner and our “global tick” logo should also displayed, usually as a window sticker.

Can you register to become an advisor if you are qualified?
You can apply to be regulated. There are no specific qualifications, similarly there is no guarantee that an application to become regulated will be successful. The OISC will look at the application, the adviser’s personal history (including a CRB check) and their competence will be tested . We wish to ensure that the adviser is “fit and competent” to provide immigration advice and services.

Are advisors required to have a Professional Indemnity Insurance?
All advisers are required to have Professional Indemnity Insurance. Failure to have PII would automatically lead to the refusal of an application or the Commissioners seeking to withdraw regulation from those already in the scheme.

How do someone become an immigration adviser if wishes to?
An application is made using the documents on our website. We look at personal history, competence, the organization structure that the adviser is wishing to become part of, the financial status/ business plan for the business, plus many other factors when deciding to award a certificate of regulation.
We also look at the type of advice that the adviser wishes to give we regulate at 3 levels, put simply, Level 1 is for basic advice, Level 2 more complicated advice, Level 3 advocacy and representation before the immigration courts

What makes an advisor to be disqualified?
If an adviser is found to be operating illegally or in gross breach of the Code of Standards or the Commissioner’s Rules then the Commissioner can lay a charge against them before the immigration services tribunal. The Commissioner can ask for a wide variety of sanctions, including an indefinite ban. This ban action has resulted to the advisors below. We are under a duty to publish those banned.

African Legal Advisory Services: Indefinitely prohibited

Samba Mwani-Gambamba: Indefinitely prohibited

Jacob Moyo: Indefinitely prohibited

Rizwana Javed: Indefinitely prohibited

What Immigration advisers provide advice and services on?
Under the Immigration and Asylum Act 1999 immigration advice and immigration services must relate to a “relevant matter”. As defined within the Act, ‘relevant matters’ means any of the following:

a claim for asylum;

an application for, or for the variation of, entry clearance or leave to enter or remain in the United Kingdom;

an immigration employment document;

unlawful entry into the United Kingdom;

nationality and citizenship under the law of the United Kingdom;

citizenship of the European Union;

admission to Member States under Community law;

residence in a Member State in accordance with rights conferred by or under Community law;

removal or deportation from the United Kingdom;

an application for bail under the Immigration Acts or under the Special Immigration Appeals Commission Act 1997; or

an appeal against, or an application for judicial review in relation to, any decision taken in connection with a matter referred to in paragraphs (a) to (j).

If a person gets wrong advice from an adviser and fail their asylum application, can they sue them?
Yes the can
We have a lot of people claiming to be advisers, is it wrong and how do we safeguard the community from unregulated advisers?
It is illegal to claim to be an immigration adviser (offer advice), while not being properly qualified i.e. regulated. Further, it is illegal to give immigration advice or services while not properly regulated.

Any advice for those seeking advice and how best to find it?
Look for a regulated immigration adviser on the OISC website www.oisc.homeoffice.gov.uk they will have the OISC global tick logo, as attached. There will be an OISC regulation number, those that operate “for profit” have a number that starts with an F followed by 2 and 7 digits, this shows the year that the organization was first regulated e.g. F20101234, those that operate on a “not for profit” basis have a regulation number that begins with an N e.g. N20063456.

Border screening results in ten thousand arrests

2011-12-12T01:38:00.000-08:00

Ten thousand wanted criminals have been arrested at the border as a result of e-Borders, an advance passenger screening programme.

e-Borders is a system by which air carriers and operators of vessels submit passenger and crew details electronically prior to travel from and to the UK. There are now an average of 52 arrests per week at ports and airports across the country for a range of crimes, immigration and customs offences as a result of the screening system which was introduced in 2005.

381 million passengers have been processed through the system since 2005, which has resulted in over 10,000 arrests for murder and rape, seizures of Class A drugs, and the refusal of entry to the UK for immigration offenders and overstayers.

Immigration Minister Damian Green said: ‘The government is doing more than ever before to protect the UK’s border. By checking passenger and crew information before, travel law enforcement agencies can apprehend those trying to evade justice. ‘From 2013 the new dedicated Border Policing Command, part of the National Crime Agency, will further strengthen security at the border, providing leadership and coordination based on a single national threat assessment and strategy.’

How it works:
122 carriers on over 3,000 routes provide passenger data to e-Borders. The UK’s National Border Targeting Centre screens the passenger and crew data and generates alerts as a result of intelligence and targeting.

The suspects wanted by the UK Border Agency, police, the Serious Organised Crime Agency (SOCA) and HM Revenue & Customs can then be apprehended before entering or departing the country.

Student visa clampdown

2011-12-12T01:34:00.000-08:00

New rules and a clampdown on abuse of the student visa system mean nearly 500 colleges will no longer be able to bring new international students to the UK to study.

The colleges – a number of which were bogus and did not offer genuine courses - could have brought more than 11,000 students into the UK to study each year.

New UK Border Agency have raised the standards education providers must meet to sponsor international students. So far, 474 colleges have lost their right to recruit international students after they failed to sign up for the new inspection system. The new standards will help ensure genuine international students get a good quality education in the UK.

A related UK Border Agency investigation into more than 100 colleges has led to 51 having their licences revoked. The investigation followed a surge in applications from South Asia just before the English language requirement rules were tightened earlier this year. More than 4,500 of these applications to study have been refused or withdrawn as a result.

Officials encountered evidence of clear abuse. One student interviewed to test his English skills answered almost every question with the word ‘hello’. At another college, staff turned off the lights and hid when inspectors called, and one college was unable to provide any timetables of classes or registers of students enrolled. A Norfolk-based college had students whose home address was recorded as Glasgow.

Immigration Minister Damian Green said: ‘Widespread abuse of the student visa system has gone on for too long and the changes we have made are beginning to bite.

‘Too many institutions were offering international students an immigration service rather than an education. Only first-class education providers should be given licences to sponsor international students.’

Further measures to tighten student visa rules are due in April 2012. The post study work route, which allowed overseas students to work after graduation will be closed and students wishing to work will need to apply for a work visa. There will also be new time limits on student visas and tougher rules on work placements.

The UK Border Agency will monitor the behaviour of all sponsors and take action against any that are not complying with standards of education provision or immigration control.

A limit on non-EU workers coming to the UK has already been introduced. Restrictions on the right to settle here will be outlined shortly alongside reforms to the family migration route which will promote integration and reduce burdens on the taxpayer.

Don’t be fooled by unofficial websites

People ordering birth, death and marriage certificates were warned by the Registrar General today not to be fooled into paying more through unofficial websites.

The Advertising Standards Authority has upheld a complaint from the Registrar General about third party websites misleading customers into believing that they were ordering from the government’s own website.

Three times more expensive on unofficial sites

Customers applying for replacement birth certificates can be charged up to £74.99 for an unofficial ‚express’ online service.

The same express service is £23.40 via the Identity & Passport Service official website.

The standard certificate service is available for even less - £9.25.

There is just one official online certificate ordering service for England and Wales.

‘It is always quicker, cheaper and safer to deal directly with the General Register Office for certificate orders.

‘While other outlets can be found online, there is no reason to pay over the odds and I would urge customers to look at the official site first before ordering anywhere else.’

Interview with Dr. Emmy Wasirwa Chairman of Uganda liquefied petroleum Gas Association

2011-12-12T01:33:00.000-08:00

Could you give us an overview of your background and responsibility at ULPGAS?
I am the Chairman and founder of Uganda liquefied petroleum Gas Association (ULPGAS) and the founder and Chief Executive Officer of Wana Solutions (U) Ltd. The company markets and distributes LPG in Uganda. Prior to my current undertakings, I obtained a medical degree from Makerere University Kampala and I was a Nuffic fellow at Royal Tropical Institute in Amsterdam, The Netherlands. There, after I obtained Master’s degree in Public Health from University of London, UK.

ULPGAS has positioned itself to lobby and advocate for policies which promote the use of LPG as a clean energy in Uganda. As the founder and chairperson, my responsibilities include steering the association towards independence.
In a period of just six months, we were able to hold two very important events. The stakeholders workshop and the National Conference titled “LPG: Exceptional energy for Uganda”. This conference brought together international and national dignitaries and these included government ministries and Members of World LP Gas Association, and Total International, developmental organisations and LPG stakeholders in the country.

What does ULPGAS stand for?
ULPGAS is a National Association for LPG in Uganda. It is a voice of dealers, marketers, and distributors of Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG).
Our vision is to empower all stakeholders through information, education and networking.

You start1ed Wana Energy Solutions. What does it do?
I grew up with my parents in a rural Uganda on the slopes of Mount Elgon. My mother cooked food with crop residues and firewood for all types of foods. Since I was ten, my mother was in and out of hospital. Little did I know for years that she suffered from chronic bronchitis. She visited me in Kampala and cooked food on LPG. For the short period of time she spent with me in Kampala, I noticed some improvement. On returning to the village, she was admitted again for bronchitis related illness. Since she commenced using LPG she has at least been admitted to hospital for something different from bronchitis.

Wana is an indigenous company which was formed on the premise of combating the negative effects of traditional fuels used by my mother and many other women who strive every day preparing a meal in open kitchens. So Wana was commenced as a treatment precaution. We call ourselves as a social enterprise because we put the community ahead of profits.

The price of charcoal has skyrocketed to unaffordable price. Are your gas services affordable to the local people?
LPG in itself is an expensive energy in short term but quite cheap in long term. It is very expensive due to the startup costs. However in the long run, LPG is very cheap and safe as compared to fuelwood. For example, a 13kg of LPG can last a family of five people for about a month, unlike a 40kg bag of charcoal which costs the same price as LPG but can last the same family for less than two weeks.

How is the safety culture of LPG products?
Although we have not experienced a serious negative effect of LPG in Uganda, it can be dangerous due to unethical practices due to lack of safety standards. ULPGAS in collaboration with UNBS and MEMD are working on safety standards.

How do you distribute to customers?
Wana developed a unique approach. It is the first of its kind in the country. We distribute door to door complete packages which include stoves and accessories. We have commenced bulk distribution to Estates.

I understand you are planning to move back to run your business. Why now?
There are so many opportunities as indicated by Hon. Muloni during the just concluded Uganda Convention UK in London. Equally inside me, there are so many questions about what I tend to do for my country, rather than what the country should do for me. It is time for improvement in the association, from a personal growth to organisation transformation by developing the association as a strong institution which should stand the test of time.

Recently at the Convention, the Minister of Energy encouraged Diasporas to go back and invest in various segments in the oil sector. You are one of the Diaspora investors in this sector. Is there room for other Diaspora investors to venture into?
The oil and gas sector in Uganda is a virgin area. In the short term, we need to invest in storage facilities for LPG as we plan to heavily invest in distribution when the refinery commences in the next few years.

How do you advise the Diaspora who are struggling to access finance to start their business in Uganda?
Resolve and persistence. Foreign investors can offer modest cash for investment unlike local banks.
Invest your hard earned money, usually called “painful cash”. Establish a base and start looking for cash from foreign investors on the net.

The government has set up a Diaspora Directorate under the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and there is a Diaspora Desk in Uganda Investment Authority. What support have you ever received from the organisations?
I heard about it once through the yearly conferences. But I have not personally accessed that service.

Do you think the government should have a Fast Track Stop shop for Diaspora?
Of course, I think the Diaspora desk has not been marketed well to the Diaspora. Instead of having a diaspora desk in Uganda, probably it would be better if it was either at embassies or at influential Ugandans business base, such as The Promota because they know potential investors in the Diaspora.

What is your opinion on the new Dual Citizenship?
Look at it in this way. We were born from two parents. Should one choose the father or the mother? Both are parents and should be treated as such.

What are the benefits of LPG for environment?
There are so many advantages of LPG but most Ugandans have been hooked on a myth that LPG is “very dangerous”. LPG presents with less green house gasses hence less destructive effect on the environment, unlike firewood. According to NEMA (National Environmental Management Authority) if the current trend of using firewood is not checked in Uganda, by 2050, all the remaining forests will disappear and LPG provides a solution to this problem.

What is your opinion on the recent Uganda Convention in the UK and how can initiatives like this help investors like you?
This convention was well overdue. It was an eye opener for most Diasporas as well as dignitaries who were in attendance. The attendants were able to network and shared anecdotes with each other. I suppose they received first-hand information about the challenges Diasporas face while trying to set up business in Uganda, or exporting goods from here to Uganda and equally the existing opportunities in Uganda. Also, Hon. Ministers were able to realise the amount of expertise and experience which exist amongst the Diaspora.

What are the challenges faced in the LPG sector?
The LPG market is severely constrained because of a number of structural defects such as lack of a regulatory framework that encourages private and public investment in distribution assets, and high upfront costs of cylinders, accessories and appliances.

If you are appointed the Minister of Energy, what are the core systems that you would structure?
First and foremost I would consider a strong public private partnership as a single policy document because to the government, the task seems mountainous. Likewise the private sector alone cannot be able to sustain the investment on its own. I hate charities and it sounds like people in the diaspora are like charities to their own families. They need to be encouraged to invest that money into energy business by encouraging them through Diaspora desk in the Diaspora, not in Uganda. I would also encourage consumers and private companies in setting up pressure groups. Listening to stakeholders helps to develop a robust policy. Above all, living in the 21st century and still using fuelwood is not an option.

What is your 10 year plan?
Our strategic plan is to improve distribution channels of LPG in rural areas by developing distribution channels through employment. We hope to attain 20% of the population accessing LPG by the year 2020.

Any encouraging messages that you would like to share with fellow Diasporans?
As much as business is geared towards profits, social entrepreneurship should be a driving force for Diasporas. Start a social business with an intention of making profits. Prepare a bankable business plan and visit the website and search for the investors. Attend conventions such as the Uganda convention UK for networking, and above all you can only succeed if you are persistent and able to command unending resolve.

Forbes releases African rich list. Former Kenyan President Daniel Arap Moi a billionaire

2011-12-12T01:25:00.000-08:00

Forbes magazine has been hard at work with its calculators to reveal Africa’s 40 richest people – but the list has been scrubbed clean of any dictators.

Top of the pile is Nigerian Aliko Dangote, head of food and cement company Dangote Group, with a net worth of $10.1billion (£6.4billion).

Many of Africa’s former presidents such as Kenya’s former president Daniel Arap Moi and Equatorial Guinea’s President Teodorin Obiang are also billionaires, but Forbes discounts them as much of their wealth comes from being in a position of power.

Forbes describes the list as ‘a testament to the growing global importance of the continent’.

The combined wealth of the 40 richest people in Africa is $64.9billion (£41billion) - and 16 of them are billionaires in their own right.

There are no women on the list at all and the richest men are based in just six of Africa's 47 countries - Kenya, Zimbabwe, South Africa, Nigeria, Morocco and Egypt.

Dangote’s wealth has shot up by a staggering 557 per cent in the past year alone, according to Forbes.

His Lagos-based company is Africa’s biggest cement manufacturer –and it also makes enormously popular food products such as noodles, spaghetti and milk.

Like any self-respecting high roller, 54 year old Dangote likes to flash the cash. His 45th birthday present to himself, for instance, was a £28million bombardier aircraft, which he uses to pop over to London for meetings.

Number two on the list is 66-year-old South African Nicky Oppenheimer, who has amassed a $6.5billion (£4.1billion) fortune through the lucrative diamond trade.

He took the helm of world famous De Beers in 1998, but sold a 40 per cent stake in the company to Anglo American, which was founded by his grandfather, for $5.1billion.

You’ll find the third wealthiest African in Egypt.
Nassef Sawiris has a net worth of $4.75billion (£3billion) and runs the country’s most valuable publicly-traded company – Orascom Construction Industries.

Fifty-year-old Sawiris makes a bit of extra cash through stakes in cement firm Lafarge and Texas Industries.

Completing the top five are Johann Rupert, the 61-year-old South African worth $4.7billion (£2.9billion) who heads Richemont, an umbrella company for the likes of Dunhill and Montblanc, and 58-year-old oil tycoon Nigerian Mike Adenuga who’s worth $4.3billion (£2.7billion).

Forbes never includes rulers in its rich lists, explaining that it’s hard to distinguish between wealth derived from entrepreneurship and that gained from being in high office.

Were presidents to be included in Africa’s rich list, Daniel Arap Moi would undoubtedly be near the top. He ruled Kenya for 28 years and diverted a billion dollars from the government’s bank account to his own personal one, according to risk consultancy company Kroll Associates.

Meanwhile, Egypt’s former President Hosni Mubarak has a fortune that Forbes puts at being ‘in the region of nine to 10 figures’.

However, it’s almost impossible to calculate his precise worth.

The magazine said: ‘It is almost certain that Mubarak diverted an enormous amount of his country’s funds into his personal piggy bank.’

Equatorial Guinea’s President Teodorin Obiang has a $600million fortune, according to Forbes, but it is convinced that a lot of this has also been amassed by siphoning off state funds.

THE TOP 10 RICHEST AFRICANS

1 Aliko Dangote, Nigeria
Worth: $10.1billion
Age: 54
Business: Food and cement
2 Nicky Oppenheimer,
South Africa
Worth: $6.5billion
Age: 66
Business: Diamonds
3 Nassef Sawiris
Worth: $4.75billion
Age: 50
Business: Constuction
4 Johann Rupert & family,
South Africa
Worth: $4.7billion
Age: 61
Business: Luxury goods
5 Mike Adenuga, Nigeria
Worth: $4.3billion
Age: 58
Business: Oil
6 Miloud Chaabi, Morocco
Worth: $3billion
Age: 82
Business: Housing and hotels
7 Naguib Sawiris, Egypt
Worth: $2.9billion
Age: 57
Business: Telecoms
8 Christoffel Wiese, South Africa
Worth: $2.7billion
Age: 70
Business: Retail
9 Onsi Sawiris, Egypt
Worth: $2.6billion
Age: 81
Business: Construction, telecoms
10 Patrice Motsepe, South Africa
Worth: $2.5billion
Age: 49
Business: Mining

African culture, a culture of togetherness and love, is dying away slowly

2011-12-12T01:20:00.000-08:00

African culture, a culture of togetherness and love, is dying away slowly. In the Traditional African Society, ATS, our ancestors upheld many values, principles and virtues, which the average youth today has branded “old fashioned” and “local”. But who is to blame? Us! Yes, you and I are to blame, and not the influence of Western world. We foolishly and blindly pick whatever is thrown our way because we look up to them. I’m not trying to completely disregard western culture. Western culture has got a lot to offer, both positive and negative.

Some of us have gone to school, and some have got good jobs, thanks to the western influence. The cool phones, computers and all forms of technology, we have the foreigners to thank for that. However the problem comes in when we fail to sieve what they send our way. We just grab everything they discard, be it good or bad. It is true that change is inevitable and part and parcel of life, but change has to be positive to be worth it. Naturally African civilization has really got loads to learn from the more technologically and industrially advanced western civilization.

The only problem is that when the door opens up to the good, the bad also gets in. A case in point is the issue of language. Many a time Ugandan youth are heard shunning vernacular speaking in public. For crying out loud, vernacular is our mother tongue, the same language that our fathers and fore fathers spoke. Not the foreign languages being adopted by Africans living abroad. Ugandans of the colonial era took up English because of the need to communicate with their masters and bargain for independence, which they were fortunately able to acquire. Now with our regained independence, after 49 years of being independent, some people still consider English as an accolade of honor, shunning our very own as shaming! Disrespect has become the order of the day.

The youth no longer want to kneel before their elders, because this, according to them, is a sign of “total backwardness”. A mother asks her daughter to help peel the potatoes, and what she gets is “Come-on mum, I just did my nails” or a grandmother asks for a glass of juice, only to be told “Don’t you know where it is?”. The Bagwere have a proverb that says “Eibega tirikira mutwe” (The shoulder can never grow taller than the head.) This proverb indicates that in Africa, the young cannot defeat the old. Elders should be recognized and respected. The elders had power to curse and bless.

They could therefore not use their words carelessly, and the power of their word was taken seriously. Western culture especially the entertainment bit has undeniably had the biggest impact on us. Violence bearing movies have sort of legitimized violence and rap and rock music has done the same for drugs, crime and sex. What we don’t understand though is that these things are supposed to be taken at face value, but instead we try hard to emulate our “role models”. Our fascination with what doesn’t belong to us has been very detrimental to African culture.

Western culture is some kind of typhoon that is eroding our cultural values, principles and virtues. A culture that is eating away at our social roots and values. Those before us fought to keep and preserve our culture, yet we warmly welcome what they militated against. We expelled political colonization but we now stupidly embrace social colonization. Let us be the change we want to see in the world today. Let’s instill these values in our children while they are still young.

The Bakiga have a saying; “Akati kainikwa kakiri kabisi” (A twig is bent while still supple.) Let us teach and form our children while they are still young, let us address and change circumstances before it’s too late. For a change it would be kind of cool, like the youth like saying, to see an African youth in their designer jeans and T-shirts, acting African and not trying to imitate a music commercial gimmick like Lady Gaga or Eminem. I’m going back to my roots, and I hope to meet you there. by Imelda Mirembe

5 RICHEST Pastors in Nigeria

2011-12-12T01:15:00.000-08:00

Pastors are no longer solely interested in getting people to Heaven; they’ve devised intelligent ways to make good money while reaching out to souls. Take Pastor Chris Oyakhilome, for example. He is the founder and lead pastor of the Christ Embassy, a thriving congregation with branches in Nigeria, South Africa, London, Canada and the United States. His publishing company, Loveworld Publications, publishes ‘Rhapsody of Realities,’ a monthly devotional he co-authors with his wife. It sells over 2 million copies every month at $1 apiece. He also owns television stations, newspapers, magazines, a hotel, a fast-food chain, and more. Many other Nigerian pastors are similarly building multi-million dollar empires from their churches. Today, pastors fly around in private jets, drive fancy cars like Daimlers, Porsches and BMWs, don Rolexes and Patek Phillipes, and own breathtaking mansions all over the world.

Bishop David Oyedepo Affiliation: Living Faith World Outreach Ministry, aka Winners Chapel Estimated net worth: $150 million David Oyedepo is Nigeria’s wealthiest preacher. Ever since he founded the Living Faith World Outreach Ministry in 1981, it has grown to become one of Africa’s largest congregations. The Faith Tabernacle, where he hosts three services every Sunday, is Africa’s largest worship center, with a seating capacity of 50,000. Oyedepo owns four private jets and homes in London and the United States. He also owns Dominion Publishing House, a thriving publishing company that publishes all his books (which are often centered on prosperity). He founded and owns Covenant University, one of Nigeria’s leading tertiary institutions, and Faith Academy, an elite high school.

Chris Oyakhilome Church: Believers’ Loveworld Ministries, a.k.a Christ Embassy Estimated net worth: $30 million – $50 million Last year, the charismatic preacher was at the center of a $35 million money laundering case in which he was accused of siphoning funds from his church to foreign banks. Pastor Chris pleaded no wrongdoing and the case was eventually dismissed. His church, Christ Embassy, boasts more than 40,000 members, several of whom are successful business executives and politicians. Oyakhilome’s diversified interests include newspapers, magazines, a local television station, a record label, satellite TV, hotels and extensive real estate. His Loveworld TV Network is the first Christian network to broadcast from Africa to the rest of the world on a 24 hour basis.

Temitope Joshua Church: Synagogue Church Of All Nations (SCOAN) Estimated net worth: $10 million – $15 million Nigeria’s most controversial clergyman is also one of its richest and most philanthropic. T.B Joshua heads the Synagogue Church of all Nations (SCOAN), a congregation he founded in 1987, which accommodates over 15,000 worshippers on Sundays. The Pastor has remained controversial for several years for his inexplicable powers to heal all sorts of incurable diseases, including HIV/AIDS, cancer and paralysis. For miracle-craving worshippers, it’s the perfect seduction. The church currently has branches in Ghana, the United Kingdom, South Africa, and Greece. In the past three years, he has given over $20 million to causes in education, healthcare and rehabilitation programs for former Niger Delta militants. He owns Emmanuel TV, a Christian television network, and is close friends with Ghanaian President Atta Mills.

Matthew Ashimolowo Kingsway International Christian Centre (KICC) Estimated net worth: $6 million – $10 million In 1992, Foursquare Gospel Church, a Nigerian church, sent Ashimolowo to open a satellite branch in London. But Pastor Matthew had other ideas and decided to set up his own church instead. Today, his Kingsway International Christian Center is reportedly the largest Pentecostal church in the United Kingdom. In 2009, the church posted profits of close to $10 million and assets worth $40 million. Ashimolowo earns an annual salary of $200,000, but his real wealth comes from varied business interests including his media company, Matthew Ashimolowo media, which churns out Christian literature and documentaries. Ashimolowo’s representatives did not respond to a request confirming his net worth and ownership of all these assets.

Chris Okotie Church: Household of God Church Net worth: $3 million -$10 million Pastor Okotie made his first success as a popular pop musician in the 80s. He found the light, embraced the bible and set up the Household of God Church, one of Nigeria’s most flamboyant congregations. His 5,000 member church consists predominantly of Nollywood celebrities, musicians, and society people. He contested and lost Nigerian presidential elections for the third time this year under the Fresh Party, a political party he founded and funds. An automobile lover, he owns a Mercedes S600, Hummer and Porsche among several others. Source: www.nigeriaweeklynews.com

10 minute with mentor Alexander Amosu

2011-12-12T01:11:00.000-08:00

Alexander Amosu, a young entrepreneur, set up his first business when he was a schoolboy. He turned his interest in technology and the mobile phone industry into a commercial success with RnB Ringtones. He now heads his current high-profile luxury phone company ‘Amosu’. He looks back on his first businesses and gives advice on how to market to niche and overseas customers.

Alexander Amosu talks about what motivates him and how to find customers in different markets.

Is the entrepreneurial spirit something you’re born with?
I don’t think entrepreneurial spirit is something you’re born with. I think, for me, it’s a situation I was forced into. When you come from a very poor background, you’ve got to fend for yourself and look at opportunities around you that can make money. I started from a very young age and gradually built up a system to learn about looking at my environment and making money from it, and that’s how I’ve grown into it. So sometimes I think it’s made me more entrepreneurial, rather than being born with that kind of gift.

Were your businesses always a success?
My businesses were not always a success. From a very early age I tried several different businesses. I would say 40% of them failed, but I think part of the failure is actually where you learn. For me, failure is part of success. So having businesses and learning the wrongs and right of them allows me to grow, and when I have a business in future I know not to make the mistakes I made when I was young.

Where do your business ideas come from?
Business ideas come from my environment, things around me. It’s about spotting the gap, and I think there’s a certain type of gift in doing that. You’ve got to be able to see something that nobody else sees and be able to make money from it. I could be sleeping and some idea might come to me. I’ll jot it down on a piece of paper. Or I could be in a car. I could be in a restaurant. Anything around me, my environment, is what I absorb when I think about the next idea that could really make money. You’re sitting on a chair, for instance. If you’re sitting in a certain way, maybe there’s a type of chair that needs to be specifically designed for that type of audience. It could be anything, and how an idea starts is just from something that you see and then you generate it into more of a bigger idea.

How did you market your first business?
Well, it depends on which business. The very, very first business I had, when I was 14, was when I organised a five-a-side tournament in school. I got a group of kids together and asked them to pay £5 per team, and all I did was simply go to the library, design a A4 news leaflet that said five-a-side tournament, £5 per team to find out who the best player was in school. And then I went round the school and gave it to every teenager I felt was interested in football. That was my marketing ploy at the time to try and get people to be interested in my ideas. So something as basic as that at that age has obviously grown a bit more sophisticated now in terms of using the internet, radio, TV and newspapers. That’s how I started my first businesses, just by going out and giving things to people by hand.
What have you learnt about marketing since then?
Well, I’ve learnt a lot about marketing in terms of being in the right place at the right time. You can’t market a particular product without understanding your market audience. I think one very important part in anything you do when you’re about to market is to do your research, because there are often times where you could spend thousands and thousands of pounds putting an advert promoting a particular product in a newspaper, but it never reaches your audience in any particular way. So I think the most important thing for me in understanding your marketplace is by doing a lot of research and understanding what exactly you’re trying to market.

How do you sell to niche markets?
I’m in a niche market at the moment. I sell high end, very luxurious, very expensive mobile phones and a very, very small number of people who can afford my phone because it starts from $20,000. Not everybody’s got $20,000 to spend on a mobile phone, so it’s a very, very niche market. However, in saying that, there are people who have that kind of money, who have maybe two or three cars, live in Spain, Italy, France, have a plane, so it’s just an additional line in terms of the luxury they want, and these people can be found in high-end places. I have to target this audience wherever they are around the world, millionaires, footballers, celebrities and the like. I approach that angle by looking for these niche markets and selling my products directly to them.

How do you adapt your marketing for overseas markets?
I think I have to adapt my marketing overseas by understanding the local knowledge and culture of those countries. So, for example, if I’m going to market in Spain or Italy, I wouldn’t use a British marketing company because they have a different understanding, a different culture. For me it’s very important to understand the local knowledge and use it to market the products in those countries.

Yomi Adu - fashion artist

2011-12-12T01:06:00.000-08:00

My name is Yomi Adu. I am obsessed with fashion, art, design forms, and all things creative. My creative expressions and my personal style over the years have developed into a fashion business and the birth of my own label – Yomi Adu, a 'made to measure' brand which has been well received by many young women who love to combine hippy and serious in one look.

My philosophy is simple; I always infuse play, adventure and a large dose of personality into my designs because I believe women's work wear should be edgy and demure.

I create beautiful pieces of classic business casuals combined with modern and futuristic trends for a new generation of expressive working women who are ready for a fashion adventure.

More on www.yomiadu.com
Facebook - www.facebook.com/yomiadufashiondesigner
Twitter - www.twitter.com/yomiadu

What to Look for in a Relationship

2011-12-12T00:58:00.000-08:00

Q: I have been divorced for almost five years. I was married for 20. My ex-husband was emotionally abusive. The first relationship I was in after my divorce was two years and ended because of alcohol abuse. Now, I have this fear I will end up in a disastrous relationship again. How does one move through these types of situations successfully? — Kimothi A., Nairobi, Kenya

Dear Kimothi, Getting sucked into bad relationships involves two tendencies that are intimately connected. The first is the tendency to overlook warning signs. People aren’t closed books or secret codes. They give off signals.

They behave in indicative ways. If you don’t ignore the warning signs, it’s not that hard to see who is going to be abusive, controlling, self-centered, uncaring, dominant, cruel or severely addicted. I am not saying the men you meet are going to present themselves with total candor and honesty. Of course they aren’t; no one does. We show the best sides of ourselves in social situations, particularly when we want to win someone over. The second tendency is to miss the signals that tell you who is a good match for you. Missing the red flags seems easy enough.

You want to see the best in others. You think, quite rightly, that suspicion and distrust aren’t good things to bring to a new relationship. But overlooking the good in others is just as destructive. Because most people carry images around in their heads of „the right one,” they dismiss others, based on that image. Think of the men you have rejected as boring, not good-looking enough, not rich or smart enough and so on when, in fact, their only fault was not living up to an artificial image.

This is compounded by society’s addiction to external qualities being the most important. Dozens of beautiful, successful, charming singles have appeared on television shows that are supposed to find perfect mates for a bachelor and bachelorette. How many happy marriages have resulted? One or two at most, and even those have yet to stand the test of time. The critical issue, then, is how to overcome both tendencies? You want to spot the warning signs in advance, but also the hidden virtues.

The ability to do these things comes naturally, but we block it in various ways. You’ve mentioned a big blockage: fear based on past failures and hurt. As Mark Twain once noted, a cat that has sat on a hot stove won’t sit on any stove afterward, whether it is hot or not. Which is to say, you can’t trust your old wounds.

You must learn to be open and new as opportunities arise. You must learn to look past the ingrained image that keeps you from seeing other people as they actually are, which is always a mixture of good and bad. Much of this comes down to ambivalence. When you can see the good and bad in someone else, how do you react? If you are mature, you accept what is good and tolerate what is bad, but only so far. Being ambivalent isn’t the same as perfect romance. It’s a state of tolerance. Having reached that state, something new emerges. No longer blinded by a fantasy of perfect love, you find you are less critical; you don’t judge others as much; you have less fear and distrust. At that point, you will be able to do the most important thing: You will know what you need and how to get it.

Most people are confused about what they actually need, and therefore they seek it in the wrong places. I would suggest you need safety, security, reassurance, love and nurturing, in that order. We can’t discount the wounding relationships in your past. At a more advanced stage, when you feel safe and secure, you might look for love, compassion and wisdom as first priorities.

Having identified your needs, look at a prospective mate realistically, as someone who can fulfill your needs. Go on dates, relate for a while and test the other person’s capacities. I know how easy it is to feel you can’t place demands. You focus your energies on pleasing another.

You self-consciously worry about being young enough, pretty enough and good enough. But that is how bad relationships explode in your face. Having focused on your shortcomings, you failed to test if the other person actually met your needs. Once you turn your attention around, you can begin to be realistic about who this other person is and what he has to give.

I think that’s the most important step, and I hope I have given you enough clues about what to look for in the future so it isn’t simply a repetition of the past. Love, James Mungai

Women & Business: Is misogyny holding back the growth potential in Africa?

2011-12-12T00:56:00.000-08:00

As a 26yr old businesswoman and teacher, educated in the western world and raised in North London by my Igbo mother, the initial thoughts of going international and bringing my business acrimony and skills home to our continent seemed like the only dream one should have – to give back to the motherland.

I embarked on Uganda. Not my mother’s land, but Africa nevertheless, with the abundance of sesame seed oil, shea butter and growing co-operatives, it felt like a good place to start.

My first thoughts were “will I be embraced? I am a Nigerian in Uganda with a thick British accent”. Most Ugandans were delighted that I was Nigerian. They felt a connection to me through the acknowledgement of Nigerian cuisine, TV programmes and our music is played heavily in the clubs and radio.
Phew! What a relief! To say Nigerians are the least favoured Africans is a serious understatement thanks to the politic chaos and constant claims of corruption and violence in the capital. The internal tribal conflict is a deep rooted issue too. I’ll save that for another time.

So I began my journey, visiting spas, hotels and health clubs, looking at the treatments, making notes on what seemed popular or common and the products and brands readily available on the market. My research taught me a lot and my analysis of how to penetrate the market with my brand became clear.

But what became even clearer was the disregard for women. Not just as normal civilians, but definitely in business. As a young, attractive female, I was up against being serenaded to pointless lunches and dinners with CEOs or managers who acted professional at first glance, but then revealed their hidden agendas, sometimes blatantly in front of their wives! The awkwardness of having to avoid calls or pretend that I was no longer in the country to avoid the entanglement of unwanted sexual tension was beyond unfair.
I found myself walking away from four very lucrative deals because of the ugly leer of a sexual undercurrent which would eventually ruin the professional relationship at some point.

What I found myself pondering on was:
how many other women are in my position, trying to boost the economy of Africa but being coerced into a power struggle whereby men, both old and younger are manipulating the agreements for sexual gain?
how damaging is this to the future of female entrepreneurs who have dreams and aspirations but feel like 2nd class citizens in a male dominated industry?
How many women have lost their dignity and fell victim to the attraction of ‘money over morals’, a culture so rife in Africa?

I begin to feel thankful on many levels: that I have an international empire which I can take to the USA, UK, or anywhere else, which reassures me. I have a supportive family who counsel me on my every move and my own lack of patience which sees me closing the door or hanging up the phone on anyone who seems to be spouting BS.

It seems as though to be taken seriously in business, a woman almost has to become a man! De-feminize herself with shapeless garments, pin her weave back into a bun, wear simple makeup and low heels.

On my 2nd trip to Uganda, I noticed that my ‘power dressing’ had rattled a few men who had seen me previously looking young and stylish, now traded in for dull and professional. But it worked. I was taken more seriously, people felt less inclined to invite me out for after-hour drinks and I commanded a level of respect which gave me more confidence about my mission.

I have the skills and the education to dress appropriately and persevere to succeed. Backed up by my former years as a tomboy in college, dressing boyish appeals to me. But why shouldn’t I not be taken seriously if I choose to wear a mini skirt with a blazer instead of bellbottom black trousers? In the western world, women at the top are some of the sexiest and stylish women I’ve worked amongst. They carry their selves like ladies and use their natural sexuality to their advantage and the men commend them for it.

African men may need to check themselves, think about how they would feel if this was happening to their daughter or wife. By respecting strong women and allowing us to express ourselves in the way that’s natural to our character, the benefits to our children, family homes and business environment would increase rapidly.
Women are natural ‘multi-taskers’, fosterers of education and fiercely loyal. By using our attributes to your advantage instead of against us, the economic growth of Africa would soar.

If You Have An Open Marriage Like Will Smith & Jada Pinkett Smith, Is That Weird Or Highly Evolved?

2011-12-12T00:41:00.000-08:00

Is sleeping with other people while you’re married strange or a weird way of assuring your love will last?

It isn’t possible to cheat when you’re in an “open” marriage. But is this kind of relationship weird or just really evolved? “Our perspective is, you don’t avoid what’s natural,” Will said in an interview. “You’re going to be attracted to people. In our marriage vows, we didn’t say ‘forsaking all others.’ The vow that we made was that you will never hear that I did something after the fact.” He added, “If it came down to it, then one can say to the other, ‘Look, I need to have sex with somebody. I’m not going to if you don’t approve of it — but please approve of it.’” Jada has also expressed her thoughts on the subject. “We always have people that we’re attracted to that we talk about. That don’t stop just because your married.

Somebody’s always gonna catch your eye. That’s real. Somebody’s gonna always be prettier than me, somebody’s always gonna be more in awe of him than me.” So OK, having an open relationship is a little weird. We, for the most part, have been raised to believe in monogamy. But is it worse to feel so confined in your relationship that your eyes wander elsewhere, you cheat and thus, screw up your marriage?

Or is it better to be in love and sometimes seek sexual satisfaction elsewhere? An open marriage is only for the highly evolved. It’s such a wonderful concept in theory — take the potential for straying out of the equation — but I don’t believe most women are wired that way. Jealousy and displaced anger could threaten this kind of relationship in the long run if the couple isn’t on the same page, or their feelings on the matter change. Obviously an open marriage isn’t the norm, but you have to give credence to the fact that it might actually work. In 13 years, no report of infidelity or a troubled marriage has even scratched the surface of Will and Jada’s idyllic relationship — until now. Those are some good odds in Hollywood, where the average relationship is over in the blink of an eye. Should you try it? Well, that’s up to you — and your partner. Life is all about different strokes for different folks, right? [youtube id="Enter video ID (0nEsDWQ1wQ4)" width="600" height="350"]

The Good When open marriages work, it is most likely because the unconventional unions are focused on good old-fashioned open communication. Telling the truth shows your partner respect, as does following agreed upon rules -- for example, keeping your partner in the loop as to where you have been and who you have been with.

The goal of an open marriage is to never have to lie -- to create an environment where you can be open about anything that makes you uncomfortable or afraid. Proponents say that this atmosphere supposedly then creates an opportunity for incredible communication, deeper intimacy and the opportunity to thrive as your fullest self. Basically, the thought is that if you truly love your partner, you want them to live their fullest life -- flings and all. Flings are simply superficial sensory delights. There's no difference between your partner enjoying a pizza with anchovies without you and your partner enjoying a blonde with blue eyes without you.

In a good open marriage, you are simply creating a buffet of sexual experiences, so nobody feels like they are starving for new sensations. This honesty enables couples to avoid the emotional downward spiral of hidden affairs because the need for secrecy is removed. Oprah.com: Are men only as faithful as their options? And what about that green-eyed monster jealousy? Most open marriages make strong distinctions between sex with others and romance with others. Couples who subscribe to open-marriage philosophies typically agree to keep their spouses first at heart -- no matter who else they mingle with.

The Bad I must confess, every time I type the words "good open marriage," my fingers twitch. These words feel oxymoronic. Personally, I view more cons than pros to an open marriage. For me, the whole point of marriage is to show your love and commitment by protecting your union with fidelity. There's a great deal of calm and security that comes from knowing your partner is directing his love and attention to you and you alone. For me, rather than viewing open marriage as offering a yummy buffet of taste sensations, I view it as one big recipe for disaster. The main ingredients -- resentment, competitiveness, jealousy, insecurity, curtailed time, scattered affections, feelings of betrayal, lack of security -- all inevitably blur the lines of a healthy marriage.

For me, a healthy marriage asks you both to bring out your highest selves. Sure, it might take a little higher willpower to resist the lure of extracurricular sex, but this discipline is for the higher good, allowing for a calm, secure refuge to emerge.

Calm and security may not sound as hotsy totsy as sex and more sex, but many of us believe it brings far more happiness in the long run.

This security brings with it the confidence of knowing your partner is committed to you "till death do you part" rather than until their next Wednesday evening date. In my opinion, open marriage is pretty much the opposite of marriage. It seems to be about avoiding commitment -- one of the cornerstones of a happy marriage. You may be able to agree on the "rules for cheating" in an intellectual way, but doesn't the emotional nature of love always get in the way?

Africa ‘must support small-scale farmers’

2011-12-11T23:29:00.000-08:00

African governments should put their money where their mouths are when it comes to farming, says the Food, Agriculture and Natural Resources Policy Analysis Network.

CEO Lindiwe Sibanda said with the 2003 Maputo Declaration, countries on the continent had agreed to devote 10 percent of their national budgets to agriculture.

“Eight years later, only 10 African countries have done this. We are not investing where our mouth is.”

Lack of access to finance and technology, among other things, meant maize yields among African small farmers were a fraction of what they should be.

“They could get 10 tons a hectare; they are achieving one to three tons a hectare,” Sibanda said.

Governments were also “not putting in place the right policies to address the challenges”.
Such lack of investment had “killed” the region’s agricultural research sector, leaving it “asset poor” when it came to knowledge.

Sibanda said Africa had the ability to feed itself. This had to be done through investment in small farmers, who were the engines of the continent’s food security.

“Smallholder agriculture is key... the hand hoe is still the tool of choice for most of our farmers.”

If such farmers were adequately supported, 80 percent of the region’s food problems would be solved. Yet many householders had to survive on the equivalent of one US dollar a day.

“How can they manage to buy good seed and fertilizer?”

Calling for a uniquely African green revolution, Sibanda said high food prices could be brought down if the continent could feed itself. - Sapa

From Food Security to Wealth Creation: Why African Agriculture Matters

2011-12-11T23:10:00.000-08:00

Mo Ibrahim Foundation recently convened a group of African and world leaders on this same soil - in what is today the city of Tunis - to discuss African agriculture and its potential to unlock new wealth. Making African agriculture more productive, resilient and accessible is about much more than simply alleviating hunger and safeguarding the continent's most vulnerable people; it is the continent's most effective high-growth investment strategy. The World Bank states that GDP growth originating in agriculture is at least twice as effective in reducing poverty as GDP growth originating outside agriculture.

The potential for growth in this sector is extensive. Africa has the world's largest share of arable land and African average yields per hectare are a quarter of those seen in East Asia, for example.

There could not be a more important time to invest in African agriculture. By 2040, one in five of the world's young people will live in Africa and they will form part of the world's largest working age population. 16 of the 20 fastest growing cities in the world will be in Africa by 2025.

And new technologies provide an unprecedented opportunity to maximise the impact of these investments. Mobile phones and improved seeds, among other advances, have already begun to help African farmers access information more effectively, and adapt to emerging threats such as climate change.

African entrepreneurs are seizing these opportunities. The 2011 Ibrahim Forum on African agriculture heard from a number of prominent speakers. Two women, in particular, have demonstrated remarkable success. Eleni Gabre-Madhin is a pioneering agricultural economist and businesswoman who created the Ethiopia Commodity Exchange. The Exchange is considered a huge success, increasing trade by 128% this year. Another speaker Josephine Okot, founder and CEO of Victoria Seeds in Uganda, has established an innovative seed business which sells over 90 seed varieties and employs over 1,000 farmers. Her seeds include high-quality maize that can boost yields from one or two tonnes per hectare to seven tonnes per hectare.

Gabre-Madhin and Okot's successes have not come easily. The obstacles they have faced reflect some of the key challenges facing African agriculture today.

Trade restrictions, lack of access to finance and weak governance and infrastructure can all prevent businesses from establishing and achieving their full potential. For example, the bank interest rate in Uganda of 29% makes financing for new enterprises inaccessible. Okot was only able to launch her business in 2004 with the help of a loan guarantee from USAID.

The private sector and governments have a key role to play in providing start-up financing, loan guarantees, and a regulatory framework supportive of small businesses. Furthermore, the consensus at the forum was that political leadership and good governance are central to spurring African agricultural growth.

The visionary leadership of Pedro Pires, former president of Cape Verde and winner of this year's Ibrahim Prize for Achievement in African Leadership, is a case in point. President Pires embraced the importance of investing in agriculture for overall economic progress. This approach contributed to Cape Verde becoming only the second African country to graduate from the United Nations Least Developed category. This is a remarkable achievement for a country that experienced drought as recently as 1968.

There is already much momentum across the continent. African countries are creating and implementing domestic plans and programmes for agricultural development with varying degrees of success. Ghana has already met the Millennium Development Goal of halving hunger by 2015. 27 countries have agreed domestic plans for agriculture, 17 countries have achieved 6% growth in the sector and seven countries have committed 10% of their budgets to agriculture.

African leadership can and is already changing the landscape, working to take on the urgent task of becoming a net exporter and a breadbasket for the world. The African and other global leaders gathered in Tunis believe that these goals are achievable. The timing is urgent and the benefits of action will be enormous for the continent.

Without strong leadership, it is as if we are throwing salt on the soil of African farmers. Failing to act would be a missed opportunity to transform a continent.

Rwandan most renowned businessman is awarded BID’s International Quality Crown Award

2011-12-11T23:08:00.000-08:00

Sina Gérard, the founder of Urwibutso Enterprise and Rwandan most respect businessman was awarded the Diamond award at the 23rd International Quality Crown Convention on November 26th and 27th, 2011. Gerard beat every nominee in the prestigious Diamond category and proved to lead in Excellence in Leadership and Business Management, Quality and Excellence, Business and Brand name Prestige and Technology, Innovation and Expansion.

The 23rd International Quality Crown Convention London 2011 is part of the annual program of B.I.D., Business Initiative Directions Awards, designed to recognize the prestige of the outstanding companies, organizations, and businessmen in the business world.

The Ceremony were attended by companies from 74 countries, together with leaders from different business fields, professionals from the worlds of economics, the arts and corporate image, quality experts, as well as academic personalities and representatives from the diplomatic corps.

Sina Gérard Rwanda’s Millionaire who built business empire on chili sauce

A maverick entrepreneur and self-made millionaire, Sina Gerard is probably Rwanda's most famous businessman.

Having established a business empire from the bottom up, he's now training local farmers to help make Rwanda an agricultural exporter.

"My aim is to make sure that the Rwandan people build themselves and get out of poverty," he says.

"My aim is to make sure Rwandan farmers, because they are rated at 90%, feel proud to be farmers. I'm sure I'll achieve it because so far I have achieved a lot."

There's no disputing Gerard's achievements. Twenty-five years ago he had just one employee, who helped him sell the bread he baked at his parents' farm. Now, Gerard says he employs hundreds of workers and buys produce from thousands of farmers.

Although he started out selling his food from a roadside stall, he was soon known not for his snacks, but what he put on them -- his famous "Akabanga" chili sauce.

He now produces his chili sauce in industrial quantities. Akabanga is so strong that workers making it are required to wear a face mask. It has become popular in Rwanda and is shipped across the world for customers wanting the ultimate spicy kick.

Gerard, the former baker, now has his fingers in many pies, running a bewildering variety of ventures.

His factories make fruit drinks and banana wine from locally grown produce, and he sells them directly from his own 24-hour roadside shops.

He is now focusing on driving agricultural change. Always the innovator, he has begun producing strawberries rather than staple foods and growing fruits new to Rwanda, such as grapes for wine production, and apples.

Keen to stimulate the local agricultural economy, Gerard gives farmers free seeds, fertilizer and training and buys their crops when they are ready for harvest.

„That’s me -- that’s how I am,” he says. „I love people, and for me to have financial security it’s because I live well with all my neighbors here.”

„I look for that very poor person and help him or her -- and not necessarily financially, but train them and give them more knowledge,” he adds.

He still lives in the same town he was born in because he wants to help people with similar skills and aspirations to his own.

The town did not have a school until Gerard built one. He hopes some of the school’s graduates will join him in his work and become successful business people themselves.

But, though he is always a visionary, some of Gerard’s methods are more unconventional than others.
He has been experimenting with playing music to his pigs and claims he has seen an improvement in productivity. He has even set up a control group, which is not played music, to prove his pig-nurturing theory.

„What I have realized is that pigs need music,” he says. „With my projects of pigs they need music. They eat well, they don’t waste what they eat, they deliver well. They even mate well.”

But what drives Gerard to keep trying out new ideas and keep expanding into so many different businesses?

„Who else can do it?” he says. „Since I’m here, and I’m able to do it, I just chose to do it all.”

Africa’s business opportunities are increasingly on show in Britain.

2011-12-11T23:05:00.000-08:00

Its message is being carried to London’s financial community and industrialists by a series of conferences and seminars. Presentations of business opportunities in the African economy are the subject of increasing numbers of showcase events attracting large audiences of both African and European investors, financiers and entrepreneurs. The recent Ugandan Convention reported in this magazine was targeted at emigrants wishing to return to the land of their birth or Diaspora as the traditional return journey home is known. Significant national figures including the Ugandan Parliament’s Speaker, the Minister of Finance and Economic Planning, the Minister for Foreign Affairs and other African politicians and business people delivered a positive message to those considering investing their skills and money back into their homeland.

October was a busy month for Africa’s showcases, an East Africa’s Global Trade and Investment Forum was held in London’s Royal Commonwealth Club and a Sierra Leone Investment Conference was hosted in the Daily Telegraph offices. The Reuters prestigious “Annual African Capital Markets Conference” was held in their offices for the 5th year running. The cream of Africa’s banking fraternity spoke on Foreign Direct Investment and other business matters and indicating how the African economy was growing (unlike Europe’s). They allied their remarks to descriptions of how the establishment of peace and prosperity was making all this economic development possible. The financial sector’s banks, economists and financiers showed growing sophistication in the management of Africa’s capital markets as well as its oil and mining resources.

The most recent of Africa’s showpieces held here in London was the UK – Senegal Investment Forum which occurred last week. Its Conference brochure listed a number of supporting partners including SN Mineral & Mining and Tora Gold as well as the Dangote Group. This last company is a conglomerate and the largest quoted company on the Nigerian Stock exchange and was awarded the African Business of the year in 2011. It has donated over US$ 2 million to United Nations programmes in Africa during the year.

The United Nations also plays its part in showcasing African business needs and opportunities. Its role in the World’s economy requires it to encourage more British company’s to supply grant aided goods and services to Africa. This was the reason for a series of seminars on the subject have been held in London and also Paris hosted by the UN in the last months. The range of goods and service contracts placed by the many agencies of the UN amounted to US$ 5 billion last year. If you wish to see your product or service listed as a supplier in their UN Global Market System, send us an email message to the address below. We will send you details of some of the more recently placed contracts and help to find new ones suitable for your company. Bidding for contracts with a value running from a few thousand dollars to large major contracts requires you to register with the UN’s Global Market data base. Registration is free and it affords you many export opportunities into the African market. Email us for details.

Peter Matthews
The Foreign Direct Investment EEIG
peter.matthews23@btinternet.com

An Interview with Western Union Foundation President Luella Chavez D’Angelo

2011-12-11T23:02:00.000-08:00

Luella Chavez D’Angelo is President of the Western Union Foundation, the philanthropic arm of the Western Union Company, and Senior Vice President of Western Union Social Ventures. As president, she shapes the direction, Corporate Responsibility and the giving strategies of the Foundation and is an outstanding advocate for the issues most important to the Corporation and the Foundation. Mrs. D’Angelo began her corporate philanthropic career in 2000 as the inaugural director of the First Data Western Union Foundation and continued her leadership through the spin-off of Western Union from its parent company and the establishment of the independent Western Union Foundation. Under her direction, the Foundation has distributed more than $73 million in grants and disaster relief to more than 2,030 organizations in over 108 countries.

Describe a little bit about the founding of and motivation behind the Western Union Foundation.
Luella Chavez D’Angelo: When I joined Western Union in 2000 as the inaugural executive director, I had the rare chance to help build a foundation from the ground up. This was a great challenge and opportunity, in light of the company’s global reach and direct ability to positively address some of today’s most complex social challenges. Today, Western Union operates in more than 485,000 locations, in over 200 countries and territories.

In the early days of the Foundation, we focused on multiple giving projects that were typically influenced by a variety of priorities. By 2006, it had become clear that we could have a greater impact and more effectively rally stakeholders if we stood for one important social cause. We set out to select a focus that capitalized on our strengths as a business and was relevant to our customers.
We understood that in the ordinary course of doing business, Western Union facilitates extraordinary good. Our service is an economic lifeline that helps the world’s migrant population send money to family, friends and business partners back home. Because Western Union is one of the largest players in this flow of remittances, which for many countries is nearly three times as large as foreign aid, our core businesses accelerates economic development. Our Foundation takes that a step further through grant- making, employee engagement and direct social investments.

2007 saw the launch of Western Union’s Our World, Our Family® program, a five-year, $50 million commitment to a single issue: addressing the root cause of poverty by creating greater economic opportunity. So far, we have touched more than 2.5 million lives.
Though our work has evolved over the years, our approach has remained consistent; just as Western Union takes a collaborative approach to its business, the Foundation takes a collaborative approach to community investment. Through volunteerism and collective philanthropy, we provide ways for Western Union employees, Agents and others to pool their efforts for greater impact. Over the years, we’ve enjoyed employee giving participation rates as high as 46 percent. To date, we have granted $73 million to more than 2,030 NGO organizations in 108 countries and territories.

What are the key focus areas of the foundation and what kinds of initiatives are you currently involved in?
Luella Chavez D’Angelo: The Western Union Foundation creates a better world, where the ability to realize your dreams through economic opportunity is not just a privilege for the few but a right for all. The Foundation advances this goal through three focus areas:
We support education – including family scholarships, job training, life skills and language acquisition – to prepare people for new or better jobs.

We help spur job creation by supporting microfinance programs and essential business training for entrepreneurs, so that positions are waiting for people who have invested in education. This also helps ensure that those who have entrepreneurial spirit can start small businesses.

We create materials for consumers and provide grants to NGOs to promote financial literacy, promoting financial inclusion and helping people convert wages to wealth.

Since job creation is a major priority for everyone these days, I’d like to share some of our experience in this area. We know that small businesses are one of the most reliable engines of job creation. According to the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development, small and medium businesses are responsible for 65% of global GDP and account for nearly 90% of the world’s workforce. Yet, a lack of business know-how causes too many small businesses to fail.

That’s why Western Union provides market insight and guidance to the growing ranks of our Business Solutions customers. In the U.S., we are a proud sponsor of a program that matches experienced businesspeople as mentors to small business owners (Micromentor.org). Busy professionals benefit from a flexible program that lets them use their skills to help their neighbors. We’ve helped Mercy Corps expand this promising program to parts of Latin America and Haiti, leveraging our connections with diaspora communities to promote this effort.

As you look ahead, what’s on the horizon for the foundation over the next five years?
Luella Chavez D’Angelo: I take a long-term view. Our company’s founders set out 160 years ago to unite a haphazard web of telegraph lines into a unified network. For the first time, families could connect with loved ones and businesspeople with distant markets, instantly. Western Union continues to develop innovative services that connect people to one other and to the global economy. Our Foundation echoes that focus on promoting financial inclusion – yet in the next five years and the next 50, we’ll pursue that mission in interesting new ways.

For example, while the business pioneers mobile money transfer – which allows mobile phone users to send and receive funds even in areas lacking financial infrastructure – we’re looking at ways those three billion mobile phones can improve literacy and serve as a platform for reducing poverty.

Similarly, our CEO and key business leaders are passionate about the ways a culture of responsibility can attract and grow the best and brightest employees. We teamed up with another NGO called Ashoka on an executive-in-residence program that encourages our rising stars to spend two weeks immersed in a different country and culture, where they support a social entrepreneur who has benefitted from Foundation grants. In coming years, we’ll experiment with new programs along those lines, engaging Western Union employees, Agents and other stakeholders in creative, hands-on opportunities to make a difference.

I also think we’re just scratching the surface of what we can do from a cause brand and marketing perspective. We developed Our World, Our Family in 2006, when the need for economic opportunity wasn’t capturing as many headlines. Today, the relevance of this issue couldn’t be clearer, and that provides exciting new opportunities for us to connect with our consumers around the cause. Our brand is about “moving money for better,” and the next five years will see us pioneer new ways to engage all of our stakeholders in doing just that.

by Rahim Kanani is a writer, interviewer, advocate, strategist and entrepreneur for global social change.

Send Money Africa: Helping the Diaspora Send Money Home

2011-12-11T22:57:00.000-08:00

Do you send money home to Africa? If so, you are one of an estimated 30 million Africans worldwide who could benefit from the World Bank’s Send Money Africa database and website. Send Money Africa helps the Diaspora make informed choices by providing information on the costs and speed of money transfer services offered by banks, post offices, and money transfer operators in 27 African markets.

Costs involved in sending money to Africa vary widely among providers and from one country to another. Moreover, the cost structure of the money transfer market -- which involves both exchange rate margins and up-front fees -- makes comparing transaction costs a complex and time consuming operation. However, on the Send Money Africa website, senders and recipients can quickly evaluate providers and make good decisions with a few clicks of the mouse.

The World Bank estimates that, if the cost of sending money could be reduced by even five percentage points relative to the value sent, recipients in developing countries would receive over $16 billion more annually than they do now. This easy-to-use web tool is a first step towards putting more money back in the hands of senders and receivers in Africa and stimulating enhanced competition in African remittance markets. The team plans to expand the site to include information for additional African remittance markets over the coming year.

Send Money Africa is part of the African Institute for Remittances (AIR) project, which is managed by the World Bank’s African Diaspora Program. It is an initiative in which the World Bank and selected development partners -- the African Development Bank, the International Organization for Migration and the European Commission -- are collaborating to facilitate the African Union Commission (AUC) and its member states in establishing the AIR. The project is funded by the European Commission and implemented by the World Bank.

www.sendmoneyafrica.worldbank.org

Bad Black - Scammed more than £2,300,000 from an English Aviation Consultant Tycoon

2011-12-11T22:56:00.000-08:00

English Aviation Consultant Tycoon Scammed of more than £2,300,000 by a Ugandan 23-years-old prostitute who spent it on booze, men, luxury cars...

They made an unlikely couple – one a portly 53-year-old businessman and married father of two, the other a buxom 25-year-old party-loving girl from Uganda.

This week the pair faced each other across a courtroom after David Greenhalgh accused his former mistress Shanita Namuyimba of swindling him out of £2.4million to fund her lavish lifestyle.

Namuyimba, known as ‘Bad Black’ in her home country where she has become something of a heroine, is said to have spent the cash on a fleet of luxury cars for herself and friends, and bought countless rounds of drinks in exclusive nightclubs for her followers.

She allegedly gained access to the Briton’s vast wealth after they were introduced by a Portuguese businessman three years ago, and they agreed to set up a property company together.

Mr Greenhalgh claimed to have been impressed by Namuyimba’s business skills. He said: ‘At first I wanted to start a business with an honest Ugandan.

‘Then when she came along, she impressed me with her good business ideas in spite of her age. She convinced me to start up a real estate company and we formed Daveshan Development Ltd.

‘Ever since we opened up that company I have been giving her a lot of money – more than she is talking about.’

Mr Greenhalgh, who runs an aviation consultancy firm and has business interests across Africa, is said to have become obsessed with Namuyimba, making repeated trips to see her in the Ugandan capital of Kampala.

He said: ‘Misusing the money is not a big issue to me.’

What did trouble him, and motivated him to call in police, he said, was when he learned Namuyimba was being unfaithful with a string of young African lovers.

‘What hurts me is to spend my money with other men. They squander my resources and then abuse me,’ he said.

Prosecutors allege that between September 2010 and March 2011 Namuyimba stole £2,385,087 that Mr Greenhalgh had transferred from the UK to facilitate the business.

The mother of two, who claims she is pregnant with Mr Greenhalgh’s baby, was arrested in August and sent to Uganda’s Luzira maximum security prison ahead of trial at the Anti-Corruption Court in Kampala.

Her lawyer, Paul Abigaba, said: ‘This money was given to her by her wealthy lover, the consideration being the good love she gave in return.’

But a source close to the police investigation said: ‘People here believe that she has used witchcraft on him, made him drink a black magic potion, to make him besotted with her.’

The source said that Mr Greenhalgh had continued to visit Namuyimba ‘until she was arrested’, adding: ‘He continues to text her saying he loves her and he sent her £40,000 as a birthday present.

‘He is paying money to support Shanita’s two young children, from other white men, and she says she is pregnant with his baby.

‘David tried to keep the legal action secret. He did not want his wife back in England to find out.’

At Mr Greenhalgh’s family home in Burgess Hill, West Sussex, his wife Susan said: ‘I don’t know anything about this case, so I’m afraid I can’t help you.’

The 49-year-old, who was not wearing a wedding ring, declined to comment further. Meanwhile, Mr Greenhalgh was reunited with Namuyimba at a preliminary hearing last week, which attracted hundreds of her supporters.

One said: ‘She has done nothing wrong. It is not a crime to take money from a fool.’

And there were gasps of disbelief from the public gallery when Mr Greenhalgh shared a long and passionate kiss with his former mistress at the back of the court.

Namuyimba denies the charges of embezzlement and claims the money was a gift. She faces 14 years in jail if convicted.

An exclusive interview with Mark Perryman, MoneyGram Regional Director - UK and Ireland

2011-12-11T22:49:00.000-08:00

The Promota Magazine: What is your role at MoneyGram?
Mark Perryman: I am Senior Regional Director, MoneyGram International. I am ultimately responsible for Sales, Marketing, and Customer Service in the UK, Ireland and the Nordics. I joined MoneyGram in 2004.

PM: MoneyGram is always the favorite of African Diasporas for their good service. What do you think has made MoneyGram unique?
MP: MoneyGram money transfers are fast, safe, secure and reliable. Our fees are highly competitive, and we work hard to offer the best pay out rates to receivers. Our fees and rates are very clear, and receivers don’t pay a fee when they collect their money. Our service is highly convenient with over 256,000 agent locations throughout the world, so there is always a location nearby. Money typically arrives in just 10 minutes. You don’t need to have a bank account to use our services. In the UK, customers can send money from any Post Office, any Thomas Cook or Going Places travel agency, and anywhere you see the MoneyGram sign. With nearly 13,000 locations, we have the largest money transfer network in the UK. We know how hard you work for your money - that’s why we keep our fees low, so your money goes even further.

PM: MoneyGram has been supporting African community initiatives for a long time. What are the criteria of determining the beneficiaries?

MP: We are passionate about giving back to communities. MoneyGram International has long been associated with Africa. One example is the way in which we sponsor events/activities that will benefit our African customers at home or in the Diaspora. Another example is that it costs just £4.99 to send up to £100.00 to Uganda and money typically arrives within 10 minutes. For our Ugandan customers present at this year’s Uganda Independence Day celebrations at “Ange Mystique” Old Kent Road, London we know they all enjoyed themselves! MoneyGram sponsored this event and the turnout was really great, which speaks for itself.

Additionally, as part of our commitment to Africa, we recently donated $50,000 to UNICEF programme area: child survival and development initiatives in Africa and emergency relief efforts in the drought and famine affected countries of Somalia, Kenya, Ethiopia and Djibouti in East Africa. We know the Horn of Africa is facing the worst drought in 60 years, and we want to be there to support.

Also, in Nigeria, we recently awarded scholarships to 10 female students at tertiary institutions. These scholarships were awarded in Benin City (Southern Nigeria). The winners were drawn from the University of Benin, Ambrose Alli University, as well as Ekpoma and Auchi Polytechnic. The young women were presented with cheques, which will cover the cost of tuition, books and accommodation.

“Gear Up for School” is another campaign MoneyGram just concluded in October. During this campaign, we gave out school packs with pencils, pens, notepads, water bottles as well as laptop computers. The three countries that mainly benefited from these initiatives were Ghana, Nigeria and Liberia. As before, we know the importance of supporting the local communities, which is why we try and sponsor as many African events as we can, right across the UK.

PM: Is there any innovative product or service we can expect during 2012 to enhance Diaspora remittance experience to Africa?
MP: We are constantly looking at ways in which we could enhance remittance experience both from send and receive side. There are a number of new additions planned for 2012 that I will be delighted to share with you at the appropriate time. We are excited that 2012 is going to be a year of wonderful surprises for all our customers at home and abroad.

PM: We are seeing mass emigration of Africans going back to Africa from the Diaspora; does this worry you as those who remit money are going back?
MP: I hadn’t seen this claim before, and I have to say that I would like to see the evidence to support it.

Africans have always travelled to and fro between the UK and Africa, so I don’t think that this is anything new. For every person who might go home to retire or set up a business, students arrive to further their education, or other Africans arrive to take advantage of job opportunities.

Despite the tough UK economy, our remittances to Africa are increasing steadily, so I believe that the size of the Diaspora in the UK is remaining constant.

PM: Convenience and security is now the core determinant for choosing a money transfer agent. New innovative methods like mobile money (M-Pesa), online transfer are now in operation in the UK. Is MoneyGram thinking of taking advantage of new innovative technology to offer a convenient and better service?
MP: We are constantly evaluating adaptation of our service to give our customers the best proposition and value for money that we can. As I have said, we plan some innovations in 2012, so watch this space!

However, with more than 95% of the UK population living within one mile of a MoneyGram location, we uniquely offer our customers a highly convenient service. Customers trust us as MoneyGram has approved Payment Institution status, is regulated by both the Financial Service Authority (FSA), Her Majesty’s Revenue & Customs (HMRC), and ring fences customers funds for added security. As a company, MoneyGram is over 70 years old, and is listed on the New York Stock Exchange. MoneyGram is the exclusive supplier of money transfer services to the Post Office, Thomas Cook and Going Places, three of the UK’s most trusted organization. These facts should assure customers that the MoneyGram is very secure and trusted.

PM: The year is coming to an end. What has been MoneyGram’s achievement in this year gone by?
MP: Personally I am most proud that more and more customers are choosing MoneyGram to transfer their hard earned money to Africa. There is a lot of competition in the UK, so for increasing numbers of people to choose us is very flattering and humbling. This motivates my team and I to work even harder to deliver an even better service in 2012.

Globally our network increased by 24% to 256,000 locations, which means that we can provide an even more convenient service.

Finally, MoneyGram won the award for the best money transfer company to Ghana at the Ghanaian UK-based Achievers (GUBA) Awards in November.

PM: Financial remittances provide a lifeline for many of Africa’s poorest. At the micro-level remittance has become a much needed and reliable source of stable income to many marginalized families, extended families and local community groups. Do you think the flow of remittance from Africans in the Diaspora is sustainable?
MP: A recent publication by the World Bank shows that the remittance trend to Africa has continued to rise. Migrants’ remittances have become an important source of external finances for the African continent.

Many Africans in Diaspora are passionate about helping and supporting loved ones back home while for others, it is about investing in capital projects, stock, bonds etc. Despite economic pressures in the UK, the Diaspora continues to send money home. We envisage that remittance to Africa will continue to grow for a long period.

PM: Any word of wisdom to your customers?
MP: I will like to encourage them to continue to use our services as they’ve been doing. We on our side will continue to improve our services with more innovative and convenient ways to send and receive money. For example, as part of our commitment to our customers this festive season, we are giving lots of gifts to celebrate Christmas and the New Year. Some of our give- aways to our customers sending money to Africa include 42 Inch Plasma TVs, Blackberry Smart phones and other exciting prizes. To enter for this draw, simply visit www.moneygram.co.uk/christmas for further details.

As MoneyGram is such an effective means to send money, sometimes fraudsters target members of the public, and try to trick them into sending a MoneyGram transfer for a bogus purpose. Beware of these scams and don’t send money to someone you don’t know. Please visit our new website for more information about how to protect yourself from falling victim to a scam. The address is http://www.moneygram-preventfraud.com/

PM: Funding and empowering Diaspora entrepreneur is the new initiative adopted by your biggest competitor Western Union in a scheme called “African Diaspora Marketplace” in partnership with USAID. Does MoneyGram has any scheme that encourage innovation, job growth and development in Africa?
MP: As I said earlier, MoneyGram is constantly re-investing in Africa – one of which is the donation of $50,000 to UNICEF program areas: child survival and development initiative in Africa. We strongly believe in giving back to the community as part of our continuous Corporate Social Responsibility as an organization. This donation formed part of our relief effort to Somalia, Kenya, Ethiopia and Djibouti all in East Africa.

The MoneyGram service is now available at over 17,000 locations across Africa via our agent partners. In Uganda, these include Bank of Africa Uganda, Buddu FxB, Housing Finance Bank, DFCU, Metropolitan Forex Bureau, Prime Forex Bureau, Stanhope Finance Company, and Orient Bank Limited. By offering the MoneyGram service, this creates jobs for Africans within our agent partner network, and stimulates the local economy to the benefit of all.

Car Review: Fisker karma

2011-12-11T22:35:00.000-08:00

It’s been three years since former Aston Martin designer Henrik Fisker displayed his Fisker Karma plug-in hybrid concept car, and with full production looming in 2012 CAR has now tried a pre-production Karma at Fontana Raceway near Fisker’s headquarters in Irvine, California. Read on for CAR’s first drive review of the new Fisker Karma.

Why has it taken three years to get the Fisker Karma into production?
Because it’s not easy setting up a car company from scratch. Henrik Fisker has been busy setting up his business and securing over £600m in investment to support the engineering development of the Karma and its plug-in hybrid powertrain. It’s a multinational project – Qatar is one of the major investors, many of Fisker’s key R&D staff come from Germany, and the Karma is being assembled by Valmet in Finland. In 2013 Fisker hopes to start producing his second-generation ‘N1’ series of more affordable hybrids at a former GM plant in Delware, USA (we’ll see the first N1 at the 2011 Frankfurt motor show) but for now it’s the Karma’s turn in the spotlight. Or rather, the sunlight of southern California.

Driving the Fisker Karma
Unleashing all 959lb ft from standstill makes the ESP switch to overload to stop the explosive twist action from scalping the 22in built-to-order Goodyears. And although the ESP calibration is still a work in progress, the green S-class-size four-seater coupe is an absolute hoot to drive. Full-throttle orders are not executed quite as fast as, say, an M division prodcut, but with all that oomph on tap and with approximately 2300 kilos of momentum to play with, the Karma is unexpectedly chuckable and slideable.

Dynamically, the Karma is a gem. Boasting unequal-length double-wishbone suspension front and rear with self-levelling dampers in the back, the Karma stays flat and composed. Isolated subframes and made-to-measure tyres with taller sidewalls ensure a better than expected ride even on the rough surfaces around the periphery of the track complex.

The steering is hydraulic rack-and-pinion with electric power assistance. At 2.7 turns from lock to lock, it is quick and attentive, turning in with buttery progression, maintaining a straight line with reassuring meatiness, applying opposite lock with speedy precision. On the damp track, we went through enough power oversteer motions to turn Henrik´s hair from fox red to wolf grey. But how can you resist when a chassis is this creamy, offering such a scaleable and transparent transition from stick to unstuck?

The other area where the Karma excels concerns the brakes. We take our hats off to the way braking, regenerating and ABS interaction are modulated without delay or detectable thresholds.

Sounds excellent so far. Any drawbacks?
A touch too much dive from the suspension under hard braking. There’s also a lack of refinement in the cooperation between the two drivetrains, only two regenerative braking stages to choose from, and the considerable weight and size of the EV-related componentry in these first-generation Karmas.

In Stealth, the engine does not come on unless the batteries are low on juice. When they are fully charged and you are driving down a hill in regen mode, the surplus energy has nowhere to go so it turns the idle engine, albeit at very low rpm. Strange beasts, these EVs.

Verdict
Fisker has produced a fine sports saloon for eco-minded enthusiasts. Although there are some rough edges to the hybrid powertrain which need to be improved upon, as a first effort the fledgling Fisker Automotive has turned their showcar into a credible alternative fuel luxury car. We look forward to our next encounter with the production Karma. By Georg Kacher

THE RAPID RISE OF AFRICAN FASHION

2011-12-11T22:33:00.000-08:00

The rapid rise of African fashion in the Diaspora is indisputable, with Tribal prints and African textiles being a huge fashion trend on the fashion runways in New York, London and Paris.

Donna Karan, the famous American designer’s recent collection was full of tribal prints with alluring necklaces. According to Gwen Stefani, her 2011 L.A.M.B collection is all about prints, prints, and prints, preferably of the vaguely African persuasion.

The latest trend appeals to the progressive woman or man who loves the bold colours and prints of rich African fabrics but with a modern design style.

African inspired designs in the past were never easy to wear without the feeling of being ethnic and ostentatious.However, the use of African textiles and prints is becoming more modern with every fashion season.

For an ultra look this festive season, why not opt for an African inspired outfit adorned with bold accessories.
A list of African designers plus design items can be obtained from Shadders online shop at www.shadderdesigners.com/online-shop.php.

Fashion4Africa - Mobilising creative enterprise in Africa

2011-12-11T22:03:00.000-08:00

Anna, as we have come to appreciate, is more than ‘highly accomplished’ in Event Management, but that is not all. Anna has a few other areas of expertise to her name: tourism, hospitality and education.

Although British born, Anna has a passion for Africa. She has been visiting her parents’ country of origin, The Gambia, since she was 7 years old. Later, as she likes to emphasise, she made a conscious decision to learn the colloquial language ‘Wolof’ so that it would enable her to integrate better and enjoy the shared feeling of unity portrayed in communal dialogue where terms such as ‘we’ and ‘us’ refer to anyone considered to belong to the community as opposed to the terms ‘they’ and ‘them’ used to identify people who are not from the community.

As maturity seeped in and her fluency in Wolof strengthened, her aspirations for The Gambia changed and her agenda started leaning more towards supporting the country and its needs - this lead to her work as a volunteer for The Gambian Tourism Authority based in London. She worked as assistance to the Director of Tourism for The Gambia. Her passion for the development of Africa heightened from this experience and this is evident in all the unpaid work she has done as well as she puts it ‘The deterioration of her savings’ to fulfil her aspirations, long-term goals and compelled duty to participate in events, programmes or issues relating to the development of Africa.

She has shown the real essence of a humanitarian and has fundraised for many great causes such as Under-17 football team in The Gambia to take their trip to Peru for the FIFA championships, and Breast Cancer Care and Girls Education for FAWEGAM. She has also volunteered and worked in many great events such as the 1996 Olympic games in Atlanta, Conference Co-ordinator of 2006 African Union Summit in the Gambia, 2008 The International Roots Festival in The Gambia (Flying over 14 film, TV and magazine journalists to The Gambia), 2008 Screen Nation Film and TV Awards London, created the 2008 Miss West Africa Sub-region Beauty Contest London concept, initiated and orchestrated the successful AFFORD UK 2010 enterprise week. All events were pioneered to support and motivate the greatness and progress of Africans, Afro-Caribbeans and other decedents of Africa in Africa and the Diaspora. Inspired by her successful co-ordination of the AU summit and current work in African Development, she finally founded the Fashion4Africa showcase.

The Fashion4Africa showcase is a fundraising initiative inspired by a cultural study into African tourism, which helped to identify the amazing potential within the modern African textiles industries, African fashion, culture music and arts from all 53 states of the continent. The study of the tourism of African fashion also highlighted the potential for enterprise and development within this industry which inspired the prize for the winner of the showcase to be sent to a fashion house to learn the business of Fashion and an established designer sponsorship to an African destination.
The current Face of Fashion4Africa is Samira Harshi and the winners of Fashion4Africa designers award 2010 were Grace Uchenna(Nigeria) Asake Agoro(Nigeria) and Maureen Amooti( Uganda).

Model & Stylist: Samantha Watson

2011-12-11T21:59:00.000-08:00

Place of birth: London, England
Height: 5› 9»
Educational background:
After finishing school with 11 GCSE, I went on to college firstly to do a Literacy level 3, in which I achieved a distinction. Then I went on to do a GNVQ UK Leisure & Tourism course where I got a distinction as well. I’m also a trained UK professional dancer with a collection of medals for ballet, jazz, rock and roll and disco dancing.

Country of origin or parents’ origin:
My father Peter (RIP) was from Belfast, Northern Ireland and my mother Roselyn was born here but her mother came from Montserrat in the Caribbean

How would you describe yourself?
I’m smarter than people think.I’m fun loving, kind, humble, a muse. I’m a glass ‚half full’ kind of girl, not judgemental, I’m a big box of tricks that i can’t put a label on. I’ve got a good side but never an ugly side and always a Lady.

Why did you choose to become a model?
I don’t think you choose to be a model. I think you are born one.
I was a very cute and pretty child and started modelling as a child. I’ve always loved having my photo taken and as I was dancing up and down the country in full glitz, it was easy to get into modelling. As a child, I was in a few runway shows and beauty contests and won a few too.

Any interests in acting? If so, what type of roles attract you?
Why yes, I am an actress as well. I’ve done a few musicals. My preferred roles of course are of a leading lady but I think I would play a good villain or a spy. Acting is a real passion of mine, eiter film, stage or TV. I hopefully will be on all three in the near future.

What’s the part of your body you like most?
I love my legs. I think they are long and sexy and they never let me down, they are very strong and i couldn’t live without them. I’ve been a trained dancer from the age of 4, and I still dance, to cheer me up or because I’m sad.

What are the qualities of your ideal man?
Someone who loves me for me, not because of the way I look, someone who doesn’t mistreat me, someone who knows that is about give and take, someone who’s got brains not just looks, someone who’s a real man because only a real man knows how to treat a real Lady.

What would you like to achieve in life?
As a mixed race female, I have found a very good role model in Halle Barry. Halle went from dancer to beauty queen to model to Hollywood actress. I feel that this is the same path that I am taking. I have always said that when I die, the world will know my name for good not evil. I’ve always known I was meant to be a Star.

Any advice to those aspiring to become models?
My advice is in the form of questions. Can you work well with others even if they may not like you? Can you get back up after you have a knock-back, wether it one knock-back or ten? Can you rock an outfit wether it’s made out of black bags or silk and not moan or complain about it? Can you handle the fact that you are there firstly to make the designer and their garment look good, and that your feelings about the look or theme of the show/shoot is not important, you are there only to do a job? Do you know it takes a lot of hard work and effort to make it in the fashion world, and that acting as if you’re a Diva from the start will hold you back?

It is alos about being one with who you are, learning from others, showing a willingness to do whatever it takes to make it (within reason) and knowing that even if you are pretty you have to have and give more than just a good face.

As a model, is there any particular thing you’d like to campaign for or against?
Yes, I would like to campaign about a few things 1) Against Age limits set in the modelling world - I believe that as long as you still look good it shouldn’t matter what your true age is. So if you look like you are 20 years old when you’re really 30, why should it matter?

2) I’m campaigning for more mixed race people to be on TV and as supermodels.We all know there are few black people in both areas but even fewer mixed race people. We are a fast growing race, but with few people to look up to. We are not black and we are not white. We need role models for our children whom they can watch and relate to.

3) I have dyslexia and I want to show others that you can be and do more than you think you can, and nothing needs to hold you back as long as you have faith in yourself.

4) I’ve been a campaigner for more help and understanding for women’s mental health issues.

What’s your message to those who organise fashion events in UK but deny models of colour a chance of taking part?
All I would say to them is this: “could you imagine this world without different colours, no green grass nor blue sky and no yellow sand”. If the answer is that we can’t live life in shades of grey, it’s the same for fashion. Only using white models or really dark models is not allowing the beautiful colour palette that exists today in the world. Models come in every shade but grey, so show that you can see the whole range.

Any other information you’d like to share with our readers?
As well as being up for a BEFFTA for Best Female Model, I’m also up for a BEFFTA for Best Wardrobe Stylist. I started as a stylist when asked to assist at London Fashion Week events in between my shoots. Since then, I have done a 1940 Vintage photo shoot, bridal shows, African outdoor events and urban catwalk shows. I was inspired to create a company named Bouyon Inc. My team consist of a professional Model Coordinator, a photographer and myself as Stylist and Creative Designer. Bouyon Inc has a website and is on Facebook. I have developed a clientele of designers who have used my skills as both stylist and creative designer to present professional themed fashion shows, venue decor, commercial or private photo shoots. I get the greatest pleasure from seeing the smiles on the designers’ faces when they see how I have made their designs, craft and accessories comesto life. I am overwhelmed at being nominated for the Stylist BEFTA award for sharing the vision and inspired presentations that I enjoy producing. I aim to continue using my gifts to keep reflecting the designer’s concepts into reality.

How can someone book you?
Through my agent
models@mahoanymodelmanagement.com
Fashions Finest: skydrop6@yahoo.com
samanthastylist@yahoo.com

Exclusive Interview with: Kingsley Aikins Diaspora Matters founder and former CEO & President of The Worldwide Ireland Funds

2011-12-11T21:56:00.000-08:00

Mr. Mutenza was privileged to interview one of the greatest icon in the Diaspora movement and founder of the renowned Irish Diaspora Matters.

1. Who is Kingsley Aikins?
I am an Irish born and educated person who has lived and worked extensively overseas. I was CEO of the Worldwide Ireland Finds from 1992 to 2011. This year I established a consultancy company Diaspora Matters (www.diasporamatters.com) to work with Governments, companies, organisations and individuals to help them develop strategies to connect with their Diasporas. I write and lecture extensively on diaspora and philanthropy issues and have put together Toolkits on both topics. I am very actively involved with Ireland’s efforts to develop greater connections with her Diaspora.

2. What inspired you?
Two things really. Firstly, I raised a quarter of a billion dollars in the Irish Diaspora to fund projects of Peace, Culture and Charity in Ireland, North and South. This was at zero cost to the Irish government and the Irish taxpayer. I saw the power and influence of the Diaspora in bringing about peace in Northern Ireland.

Secondly, I asked myself a number of questions as follow. What made China the world’s manufacturing powerhouse, what made India a global technology hub, what made Israel the second largest venture capital country in the world and what helped bring peace to Northern Ireland? To me, the answer to each of those questions was the same ie networking with their diasporas primarily in the USA. When you put it in that context, then the power and potential is obvious.

What inspires me is that so many countries are now realising that and are beginning to see their diasporas as terrific resources but they need to find ways to connect with them. Emigration is being viewed differently and there is the possibility that brain drain can become brain gain and brain exchange. There are 215 million people who live in a country other than the one they were born in and that number has tripled in 40 years. Communications and technology are making it possible to identify and connect with these people in new and innovative ways.

3. Best way to harness the Diaspora?
There is no ‘one size fits all’ but there is, I believe, stages of evolution that countries tend to go through. For many countries, that starts with remittances and moves to philanthropy followed by business networks followed by venture capital. Perhaps the best way to start is to try to figure out what the home country can do for the Diaspora rather than always looking to what the Diaspora can do for the home country. The key is to build networks and begin to apply the 4 phase process of Research, Cultivation, Solicitation and Stewardship that are outlined in the Diaspora Toolkit.

4. Lessons from Ireland
Every country does it differently and Ireland is no exception. The political problems in Northern Ireland were an ‘ever present’ in diaspora affairs. However, the key lesson for Ireland is that hundreds of different organisations grew up around the world. This, in my view, is a confirmation
that there is no such thing as an Irish Diaspora, rather there are dozens of Irish diasporas and you need different strategies to deal with each one. The glue that keeps them all together is self interest which is why it is important that they need to see that they get something out of the relationship with the home country. In Ireland’s case, some organisations flourished and some failed. Key is always the quality of the leadership. In short, then, I believe in ‘letting a thousand flowers bloom’.

5. Diaspora Bonds
Key here is distribution, credibilty and reportability. Israel and India are the gold standards in this field. Easier said than done.

6 Role of Government
My view is that governments are better as facilitators than implementers but they have a very important role in giving their imprimatur and approval and allowing their facilities eg embassies to be used. However, if the market does not respond, then sometimes they have to intervene to kickstart activity. Obviously, some activities such as the issuance of bonds or certificates of citizenship need to be run by governments.

7. Hillary Clinton’s Initiative
This was the first ever such event held by the US government and was very significant for that. It reinforced a realisation by the US State Department that this is an important topic and is part of America’s ‘soft power’ that can lead to hard impacts. It is also part of the reinvention of how America sees its role in the world and is part of the 21st Century Statecraft approach of US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton. Working closely with US based Diasporas greatly helps America’s influence in the world. I think it is fair to say that peace would not have occurred the way it did in Northern Ireland without the role played by the US government and the Irish Diaspora in the US.

Hillary Clinton has also announced the creation of IdEA - International Diaspora Engagement Alliance - which could play a very big role in the future.

8. Your message to governments who don’t engage their Diaspora
The message is simple. You are missing out. Other countries are now doing it and some of the most successful countries in the world have been doing it very well for a very long time. It is proven to work. Now techology and communications are making it more possible. Migrants tend to be very successful and we need to tap into their success, wealth, contacts, know-how and experience. We now live in a world where it is not who you know, not even what you know but who knows you. The key to success is thriving in a networked age. The world is no longer even about countries but rather cities and regions where clusters of creative people congregate.

9. Investing in Uganda
I have watched Tullow Oil in Uganda....very successful Irish company. I am not in a position to invest but clearly they are very happy with it and this will lead to more. The West needs to understand just what an economic powerhouse Africa is. They don’t, but key people in the Diaspora could help get this message out.

10. Words of encouragement
This is an incredibly exciting time for the potential of developing greater involvement with diasporas. Everybody can play a role and governments need to make that clear. Every government department, corporation, organisation, province, town, village and individual can do something. It needs inspiring leadership and a ‘national call to arms’. If that happens, then amazing results will ensue. Key to success is innovation, identifying people who can make things happen and engaging the next generation.

Fashion icon Ozwald Boateng Sets up New Charity to Fund African Infrastructure Projects

2011-12-11T21:51:00.000-08:00

African visionary and international designer, Ozwald Boateng, in collaboration with Nigerian businessman, Kola Aluko, and Nigerian oil and gas company, Atlantic Energy Drilling Concepts Limited (“Atlantic Energy” – http://www.atlanticenergy.com), has agreed to establish a multi-million dollar charitable organisation, Made In Africa Foundation, to focus on first-stage funding of infrastructure projects in Africa.

The Foundation will provide “first mile” finance to Africans and African businesses involved in the development of major infrastructure projects in the region. Finance will be awarded for the drafting of feasibility studies and business plans ahead of seeking project finance from sources such as private equity, development finance institutions and commercial banks.

Infrastructure development is the key factor in the transformation of sovereign economies from developing to emerging market status. According to the International Finance Corporation, the estimated financing requirement to close Africa’s infrastructure deficit amounts to US$93 billion annually until 2020. Much of this money is available, but it cannot be applied until the requisite business plans and feasibility studies have been developed to enable capable sponsors and funding to come together. A lack of capital to get to this stage has meant that many opportunities have not been pursued and few projects have been undertaken by Africans or African businesses.

Made In Africa Foundation and Atlantic Energy plan to initially finance independent power project feasibility studies across Africa, and the Ugandan urban renewal master plan for Kampala’s Naguru Nakawa redevelopment.

Ozwald Boateng commented: “It’s a well-known statistic that US$400 million of funding for feasibility studies and master plans across sub-Saharan Africa would develop over US$100 billion of infrastructure projects, which in turn would create a trillion dollars of value across Africa. The first step is often the hardest and we have created this Foundation with Atlantic Energy to make that step easier for Africans.”

Dayo Okusami, General Counsel and Executive Director of Atlantic Energy, added: “Atlantic Energy’s philosophy is based on the pillar of Enduring Commitment − an abiding promise towards corporate responsibility for the sustainable development of infrastructure projects in Nigeria and others parts of Africa. Atlantic Energy is pleased to be a founding donor and supporter of this exceptional charity and we look forward to fostering a continent-wide push for sustainable infrastructure development. In this regard, Atlantic Energy Drilling Concepts Limited has committed to underwrite US$7 million for the independent power project feasibility studies, the Ugandan urban renewal master plan, as well as the Foundation’s running costs for the first three years.”

About Made In Africa Ltd:
Made In Africa Ltd was founded in 2006 by Ozwald Boateng, Chris Cleverly and Pr. Hassan Kimbugwe. It is a Mauritius-based company dedicated to bringing innovative ideas and capital to Africa. Made In Africa co-hosted with former Ghanaian President Kufour the State Banquet for Ghana’s African Union conference, and the UK’s Department for International Development 2010 Whitehall conference on Growth Corridors. Made In Africa continues to advise governments, including that of the UK Prime Minister David Cameron, on infrastructure, innovation and development finance.

About Atlantic Energy:
Atlantic Energy is a private upstream oil and gas group founded by Nigerian and international exploration and production (“E&P”) executives with an extensive track record and experience in the Nigerian E&P sector. The company currently operates in Nigeria and is dedicated to its partners and communities through its Enduring Commitment sustainability program.

Atlantic Energy Drilling Concepts Limited is a significant partner in upstream oil and gas assets in Nigeria.

Five reasons why Bluetooth Marketing could work for your business

2011-12-11T21:01:00.000-08:00

Bluetooth marketing or proximity marketing is a form of digital customer relationship marketing, aimed at the mobile phone user.

Bluetooth Marketing

Although this technology isn’t new, let’s face it we have been using Bluetooth to connect to wireless hands free kits for years, but when you consider that there are nearly 33.1 million mobile phone subscribers* in the UK there is a huge marketing potential to take advantage of.
Bluetooth marketing is currently one of the most innovative tools for engaging customers in the UK. Bluetooth can be used to engage customers in your immediate area, generally within a fixed radius of where the access point is based.
Your access point could be based at your office, showroom, church, night club, restaurant, airport, shop or place of business, or.
Bluetooth or proximity marketing is permissions based marketing activity, based on the opt-in marketing system compliant with CAN-SPAM. Individuals must first confirm to accept your message before they receive it, should they decide not to receive your messages, and they will not be offered them again.
Bluetooth marketing can be used to send a number of different types of messages to multiple recipients at any one time. For instance if the system is used to its maximum, you could reach up to 24,000 recipients in just one working day.

Messages content and design can vary, from, Get 50p off the price of coffee, Here’s my business card, Visit our event or exhibition, or just to visit our website (bear in mind that 91% of the adult population has access to a mobile phone and with 33.1m 3G service*contracts in existence that’s a lot of people who can access the net on their mobile phone).

Bluetooth marketing is a cost effective, flexible, measurable method of engaging with potential customers. If you would like to know more about what Bluetooth marketing could do for your business, call us on 0207 237 7317

HIV cure is the next frontier

2011-12-11T20:55:00.000-08:00

Prevention was the biggest AIDS theme of 2011, with new study findings showing that early antiretroviral treatment can reduce the risk of HIV transmission by nearly 100 percent, and data demonstrating that pre-exposure prophylaxis, or PrEP, can significantly reduce infection – at least for some people, some of the time.

But many researchers and advocates are looking beyond the latest advances in antiretroviral therapy and biomedical prevention toward a goal that not long ago was considered too far-fetched to warrant serious discussion: a cure for HIV.

"Cure is the next frontier," said Rowena Johnston, vice president for research at amfAR, the Foundation for AIDS Research. "We want to make 'cure' into a family-friendly four-letter word."

AmfAR has put its money where its mouth is, recently announcing $2.1 million in grant awards with an emphasis on cure-focused research; among the 13 grants, three went to researchers in San Francisco. The funding will also cover fellowships to support promising young researchers in the HIV/AIDS field.

The resurgence in cure-related research in recent years has come from the realization that, even with today's highly effective antiretroviral drugs, people will not be able to treat their way out of the epidemic.

"Antiretrovirals are pretty good, but people have to adhere to them for a lifetime, they are costly, and they have side effects," Johnston told the Bay Area Reporter .

Further impetus was provided by the "Berlin patient," San Francisco resident Timothy Brown, who appears to have been cured of HIV after receiving two bone marrow transplants to treat leukemia, using stem cells from a donor with naturally resistant CD4 T-cells.

While the grueling and expensive transplant procedure is not suited for widespread use, it offers clues about how cells might be protected from the virus – clues that have spurred efforts to recreate this effect using gene therapy to artificially remove an HIV receptor known as CCR5 from patients' T-cells.

The International AIDS Society has made curing HIV one of its key focal areas. An IAS working group, spearheaded by Nobel laureate Francoise Barre-Sinoussi and Steven Deeks of UCSF, is developing a global scientific strategy for cure-focused research to be presented at the 2012 International AIDS Conference next summer in Washington, DC.

Local grants

Researchers are exploring a wide range of approaches to either completely eradicate HIV from the body or – more likely – cripple the virus enough that a person's immune system can keep it under control without lifelong daily treatment.

In addition to gene therapy to protect cells from infection, several strategies involve flushing latent HIV out of resting T-cells, making it vulnerable to antiretroviral drugs and immune defenses. Other strategies attempt to boost immune responses to tackle the virus.

AmfAR's local grants will fund three research teams at UCSF that are taking three completely divergent approaches to the problem. The grants are each for $120,000.

Koh Fujinaga and colleagues will study reactivation of HIV gene expression using compounds known as HDACs and PKC agonists. A better understanding of how HIV maintains latency in resting cells may aid development of therapies to eliminate this viral reservoir, enabling people to stop antiretroviral therapy without the virus coming back.

Hiroyu Hatano and her team will study whether angiotensin-converting enzyme or ACE inhibitors – a type of drug usually used to treat high blood pressure – can reduce the buildup of scar tissue in lymph nodes.

"Lymph nodes become scarred with collagen in response to HIV, and this scarring prevents immune cells that fight HIV from recognizing infected cells," Hatano explained. "We will test whether ACE inhibitors will decrease the amount of scarring and whether this helps the immune system to fight HIV better."

Finally, Douglas Nixon's team will study endogenous retroviruses, or pieces of ancient "junk" viral DNA in human chromosomes that can be reactivated when HIV infects cells; he hopes to learn more about the resulting immune response and harness it to produce a therapeutic HIV vaccine.

"In medical practice, viruses are not routinely cured," Johnston told the B.A.R. "We want to revolutionize not only how we deal with HIV, but also how we view and may ultimately eradicate a whole host of infectious diseases."

According to amfAR CEO Kevin Frost, the organization now spends 60 percent of its research grant dollars on cure-related research.

Support from independent organizations is increasingly important as government research budgets are reduced in the wake of the global financial crisis. Last year the AIDS Policy Project, a cure advocacy group, calculated that the U.S. government spends only about 3 percent of its total HIV research funding on cure-related studies.

"We're increasingly excited about the work that emerges from the cure-focused studies we fund," Frost said. "As we keep uncovering new information about the virus, we're increasingly confident that we will be able to find a cure for HIV/AIDS in our lifetime."

Scientists on path to HIV cure

2011-12-11T20:43:00.000-08:00

It's been thirty years since HIV-AIDS made world headlines but there's still no cure for the disease.

The most notable advance against HIV-AIDS has been a combination of anti-retroviral drugs which have kept full-blown AIDS from totally destroying the body's immune system.

Now, scientists are again talking about finding a cure or at least paving the way towards one.

BENKIRANE: We have a very powerful drugs against HIV and these drugs really do a great job in terms of suppressing the virus in the blood. We have about 15 years experience with these drugs, and we know they will not cure HIV. So I think one of the challenges is to try to understand why and try to develop new drugs that will make us able to cure the virus. We're talking about two types of cure: either the complete eradication of the virus from the body; or, just functional cure. What we mean about functional cure is actually to be able to stop the therapy without having viral rebound, so people can live without treatment.

Question: And central to the search for a cure, I understand is this modulator protein. Can you tell us about this modulator protein and how it works?

BENKIRANE: This is a different issue, this is more like related to the immune responses. So this protein that we actually identified is a protein that protects dendritic cells from being infected by HIV. So what are the dendritic cells? Those are the cells that normally initiate innate immunity and also orchestrate the adaptive immunities, specific immunity against a virus or an invader. The problem with this is that HIV escapes and is not sensed by these cells, so when these cells capture the virus, they do not do their job. What they do, however, because they capture the virus, they express the receptor and everything required for the binding and they take the virus up to the lymph nodes, where the virus likes to replicate the most, which are the activated CD45 T cells. Because these cells are the first cells that contact the virus during transmission, what is aimed is to actually make these cells able to sense the virus and one way to do that is to make them permissive to the virus. To achieve this, we have to identify the restrictions so that they operate in these cells and that is the SAMHD1 that we identified. The hope here actually is to see if we act on this protein, if we make these dendritic cells permissive to the virus, that will initiate innate immunity and they will also orchestrate a good and very early adaptive immunity against HIV which may lea d to a better control of the virus.

Question: Dr Benkirane, it's World AIDS Day. What is your assessment of the medical and scientific work that's been going on so far towards finding a cure? Thirty years on, is there global collaboration, are we moving forward?

BENKIRANE: Yes, there is global collaboration. I think there have been really great progress in HIV AIDS in terms of treatment, vaccine and prevention. I think the most important thing that we recently learned is that treatment is prevention, because people who are treated, people who are under suppressive drugs barely transmit the virus. I think this is some really important information.

Now the vaccine field is moving very nicely, I think because of the recent Thai trial. I think it's the first time we have some hope. It's not going to beat that, but I think it's a good starting point. The other challenge that I think we're going to have to face is the cure, trying to develop a way to help the anti-viral therapy that we currently make, either to be able to eradicate the virus or at least have a functional cure.

London pastors put lives at risk with HIV 'cure'

2011-12-11T20:39:00.000-08:00

A London church has been putting lives at risk by telling HIV-positive worshippers to stop taking their medication because God had "cured" them.

Undercover reporters posing as HIV sufferers were told they could be healed by pastors at the Synagogue Church of All Nations in Southwark.

After a "healing" process where the pastor sprayed water in their faces and shouted over them asking for the devil to come out, the "patients" were told they could discard their medication.

Sky News, which carried out the exposé, said at least six patients in the UK have died after being told by various churches to stop taking HIV tablets.

Jason Warriner of HIV and sexual health charity Terrence Higgins Trust said: "We're really worried to hear that individuals have been given false information about HIV treatments which, dangerously, put lives at risk.

"It's essential anyone living with HIV keeps taking the treatments that they've been prescribed by their health professionals to prevent severe ill health."
Former health secretary Lord Fowler, who led the HIV and Aids awareness drive in the Eighties, said the church's message was dangerous.

He said: "It is foolish advice and it is tragic advice because the consequences of this kind of advice can only be that people pass on HIV and can only be seriously bad for the individual concerned - including death."

Sky sent three undercover reporters to the church, where they said they were HIV positive and were told they could be healed.

They are filmed giving "before and after testimonies", which are put on the church's website.

One of the pastors, Rachel Holmes, told a reporter that if symptoms such as vomiting or diarrhoea persist, it is a sign of the virus leaving the body.

In a statement, the Synagogue Church of All Nations said: "We have not done anything to bring about healing, deliverance or prosperity. If somebody is healed, it is God who heals."

source: www.thisislondon.co.uk

How to beat the winter bugs

2011-12-11T20:37:00.000-08:00

THE clocks have gone back and winter is on its way. As illnesses start spreading around work places and schools, it is likely that many of us will be struck down with some kind of ailment in the next few months.

But to try and avoid it there are a number of steps you can take to keep yourself as fit and healthy as possible.

Always eat plenty of fresh fruit and vegetables and try to exercise regularly and get plenty of sleep, says Dr Charlotte Jones, deputy chair of the British Medical Associations Welsh GP committee.

Wash your hands regularly to avoid the spread of infections and wipe down hard surfaces and handles regularly to kill off germs.

At this time of year, vulnerable people, including the elderly, should take extra precautions to keep themselves healthy.

Mathew Coffin, Ageing Well Team Leader at Age Concern Cardiff and Vale of Glamorgan, said: One of the most important ways to stay well this winter is to get the flu jab.

We recently did a survey about why people are not having it and many people already think they are fit and healthy so they would not have it. They feel they have never had a problem before and that the flu jab might even give them flu, which can’t happen as it is a dead virus. People often said they felt unpleasant side effects from the flu jab but it is often that they have caught something else at the same time.

People should always try to keep warm in their own home. Many people are turning down the thermostat because of rising fuel costs but we can give thermometers out that monitor the temperature, which should be between 18C and 21C.

Eating well is also important to stay healthy and people should make sure they stock up their cupboards. We have had a bit of snow in the last couple of years so people may not be able to get out and they work their way through their cupboards and don’t eat very well. Trying to stay active in the winter months will also help. We tend to stay inside during winter but some exercise will help.

Dressing well for warmth is also an issue. It’s almost common sense but we say that a few layers is better than just putting on one jumper. Wearing a hat can also help.

However, if you do succumb to viruses and other illnesses, Dr Jones has provided tips on ways to minimise your symptoms and get you back on your feet sooner rather than later.

She said: If you do get ill, don’t forget the catch phrase ‚catch it, bin it, kill it’. Sneeze or cough into tissues and bin tissues immediately.

Many of the winter ailments are due to viral infections. These are often unpleasant but don’t require antibiotic treatment as antibiotics are only effective with bacterial infections.

Also, many people are unaware that if they are given antibiotics wrongly, they run the risk of getting antibiotic resistance. This means more difficult to treat infections that don’t respond to the usual antibiotics and can be a major problem.

Coughs and colds are often quite mild and tend to clear up within five to seven days. The main treatment for all viral illnesses is to drink plenty of fluids, eat healthily, rest and take paracetamol as per pharmacy or medical advice. Steam inhalation is helpful as it helps the nose drain. Honey and lemon can help with a sore throat.

Avoid sneezing over other people, in particular pregnant women and patients with immune problems or having cancer treatment.
If someone truly has flu it will make them very unwell. They will have a high temperature, all joints and muscles will be aching and they may be sweaty and clammy. The main treatment is to drink plenty of fluids, rest, try steam inhalations and take paracetamol or ibuprofen (provided they don’t have asthma or stomach problems) regularly.

If people are getting worse despite this or if they have breathing difficulties, then they need to seek urgent medical advice. People more at risk with chronic illnesses such as asthma or heart problems should always speak to their doctor or pharmacist for further advice.

Of course anybody who is eligible for the flu vaccine should make sure they get it before the flu season starts and should be booking themselves in now.

Sore throats are mainly viruses and very rarely require antibiotics unless you are having huge difficulty swallowing or not responding to pain relief or medicines to reduce your temperature. For patients aged over 16, gargling aspirin can help.

Around 90% of viruses should settle without antibiotics, but if it is getting worse rather than better, and the patient is having difficulty or severe pain on swallowing or not able to swallow their own saliva or a thickened voice then they might need further treatment and should seek advice.

Dr Brendon Mason, Consultant Epidemiologist at Public Health Wales, warned of a return of flu and winter vomiting bug norovirus this year and provided advice on what to do if you are unlucky enough to fall victim to them.

He said: Obviously eating five fruit and vegetables a day and exercise will help keep you healthy in general, but it won’t be a fool-proof barrier to viruses.

The two diseases that we tend to think about during winter are the winter vomiting disease and flu.

If you have either of these illnesses, do not go to work and do not let children who have them go to school. Anyone with diarrhoea should not go back to work for 48 hours after the symptoms have resolved. Most of us will try to stagger into work but it really is better to stay at home. Providing you are reasonably fit you can self-treat drink plenty of fluids and rest.

If you are ill, being well insulated and keeping warm is always good.

If you need medical help, you can get expert advice from the NHS, your local pharmacist, and your GP.

Mens Fall 2012 Fashion Trends: His Wardrobe - Men’s Fashion Trend

2011-12-11T11:12:00.000-08:00

Despite the fact that fall 2012’s fashion trends are very much the same as fall 2011’s fashion trends, we still wait for it, to pick the most special one that suits you and your style. Who said that men don’t care about fashion, they may not be that much interested as women. But still they get a pretty much great, various, luxurious and comfy fashion trend collection. This fall fashion trend collections are spectacular. Many of the looks you’ll find here will still be in-fashion come 2012 and beyond. Which is a great thing – it means you can afford to spend more on a suit thus buying a quality piece of workmanship that you’ll still be able to wear for many a year to come. The same can’t be said of most fashion trends.

This theory are mostly applied for men suits.While suiting and formal-wear trends for men aren’t seasonal (unless, of course, you’re talking about the weight of the cloth) and play out over several years, 2011 and 2012 continue the dominance of two qualities that any modern suit you invest in should aspire to have: classicism and masculinity, The classic part is the easy part. A good suit for this decade will take the best elements from the peak eras of men’s suiting and apply them to a modern silhouette. The masculinity of a suit is less easy to define; one can’t simply enter a tailor’s and request a suit infused with masculinity. Sadly, it doesn’t work that way. Instead, suits for 2012 and 2013 are all about a cut that compliments the male physique.

The types of suits vary from colors, designs and inspired era. A two piece suit is very popular and the most worn style by men. They are very formal and fully occasional suits. The colors are what determine when to exactly wear it. You can wear a gray striped suit with a white shirt; it can be a casual suit or with a proper tie and it will fit any formal occasion. The three-piece suit is a gorgeous suit that gives you the 60’s look. The three-piece in 2011 / 2012 is all about cohesion; forget the mismatching style prevalent in the early parts of the 20th Century and in the 1980s. The return of the three-piece suit means that the waistcoat has to be cohesive and thus, in the same fabric as the suit’s other two pieces. Men should always take good care of the look that reflects their character, and influence their work and business life.

World Travel Market 2011 Experiences 5% Increase in Visitors

2011-12-11T10:58:00.000-08:00

From one stand to the other, meetings to seminars and exhibition to sealing off regional/continental deals, the World Travel Market (WTM) has for the 32 years of its existence been one of the sustainable platforms for competitiveness and innovation in the global travel and tourism trade.

This year’s edition is not different. Riding on the success of the 2010 edition that saw a total industry participants of 47,532 people, 5,053 exhibiting companies, 2,648 international press and about 189 countries and regions, the 2011 WTM is once again engaging global travel business in networking that will hopefully surpass the massive £1,425 million revenue generated last year by exhibitors.

By meeting, networking, negotiating and conducting business under one roof, participants efficiently and productively gained immediate competitive advantage for their business and stay abreast with the latest developments in the travel industry.

With 183 new exhibitors, over 65,000 participants, the leading global event for the travel industry witnessed appreciable growth, and almost doubled the revenue generated in last year’s edition.

The growth has been largely driven by the technology and online travel region that hosted 71 exhibitors with their stands for the first time. The increase is symptomatic of the growth of the importance of technology in the industry. Companies making their débuts covered virtually every aspect of the online travel world.
However, 15 out the 183 new exhibitors were from Africa. The development, according to Jeffery, highlights the continued development of African tourism. Those making their débuts include the Democratic Republic of Congo, newly-formed ground-handling company - Albrieux Africa Tours, truck touring specialist - Nomad Adventure Tours, destination marketer - the Regional Tourism Organisation of Southern Africa, and the Savoy Sharm el Sheikh.

Among the traditional participants from the African region, the fair was a scramble for business, investments and partnerships. Nigeria did not fail to impress the global visitors to its stand with outstanding branding. Unlike the previous edition, the Nigerian contingent led by Nigerian Tourism Development Corporation (NTDC), witnessed for the first time, participation of more tour operators who, together with the staff of the corporation, sold Nigeria travel, business and tourism potential to the visitors.

From Remlords Tours, Akwaaba African Travel Market, Radisson Blu, Eko Hotel & Suites, Cross River Tourism Bureau, Divine Tours, Gani-Tarzan Marine Enterprises Nig. Ltd., Hotel Owners Forum Abuja (HOFA)/Federation of Tourism Association of Nigeria (FTAN), the business was ‘Destination Nigeria.’

As expected, most visitors showed concern about visiting Nigeria with the security alerts and travel advices from the home countries advising against such visits. But the well-informed contingent was able to seal many deals for the country. Many are coming for business and leisure in the coming months and the new year, because of the many business opportunities they could take advantage of in the country.
As OlusegunRunsewe, director general, NTDC, notes, “Nigeria is the business hub of Africa, not minding the security issues that are often over bloated. We are peace loving people. I can assure you of safety as the Nigerian government is working to make the country safer for all visitors and investors alike.”

The highlight of Nigeria’s participation was the launch of two new products by NTDC at the fair. The products include an online publication that explores and exposes all the tourism and business opportunities in the country to the global readers and would-be investors, while the second is a virtual tour of the 32 top tourism sites in the 36 states of the federation for easy access to everyone in and outside the country.

In his remarks at the launch held at the Nigerian stand in WTM, Runsewe noted that the corporation developed the products in line with today’s technology and in response to the need to take Nigeria to the global travellers, would-be investors and tourists.

Onag Nkereuwem, CEO, Remlords Tours, thought the country offers irresistible investment opportunities that continuously woo foreigners to her shores. Commenting on the improved participation of the Nigerian private sector at the fair, Ikechi Uko, CEO, Akwaaba Africa Travel Market, said the development suggests that Nigerians are beginning to realise that national development is not sole government responsibility, but all stakeholders.

Interview: Ambassador Patrick Mugoya, the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Tourism Wildlife and Heritage

2011-12-11T10:24:00.000-08:00

Uganda is very interested in the Ugandans in the Diaspora and sees them as Ambassadors for marketing Uganda abroad. Accordingly, UTB intends to identify new clusters in which Ugandans in the Diaspora can be mobilized and sensitized so as to encourage not only themselves but also their friends, relatives and acquaintances to visit Uganda.

The Promota: Uganda was selected the world’s tourist destination for the year 2012 by “Lonely planet”, an international publisher of the world’s largest travel guidebook and digital media. How is Uganda Travel Bureau (UTB) taking advantage of this accolade, internationally?
Ambassador Mugoya: Uganda Tourism Board has incorporated this recognition into the country’s short term and medium term marketing campaign through a number of initiatives including; the use of social media to market the various tourism destinations and products in Uganda; encouraging destination endorsement through familiarization trips by the leading tourism suppliers and celebrities coming to Uganda.

We have emphasized this strategy in all up-coming conferences such as the Inter-Parliamentary Union Assembly due to take place in April 2012 and major National events like, the upcoming 50th Independence Anniversary Celebrations of Uganda 2012. We are urging the highest levels of political and other structures to embrace it as part of the national promotion initiative.

PM: What are Uganda’s unique selling points? Have there been any new discoveries or projects taking place?
Ambassador Mugoya: The new projects taking place include, repositioning of the Tourism sector with the creation of a fully fledged Ministry and prioritization of the sector in the National Development Plan.

By regional and international comparison, Uganda is exceptionally endowed with unique and rich ecological and cultural resources; hence the historical brand as the “Pearl of Africa” stated by Sir Winston Churchill in 1908. Over 270 tourist attraction sites have so far been recorded including 10 National Parks and 13 Wildlife Reserves, 13 Wildlife Sanctuaries, 5 Community Wildlife Areas, 506 Central Forest Reserves and 191 Local Forest Reserves. All are characterized by mosaic of landscape inhabited by and comprising a unique diversity and richness of wildlife, cultures and way of life of indigenous peoples.

Uganda’s unique selling points include the following; Uganda hosts 54% of the world’s Mountain Gorillas; the Source of the River Nile, the second longest River in the world; more than 1,150 species of birds which equates to 11% of global bird species, and more than 4,500 plant species which makes Uganda an eco-tourism paradise. And Mountain Rwenzori, situated on the Equator, is a mountaineering wonder with permanent snow throughout the year.

Uganda is home to a large number of primates and 8% of the global mammal diversity including the big five; 19% of the Africa’s amphibian species richness and 14% of Africa’s reptile species richness. White water rafting, bungee jumping and sport fishing also offer unique experiences on the River Nile.
The country has unique and rich ecological and cultural resources, and is also well known for its wide cultural heritage and excellent hospitality.

PM: Considering the 350,000 Ugandans believed to be in the UK, do you have any plans to tap into this market?
Ambassador Mugoya: Uganda is very interested in the Ugandans in the Diaspora and sees them as Ambassadors for marketing Uganda abroad. Accordingly, UTB intends to identify new clusters in which Ugandans in the Diaspora can be mobilized and sensitized so as to encourage not only themselves, but also their friends, relatives and acquaintances to visit Uganda. This will be done in collaboration and coordination with the Uganda Missions abroad, as representatives in the source markets.

PM: Uganda earns over 650 million US Dollars from over 500,000 tourists annually. Why is it that very little is invested in promoting the industry compared to other regional markets?
Ambassador Mugoya: For sometime the focus of government was on investing in sectors that would enable the economy to recover, such as agriculture, infrastructure, industry, health, education and security, after the many years of upheaval prior to 1986. Since then, a lot has been achieved and the focus is now shifting to sectors likely to further catalyze the growth of the economy such as tourism.

PM: The tourism industry was growing during the most severe economic crisis of a generation, and it was said that the number of international tourists globaly in 2012 would break through the one billion barrier. What are you doing to ensure that tourism is sustained to maintain growth?
Ambassador Mugoya: Steps being undertaken to ensure that tourism is sustained to maintain growth include; the review of Uganda’s Tourism Master plan which expired in 2003, the development of a responsive tourism marketing strategy, focusing on international, regional and domestic tourism promotion and skills development to ensure quality service delivery.
The Ministry is also positioning itself to ensure protection and sustainable utilization of Uganda’s natural and cultural heritage resources, reviewing key issues that affect the overall destination competitiveness and carrying out product development through Public Private Partnerships. We have also embarked on the promotion of domestic tourism including the formation of Tourism clubs in schools.

PM: Ugandan Embassies have always been poorly branded and under-utilised when promoting Uganda. Are there any plans to change this in par with most African countries?
Ambassador Mugoya: Embassies are an important tool for destination promotion. When poorly branded and utilized, they become a weak link in the chain for Tourism promotion. We therefore intend to brand the Embassies, identify and train personnel in order to promote tourism in source markets. We shall also increase our support to the Embassies with the necessary marketing materials.

PM: Africa is leading the world in mobile commerce with the travel industry at the forefront of the movement, reveals the WTM Global Trends Report, released in early Nvember 2011 at World Travel Market. What plans have been set up by UTB to promote tourism via technology?
Ambassador Mugoya: UTB together with other strategic Tourism Partners intends to further leverage the power of technology in promoting Uganda as an attractive tourism destination through the development of a National tourism portal and a dedicated social media campaign.

PM: Were the Ministry of Tourism’s expectations realised at the WTM?
Ambassador Mugoya: The Ministry’s expectations were well met during the World Travel Market exhibition. The ministry participated at the highest level of representation. The delegation was led by Hon. Prof. Ephraim Kamuntu, Minister of Tourism Wildlife and Heritage and included private sector participants.
Overall, the attendance at the Uganda stand was encouraging gauging from the interactions with the participants. The delegation participated in a number of activities, including the Ministerial meeting that addressed the topic ‘How Tourism can prosper during times of uncertainty’. At the Regional Ministers meeting hosted by Hon. Ephraim Kamuntu, members discussed joint marketing activities of the East African Region; a networking cocktail for Uganda’s business partners at the Uganda stand, where a number of Uganda’s Tourism attractions were highlighted and the World Travel and Tourism Council meeting.
Uganda registered a substantial number of inquiries on the country’s products, while the private sector participants signed a number of contracts with international tour operators. The interest in Uganda’s stand reflected the big potential the country has. During his stay, Hon. Ephraim Kamuntu also gave a number of press interviews.

PM: What are the best opportunities to invest in tourism in Uganda and what incentives are in place?
Ambassador Mugoya: Uganda has a favorable investment climate with a one-stop investment centre, the Uganda Investment Authority. The areas for investment include among others, accommodation, tour, travel operations and charter flights, heritage parks, and entertainment centers, water transport, angling/ sport fishing, water rafting, game ranching, restaurants, tourism and hospitality training institutions.

PM: Normalcy is back in Northern Uganda. Are there any plans to rejuvenate the tourism industry in the region especially the cultural sites?
Ambassador Mugoya: There are plans to rejuvenate the Tourism Industry in the northern region. The documentation is ongoing of the tourism sites to be put in the database for future development. The preservation of four memorial sites in conjunction with the communities, has already commenced. A strategy to promote the northern slave trade route, covering Fort Patiko, Pabo, Wadelai, Dufile and Nimule is also ongoing. The Fort Patiko trail was launched in September 2011 as part of the activities to mark the World Tourism Day. Plans are also in advanced stages to develop the Tourism facilities at the Nyero Rock paintings in Eastern Uganda.

Lonely Planet’s names Uganda as Best Destination to visit in 2012

2011-12-11T09:21:00.000-08:00

If you go to a travel agency in the West – it is most likely that you will not be offered any informational material about Uganda – gorillas might be an exception. The truth is that Uganda has not been seriously considered by most travel and tour companies except as an add-on or extension to a safari in Kenya or Tanzania. And when it comes to mountain gorillas – Rwanda is often more promoted by travel agents as the place to visit these beautiful animals, rather than Uganda.

In truth, Uganda has not actively promoted itself as a prime tourist destination. This is evident when one looks at the money allocated for such promotion. Uganda has relied on ‘accidental tourism’ (those who discover Uganda on their own) and on Ugandan tour operators doing their best to promote Uganda as a choice African safari destination. In comparison, nearby countries run circles around Uganda when it comes to promoting tourism for their countries.

In spite of the above, more and more travelers have discovered that Uganda is not just a mere gorilla and chimpanzee trekking add-on to their Tanzania or Kenya Safari, but is an African country travel destination that stands on its own. Uganda is a ‘big-5 plus’ destination – the plus being the best mountain gorilla and chimpanzee destination in Africa. It stands also for having over 1040 species of birds, a true bird- watchers’ paradise. The plus stands also for volcano hiking and climbing, such as Mount Sabinyo and Mount Elgon amongst others, and also for climbing the tallest Mountain range – the snowcapped Rwenzori Mountains. The historic River Nile, offers also the best white water rafting, kayaking, river surfing and more. In addition, Uganda is the best place to see tree-climbing lions in Ishasha and also Kidepo Valley Park. Visitors will also be delighted with the golden monkeys of Mgahinga National Gorilla Park, the jungles of Kibale Forest and Semliki. Lastly, the ‘plus’ stands for a discovery of authentic African culture – lived out daily, not just as a tourist-orientated presentation.

Uganda was picked by Lonely Planet for good reasons, as the best country to visit and as far as I am concerned – not just for 2012 but anytime. Uganda is Africa as you imagine it to be – only better! It has ten fabulous national parks plus wildlife reserves including one of the most remote parks in all of Africa – the Kidepo Valley Park. It is a safe place to visit in spite of erroneous reports by ill-informed reporters who are based in Nairobi or Johannesburg. Lonely Planet called Kampala as one of the safest capitals in Africa – a place where you can safely take a walk, unlike other places in East Africa.

Is Uganda the best African country to visit? International Airlines seem to think so, as more and more are adding Entebbe to their routes – some, as British Airways have dramatically increased their weekly flight numbers. So why not make Uganda your destination of choice for 2012?

by Jon Blanc.

The Rwenzori Mountains of the Moon

2011-12-11T09:08:00.000-08:00

Uganda – Still a Hidden Safari Destination

Rwenzori Mountains were declared a Forest Reserve in 1941. This reserve was recognized as the largest catchment area giving rise to numerous streams that supply water to the surrounding communities as well as maintaining the flow of water to lakes Edward, George and Albert. Rwenzori Forest reserve was gazetted as a national park in 1991 and declared a world heritage site in 1995. The Rwenzori Mountains have a range covering an area of 996 sq kms, commonly referred to as the legendary “Mountains of the Moon” for its mist-shrouded, snow-capped peaks that lie 4° north of the Equator. The mountain range has six peaks that stretch from Mt. Stanley with Alexandria and Margherita (Africa’s third highest Mountain at 5109 metres), Mt. Speke

– Vittorio Emmanuele (4889m), Mt. Baker (4843m), Mt. Gessi (4797m), Mt. Emin (4791m) and Mt. Luigi de Savoia 4626). Mt. Rwenzori is re known for its un engineered, steep – slippery trails and frequent rain. High altitude, rain, cold temperatures, mud, bogs and steep terrain make it the most challenging safari in Africa. Nevertheless it is an excellent destination for keen hikers and climbers.

Exclusive Interview with His Excellency Maurice Peter Kagimu Kiwanuka Uganda’s Ambassador to Switzerland

2011-12-11T08:51:00.000-08:00