UK immigration bill could create 'climate of ethnic profiling' – UNHCR

UN refugee agency condemns bill which seeks to restrict access to benefits and force temporary migrants to pay for services

The UN refugee agency has condemned David Cameron's proposed immigration laws over fears they could stigmatise foreigners, deny housing to people in need and create a "climate of ethnic profiling".

In a highly critical document, the office of the United Nations high commissioner for refugees, António Guterres, raised concerns that the immigration bill will damage communities and lead to the marginalisation of refugees and asylum-seekers.

It comes after Tories reacted angrily to the UN's special investigator on housing, Raquel Rolnik, who warned earlier this year that the bedroom tax was causing "shocking" hardship in parts of the UK.

Cameron has proposed the immigration bill in order to crack down on illegal immigrants, restricting access to bank accounts and private housing, as well as forcing temporary migrants to pay for public services such as the NHS.

However, the commissioner is worried that legal refugees and asylum-seekers will be caught up in the new restrictions, as landlords, GPs and banks will find it difficult to interpret their immigration status. The commissioner said these protected groups would suffer discrimination if the legislation went ahead.

"The provisions of the bill appear likely to result in asylum-seekers, refugees and beneficiaries of subsidiary protection being stigmatised in the public mind and in their being denied access to housing or bank accounts," the UNHCR said in a briefing note to MPs.

"The UN high commissioner for refugees is concerned that if introduced, such measures could contribute towards a climate of misunderstanding and ethnic profiling that could undermine the longer-term prospects for integration of such persons and prove detrimental to social cohesion.

"Additionally, the UN high commissioner for refugees is concerned that the types of documentation carried by asylum-seekers, refugees, beneficiaries of subsidiary protection and stateless people can be varied and complex, and landlords and other service providers are likely to misinterpret the legality of their status.

"It will also impose an additional administrative burden on them. These challenges may have unintended consequences such as the denial of housing and other services to asylum-seekers, refugees, beneficiaries of subsidiary protection that result in their marginalisation and inhibit their integration in the United Kingdom."

The UNHCR, which is currently working with 10 million refugees in disaster zones such as Syria, also raised concerns about changes to the UK legal system after Theresa May, the home secretary, said she wanted to make it easier for illegal immigrants to be deported before they have the chance to appeal.

The Home Office declined to comment specifically on the UNHCR's concerns.

However, a spokesman pointed to a statement from October by Mark Harper, the immigration minister, saying: "The immigration bill will stop migrants abusing public services to which they are not entitled, reduce the pull factors which draw illegal immigrants to the UK and make it easier to remove people who should not be here."

Labour has said it backs some principles of the immigration bill but will try to amend some of the details. During scrutiny of the legislation, Helen Jones, a shadow Home Office minister, said she was concerned that British citizens from black or ethnic minority communities would be targeted for checks by banks and GPs "even though they may well have been born here".

"The worry I have is that if someone comes in from a black or ethnic minority background, the bank will not know whether they have leave to remain in the UK. The suspicion is that the bank will say 'produce a document' – a passport or whatever. "What will happen if that person does not have a passport?" she said. In response to the UNHCR, David Hanson, shadow immigration minister, said it was "disappointing that the government has voted against Labour's proposal to pilot this scheme and will instead plough on regardless".

"We've said repeatedly that whilst it's important that people who are here illegally are found and removed from this country, there are concerns over the workability and efficacy of these proposals."

 

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Gang that charged illegal immigrants £4,000 for 'guaranteed arrival in UK' is arrested by French border police

• People paid £800-£1,000 to sneak from Calais, Dunkirk or Belgium in the back of a lorry, and £4,000 to travel in specially-built compartment


• It is the ninth people-smuggling gang to be disbanded this year


• Follows attack on UK by Calais mayor for being 'immigrant magnet'

A gang of people-smugglers charging illegal migrants up to £4,000 for 'guaranteed arrival' in the UK has been arrested, it has emerged.The organised network, which operates from ferry points in Calais, Dunkirk and Belgium, charges between £800 and £1,000 to sneak people into lorry trailers.

For a premium rate, at around four times more, immigrants can travel in specially-built compartments in commercial trucks.

The gang managed to sneak people past border controls in specially-built compartments in trucks and vans

 

French police today arrested eight suspects connected to the unit, the ninth people-smuggling network to be disbanded this year.

During a raid on a flat in Calais, police found the gang of eight, 21,000 euros, £5,000, a machete and a shotgun.
Under questioning, the suspects, aged between 18 and 37, refused to admit responsibility, blaming each other, police revealed.

If found guilty of possessing firearms and aiding illegal immigrants, they face ten years in jail and fines of up to £650,000.

For £800-£1,000, immigrants could chance their luck hiding in the back of a lorry (file picture)

 

Most of them had Italian passports and were living in France legally.

Earlier this week, 10 desperate migrants who were trying to get into Britain illegally were rescued from the back of a refrigerated lorry in northern France.

The six women and four men, who claimed to be from war-torn Eritrea, locked themselves into the truck, where temperatures dropped to –4C.

They were only found because one managed to get a call out to police on his mobile phone and mumble: ‘Help!’

French police managed to track them using a GPS tracking system in the early hours of Tuesday morning.

Scathing: Calais deputy mayor Philippe Mignonet blasted the UK for being a 'magnet' for illegal immigrants

 

Six Eritreans were rescued from a similar refrigerated truck last August, and in June 2000, the bodies of 58 illegal immigrants were found in the back of lorry in Dover.

The latest bout of arrests comes just days after French officials blasted Britain for fuelling people-smuggling, estimating 15,000 people - up to 40 a day - sneak into the UK undetected.

In a blistering attack on the UK, Philippe Mignonet, deputy mayor of Calais, said the country remains ‘a magnet for illegal immigrants’ and does very little to stop them.

He added hundreds of foreigners were sleeping rough in Calais before stowing away aboard lorries and ferries.

‘According to our estimations, depending on the night, between 10, 20, even 40 are getting through,’ said Mr Mignonet.

Source

Nigeria Turns Back UK Plane Carrying Nigerian Deported After 100 Days Hunger Strike

An asylum seeker with severe mental illness who starved himself for three months in protest against deportation has been returned to Nigeria.

A flight carrying Isa Muazu left the UK on Tuesday and has arrived in Lagos.

Mr Muazu, 45, argued he could be killed by Islamist militants in Nigeria, but the Court of Appeal and an immigration tribunal refused to block his removal.

Immigration minister Mark Harper said Mr Muazu had "no right" to be in the UK and had been "successfully removed".

Mr Muazu's lawyer said his client was being taken to hospital following his arrival in Nigeria.

Mr Harper said Mr Muazu had overstayed his visa by more than five years before claiming asylum, and he was "not found to have a genuine need of protection".

'Disturbed beliefs'

"Halting the removal of Mr Muazu because of his protest would undermine our asylum and immigration system - and provide a dangerous incentive for others to follow suit," he said.

He said Mr Muazu had been offered "appropriate" medical assistance and the UK would cover the cost of an assessment in Nigeria.

Mr Muazu was held in the medical wing at Harmondsworth detention centre in west London.

A psychiatrist found his "disturbed beliefs" formed part of a severe mental illness which led him to refuse food.

A previous attempt to deport him failed when a plane carrying him was refused permission to land in Nigeria.



[tps_title]Isa Muazu loses asylum legal battle after starving self[/tps_title]

A Nigerian asylum seeker who starved himself for three months has lost his legal bid to stay in the UK.

Isa Muazu, 45, who is being held at Harmondsworth detention centre, had argued that he could be killed by Islamist militants if he was sent back.

But an immigration tribunal ruled that he would be protected by the police, army and legal system in Nigeria.

The Home Office has arranged to return him on Tuesday night. The last flight he was on had to return to Britain.

Mr Muazu is being held in the medical wing at Harmondsworth, in west London.

A psychiatrist found his "disturbed beliefs" formed part of a severe mental illness which led him to refuse food.

Legal documents submitted to the Upper Immigration Tribunal in central London said he had a severe psychiatric disorder which he "was not fabricating".

Consultant psychiatrist Dr David Bell said Mr Muazu's "self-starvation" arose from "disturbed beliefs" that formed part of his mental disorder.

The doctor, who was instructed by the Nigerian's lawyers, said it should not be described as a "hunger strike".

According to the legal papers, another expert said Mr Muazu's mental illness would be perceived as "witchcraft...with the threat of violence" in parts of Nigeria.

Flight sent back

But the tribunal said he would be able to access Nigeria's medical services, and pointed out that Home Secretary Theresa May had offered to provide facilities to take him to hospital and meet the "reasonable costs" of health care.

Mr Muazu's lawyers told the tribunal it would ask the Court of Appeal to review the decision - an application is expected to be made later.

They launched a fresh appeal to the tribunal last week after a specially-chartered flight with Mr Muazu on board was refused landing rights in Nigeria and sent back to the UK.

At the time of the failed deportation a member of the House of Lords said a doctor had judged him "too ill to fly".

Mr Muazu began refusing food in September, arguing his asylum claim "was not treated fairly".

 

[tps_title]Harmondsworth Detention Centre: A life inside[/tps_title]

What's life like inside Harmondsworth Detention Centre? After a death and disturbances, insiders say they are not surprised at what has happened.

Harmondsworth's centre is not a happy place - an institution which deals with deporting people is unlikely to ever be so.

But in the nine months since the prison's watchdog criticised the west London immigration detention centre, there have been growing concerns among refugee communities about what goes on behind its walls.

The Metropolitan Police have confirmed to the BBC that earlier this year they arrested and interviewed five members of staff after an allegation of assault against a Turkish detainee.

Police say the five have been bailed to return to a west London police station pending further inquiries.

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Estimated £31.5 million to be transferred by UK’s global workforce on ‘Family Friday’

• 20^th December is peak day in global money transfer market


• £650 million to be transferred in December


• 2.5 million individuals expected to send money to family and friends by the end of the month


• Romanians are most generous workforce

London, UK, 18th December 2013 – On the 20^th December, Britain’s global workforce are expected to transfer a record £31.5 million – almost equal to John Lewis’ record day for sales in 2012 - to friends and family worldwide, according to statistics released by money transfer company, MoneyGram. Expected to be the busiest day of the year, the festive sends are anticipated to show growth of more than 20 per cent year on year.

Family Friday, which falls on the last Friday before Christmas, is the money transfer peakin a month in which £650 million is set to be sent abroad by those anxious to share their wealth with loved ones.

It is believed that more than 162,000 people in the UK will use money transfer services on 20^th December, to give everything from the gift of financial security to a special seasonal treat over the festive period. Approximately 2.5 million individuals – one in 25 of the population - will transfer money to their family and friends using companies such as MoneyGram throughout December.

This global currency of giving makes a positive contribution at its origin and destination. The most generous nationalities are led by Romania, Bulgaria, Nigeria and India. There is set to be an increase of 30 per cent in the number of Romanians sending money home compared to an average of 6per cent across all nationalities in December. Bulgaria is in second place on 18 per cent.

That the global workforce generates shared prosperity tallies with a recent report from University College London, which revealed that migrants generate a positive economic impact and are 45 per cent less likely to receive state benefits and tax credits, than the natives.

Paul Harrison,a MoneyGram customer who regularly sends money from UK to family in Jamaica commented: “Christmas is the time of year to show love and appreciation to family members. As we won’t be in Jamaica, using money transfer services allows us to send cash quickly, conveniently and safely to family members who may be in remote locations. We work hard for our money, so we want to share it with those we love and know that it’s put a smile on their faces.”

Carl-Olav Scheible, Executive Vice President, MoneyGram comments: “Workforces may be becoming more global and fluid, but the desire to be close to family and friends at this time of year defies differences in race or culture. Sending an almost instantaneous cash transfer is the closest people can get to handing the money to loved ones themselves. Sometimes it’s a special treat, often it is a vital support to recipients, and it’s nearly always more than just a financial transaction.

The market for money transfer is growing rapidly, and it’s important that the infrastructure is in place to support those who choose - or need - to give and receive money outside the traditional banking system.”

The Promota recognises Justina Mutale as a Diaspora role model of the year 2013

The Promota media recognises Afro-Britons who have made a difference encouraging and inspiring others to be better people in 2013.

Justine Mutale:

Justine Mutalehas been making headway in advocating for women’s, children’s and human rights, Ms Mutale is Honorary Ambassador for Gender Equality and Spokesperson for the International Women’s Think Tank.  She has been featured in various international media as an Afro-Briton making a difference-listing her on the Black Women powerlist. We recognise her and as one of the Diasporas making a difference both in the UK and the world over.

About Ms Justine Mutale: African Woman of the Year | Philanthropist | International Speaker | HIV/AIDS | Human Rights Activist | Global Influencer | Honorary Ambassador for Gender Equality | Spokesperson International Womens Think Tank | Founder at Positive Runway: Global Catwalk to Stop the Spread

Lord Sheikh urges Uganda to do more to attract UK investors

Uganda is at cross roads with respect to the sort of foreign investor it should attract. Europe and Britain in particular has historical ties with Uganda and makes it a natural choice as an investment partner. But is Britain, or Europe sufficiently interested in Uganda as an investment destination?

China, the new kid on the block, has substantial cash reserves, is ready to splash out on shiny new building and roads in Africa in return for rights to Africa’s resources. Moreover, China doesn’t ask those awkward questions about human rights and corruption in the same way that the West does. But I understand that something about the Chinese is making Museveni nervous. I suspect it is the “unknown quantity” that is the Chinese agenda.

With that in mind, Museveni is keen to attract the Ugandan Asian Diaspora back to Uganda. These are sons and daughters of Uganda and should have sufficient interest in the economic growth and development of their mother country.

One such Ugandan Asian is Lord Sheikh whom I had the opportunity to meet in June 2013 at the invitation of Willy Mutenza, Chairman of Ugandan Convention in the UK. Willy had just returned from Uganda and whilst in Uganda he was tasked to hand deliver a message to Lord Sheikh about investment opportunities in Uganda.

We met Lord and Lady Sheikh at the House of Lords and spoke over cream tea. Lord and Lady Sheikh are impeccable hosts with fond memories of Uganda and still speak fluent Swahili after several years in the Diaspora. Lord Sheikh was born in Mbale, a point he was quick to mention,  as well as the beauty of Sipi falls.

The conversation centered on investment in Uganda. What should Uganda do in order to attract British based companies to invest in Uganda including those owned by Ugandan Asians?

Lord Sheikh acknowledged the work Museveni has done to stabilize Uganda and in particular praised Museveni for dealing with the HIV epidemic in an open manner that allowed the country to reduce the incidence of HIV and AIDS where Uganda’s peers had failed.

He further cited the high literacy levels in Uganda, the fact that English is widely spoken. He said that there is a good range of qualified managers as attractive qualities to would-be investors. Lord Sheikh added that this commonality of language with Britain is a big asset, however Uganda needs to “sell it” to potential investors.

He however lamented the fact that Uganda is not doing enough to promote itself. He cited Uganda’s tourism as an example, saying that it has the potential to attract investment and generate jobs for local people, but that it is not capitalizing on this, leave the whole job to patriotic people like Mutenza who are just doing it out of love for their country.

He advised that Uganda should organize a regular trade mission from the UK to Uganda to show potential investors what Uganda has to offer, in addition to regular publications to provide information and/or statistics on tourism, infrastructure, energy sector and the precise sectors that offer investment opportunities as well as areas of growth.

Lord Sheikh also shared his concerns that Arab countries in particular are not investing in Uganda’s agriculture and yet there are ample opportunities for them to do so.  On agriculture generally, Lord Sheikh said that very little Ugandan tea, coffee and flowers make it to the Arab and European markets in sufficient quantities.

Does Uganda have what it takes to rise up and take advantage of the opportunities that are out there? The future investment statistics and results will speak for themselves.

 

by Ida Horner

Juba – South Sudan Returning Home

Welcome to Juba, capital city of Africa’s newest country, South Sudan. Despite the sweltering heat, the locals love their suits and ties. And they have just celebrated their second independence anniversary this July. They proudly say their city is Africa’s largest village. The moniker, largest African village, comes from years of underdevelopment because of war.

Before 2005, this city was a garrison town full of grass thatched mud huts in the middle of a ravaging war zone.
Today, flashy comfy air conditioned SUVs crisscross the streets, mobile phones have become play toys and trendy apartments are popping up at an unimaginable rate. Business people from all corners of the globe, including the Chinese and Brazilians have swarmed into town to have a bite of these new found opportunities.
That means some businessmen both foreign and local have to carry three or four different cellphones, one for their personal use the rest for business.
And they very proudly display them on the coffee tables.
I was even surprised to meet a Guinean on my flight here. Dollars he said was the reason he was coming to Juba, a chance to make some good money. He said he could not find such opportunities in his home country. He even wondered why some Africans are risking all to go abroad when such opportunities abound right here in the middle of the continent.
Here in Juba, they had to start from scratch and so they need anything and everything. Just think of anything that can be sold from bottled water, cement, to generators or the food on the dinner tables, all that have to be imported.
That is the reason why Juba is listed as one of Africa’s boom cities.
All that has been a crop of the Comprehensive Peace Agreement or CPA, signed in Nairobi Kenya in 2005 between the Sudanese government of Omar Al Bashir, who is wanted in the Hague by the International Criminal Court ICC for alleged war crimes in that country, and his arch nemesis, the late Dr. John Garang, leader of the rebel Sudan People Liberation Movement or SPLM, the current ruling party in South Sudan.
The CPA agreement brought six years of a transitional period from 2005 to the subsequent referendum in 2011, when the region chose to secede from Sudan and became an independent republic.
Decades of war had relegated this vast territory which can easily swallow both Kenya and Uganda, to an era comparable to the medieval times, lamented a fellow writer friend. But he says that elusive development which the locals have yawned for is slowly coming.
Yet this city of about half a million or so people has no running water or sewage system and definitely no functional electricity grid because everybody relies on loud generators to power their electrical appliances. Even charging mobile phones is a booming business here.
The lack of piped water is the reason water tank trucks manned by Ethiopians and Eritreans crisscross the city, selling water pumped from the Nile to the locals.
And most companies are foreign owned, like the Chinese and Malaysian oil companies operating in the coveted oil fields. Crude oil exports are the source of over ninety per cent of the South Sudanese government revenues. But neighbouring Sudan which owns the pipeline and the port through which the oil is shipped to the world market has threatened yet again to close the pipeline and deprive the Juba government of their major source of revenue.
Even the only tarmacked road extending south of Juba to the Ugandan border was completed less than two years ago through a United States government funded program. Within the city itself, there are not as many tarmacked streets.
To move around one has to risk a bumpy ride on board crammed rickety passenger service vans or take the crazy motorcycles or bodabodas as they call them here. I saw four accidents here in two days with two fatalities. All involved these bodabodas.
My writer friend very modestly says this is the period of rest.
You see this country has been at war for a very long time. And now that peace has come, our people feel a need to rest and have a good time. But you have to be wise, because when the elephant has fallen, he who has no knife goes home without any meat.
What he meant was, this is the time to make or break it in Juba. But some still prefer to take it real easy and have a very good time.
Of course such good times mean blaring Afrobeat music while playing card and board games all day by roadside cafes or guzzling bottles of imported beer at midday, under the shaded mango trees by the banks of the Nile. Here is where the major foreign owned hotels and discothèques are located.
Good times can also mean uneducated youths in flashy suits preferring to look for white collar jobs in government offices because nobody wants those sweaty blue collar jobs. Leave it to the Ugandans and the Kenyans they say.
Also prostitution has become a common vice with most girls in the age old trade coming from the neighboring countries. The authorities are trying to stump out the vice by knocking down shacks and illicit brew joints.
But the greatest rabble-rouser among the locals is the endemic corruption which they say has bedeviled their young nation.
The president, Salva Kiir Mayardit had to send out letters to some of his ministers and top government officials whom he suspected of corruption, asking them to return the 4 billion dollars they stole from the government coffers.
Although an investigation was carried out, not even one suspect has been brought to book to date.
But in the past month, in a bid to fight corruption or perhaps brazing himself for a presidential election in 2015, the president has suspended his ministers of finance and cabinet affairs, pending another investigation. The two prominent ministers have been accused of trying to steal eight million dollars without authorization from the president.
The government in Juba has also been accused by human rights groups of silencing critics, including torture and unfair imprisonment of journalists and government critics like the assassination of the late columnist Isaiah Abraham, killed for his views. Also for doing little about the escalating security situation and poverty in the country, especially in the volatile and restive Jonglei state, where a rebellion has been simmering for months now, and cattle rustling and ethnic clashes remain rampant.
To the average Jubarian, life is not so rosy. Many live from hand to mouth and some survive by collecting water bottles and pop canes which litter the city streets, selling them for a pittance. Also brewing illicit liquor and hauling building rocks makes one get by.
Some have even resorted to crime. The under paid security forces have been accused of lending their guns to criminals for a piece of the loot.
Watch out and never keep a motorcycle in your house, advised my friend, unless you want to invite criminals to rob you. They also like brand new Toyotas and those other enviable brands of SUVs. You can make a million today here in Juba and lose it the next day if you are not careful.
So as the sunsets over this dusty, hot and sunny city by the bank of the Nile, I feel a pervading sense of uncertainty blanketing it. I hope the dream of these Jubarians to see their city develop and prosper shall be fulfilled.
Maybe tomorrow will be a better cooler day. Let’s hope so because today was too hot for my liking. I had to carry a bottle of water in my hand everywhere I went. One reason was to quench my thirst and the other was to stay free from any cholera or typhoid.

Carrying bottled water in the hand, that’s how they knew I was not from Juba. I was just another returnee.

by David Dedi

Born in a war torn African country, David Dedi found solace in books. This budding writer and poet, from South Sudan, Africa’s youngest nation is the author of an anthology of poetry and short stories called Borrowing Fire. As a child he grew up in refugee camps in Africa. Despite his predicament, he immersed himself into learning, seeking inspiration in works by literary greats like the late Chinua Achebe and Samuel Beckett.Through support from relatives and benefactors he was able to enrol into schools in Kenya. In 2006 after excelling in his final secondaryschool examination, he got a sponsorship at the prestigious University of British Columbia, where he graduated witha Bachelor of Arts degree in anthropology and history in 2011. Although he lost his parents in 1995at the tender age of eight, his father to a soldier’s bullet and his mother to HIV/AIDS, his quest to better his life gave him the zeal and resilience to survive, and the passion to share his experiences, through poetry and storytelling. He now lives in Canada but has recently returned to South Sudan to help in development.For him it was a poignant experience, returning home after twenty one years and meeting a changed country.

UK visas rubber-stamped in just ten minutes for Ukrainian migrants

Tens of thousands of Ukrainian nationals are having their British visas rubber-stamped in just ten minutes, an official report reveals today.

Despite the country being rated as ‘high-risk’ from fraudulent applications, visitor visas were being waved through without proper checks, inspectors found.

John Vine, the chief inspector of Borders and Immigration, found refusal rates had plummeted to just 4 per cent.

The findings emerged in a highly critical report into the visa processing centre in Warsaw, Poland. It handles about 56,000 applications a year, of which more than 36,000 are visitor visa applications from the Ukraine.

Anyone given a visitor visa can enter Britain for a set period of time, but there are scant checks on whether they leave the country at the end.

Ukraine is not part of the EU so its nationals have no rights to come to Britain and cannot work unless given specific permission. The report will raise concerns that thousands are getting in, staying and working in the black economy.

The report found inexperienced and temporary staff were under pressure to clear 45 applications a day – the equivalent of one every ten minutes.

As a result, document checks designed to prove if migrants were genuine visitors – or trying to enter the country permanently – were not carried out.

Managers were breaking rules suggesting they should review one in five cases, and in a three-month period, only 3 per cent were given additional scrutiny.

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

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.

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

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.

 

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

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.

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

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.