We would like to wish all our customers a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year

Publisher’s Letter - issue 25

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.

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

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.

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

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

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.

2012 most important career planning tips

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.

Karamojong folk: give them a chance

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

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.

[gallery]

INTERVIEW WITH SPORTS’ AGENT: GAVIN MKANDLA

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

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?

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)

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

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

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

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

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.
 

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

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

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

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

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