Dear Readers,
Greetings from Kampala and thanks to all who came out to support us at our 3rd annual 30th December Diaspora Gala. We had a blast and a huge turn out that saw many notable Ugandans recognized for their outstanding contributions in the Diaspora. We were particularly blessed and privileged to have some big name success Ugandan stories present.
This year’s awards recipients were: Winnie Byanyima – Executive Director, Oxfam International, Rhoda Tumusiime – Commissioner, Africa Union in Addis Ababa (one of eight Cabinet Secretaries/Commissioners), Ntare Guma Mbaho Mwine, a Ugandan actor and playwright, whose role alongside Leonardo DiCaprio in Blood Diamonds gave him world acclaim and recognition, Patrick Masambu – Deputy Director, International Telecommunications Satellite Agency, Ruth Ndyabahika – Philanthropist and newly appointed President of the International Association of the Banyakigezi.
The 2013 Ugandan Diaspora Lifetime Achievement award went to H.E. The Vice President of Uganda, Edward Ssekandi for his support and interest in Diaspora Affairs. Nominations are now open for the 2014 recipients. Below are some of the highlights of what transpired that evening at Kampala Serena Hotel.
http://www.ugandandiasporanews.com/2014/01/02/kampala-dispatch-ugandan-diaspora-gala-2013-highlights-in-pictures-volume-one/
The event this year attracted some 400 delegates and we thank all those who have made this a regular event on their yearly calendar. Fashion we were treated to some great designs by Uganda’s budding designer Martha Jabo and US based Solome Katongole who opened a new outlet in Uganda at Bold in Kisementi - http://www.ugandandiaspora.com/martha-jabo-and-solome-katongole-showcase-at-the-3rd-annual-ugandan-diaspora-gala
A highlight this year was the presentation by the new head of Diaspora Bonds Special Markets, Arnold Bagubwagye, who made a good case for the Diaspora bond as a unique alternative investment opportunity for Ugandans living abroad. This idea has been tried in Ethiopia were the biggest African dam has been constructed using Diaspora Bonds. - http://www.ugandandiasporanews.com/2014/01/06/diaspora-bonds-government-bonds-an-investment-opportunity-for-the-ugandan-diaspora-community/
This year be on the lookout for several Diaspora events. In June we shall hold our second annual Diaspora business expo in Boston that will focus on Uganda and East Africa as a whole. If your summer schedule allows, be sure to join us in June as we explore business and investment opportunities in East Africa. This will be a build up from our first event held in July last year but because Uganda Government calendar ends in July we have now moved the event to June. - http://www.ugandandiasporanews.com/2013/07/09/ugandan-diaspora-boston-business-expo-highlights-in-pictures-burlington-marriott-july-6th-2013/
In other news, our neighbors to the north have started the year with a crisis that threatens the very existence of Africa’s youngest state. President Salva Kiir and Riek Machar, a former Vice President who was sacked by Kiir, have locked horns in what is slowly becoming a tribal conflict between the Kiir’s Dinka and Machar’s Nuer tribe.
For many Ugandans doing business in South Sudan there is great uncertainty as President Museveni’s partisan support is creating a backlash in the region. A negotiated settlement could resolve the conflict since President Kiir was becoming increasingly despotic and autocratic, favoring more of his tribesmen in a country with many ethnic groupings.
Worse still, political rivalries have steadily turned ethnic, now that South Sudan is no longer united against a common enemy. But as a young democracy that gained independence on July 9th 2011 we need to pray for our Sudanese brethren to weather this storm.
On another note, we encourage our Diaspora communities to sign the petition on the Dual Citizenship law. Since it is estimated that more than 2 million of us live outside Uganda, these are big enough numbers to help bring about the change in our Dual Citizenship law which currently does not favor our children born overseas. It can be very costly not to speak up on issues that trample on your civil liberties, so help make this one of the leading Diaspora concerns of 2014 – http://www.ugandandiasporanews.com/2014/01/03/uganda-the-dual-citizenship-petition-what-are-real-facts-and-how-can-you-join-this-cause/
As we start the new year we encourage you to help spread the “Ugandan Diaspora fire” – our goal is to see a Ugandan Diaspora Magazine and Diaspora television show launched this year but to achieve this we need partners that will help us realize this dream.
Quotes of the New Year – “Life is like riding a bicycle. To keep your balance, you must keep moving.” — Albert Einstein
“Character is the ability to carry out a good resolution long after the excitement of the moment has passed.” — Cavett Robert
May 2014 be your year for greatness!!
A happy New Year.
—
Ronnie Mayanja
Ugandan Diaspora News | www.ugandandiasporanews.com |
Ugandan Diaspora Network | Event website | www.ugandandiaspora.com |
Soreel Mayas Grafx Ltd | www.soreelmayas.net | UG Media |
US | +1-978-235-2459 | UG +256- 794-999-898 | +256-703-999-898
Skype | ronnie.mayanja | Twitter | @rmayanja |
http://www.linkedin.com/in/
ronniemayanja