Mr Patrick Asiimwe, Chairman NRM UK & Ireland Chapter

The executive committee of NRM UK & Ireland Chapter on Saturday Dec 14 08 threw a grand Christmas party for Ugandans in the UK. The event took place at the Duke Emperor a Ugandan-owned banqueting suite in north London.

Uganda High Commission was represented by Mr Bernard Nangumya. In his short speech, Mr Nangumya lauded NRM UK & Ireland Chapter for organising such an event that bring Ugandans together as one family.

Mr Patrick Asiimwe, Chairman of NRM UK & Ireland Chapter called on Ugandans not to condone corruption. He also rebutted the recent BBC Panorama programme which showed Mulago hospital as a run-down institution, stressing that the programme was not balanced because it deliberately focussed on negative scenes and yet Uganda of today is far better than what the programme portrayed.

Mr Asiimwe mentioned various achievements of the NRM government such as universal primary and secondary education, liberalisation of the economy, restoration of rule of law, peace and security.

The chairman also welcomed new members to NRM. There was a noticeable presence of people from northern Uganda in the new membership.

The masters of ceremonies at the event were Geoffrey Odur Akaki and Robert Egwea, who come from northern Uganda.

The organisers showed video clips depicting the beauty and tranquillity of Uganda under the wise leadership of President Yoweri Museveni throughout the party. The videos included a full screening of the Queen’s visit to Uganda during the last Commonwealth Summit.

Mrs Joan Rwabomere (centre) networking with Robert Egwea (left) and Harriet Lamb (right)

On Thursday 12 Dec 08 a group of enterprising Ugandan met with representatives of Fairtrade Foundation at Uganda High Commission in London to explore how Fairtrade can help market Ugandan products to western markets at fair prices. The meeting was organised by the Ugandan High Commissioner in London, H.E. Joan Rwabyomere.

Fairtrade Foundation was represented by Ms Harriet Lamb – Chief Executive Officer, Mr Michael Nkonu – Project Manager (Africa) and others. This was the first of a series of planned meetings between Ugandan agencies and Fairtrade Foundation. The meetings will culminate in “Fairtrade Fortnight”, a UK nationwide effort to promote awareness and sales of Fairtrade products

Main participants included UGoNET directors Robert Egwea and Flavia Ndikuno. Mr Egwea took the opportunity to start negotiations for a fair deal for northern Ugandan farmers. Other Ugandan organisations/businesses represented were UBUPA and Exceline.

“We want to strike a good deal for our farmers by enabling them to maximise the use of ’prosperity for all’ and Fairtrade connections” Egwea said.

Mr Robert Egwea (UGoNET) interacts with Ms Harriet Lamb (Fairtrade)

‘Prosperity for all’ is a Ugandan government programme aimed at eliminating poverty through microfinance.

Ugandan farmers who organise themselves into groups or co-operatives with support from the Minister of State for Microfinance, Hon Salim Saleh, will be in a better position to get Fairtrade certification and thus market for their products abroad.

Fairtrade Foundation is a UK based global charity that seeks to transform trading structures and practices in favour of the poor and disadvantaged.

Networking: Mike Wacha, Wasswa Kajubi, David Ebong MP & Mr Effendowicz

The first ever Uganda Expo in the UK successfully took place in East London from 28 – 29 Nov 2008.

Main participants/sponsors included Bank of Uganda, Stanbic Bank, Akright Properties and International Orginasation for Migration (IOM) and Sacoma.

Two main speakers, David Ebong MP and Dr Mike Wacha (Akright) did presentations that clearly put the North in a better light in terms of trade and investment. The region was presented as the breadbasket of Uganda and the gateway to Southern Sudan where business is booming.

Three investors have already expressed interest in investing in the North.  Uganda Opportunity Network (UGoNET) Ltd will be taking a group of investors to the region next year to meet with local people and assess the situation on the ground. UGoNET also plans to bring some enterprising young Ugandans to the UK to learn some entrepreneurial skills.

The event was organised by UGoNET a private company founded by Ugandan entrepreneur Flavia Ndikuno, UGoNET Executive Director.

UGoNet Directors Robert Egwea & Flavia Ndikuno launching the EXPO

For more information about Uganda Expo please click on the following link:

Article in the Monitor: London business expo showcases northern Uganda’s economic might Monitor, 4, 2008 – Joseph Olanyo- Creating investment opportunities in northern Uganda took centre stage at the Uganda Opportunity Network (UGoNET) Business Expo 2008 in London as speakers stressed the need for Ugandans in the Diaspora to take advantage of the prevailing peace and invest back home.

About UGoNET: http://www.ugandaopportunity.co.uk/

London, November 12, 2008

Over 34 Commonwealth countries including Uganda took part in the London Commonwealth Fair in Kensington Town Hall in West London from 7-8 November 2008. Among the people who attended the event were Directors of Uganda Opportunity Network (UGoNET), an organization that aims to promote Uganda overseas and attract investment to the country. The event was organized by the Commonwealth Countries League (CCL).

Promoting Uganda:(from left) UGoNET Director Robert Egwea, Mrs Resty Peters and UGoNET Executive Director Flavia Ndikuno

UGONET Directors Flavia Ndikuno and Robert Egwea took the opportunity to promote Uganda at the event as they interacted with various commonwealth counterparts about the forthcoming Uganda Expo. They proudly identified themselves with the Ugandan stall, manned by a Ugandan lady, Mrs Rasty Peters and her son. Here, beautiful Ugandan crafts were displayed, epitomizing the beauty of the “Pearl of Africa”

“We are proud to be Ugandans. This is the kind of thing we want to do from time to time to promote Uganda to the outside world and to attract investors to our beautiful country. That is why we have organized Uganda Expo, a grand event that will take place in East London from 28-29 November”, said Flavia Ndukuno, Executive Director of UGoNET.

Miss Tourism East Africa 2007, Maureen Nyakairu, a 2^nd year Medical Engineering Ugandan student at Queen Mary University London was 5th runner up at the Miss Commonwealth Pageant.  “We are here to promote Uganda” she said. This struck accord with UGoNET directors, who invited the Ugandan beauty to officiate at the first ever Uganda Expo at the end of this month.

Miss Tourism East Africa 2007, Maureen Nyakairu (in red) poses with Mrs Rasty Peters and UGoNET Directors Robert Egwea (left) and Flavia Ndikuno (right)

The greater purpose of the Commonwealth Fair is to raise the much-needed resources for CCL’s Education Fund, which has been sponsoring needy girls through secondary education in their own countries for over 40 years. Currently CCLEF supports over 400 girls in over 20 countries including Uganda.

This was the first public engagement of Lango-born Robert Olet Egwea in the capacity of UGoNET Director following his recent appointment. This month alone Mr Egwea, is scheduled to attend the World Peace Festival on 22 November and host Uganda Expo from 28-29 November in London.

“I am delighted to be doing something so worthwhile for my country, the Pearl of Africa. I hope this new role will help us raise awareness about Northern Uganda, a region that has been devastated by conflict for two decades. This is an opportunity to attract investors to the region and to enable enterprising Ugandans develop business links with the outside world”, said Mr Egwea, former General Secretary of Lango Association UK, who was the brain behind Lango Diaspora Conference that took place in London in August 2007.

For more information about the forthcoming Uganda Expo, visit UGoNET website: www.ugandaopportunity.co.uk

By James Alele in London

October 26, 2008

Members of Lango Association UK had a very successful Extraordinary General Meeting on Saturday 25 October, at St. Mathew’s Church Hall, Dyson Road, Stratford East London and resolved to concentrate on what unites them as Langi in spite of political differences.

In his opening remarks the Chairman of Lango Association UK Mr. Alex Okullu (left) thanked members of Lango community for turning up for this very important meeting.

He said the result of the meeting was being anxiously awaited by the people at home especially the Paramount Chief Mzee Yosam Odur and members of Lango Parliamentary Group. He therefore urged people to be open minded during the meeting.

Mr Okullo said it was alleged in the Red Pepper that while addressing local leaders in Kole County, Apac District on September 10, Mr. Olet Egwea revealed that some members of the association had been sourcing funds to support some rebel groups terrorizing Uganda and that Egwea had to resign the position of general secretary of the organization because he never wanted to support the motive of funding the Lords Resistant Army.

The allegation has been extremely damaging to the Association’s integrity and has caused a lot of confusion and distress among members of Lango community, Alex Okullu said.

Egwea however stated clearly that Lango Association is in his heart that he loves the organisation dearly, maintaining that as an executive member of Lango Association he never ever witnessed any attempts by any of his colleagues to raise funds for the said purpose and would therefore like the record to be put straight.

Egwea strongly refuted the allegation that he accused Lango Association of raising funds to support LRA, but acknowledged that he had said some people were still hostile to the NRM government probably due to our violent past.

He also said he resigned from the position of General Secretary of the association in order to join active national politics and not because of the reason alleged by the Red Pepper.

Recently, Olet Egwea, an executive member of NRM UK and Ireland Chapter had a very successful mobilization tour of Lango during which NRM offices were inaugurated in all the 5 districts and in Kole Constituency where he comes from.

The speech that Mr. Egwea made while in Uganda was then played to the members, but it had no mention of Lango Association as alleged in the Red Pepper, although he said some people were not happy about the peace talks between the government and LRA.

Olet Egwea apologized to the members of Lango community in the Diaspora and back home for his remarks, adding that he did not mean to hurt anyone. He said he would write to Ugandan government to clear the misconception of what he actually said and this was highly welcomed by the members.

He also assured fellow Langi in the diaspora that nobody’s life was under threat following the allegations because the Government of Uganda knows that no member of Lango Association UK supports terrorists.

A statement from Mr Mike Ogwal from USA was also read by an executive member of Lango Association. Mr Ogwal expressed concerns that Lango still faces lots of inequalities in development under the NRM government, and called upon the Langi to rise up against the government. But participants distanced themselves from Mr Ogwal’s militant approach instantly.

Instead, people resolved to concentrate on what unites them as Langi and what can ensure everlasting peace and sustainable development in the region regardless of political affiliations.

“We are peaceful people who have never taken up arms against the NRM government. I am a professional engineer and I do not support Mr Ogwal’s position”, said Mr John Okello, who has been involved in a number of development projects in Lango including donation of computers to Dr Obote College.

The meeting was attended by about 30 people including Mr Alan Jones, who is helping the association to secure funds for an agricultural college, and people from the Acholi and other Ugandan communities. The meeting ended on a positive note as people shook hands and warmly embraced each other.

“Now we can put this entire saga behind us and move forward as one people with a common destiny. We should now work together in partnership with the government of Uganda to ensure speedy recovery of Northern Uganda from decades of conflict”, Egwea concluded.

The writer is a journalist based in the UK.

e-mail: jamesalele@yahoo.co.uk Telephone: +447932418544