If you have not been disappointed, you probably have not yet tried. One of the local entrepreneurs explained how his business hit a snag because executives just don’t have time to listen. After failing to meet government executives, he visited the Private Sector Foundation and Uganda Investment Authority. These too turned cold feet. Never mind these are top organizations whose mandate is to contribute and foster investment and economic growth of the country. “I was told by the receptionist that the CEO could not see me. Not even his assistant had time to meet me. At the Private Sector Foundation,…
The leadership dilemma? Frustrations of doing business in Uganda, part 2
The biggest challenge to business in Uganda is the tendency of senior managers to want to do the day-to-day work. We call it the leadership dilemma. This is not about paying attention to the details that matter. It is micromanaging and it sacks. In the process, this obscures the big picture — of furthering top leadership mandate to think long-term by focusing on technology investments and the customer. Great leaders micro-monitor instead of micro-managing. You do not ask someone to do something and then show them how to do it and be breathing instructions on their throat all the time…
Who cares? The frustrations of doing business in Uganda, part 1
Uganda has many enterprising people, but few successful businesses. Why? If anything explains the high poverty levels in many parts of the country, it is not an unwillingness to work hard—most Ugandans still sweat to survive. Nor is it because of a lack of enterprise and optimism: on the permanently traffic-jammed streets of Kampala, the country’s main commercial city, hawkers gingerly ease their way between cars trying to sell almost anything from snacks to books, car parts, carpets, shoes, and even toilet paper. They do the right things – wake up early. Work 365 days a year. Do your best.…
Homily for Saturday, Fifth Week of Easter
Acts 16:1-10 Jn 15:18-21 John’s gospel speaks about God’s love for the world. God so loved the world that he sent his only Son. In this morning’s gospel reading Jesus speaks about the world’s hatred for him and for his followers. In Luke’s gospel Jesus calls on his disciples to love their enemies and to do good to those who hate them. The gospels suggest that Jesus was realistic about the hostility that would come his own way and the way of his followers. Yet, he wanted his followers to relate to the world not on the basis of how…
The ever increasing #covid19 cases in Uganda: what next?
Coronavirus cases continue to increase, not only in Uganda but globally. As of today, 15th May 2020, confirmed cases in Uganda now stand at 160 – with 63 recoveries, 32 currently on admission, 1 repatriated, and 33 self-existed.  No #covid19 death is yet to be reported. More new cases have been recorded in May 2020 alone, than April and March 2020 combined albeit with a lockdown. Examine Figure 1 carefully. Figure 1: #covid19 cases trend. The cases have continued to rise despite timely interventions by the Government. This means if the government had not implemented a lockdown, maybe the virus…
Homily for Friday, Fifth Week of Easter
Readings Acts 15:22-31 Jn 15:12-17 In this morning’s gospel reading, Jesus uses the language of friendship to describe his relationship with us. He declares that he befriends us by laying down his life for us. During the second world war in a Nazi concentration camp, Maximilian Kolbe, a Polish priest, gave his life so that a fellow prisoner, a married man, might live. He befriended that man in the most radical way possible. His act of friendship is a living sign of how Jesus befriends us. Jesus died so that we might live with the life of God, eternal life.…
