My trip to happiness!

I'm seated at seat number 39 as I write this, and having to deal with a naughty toddler who just won't stop poking me.  I pretend to be clueless, ofcourse just to feed her satisfaction.  Soon the poking is no longer amusing for her and she decides to reach for my phone (it's all I have for my entertainment, I'm actually writing this off my phone). I can't continue to pretend not to notice her,so I smile, sheepishly. Hoping that she will smile back and get along with her business. Well this trip I am on was hastily put together and as a result, I ended up with one of those dreaded seats in the middle aisle of the bus.  As I slowly made my way into the bus, searching through for the seat I had been assigned (#39) , I glanced upon a baby-carrying mother, she had with her a boy,  about  nine years old,  and a younger baby, a girl of about one year. I hoped that I wouldnt end up besides her because I was certain it wouldn't be a comfortable ride. As I got closer, it became clear that the middle seat right next to hers,  was labeled 39.  Ready to take my seat , I hoped that she had at least paid for one of her children to take up a full seat because I was going to involuntarily get dragged into the seat-sharing equation. My fears were confirmed when she instructed the older boy to squeeze next to her as she sat the baby on her lap.  Even before setting off,  the baby on her lap was crying uncontrollably, she was probably hungry.  I could feel the satisfaction she drew from sucking the milk out of her mother's breast. Her mother must have been used for this because she had a couple of tricks to silence her baby, and they were working.  So we eventually set off and the baby, who is no longer excited at the sight of a naked breast, is crying again.  Her mother, now fed up and out of tricks, pays a deaf ear, like nothing is happening.  Noticing that her crying can no longer attract the kind if attention it once did, the baby slowly shifts her attention to the nearest play thing in sight, me!  We were now past the poking and into peekaboo. It slowly morphed from her peeping at me to me hiding behind whatever cover I could find,just to make it even more interesting.  I was blown away at how much she was unconcerned by her mother's attempts stop her from disturbing me.  Soon she had moved on from the marvel that she found me to be,  to the moving sights of the busy city.  It is then that I reflected on my time as a child her age.  I probably didn't care what the world thought of me,  didn't care if I was being a nag to a perfect stranger, I probably played and smiled with every face I saw and poked everybody in reach.  I was now wondering what the world would be like if we all were as innocent and carefree as this baby was, if for a day, we all decided to be on the outside who we really are on the inside, if we all noticed the simple things in life that hold the key to true happiness.  I could see the happiness in her eyes when it was her turn to hide face and mine to seek her out, never mind that we were sitting next to each other.
That's when it hit me, we are all looking for a happiness that truly doesn't exist, one that we might actually have but don't notice.  She had just enough food to eat, probably even less, had a loving and caring mother, a sustainable planet she could call home, and even though her entire family, at least at that point, had only one seat number to fit into, she was content and clearly at peace. I am close to my destination, she is fast asleep on her mother's chest, and I hate to admit that I am missing the short time we spent teasing each other.

URA, Well Done, But There’s ALot More To Do

URA, Well Done, But There’s ALot More To Do

Taxes in Uganda are viewed as a reserve for large, highly profitable international organizations, and this aloofness by the population has breed a culture of nonchalance in the general way the country is managed.

As I go on to share my experience with URA, I have made an effort to write this article in the simplest of terms to make it understandable for all.

As a law-abiding citizen of Uganda, I would jump at any opportunity to contribute to her development. It is in this spirit that I sought to register for a TIN number for the private business that I am involved, to enable me pay taxes. I registered a company with URSB and then proceeded to apply for a TIN (Tax Identification Number). There is a relationship between the type of registration you select (company, business name, etc.), and the tax implications, too bad I only got to learn about this much later.

I was connected to someone in URA who charged me to handle the TIN application process, which I didn’t object to, considering the complex online registration process.

After receiving my TIN, I made inquiries about doing my returns personally and was referred to the Diamond Trust branch where free classes are offered on this.  My details were taken and I was told to wait for an invitation to the classes. All through December 2016 to March 2017, I kept dropping by to make sure that my name hadn’t been erroneously skipped to which I was informed that they wanted to grow the numbers first. I was eventually called for the training in May 2017 and despite the few hiccups (like those doing the training, having scanty information on some of issues being taught), it went well. It was then that I was able to make sense of the emails I had been receiving about making my returns and the penalty I would incur for late submission.

According to the communications, I had been penalized UGX 1,000,000/-for months of delay in filing provisional returns but I was informed that I could appeal this penalty.

With a solid excuse (the fact that I applied for training in December 2016 & was only invited in March 2017), I proceeded to file an online appeal, and so begun the cycle of confusion. From different officials ‘correcting’ me on what its referred to (appeal, objection, etc.), to conflicting advise on how to go about, and which branch office to visit, the mix-up was evident, even in spite of the courteous and friendly service at all incidents.

One official to whom I had been advised to address my appeal/objection/plea informed me of the zero chances I had of it being waived as it had already been ‘entered’ in the system.

I was left wondering why an appeal and objection process was in place if there was no hope of having them reversed, even with justifiable cause.

5 locations and 23 interactions later (all with different officials), at my final attempt, I was referred to a somewhat senior supervisor who, on checking the system said that I should have never been penalized in the first place because URA does not penalize late submission of provisional returns. I was relieved and alarmed at the same time; how could such an anomaly go unnoticed by the over 20 staff I had made inquiries with? What if I had simply gone ahead to pay this penalty?

On further probing, she informed me that my application had been (unknown to me) back dated and I was therefore registered in a previous financial year than the actual one I had registered in, which explains the penalty for late submissions. On asking why, I was informed that its done to avert cases of people offering to join the taxed-lot after years of doing business untaxed.

Just like me, many Ugandans are increasingly getting involved in business and are eager to play a role in the development of Uganda through tax payment. They are however being set off by a number of factors that I will briefly delve into;

Tax Management Is Complicated And Costly.

There aren’t many ordinary Ugandans who individually mange all their tax-related issues, from understanding the tax laws, to TIN application and submitting returns annually. Let’s think of it this way, if I had to employ and pay someone to calculate and effect my payments to Umeme so that I could have electricity, I would be forced to consider evading the entire system in search for back hand connections. The conflicting information I kept receiving from the different branches and URA staff is evidence to this.

Local Businesses Not Taxed

URA and the government would benefit substantially by widening the country’s tax base if efforts were made to bring on board more locally based businesses rather than increase taxes of the few big players, which only threaten their existence; any job creating business that shuts down due to tax constraints should be an embarrassment to us all!

No Incentives To Pay Taxes

Many businesses are operating profitably without paying taxes and don’t even feel the need to join the taxed bracket. Those that do so are only conforming to requirements from potential clients (usually large organizations and parastatals) for tax clearance certificates.

My solutions to this would be;

• ·         Invest in enforcing legal requirements for businesses and organizations to deal exclusively with only the tax compliant businesses (those with a tax compliance certificate). This could be done by penalizing companies that make payments to businesses that aren’t registered with URA (TIN numberless). It’s absurd that many government agencies are actively dealing with uncompliant and unregistered businesses. We should not only Buy Uganda Build Uganda, but Buy Registered Uganda, Build Uganda. It is only when the government bodies and parastatals take a stand, that ordinary Ugandans can be asked to do the same.
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• ·         With a little integration and coordination, URA has at its disposal the URSB which can go a long way in ensuring tax compliance. Imagine if all non-compliant companies are deregistered regularly for ignoring calls to pay their taxes. There are many private businesses that will apply for a TIN and not pay taxes, knowing that its available if ever asked for.
• ·         Try to uncomplicate tax issues. if indeed URA was created to manage tax issues of Uganda, its services and procedures should be known to all Ugandans, even the uneducated who make up the majority. Tax laws and procedures should be translated and efforts made into their dissemination to the masses.
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• ·         The little-publicized instructional classes that are held at the URA Diamond Trust building are a good initiative, but it became apparent that this innovative idea was yet to gain buy in from the organization as a whole. Many of the staff at the various branches I visited were unaware of the existence of these classes. The long period taken to raise a reasonable class size also goes to show that they are not well publicized. What about the fact that these classes were only being held in Kampala, and at the said branch, think about all those potential tax payers who are based outside Kampala? With the availability of online platforms such as YouTube and Vimeo, URA should come up with instructional videos showing a breakdown of procedures to follow for the various services sought, from TIN application, filing returns, to appealing assessments, etc.
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• ·         The existence of a toll-free line (which is also not widely known) is a step in the right direction, but this is subject to human error and misinformation. My interactions with most junior staff, who end up handling the bulk of queries revealed that the majority of them are clueless on the general workings of URA.
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• ·         URA should, just like KCCA, (or together with) invest in monitoring and inspection teams all over the country. Regular spot visits to assess the compliance of local businesses can be carried out, where views from the public can also be collected.

There is need to bring services closer to the people using all channels available. I must applaud URA and the entire management team for their prompt response on social media platforms, but a lot more remains to be achieved in reaching out to the ‘untapped potential’ out there.

Owomukama ‘Woofy’ Matthew

@woofymatt

Your Unofficial Guide To Tipping Etiquette

Hate it or love it, tipping remains one of those combative topics for which we are far from coming to common agreement on. Its history dates back to a practice adapted from Europeans, whose own history of tipping goes back to at least 15^th century England, when overnight guests would leave a small gratuity for house servants. It was appreciated and subsequently carried back by a class of travelling Americans. the rest, as they say, is history; you know we Ugandans and trying out what we see in the movies!

Its popularity has not grown as quick in the Asian markets due to cultural implications where it could even be considered rude. If you must tip someone in Japan for example, the norm would be to give it in a white envelope, and not just slip them cash.

In Uganda, most tipping situations involve car park security guards, traffic policemen, high end restaurant waiting staff, hair stylists, and front desk staff who have a say in how long you will remain in a queue.

Thanks to smart phone apps that will order you a driver, or deliver a meal at your doorstep, with the simple click of a button, the tipping culture is slowly beginning to catch on, but it is also admittedly becoming more confusing than ever.

Fear not, for you are destined to transform into the tipping ‘top banana’. By the time, you’re done with this piece, you will be equipped with all the reasons for, against, common mistakes made, and even guiding tips to avoid embarrassment.

Who Is Eligible For A Tip?

There’s no recognized criteria to follow when deciding if, whom, and when to tip, it’s just one of those things at anybody’s discretion. The common practice has however been, to tip those service providers who impress you in some way or the other, waiter, delivery guy, uber driver, you name them!

Restaurant tipping procedure and behavior is the blurriest of them all. The fairness of it to those who don’t get tipped but still offer a good service, how much to tip, the powers of management to enforce rules on tips collected, etc are all points of mix-up. As you may realize, its complexity stems mostly from the number of parties involved. Compare that with a transaction involving a car park guard whom you will hand 2,000/ Shs, before you drive off from a night out; it’s a two-party transaction that leaves no room for complication.

Many eating places have begun to pool all tips earned over a certain period of time — say, a shift, or a week — in a big pot and then to redistribute them to eligible employees according to some formula, whose fairness and legality is a matter of contention.

This approach can be compared to the socialist policies of countries like China and Denmark, and its proponents would say that it fosters a spirit of teamwork instead of rivalry among staff; staff will back each other up for the common goal of serving clients better. If backroom staff are also considered when it comes to final distribution of tips, I am for this approach, because they play a role in your satisfaction as a customer.

The alternative here would be, (not capitalism, silly!) a more laisses faire approach where staff are left to take tips as additional income separate from their regular earning. Its most obvious pro is the incentive for staff to provide better service, -certainly above average, so that they can be eligible for that tip. You can’t escape the rivalry and unhealthy competition that will crop up among staff. They might also become selective with whom they prefer to serve, basing upon looks and appearance.

Although not common here, paying a gratuity is another alternative common in bars, clubs and other nightlife venues. For some, especially in the more developed countries, a specific tip percentage is added to the total amount billed and so, every time you order something, the tip is included within.

Many would argue, and rightly so, that the culture of tipping has given business owners the leeway to transfer unto the consumer the burden of paying their employees. The more we tip, the less incentive we give business owners to pay a fair wage to their workers. What happened to the good old fashioned model where I pay for a product or service, and business owners pay their employees, end of transaction!

Some Of The Unspoken Rules

 

o   Give what you can afford. Don’t go out of your way, remember that your tip is simply your way of appreciating a great service. And besides, the assumption here is that you have already paid the charge for whatever you have consumed, so the tip wasn’t even expected.

o   If you simply can’t afford it, but still feel indebted to show extra appreciation for the service, you can simply verbalize your appreciation. A simple, “thank you for the wonderful service”, would do.

o   Positive rating. Uber says “there’s no need to tip” and, accordingly, there is no way to do so via the app. However, a positive rating is as good as a tip for an uber driver as it will raise their popularity, hence more business. 

o   Don’t brag. If you’re going to tip, no one’s stopping you, but don’t do it to impress your date, or whatever company you have. It has become common practice to fold paper notes in one’s hand for the exchange to occur during a handshake, especially when dealing with law enforcement officers.

o   Always be mindful of the effort put in by the service provide. Your tip to the booda’ guy on an ordinary day for example, should not be the same as what you would tip him on a rainy day. If he has had to put in an extra effort to get you a good deal, or save you from incurring a loss, show your appreciation for that.

o   Your tip should reflect the kind of service you have received. Was the service poor, exemplary, lacking in any way, say so with your tip. If you feel incensed to do so, go ahead and air your grievances to the concerned service provider.

Have you ever been stranded with a flat tyre or you needed to have your car jump-started because of a cold battery, whoever helped you out of such a predicament was right to demand payment if you hesitated to tip them.

Some Tips For Those On The Receiving End Of Thing;

o   Be the opposite gender of your customer. Agree among yourselves to attend to opposite gender clients, the laws of attraction will win you some sympathy.

o   Try to present yourself as attractively as possible, there’s no damage in a slight layer of makeup with clean and attractive clothing.

o   Endeavor to be the client’s first point of reference, right from the moment it becomes apparent that they might be in need of service. Try walking into a café javas restaurant to see what I’m talking about.

o   Introduce yourself by name to the client. no need for all names though, that’s just creepy.

o   If the client seems unsure about the service, or what to order, offer them some advice, from your personal point of view.

o   Take whatever you’re given. Different people have different tipping ability, and they certainly place varying levels of value to your service. A tourist from the first world, who has grown accustomed to their home country’s service levels might find your level of service wanting. Their meager tip offering might simply be a show of discontent.

o   NEVER ASK FOR A TIP. There’s a reason why this is stated in bold. Security guard, restaurant waiter, waitress, bar man, ushering staff, whatever service you provide, the assumption is that you are getting paid and any appreciative tips are at the discretion of the giver.

To cap it all, a tip should be a rare exception for an exemplary job well done or an effort above and beyond the normal call of duty.

Here’s something to try; write a note of appreciation and send it to the service provider’s employer/ boss, let them know that you appreciated the service that was offered to you, and will definitely be coming back, make sure to share the note with the employee. That that should have a similar, or even bigger significance to them than cash would.  

National Seed Event

Last Wednesday (26^th February 2015), Agri Pro Focus, in collaboration with

Integrated Seed Sector Development (ISSD), Participatory Ecological Land Use Management (PELUM), Uganda Seed Trade Association(USTA),Bioversity International, USAID, Farmer’s Media, and Uganda National Famer’s Federation,  held the annual National Seed Event at the Kati Kati grounds in Kampala. The event, only the second, whose objective was to increase access and utilization of quality seed for improved livelihoods, was the perfect showcase of the various players in Uganda’s seed industry.

From nursery bed dealers, to seed growers, and even agricultural input deallers, every aspect of crop cultivation was on display. Participants were each given an opportunity to introduce their products for the public to gauge.

What you probably heard about reighning Miss Uganda’s passion for farming is no lie, Leah Kalanguka together with her runners up, Princess Tina, and Ibyara Akal, could be seen taking tours around each and every stall.

There was a host of exhibitors, among whom included, Pelum Uganda, Simlaw Seeds, Victoria Seeds, Agromax Uganda Ltd, Grow More Seeds & Chemicals Ltd, Fica Seeds, East Africa Seeds, Steel & Tube Industries.

At the stall of Agricawards Uganda, there was a call for visitors to nominate individuals and organizations for the upcoming annual agricultural awards under categories such as best extension worker, agricultural journalist, and agribusiness enterprise.

On the whole, it was a successful event, with my only disappointment being the absence of any serious banking institutions. Besides pride microfinance, whose representatives knew nothing about the agricultural credit facility, there was no other financial institution in sight to provide visitors with advice on financing options that are available.

Invited guests, participants, and visitors were treated to a business cocktail where there was an opportunity to network and create linkages.

National Seed Event

Last Wednesday (26^th February 2015), Agri Pro Focus, in collaboration with

Integrated Seed Sector Development (ISSD), Participatory Ecological Land Use Management (PELUM), Uganda Seed Trade Association(USTA),Bioversity International, USAID, Farmer’s Media, and Uganda National Famer’s Federation,  held the annual National Seed Event at the Kati Kati grounds in Kampala. The event, only the second, whose objective was to increase access and utilization of quality seed for improved livelihoods, was the perfect showcase of the various players in Uganda’s seed industry.

From nursery bed dealers, to seed growers, and even agricultural input deallers, every aspect of crop cultivation was on display. Participants were each given an opportunity to introduce their products for the public to gauge.

What you probably heard about reighning Miss Uganda’s passion for farming is no lie, Leah Kalanguka together with her runners up, Princess Tina, and Ibyara Akal, could be seen taking tours around each and every stall.

There was a host of exhibitors, among whom included, Pelum Uganda, Simlaw Seeds, Victoria Seeds, Agromax Uganda Ltd, Grow More Seeds & Chemicals Ltd, Fica Seeds, East Africa Seeds, Steel & Tube Industries.

At the stall of Agricawards Uganda, there was a call for visitors to nominate individuals and organizations for the upcoming annual agricultural awards under categories such as best extension worker, agricultural journalist, and agribusiness enterprise.

On the whole, it was a successful event, with my only disappointment being the absence of any serious banking institutions. Besides pride microfinance, whose representatives knew nothing about the agricultural credit facility, there was no other financial institution in sight to provide visitors with advice on financing options that are available.

Invited guests, participants, and visitors were treated to a business cocktail where there was an opportunity to network and create linkages.

Concentrate On Your Core Business Function

In the taxi on my way to work today, I chose to take the back seat. It has nothing to do with the fact that back in school, I was always a back bencher, I wish it did though! My reason is quite simple, the loud sound systems of most taxis are strategically positioned at the front, next to the driver, for his enjoyment of course. Then there will also be those days when you are blessed with a chatty driver who will insist on you contributing to his thoughts on the ‘faults’ of other road users that he encounters. Don’t get me wrong, a simple greeting and exchange of pleasantries is always welcome, but let it stop at that, I have way too much to catch up with in my chamber of thought.

So on this particular morning, taking precaution, I settled in at the back, far away from the already blaring radio speaker. Soon the taxi was full and everybody went about scrawling through their phones. Music, email, videos, you name it, this taxi was filled with the mobile millennials and I was glad that they all had the supporting accessories to ensure their own, self’s, personal, individual (…and I could go on!) engagement. I just can’t stand a public transport user who plays their, (usually cheap) sound devices at maximum volumes with no regard for other travelers’ privacy, but that’s an entirely different story for another day.

So along the way, this lady seated right in front of me, to gets to her stop and frantically endeavors to have the taxi attendant notify his boss to stop the vehicle. The music loud as ever, his head wandering out of the window for the next passenger, her screams go unnoticed. Its a few meters off her desired stop before we come to a halt, and the anger was evident on her face. She promised never to board this particular taxi again. I have made (to myself), the exact same vow on a number of occasions, all it ever achieves is elevate my urge to become a car owner.

If you are in the business of serving people like every single one of us all, please pay close attention to some key incidents in this. The taxi, the radio, the passenger’s call for a stop, and the taxi tout’s attention on the outside world.

It is these incidents that form the theme of my topic; core business functions.

Every business venture out there is characterized by distinct features and functions, the core function of a taxi, or any other transportation service is simply that; transportation. That for a security company, is that; security, that for saloon is that; hair care. Many business people, in a bid to go the extra mile, find themselves getting drawn into activities that not only add no form of value to their customers, but make their services more costly, less profitable (to themselves), and in some cases, drive potential clients away.

Take this taxi tout for example, all that we as his clients ask is for him to get us to our destination, safe and in time. I have never encountered a public transport passenger, in their right mind, complaining that a particular taxi lacks a functional radio. I have however heard many complain about loud radios, uncomfortable chairs, the delays along the way, reckless driving and many other issues.

This leads us to the moral of the story today: what is the core function of your business.

For most, they are quite obvious as mentioned earlier, but for others, you would need to do some self-contemplation before learning what exactly it is, you might even need to ask you clients to help you identify them.

Once you have successfully identified your core business functions, shift your focus towards achieving and impressing in these fields.

A saloon owner, who in a bid to distinguish herself from the competition, shifts her focus from styling client’s hair in the trendiest way possible, to say, offering digital television to waiting clients, or head massages (I have never understood that one, I came over for a bloody haircut, and now you are massaging my head!), is plainly getting it wrong.

Interestingly enough, all that this serves to do scale up your expenditures or make your services more costly. I would prefer to visit a barber who knows how to style my hair, even if I have to wait on him with no form of entertainment. Once again, I have never encountered a client at a saloon complaining about the lack of some form of entertainment, if ever they do, have them visit a video hall as they wait!

This should however not be confused with value addition and exquisite customer care. Take the taxi tout for example, added value and increased satisfaction for his passengers can be achieved by regularly servicing his vehicle, replacing worn shock absorbers, washing his vehicle regularly, and driving carefully. For the saloon owner, it could be offering training for staff to increase their skill levels, ensuring safety through sterilizing equipment and offering a simple wash after the haircut. (Notice the relationship with the core function.)

A guiding factor in deciding what to do to add value for your clients is to start by identifying your core business function, and them asking yourself what you can do to better you customers’ experience in regard to that function. As a teaser for you, try to identify many random businesses, identify their core business functions, and then come up with ideas on increasing satisfaction and adding value, for those particular business, answer this in the comments section.

@WoofyMatt

Investment Opportunities Around You-Dr. Maggie Kigozi

 The Global Business Labs-Uganda on 6^th February 2015, held a business symposium tagged ‘identifying business opportunities around you’. The fairly attended seminar took place at Makerere University’s College of Computing and Information Sciences, and started a few minutes after the advertised time (3; 00 pm). It was hosted by the much respected Pepsi Uganda director, Dr. Maggie Kigozi.

In her power point presentation, Dr. Kigozi tasked the audience that was made up of university students and aspiring youth entrepreneurs, to figure out what kind of entrepreneurs they were –the born or made entrepreneurs.

Using the example of her father who served in the civil service for 60 years, she stressed that in today’s Uganda, jobs, even in the public service , are no longer a given, and cannot be depended upon.

Quoting Mr.  Charles Ocici the executive director, Enterprise Uganda, who put the failure figure for Ugandan business startups, at 85%, she advised the youth to seek knowledge, and invest in business ventures for which they bear a passion.

Joining the bandwagon of those calling for the youth to embrace vocational skills, she noted that the most sought after individuals in Europe and the world over, are plumbers and electrical engineers because of their hands on technical skills.

The youth were warned not to shy away from formal business registration sighting taxation as a hindrance, saying that taxes cannot be charged unless profits are being realized.

They were also advised to properly set their priorities, with emphasis on their core business activities. Prof Kigozi didn’t run short of examples to draw from, this time using herself as one. She recently overcame the procrastination, going into large scale agriculture after shelving the idea for years owing to simple hindrances. Following her interaction with Mrs. Julian Adyeri Omalla of Delight Uganda, the manufacturers of Cheers fruit juice, whose vast farm land lacked basic accommodation to house her, she decided not to let the unavailability of accommodation on her own land, delay her plans. Plans for her first harvest are now in high gear, even without the accommodation structures that she allowed to hold her back all along.

In her presentation of the various opportunities that one could invest in, she sampled the service sectors of education, citing the examples of Lawrence Mukiibi and Dr. J.C Muyingo, tourism, where she regretted the absence of a functional city tour service for international visitors.

Forget the popular belief that the entertainment industry is a nuisance, Prof Kigozi encouraged those with talent (….and I join her to emphasize, ‘...with talent’), like her own son Navio, to cash in on the various talents they have. Warning that this particular sector is talent based, she called on those who can’t do mainstream entertainment to reap from entertainment support services such as  events management, equipment hire, video and audio production, to mention a few. 

Agriculture was also cited as an area with potential with a call for the young generation to think towards mechanization and value addition. Uganda is blessed with good climate and fertile soils and these, according to her, should not go to waste. There was mention of the vast opportunities in livestock farming, fisheries, and forestry, where she expressed concern about the massive deforestation going on in the country today, and wondered what would be left for future generations. 

Following this was a presentation on the various barriers and hindrances to investment and entrepreneurship such as poor infrastructure, bureaucratic registration procedures, with ideas on how to overcome such obstacles.

While presenting the opportunities in the energy sector, focus was placed on the recently discovered oil and gas which are bound to create jobs and increase business activities in particular areas, where entrepreneurs should rush to provide goods and services. Regretting the lack of local investors to exploit Uganda’s vast minerals, she called upon the youth to look back at this sector when they have amassed reasonable capital.

While responding to questions put forward by the audience, advised against the #Tusabagov’tetuyambe, i.e. waiting on the government for all kinds of assistance. Loans are available, but the few thousands that will be lucky enough to benefit from them are nothing compared to the millions in need of financing. She therefore asked those in attendance to look for other forms of financing such as soft loans from friends and family, but with caution and honesty. Still on financing, she advised budding entrepreneurs to maintain a positive credit record , as a tainted record will always come back to haunt those who default on credit capital. 

She called on the youth to shun extravagance in their lives by opting to invest the money they would have used to fund luxurious graduation and wedding parties. There were also calls for aspiring entrepreneurs to make use of available information resources and guidance from government agencies and organizations such as Uganda Investment Authority (which she said, now has a fully-fledged SME department), Enterprise Uganda, Skilling Uganda,

In all, it was a well-organized event and at the end of it, the audience was invited to participate in different entrepreneurship competitions such the Anzisha Prize as they munched on light snacks and interacted with one another. I am looking forward to the next meet where youthful, like-minded individuals will get together to discuss, not politics, unemployment or gossip, but entrepreneurship and investment!