By Daudi Migereko

Honourable Daudi Migereko, the Chairman Uganda Tourism Board last week Thursday, September 21, 2023, made a presentation at the BMK memorial lecture organised by the Ministry of Tourism, Wildlife and Antiquities at Hotel Africana in Kampala. Below is his presentation

Bulaimu Muwanga Kibirige (BMK) was born on October 2, 1953 and died on September 10, 2021. He was 67 years of age.

“My Story of Building a Fortune in Africa”  His book;  is a must-read for all of us!

“It is not easy to make a lot of money today, however, if you get the basics right you will make it.”  BMK asserted.  What are these basics? Honesty, hard work, frugality, sacrifice, ploughing back profits, seizing opportunities, not fearing to fail, seeking guidance from experts, and networking with others to support each other in solving problems.

I must thank the leadership at the Ministry of Tourism, Wildlife and Antiquities, the BMK family and the organisers of this year’s  World  Tourism Day events for choosing to hold this BMK  Memorial Lecture, as a major activity in these celebrations.  It gives us an opportunity to publicly recognise and pay commendation to BMK for the illustrious life he led and investments undertaken that are making lasting and positive contributions and impacts on our hospitality and tourism industry in Uganda, the Great Lakes Region and Africa.

Ordinarily, the nature and magnitude of investment he undertook in the hospitality and tourism sectors in Uganda was the preserve of foreign investors. It could not be readily associated with an indigenous black Ugandan.

Characteristically, BMK would see a business opportunity and immediately seize it. He was never constrained by his race, or area of geographical boundaries,  let alone his level of formal education.

He saw in the NRM’s economic liberalisation policy, the peace and tranquillity in the country, an opportunity for investment in the nascent hotel industry. He applied for land at one of the most strategic and convenient places to access Kampala. Here where we are, at Hotel Africana!  It required extra foresight and business acumen for one to have been able to do so. When the country competed to host the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) in 2007, Hotel Africana with its conference facilities, 252 accommodation rooms, media rooms plus all its supportive infrastructure came in handy in convincing the organisers about Uganda’s readiness to host CHOGM. We must, therefore, applaud BMK, Sudhir Ruperelia of Munyonyo Commonwealth Resort, Karim Hirji of the Imperial Group, Madhvani Group and a few others for their decisions, as individuals, to invest in conferences and meetings facilities. This has created new opportunities for the country.

We are now preparing to host the Non-Aligned Conference, the Commonwealth Speakers’ Conference, the Pan African Parliament and many other important regional and international meetings and conferences.

These visitors oftentimes end up in our game parks, at the Source of River Nile and in other areas of tourist attraction. A good foundation was laid by BMK, Sudir, Madhvani, Karim and a few others. All we need to do now is to keep improving on and growing what we have to offer; taking into account international competition and positioning ourselves and the country for the emerging business.

The decision to invest in Moroto, Arua and Packwach must have been out of good business foresight, a desire to create a tourism/ business circuit for the BMK brand, instilling confidence in other local entrepreneurs to invest in any part of Uganda where there was a good business opportunity and patriotism. In that regard, he set a good example but also sent out a message that, if well harnessed, can greatly catalyse investment by the local entrepreneurs and economic transformation of the country.

Similar considerations could explain some of his investment decisions in Kenya, Tanzania, Rwanda, Congo DRC and Zambia. Equally important, he wanted to address the important aspect of mitigating concentration risks in business.

His passion and love for business ventures forced him to go to Zambia, when he was unwell,  in a wheelchair to attend the opening of Hotel Africana -LUSAKA. This is the spirit that should keep us going in order to realise the desired growth and impact of our hospitality and tourism industry.

Your decision to invite Prof. Samuel Sejaaka, a renowned and highly respected Professor of Business and someone who knew BMK and has taken off time to think through BMK’s business undertakings to see how the same can be used to help us in what we are doing; was the right decision. You could have found no better person than Prof. Sejaaka to give weight to this important function. He is one of the business experts he readily and freely consulted.

To the family, BMK Board and management; this memorial lecture goes out to show to what extent the leadership of the tourism sector values the contribution made by BMK to the growth of the hospitality and tourism industry in our country and Africa.

BMK believed in networking with others, in order to find solutions to the challenges/problems confronting the hotel and hospitality industry. It was in this regard that he founded the Uganda Hotel and Owners’ Association (UHOA).

Mrs. Suzan Muhwezi; the Chairperson, Board and members of UHOA have graced this function. Fortunately, Mrs. Muhwezi is here, also as a founder member, to tell the story of UHOA and how this organisation has helped its members over time; hence transforming the hotel and tourism industry in the country.

BMK’s idea of establishing UHOA as an institutional vehicle for bringing together members, to discuss their problems/challenges, generate solutions and reach out to the Government to support the growth of the hotel industry is clearly one of his most outstanding legacies. This is akin to what James Mulwana (RIP) did when he founded the Uganda Manufacturers’ Association (UMA).

The clear message from BMK to the private sector in Uganda and Africa is that opportunities to start and propel our businesses to greater heights in Uganda and other countries are immense. This lecture has clearly amplified that message.

More importantly,  Professor Sejaaka has helped us to summarise the critical factors and lessons that paved the way to success in BMK’s entrepreneurial and business pursuits.

We have a duty to see to it that more BMKs come up in Uganda, who are not constrained by race or geographical boundaries in their entrepreneurial pursuits. It has not been easy for many indigenous family businesses, in Uganda, to move to the next generation after the founder.  BMK was always consulting and taking on board useful ideas, I am convinced he must have kept in touch and consulted with the Mulwanas, Batumas, Madhvanis, Mehta and a few other experts on this very critical matter.

More importantly, the family and all of us stakeholders in the tourism industry should try to take advantage of the foundation established by BMK. In the process, we shall be building on and sustaining his Legacy while at the same time building a stronger legacy for ourselves, the hospitality and tourism industry for the betterment of our country and humanity.

The writer is the Board Chairman of Uganda Tourism Board