Meet the Kids:Michael Ezra faces the children
Recently <b>Rheanne Atuhaire</b> and <b>Fredrick Masembe</b> from Buganda Road, <b>Samuel Kibirige</b> and <b>Majorie Adie</b> from Kitante, <b>Esther Nankunda</b> and <b>Noel Muhoozi</b> from Kampala Junior Academy and <b>Charles Kiragga</b> and <b>Benezeri Wanjala</b> from Agha Khan talked to Mich
Ezra: (Invites Fredrick to seat on his laps) Why do you want to meet me?
Masembe: Because you are very rich and popular. We also have questions to ask you
Ezra: How do you know that I am famous?
Muhoozi: We read in the papers that you help sports people
Masembe: Can you consider supporting human rights programmes?
Ezra: How do you think I can help?
Masembe : You could offer transport to different human rights organisations to visit different parts of the country like the north where people’s rights are being violated
Kibirige: Where do you get your money?
Ezra: It wasn’t stolen because if it were I would have been arrested. So it must be through the right channel. If you try to find out, you might get disorganised and if you are in P.7, instead of getting 4 you may get aggregate 9.
Atuhaire: Did you wake up in the morning and find yourself a millionaire?
Ezra: You never wake up and find money unless you just inherit it. You need to be focused on what you want to be in life. I always wanted to make a difference in life and the only way was being able to stand up economically because you need to have money, socially such that you are looked upon and politically because then you can make certain things happen. You have to balance these three spheres.
Masembe : What inspired you to support boxing in Uganda?
Ezra: Because we (Uganda) have a history of coming up with good boxers since the 1970s. With this kind of programme, we shall produce Olympic and world champions, the kind of people you can look up to. But if we don’t it doesn’t mean that I will stop helping them.
Muhoozi: You wanted to buy Leeds United of England. Why did you fail?
Ezra: I did not win the bid. They had their demands, which I didn’t meet and I had my demands, which they didn’t appreciate.
Kiragga: Was it because they couldn’t allow a black to buy their team?
Ezra: Is that what you think?
Kiragga: Yes, Europeans never respect Africans.
Atuhaire: Do you have any programmes for kids?
Ezra: What programmes? Education? May be I would introduce milk for break time. I remember when we were still in school we used to receive quarter packs of milk during break time which you do not get now. That would be good for you.
Kiragga: Are you interested in education programmes like UPE?
Ezra: I do not have a direct interest but I believe it is a good move because every child deserves basic education.
Kiragga: What do you think are the problems facing Uganda’s sports?
Ezra: It’s mainly having corrupt sports administrators in offices.
Masembe : How can we deal with poverty and unemployment in Uganda?
Ezra: We should get more industries because the more the industries the more the employment.
Wanjala: But rumour has it that you are not interested in investing in Uganda
Ezra: At the moment I am contributing to the development of Uganda because sport is part of society. I have camps in the East, West, North and South to train talented athletes.
Masembe: As a Muganda, will you do anything to help the Buganda Kingdom develop some of its programmes?
Ezra: Did I say I am a Muganda? I am not a Muganda or a Musoga. I am a national. I could help Baganda as much as I could help any other tribe in the country.
Muhoozi: Why do you sponsor only athletics and boxing?
Ezra: Traditionally we have been successful in boxing and athletics since we started competing in international sports events like Olympics. Secondly, in Uganda it is very difficult to achieve success in other sports like swimming. Here, swimming is regarded as a leisure activity that one has to pay for and yet parents may not afford that every time unlike in the western world where most homes have swimming pools. It is therefore difficult to develop such a talent.
Adie: How does it feel giving away one billion shillings?
Ezra: It feels miserable. Because while I give away sh1b to sports, someone else should be able to give sh1b to Kampala Junior Academy
Wanjala: Which schools did you go to?
Ezra: I went to several schools and universities to study different things that is why I am who I am. Some of the schools are Makerere College and institutions in United States. I went to Kitante for primary. It was a very powerful school then. Lincoln was the only International school then but we never really had much respect for it. So, you either went to Kitante or you were nowhere
Muhoozi: Were you interested in athletics?
Ezra: I played different sports while growing up. taekwondo, American football, rugby, football and athletics. I developed special interest in football and boxing.
Adie: What memories do you have of your days in school?
Ezra: I swept all the medals in athletics. I do not know whether Mr Ssozi (then headmaster) left them behind. I had the entire Kampala come to watch me run. I got an opportunity to run with John Akiibua. He beat us but we struggled. I won in 100m, relays and long track races. In academics we were the best in the country because we had the best teachers. In sports we had a problem with Shimoni Demonstration Primary school. They were too old for us to compete with. Children supposed to be in S.6 were in P.7
Nankunda: Thank you for your contribution to sports. But what can you do to help remove street children off the streets?
Ezra: We have to create and improve the facilities where the street children will be taken before removing them from the streets. The Government should take the initiative to create these improved facilities before individuals can come in to help.
Nankunda: What do you do during your free time?
Ezra: Ummm...I float on water.
Charles: How?
Ezra: I go to the Ocean or anywhere and float from one to seven days. I own a yacht.
Muhoozi: Why do you wear sunglasses all the time?
Ezra: These are not exactly sunglasses. They change according to the environment that I am in. Right now I can see everything just the same way you are seeing them.
Masembe: Any advise for Ugandan children?
Ezra: Respect your parents. Do you read the Bible? The Bible asks you to respect your parents. Secondly, work at home and make useful friends, they come in handy with time.
Ends
Masembe: Because you are very rich and popular. We also have questions to ask you
Ezra: How do you know that I am famous?
Muhoozi: We read in the papers that you help sports people
Masembe: Can you consider supporting human rights programmes?
Ezra: How do you think I can help?
Masembe : You could offer transport to different human rights organisations to visit different parts of the country like the north where people’s rights are being violated
Kibirige: Where do you get your money?
Ezra: It wasn’t stolen because if it were I would have been arrested. So it must be through the right channel. If you try to find out, you might get disorganised and if you are in P.7, instead of getting 4 you may get aggregate 9.
Atuhaire: Did you wake up in the morning and find yourself a millionaire?
Ezra: You never wake up and find money unless you just inherit it. You need to be focused on what you want to be in life. I always wanted to make a difference in life and the only way was being able to stand up economically because you need to have money, socially such that you are looked upon and politically because then you can make certain things happen. You have to balance these three spheres.
Masembe : What inspired you to support boxing in Uganda?
Ezra: Because we (Uganda) have a history of coming up with good boxers since the 1970s. With this kind of programme, we shall produce Olympic and world champions, the kind of people you can look up to. But if we don’t it doesn’t mean that I will stop helping them.
Muhoozi: You wanted to buy Leeds United of England. Why did you fail?
Ezra: I did not win the bid. They had their demands, which I didn’t meet and I had my demands, which they didn’t appreciate.
Kiragga: Was it because they couldn’t allow a black to buy their team?
Ezra: Is that what you think?
Kiragga: Yes, Europeans never respect Africans.
Atuhaire: Do you have any programmes for kids?
Ezra: What programmes? Education? May be I would introduce milk for break time. I remember when we were still in school we used to receive quarter packs of milk during break time which you do not get now. That would be good for you.
Kiragga: Are you interested in education programmes like UPE?
Ezra: I do not have a direct interest but I believe it is a good move because every child deserves basic education.
Kiragga: What do you think are the problems facing Uganda’s sports?
Ezra: It’s mainly having corrupt sports administrators in offices.
Masembe : How can we deal with poverty and unemployment in Uganda?
Ezra: We should get more industries because the more the industries the more the employment.
Wanjala: But rumour has it that you are not interested in investing in Uganda
Ezra: At the moment I am contributing to the development of Uganda because sport is part of society. I have camps in the East, West, North and South to train talented athletes.
Masembe: As a Muganda, will you do anything to help the Buganda Kingdom develop some of its programmes?
Ezra: Did I say I am a Muganda? I am not a Muganda or a Musoga. I am a national. I could help Baganda as much as I could help any other tribe in the country.
Muhoozi: Why do you sponsor only athletics and boxing?
Ezra: Traditionally we have been successful in boxing and athletics since we started competing in international sports events like Olympics. Secondly, in Uganda it is very difficult to achieve success in other sports like swimming. Here, swimming is regarded as a leisure activity that one has to pay for and yet parents may not afford that every time unlike in the western world where most homes have swimming pools. It is therefore difficult to develop such a talent.
Adie: How does it feel giving away one billion shillings?
Ezra: It feels miserable. Because while I give away sh1b to sports, someone else should be able to give sh1b to Kampala Junior Academy
Wanjala: Which schools did you go to?
Ezra: I went to several schools and universities to study different things that is why I am who I am. Some of the schools are Makerere College and institutions in United States. I went to Kitante for primary. It was a very powerful school then. Lincoln was the only International school then but we never really had much respect for it. So, you either went to Kitante or you were nowhere
Muhoozi: Were you interested in athletics?
Ezra: I played different sports while growing up. taekwondo, American football, rugby, football and athletics. I developed special interest in football and boxing.
Adie: What memories do you have of your days in school?
Ezra: I swept all the medals in athletics. I do not know whether Mr Ssozi (then headmaster) left them behind. I had the entire Kampala come to watch me run. I got an opportunity to run with John Akiibua. He beat us but we struggled. I won in 100m, relays and long track races. In academics we were the best in the country because we had the best teachers. In sports we had a problem with Shimoni Demonstration Primary school. They were too old for us to compete with. Children supposed to be in S.6 were in P.7
Nankunda: Thank you for your contribution to sports. But what can you do to help remove street children off the streets?
Ezra: We have to create and improve the facilities where the street children will be taken before removing them from the streets. The Government should take the initiative to create these improved facilities before individuals can come in to help.
Nankunda: What do you do during your free time?
Ezra: Ummm...I float on water.
Charles: How?
Ezra: I go to the Ocean or anywhere and float from one to seven days. I own a yacht.
Muhoozi: Why do you wear sunglasses all the time?
Ezra: These are not exactly sunglasses. They change according to the environment that I am in. Right now I can see everything just the same way you are seeing them.
Masembe: Any advise for Ugandan children?
Ezra: Respect your parents. Do you read the Bible? The Bible asks you to respect your parents. Secondly, work at home and make useful friends, they come in handy with time.
Ends