Michael Ezra, the magnate revealed!
His name whiffs of an over-used money minting machine. He has been described as a moneybags who talks to money and it sits down and listens!
By Harry Sagara
His name whiffs of an over-used money minting machine. He has been described as a moneybags who talks to money and it sits down and listens! He is said to have bought a Lamborghini, which goes for over $500,000.
But Michael Ezra still remains a mystery, so, I set out to unravel last Saturday. Sitting in the Rhino Bar at The Sheraton and sipping Coca-Cola, my phone rings. A voice summons me and my photographer to the 12th floor of the hotel.
On the 12th floor, there is no sign of anyone. As we stand there waiting, we hear footsteps approaching. Some elderly man appears, brandishing a mobile phone. Stern faced, he tells us to follow him. Curious, we oblige.
“Stop here and wait for me,†he bellows. We freeze, pondering what is going on. He disappears into a side room. A minute later, he emerges from another door and leads us to a giant door marked ‘The Presidential Suite.’
He throws the door open, and, spread-eagled before us is Michael Ezra. He is clad in a striped T-shirt, grey pants and his own EZRA sneakers to match. He is busy fingering a mobile phone with his massive gait dumped in a maroon sofa.
On the 25-inch screen in the lounge, Larry King Live is showing. As Ezra gets up to meet us, he reduces the volume on the TV set and hollers: “Karibu. Take a seatâ€.
Lying on a glass table in front of him is a bottle of Rwenzori mineral water, an ashtray, a glass and three mobile phones that kept ringing at intervals.
He stretches out his hand for a handshake, revealing sausage-sized fingers. And boy, is his handshake firm.
His trademark shades hang above his forehead. “What is your obsession with shades? Are they a magic wand of sorts?†I ask.
“Well, if their (the shades’) magic makes me the person I am, so be it,†he answers, with a sarcastic wink.
The manner in which we were ushered into the lounge prompts me to ask how detailed his security is. He assures me it was really tight.
“Do you a carry gun?†I ask. He bursts into a chuckle.
“No comment!†he says.
A couple of years ago, no one knew Ezra. Today, he has donated millions to athletics. he has saved the national boxing team from their recurrent monetary woes, and he has coughed $10,000 just to spend two nights in a Dubai Hotel. However, still no one knows the source of all his money. So, I ask him for the source.
“You don’t want to give Ugandans so much. They might get confused,†he says dodgingly. “You want my profile, so let’s begin with the profile of who I am and then we can do the business profile later. Let’s divide this interview into part one and part two.â€
The 30-year-old is spoken of in the same vein with the likes of Gordon Wavamunno and Karim Hirji. Well, the Wavas have a story to go along with their immense wealth, but Ezra does not, at least none that we know of. He almost popped up from obscurity. He is supposed to be a businessman but his business is as obscure as his Lamborghini!
“Obscure as my Lambourghini?†he says, laughing. “I run genuine businesses. if I had anything to hide, I believe you guys (the media) would have exposed it by now,†he said without expounding.
“Why do Ugandans want to know who Ezra is and what he does anyway? I have been in this country for years and no one asked who I was. Okay, Michael Ezra is a young man, good looking and very loaded… what more do you want?†he said, staring me in the eye.
With all the money he dishes out, the blank cheques and flashy cars, Ezra could be a show off. However, he denies it.
“How many Ugandans do we have showing off? Have you seen any of them showing off this way (sponsoring athletics and boxing)?†he says.
He says since he ventured into athletics, people take the sport seriously. His offers are too good to be true and they leave one wondering whether his cause is genuine.
“Uganda is a society that is mean. I’d rather have no money than see Ugandan boxers struggling to get kits,†he says, adding, “My offers have no strings attached. I’m just here to help. I’ve got no contract with anybody, not even Kassaija,†he says. “I’m trying to make this country shine from a different perspective.â€
“Why don’t we sell Uganda with something that is universally acceptable like sports instead of Amin and AIDS. The artistic part of a nation, which involves sport, has a larger following than a political one anywhere in the world,†he says.
Despite all this money-dishing, Ezra is so elusive. “Why are you so elusive? Is there anything you are trying to hide?â€
“From childhood, I have been elusive, I cannot change today because Ugandans want me to change,†he says
Built at 6 ft, 4 in, the millionaire is said to be a short-tempered person who always wants things done his way.
Born Michael Semakula in a family of five, Ezra grew up under the watchful eyes of his mother Beatrice Nantongo, a British-trained senior Police officer (now retired).
He went to Kitante Primary school and Makerere College before heading to the United States for further education.
“As a kid, my aspiration was to strive to make the world a better place to live in,†he says. But, by his own admission, he is yet to achieve this.
Ezra ventured into break-dancing, winning the All Africa dance championships and the Malibu world Championships in 1987.
His love for jewellery was evident during our interview. He has a gold bracelet strapped on his left hand and a thick necklace across his chest. He is a teetotaller and does not smoke. Strangely, he does not carry a wallet on him. Why?
“The kind of money I carry cannot fit in a wallet!†he says, blowing his own trumpet.
Ezra lives in Kololo and owns five Mercedes Benz cars, that were personally designed for him by Chrysler Daimler. What about the Lamborghini? “It’s there... I’ve driven it once on Yusuf Lule road, but nobody has seen it in the city centre.â€
He says that no Ugandan barber can touch his hair and that he uses a perfume personally designed for him, called EZRA.
“Anyone can afford any perfume. I cannot be seated here wearing a perfume and Sagara is seated there wearing the same perfume. that doesn’t make sense to me. Things have to be different,†he boasts.
Ezra has tried all mannerisms of sprint, including the 100-200 and 400 dashes.
He has a five-and-a-half year-old daughter (Mitchelle) who goes to Lincoln International school. He is not married to Mitchelle’s mum (Catherine Kainza) but is planing the mother of all weddings.
“We (Cathy and Ezra) have been together for eight years now. We are not rushing into marriage. People who rush into marriage are insecure, they have deadlines. I have no deadlines in this world, maybe in the next world†he says.
“Well, we might just wed for you guys…. It’s just a matter of time,†he brags.
Asked whether the idea of investing his money in Uganda has ever crossed his mind, Ezra gives me this “are-you-out-of-your-mind†look, and, without mincing his words, bellows:
“There’s no way I can invest here. The economy is too small. I’d rather put my money into building my country.â€
However, he says that if he really had to invest here, he would perhaps go into agriculture or real estate. He also argues that business in the third world is just a gamble where the formula is to enslave people and maximise profits. “It is called survival not business! It’s speculative economics,†he says.
It is said that Ezra could have hit a jackpot from a security bounty offered by a foreign government for whoever gives certain classified information. Mbu, this could be the source of his immense wealth.
“I have heard that rumour and I know the people behind it. These are people far older than me, people I thought were my friends. I think the sun is too hot in Kampala that it gets to these people’s heads and they begin talking trash!â€
“They want to taint me. They are jealous, but that doesn’t affect my bank balance!â€
As we prepare to leave the suite, I ask again about the source of his wealth and he says: “Like I said, you don’t give Ugandans so much information at ago, they might get confused. This is part one of the interview. In three weeks, I’ll give you part two, which involves the source of my money. You will see and even photograph my investments, I promise,†he says. “Tell your readers to expect a part two.â€
His name whiffs of an over-used money minting machine. He has been described as a moneybags who talks to money and it sits down and listens! He is said to have bought a Lamborghini, which goes for over $500,000.
But Michael Ezra still remains a mystery, so, I set out to unravel last Saturday. Sitting in the Rhino Bar at The Sheraton and sipping Coca-Cola, my phone rings. A voice summons me and my photographer to the 12th floor of the hotel.
On the 12th floor, there is no sign of anyone. As we stand there waiting, we hear footsteps approaching. Some elderly man appears, brandishing a mobile phone. Stern faced, he tells us to follow him. Curious, we oblige.
“Stop here and wait for me,†he bellows. We freeze, pondering what is going on. He disappears into a side room. A minute later, he emerges from another door and leads us to a giant door marked ‘The Presidential Suite.’
He throws the door open, and, spread-eagled before us is Michael Ezra. He is clad in a striped T-shirt, grey pants and his own EZRA sneakers to match. He is busy fingering a mobile phone with his massive gait dumped in a maroon sofa.
On the 25-inch screen in the lounge, Larry King Live is showing. As Ezra gets up to meet us, he reduces the volume on the TV set and hollers: “Karibu. Take a seatâ€.
Lying on a glass table in front of him is a bottle of Rwenzori mineral water, an ashtray, a glass and three mobile phones that kept ringing at intervals.
He stretches out his hand for a handshake, revealing sausage-sized fingers. And boy, is his handshake firm.
His trademark shades hang above his forehead. “What is your obsession with shades? Are they a magic wand of sorts?†I ask.
“Well, if their (the shades’) magic makes me the person I am, so be it,†he answers, with a sarcastic wink.
The manner in which we were ushered into the lounge prompts me to ask how detailed his security is. He assures me it was really tight.
“Do you a carry gun?†I ask. He bursts into a chuckle.
“No comment!†he says.
A couple of years ago, no one knew Ezra. Today, he has donated millions to athletics. he has saved the national boxing team from their recurrent monetary woes, and he has coughed $10,000 just to spend two nights in a Dubai Hotel. However, still no one knows the source of all his money. So, I ask him for the source.
“You don’t want to give Ugandans so much. They might get confused,†he says dodgingly. “You want my profile, so let’s begin with the profile of who I am and then we can do the business profile later. Let’s divide this interview into part one and part two.â€
The 30-year-old is spoken of in the same vein with the likes of Gordon Wavamunno and Karim Hirji. Well, the Wavas have a story to go along with their immense wealth, but Ezra does not, at least none that we know of. He almost popped up from obscurity. He is supposed to be a businessman but his business is as obscure as his Lamborghini!
“Obscure as my Lambourghini?†he says, laughing. “I run genuine businesses. if I had anything to hide, I believe you guys (the media) would have exposed it by now,†he said without expounding.
“Why do Ugandans want to know who Ezra is and what he does anyway? I have been in this country for years and no one asked who I was. Okay, Michael Ezra is a young man, good looking and very loaded… what more do you want?†he said, staring me in the eye.
With all the money he dishes out, the blank cheques and flashy cars, Ezra could be a show off. However, he denies it.
“How many Ugandans do we have showing off? Have you seen any of them showing off this way (sponsoring athletics and boxing)?†he says.
He says since he ventured into athletics, people take the sport seriously. His offers are too good to be true and they leave one wondering whether his cause is genuine.
“Uganda is a society that is mean. I’d rather have no money than see Ugandan boxers struggling to get kits,†he says, adding, “My offers have no strings attached. I’m just here to help. I’ve got no contract with anybody, not even Kassaija,†he says. “I’m trying to make this country shine from a different perspective.â€
“Why don’t we sell Uganda with something that is universally acceptable like sports instead of Amin and AIDS. The artistic part of a nation, which involves sport, has a larger following than a political one anywhere in the world,†he says.
Despite all this money-dishing, Ezra is so elusive. “Why are you so elusive? Is there anything you are trying to hide?â€
“From childhood, I have been elusive, I cannot change today because Ugandans want me to change,†he says
Built at 6 ft, 4 in, the millionaire is said to be a short-tempered person who always wants things done his way.
Born Michael Semakula in a family of five, Ezra grew up under the watchful eyes of his mother Beatrice Nantongo, a British-trained senior Police officer (now retired).
He went to Kitante Primary school and Makerere College before heading to the United States for further education.
“As a kid, my aspiration was to strive to make the world a better place to live in,†he says. But, by his own admission, he is yet to achieve this.
Ezra ventured into break-dancing, winning the All Africa dance championships and the Malibu world Championships in 1987.
His love for jewellery was evident during our interview. He has a gold bracelet strapped on his left hand and a thick necklace across his chest. He is a teetotaller and does not smoke. Strangely, he does not carry a wallet on him. Why?
“The kind of money I carry cannot fit in a wallet!†he says, blowing his own trumpet.
Ezra lives in Kololo and owns five Mercedes Benz cars, that were personally designed for him by Chrysler Daimler. What about the Lamborghini? “It’s there... I’ve driven it once on Yusuf Lule road, but nobody has seen it in the city centre.â€
He says that no Ugandan barber can touch his hair and that he uses a perfume personally designed for him, called EZRA.
“Anyone can afford any perfume. I cannot be seated here wearing a perfume and Sagara is seated there wearing the same perfume. that doesn’t make sense to me. Things have to be different,†he boasts.
Ezra has tried all mannerisms of sprint, including the 100-200 and 400 dashes.
He has a five-and-a-half year-old daughter (Mitchelle) who goes to Lincoln International school. He is not married to Mitchelle’s mum (Catherine Kainza) but is planing the mother of all weddings.
“We (Cathy and Ezra) have been together for eight years now. We are not rushing into marriage. People who rush into marriage are insecure, they have deadlines. I have no deadlines in this world, maybe in the next world†he says.
“Well, we might just wed for you guys…. It’s just a matter of time,†he brags.
Asked whether the idea of investing his money in Uganda has ever crossed his mind, Ezra gives me this “are-you-out-of-your-mind†look, and, without mincing his words, bellows:
“There’s no way I can invest here. The economy is too small. I’d rather put my money into building my country.â€
However, he says that if he really had to invest here, he would perhaps go into agriculture or real estate. He also argues that business in the third world is just a gamble where the formula is to enslave people and maximise profits. “It is called survival not business! It’s speculative economics,†he says.
It is said that Ezra could have hit a jackpot from a security bounty offered by a foreign government for whoever gives certain classified information. Mbu, this could be the source of his immense wealth.
“I have heard that rumour and I know the people behind it. These are people far older than me, people I thought were my friends. I think the sun is too hot in Kampala that it gets to these people’s heads and they begin talking trash!â€
“They want to taint me. They are jealous, but that doesn’t affect my bank balance!â€
As we prepare to leave the suite, I ask again about the source of his wealth and he says: “Like I said, you don’t give Ugandans so much information at ago, they might get confused. This is part one of the interview. In three weeks, I’ll give you part two, which involves the source of my money. You will see and even photograph my investments, I promise,†he says. “Tell your readers to expect a part two.â€