Richard Weyers will never forget CHOGM in Kampala
THEY say that when you go to Rome, behave like Romans. This is how Richard Weyers, the outgoing British Council Director lives during his times of service, representing his government overseas.
By Irene Nabusoba
THEY say that when you go to Rome, behave like Romans. This is how Richard Weyers, the outgoing British Council Director lives during his times of service, representing his government overseas.
Born a Catholic, Weyers converted to Islam while on his maiden service in Sudan, as a volunteer with Volunteer Service Oversees — an international development charity, which works through volunteers to fight poverty in developing countries.
“For the two years I spent in Sudan, I admired the way people practiced Islam. It was very good. They lived an exemplary life. It influenced me to convert. I was aged 30 years then,†says the 46-year old Briton.
Ushering me into his office at Rwenzori Courts, Weyers says: “I’m glad you found time to talk to me. I will be out of office by tomorrow midday. I leave for Sudan on Friday.â€
Sitting across the table, Weyers avoids eye contact, answering questions with clarity and carefully selected words.
“I was posted to Uganda in September 2005 from Afghanistan. I’ve been here for three years but it seems like three months. I had an assumption that all African countries are the same.
But Uganda’s professionalism is very dynamic. The young people are eager to get on and I liked their kind of spirit.
“It’s no wonder that Uganda has the highest level of entrepreneurship in Sub Saharan Africa. Well, it equally has more business failures but that is expected.
Still, I find your (Ugandans) enthusiasm energising,†he says. “But what really stands out for you in the short three years?†I probe.
“CHOGM. I leave with fond memories of CHOGM,†he answers readily, this time looking at me straight in the face.
Uganda hosted the historic Commonwealth Heads Of Governments Meeting in Kampala from 23-25 November, 2007.
“We have a few weeks left to mark an anniversary of the Kampala CHOGM but the people I talk to still congratulate me for the organised show we pulled off.
Uganda had quite a negative past, tinted with conflict but CHOGM has re-branded it. It has put the country on the world map. Every one talks about Ugandans as the most hospitable people they know. I’m proud to have been part of it,†Weyers says passionately.
The British Council was very instrumental in organising the event, particularly the People’s Forum, Youth Forum and the Business Forum.
“It was the first time to have the People’s Space where everyone had free speech. It was the best CHOGM ever. CHOGM was the highlight of my three years here.
We were involved right from the start; training the youth specifically about the MDGs and how they can be part of the transformation of their country.
We organised speakers…...†he adds proudly, like a real Ugandan.
The British Council is the UK’s international organisation for educational opportunities and cultural relations operating in 110 countries worldwide.
The non profit organisation builds engagement and trust for the UK through the exchange of knowledge and ideas between people through arts, education, science, sport, and governance.
Born in London, Weyers who studied at Durahm University in the North of England and later London University has represented British Council in five counties; Sudan, Manchester UK, Malawi, Afghanistan, and Uganda.
An information specialist by profession, he has evolved to general management roles.
He thinks Uganda has one of the best education systems in Sub Saharan Africa.
“I’m no expert in grading education institutions but see, Kenya, Tanzania are all sending their children to study here. Not only that, I have worked with the best team ever. Unless there is a good education, you cannot have good employees,†he says.
Weyers notes that there are massive challenges in implementing Universal Primary Education and now Universal Secondary Education especially funding.
“Shaky as it may look, Uganda’s initiative is one of the best free education programmes in Africa. Let’s build on that success,†he says.
“I’m glad to note that the education standards in qualifications seem to have remarkably retained. It is often very tempting for governments to dilute exams to show progress. It has happened in UK,†he says.
Weyers argues that there should be a benchmark. “It’s not good for students to get lots of first grades. Well, there may be some slippage but the exam system is still strong. We are still holding onto the standards,†he remarks.
However, Weyers calls for more reforms in the higher education. “I may sound mean but I wish there could be less places for admission for students with more quality than massive admissions with compromised outputs.
It’s very difficult to attain quality with big numbers. Government has to expand the numbers of private universities which should find their own funding. So should the students,†he advises.
He also says universities have to work more closely with industries to arrange internship.
There should also be government initiatives, like volunteer programmes to encourage exposure, for graduates to know the needs of their economy before they leave university.
He observes that historically many people look to the West for scholarships and continuing education noting that the British Council manages a few such programmes on behalf of the UK government but regretted that they could not offer many.
“I dreaded turning away scholarship seekers,†he says. “I wish people could also consider volunteerism. It is not an area I hear much about here but it’s a very healthy aspect as far as career development is concerned.
“It helps encourage self employment, income generation, and a spirit of patriotism. It’s like serving in the public service. It helps you pride in that fact that you are part of the transformation process of your country.
“I work with the British Council because I love to engage with impact. I love to see the flourishing of people we work with. We have lots of staff, but as a team we achieve so much. I learnt this through my early years of volunteering,†he says.
It’s this living spirit that he almost recites the current president US elect, Barack Obama’s remarks without blinking.
“I particularly like the part where Obama says that ‘even the people watching TV in their sitting rooms, listening to radios in the darkest parts of this world, we support you in your struggles.
Our problems are different but our destiny is the same. “And then he extends an invitation for international re-engagement with the US. The British Council has global projects in billions of dollars. It’s also a call for us to rebuild.
Yes there is a lot of work to do. And yes we can,†he says. He says he wants to ‘rebuild Sudan by helping improve cultural relations with UK’. “I love challenges and this is definitely one for me given that Sudan has just emerged from conflict.
I want to start some meaningful programs in Southern Sudan. I hope my experience in Uganda can help me. I could even tap from the development trainers I have empowered here,†he says.
The desire to know his Muslim name at the mention of Barrack Hussein Obama is overwhelming but he laughs it off as a ‘useless name’ since its not reflected on his official documents.
Married to a Muslim Sudanese Arab, Weyers says his two kids carry Muslim names, even though they are studying in UK where Islam is somewhat a minority religion.
On whether his Catholic parents disowned him for converting, he laughs saying: “It’s quite a difficult question. It’s a long story,†he says softly.
THEY say that when you go to Rome, behave like Romans. This is how Richard Weyers, the outgoing British Council Director lives during his times of service, representing his government overseas.
Born a Catholic, Weyers converted to Islam while on his maiden service in Sudan, as a volunteer with Volunteer Service Oversees — an international development charity, which works through volunteers to fight poverty in developing countries.
“For the two years I spent in Sudan, I admired the way people practiced Islam. It was very good. They lived an exemplary life. It influenced me to convert. I was aged 30 years then,†says the 46-year old Briton.
Ushering me into his office at Rwenzori Courts, Weyers says: “I’m glad you found time to talk to me. I will be out of office by tomorrow midday. I leave for Sudan on Friday.â€
Sitting across the table, Weyers avoids eye contact, answering questions with clarity and carefully selected words.
“I was posted to Uganda in September 2005 from Afghanistan. I’ve been here for three years but it seems like three months. I had an assumption that all African countries are the same.
But Uganda’s professionalism is very dynamic. The young people are eager to get on and I liked their kind of spirit.
“It’s no wonder that Uganda has the highest level of entrepreneurship in Sub Saharan Africa. Well, it equally has more business failures but that is expected.
Still, I find your (Ugandans) enthusiasm energising,†he says. “But what really stands out for you in the short three years?†I probe.
“CHOGM. I leave with fond memories of CHOGM,†he answers readily, this time looking at me straight in the face.
Uganda hosted the historic Commonwealth Heads Of Governments Meeting in Kampala from 23-25 November, 2007.
“We have a few weeks left to mark an anniversary of the Kampala CHOGM but the people I talk to still congratulate me for the organised show we pulled off.
Uganda had quite a negative past, tinted with conflict but CHOGM has re-branded it. It has put the country on the world map. Every one talks about Ugandans as the most hospitable people they know. I’m proud to have been part of it,†Weyers says passionately.
The British Council was very instrumental in organising the event, particularly the People’s Forum, Youth Forum and the Business Forum.
“It was the first time to have the People’s Space where everyone had free speech. It was the best CHOGM ever. CHOGM was the highlight of my three years here.
We were involved right from the start; training the youth specifically about the MDGs and how they can be part of the transformation of their country.
We organised speakers…...†he adds proudly, like a real Ugandan.
The British Council is the UK’s international organisation for educational opportunities and cultural relations operating in 110 countries worldwide.
The non profit organisation builds engagement and trust for the UK through the exchange of knowledge and ideas between people through arts, education, science, sport, and governance.
Born in London, Weyers who studied at Durahm University in the North of England and later London University has represented British Council in five counties; Sudan, Manchester UK, Malawi, Afghanistan, and Uganda.
An information specialist by profession, he has evolved to general management roles.
He thinks Uganda has one of the best education systems in Sub Saharan Africa.
“I’m no expert in grading education institutions but see, Kenya, Tanzania are all sending their children to study here. Not only that, I have worked with the best team ever. Unless there is a good education, you cannot have good employees,†he says.
Weyers notes that there are massive challenges in implementing Universal Primary Education and now Universal Secondary Education especially funding.
“Shaky as it may look, Uganda’s initiative is one of the best free education programmes in Africa. Let’s build on that success,†he says.
“I’m glad to note that the education standards in qualifications seem to have remarkably retained. It is often very tempting for governments to dilute exams to show progress. It has happened in UK,†he says.
Weyers argues that there should be a benchmark. “It’s not good for students to get lots of first grades. Well, there may be some slippage but the exam system is still strong. We are still holding onto the standards,†he remarks.
However, Weyers calls for more reforms in the higher education. “I may sound mean but I wish there could be less places for admission for students with more quality than massive admissions with compromised outputs.
It’s very difficult to attain quality with big numbers. Government has to expand the numbers of private universities which should find their own funding. So should the students,†he advises.
He also says universities have to work more closely with industries to arrange internship.
There should also be government initiatives, like volunteer programmes to encourage exposure, for graduates to know the needs of their economy before they leave university.
He observes that historically many people look to the West for scholarships and continuing education noting that the British Council manages a few such programmes on behalf of the UK government but regretted that they could not offer many.
“I dreaded turning away scholarship seekers,†he says. “I wish people could also consider volunteerism. It is not an area I hear much about here but it’s a very healthy aspect as far as career development is concerned.
“It helps encourage self employment, income generation, and a spirit of patriotism. It’s like serving in the public service. It helps you pride in that fact that you are part of the transformation process of your country.
“I work with the British Council because I love to engage with impact. I love to see the flourishing of people we work with. We have lots of staff, but as a team we achieve so much. I learnt this through my early years of volunteering,†he says.
It’s this living spirit that he almost recites the current president US elect, Barack Obama’s remarks without blinking.
“I particularly like the part where Obama says that ‘even the people watching TV in their sitting rooms, listening to radios in the darkest parts of this world, we support you in your struggles.
Our problems are different but our destiny is the same. “And then he extends an invitation for international re-engagement with the US. The British Council has global projects in billions of dollars. It’s also a call for us to rebuild.
Yes there is a lot of work to do. And yes we can,†he says. He says he wants to ‘rebuild Sudan by helping improve cultural relations with UK’. “I love challenges and this is definitely one for me given that Sudan has just emerged from conflict.
I want to start some meaningful programs in Southern Sudan. I hope my experience in Uganda can help me. I could even tap from the development trainers I have empowered here,†he says.
The desire to know his Muslim name at the mention of Barrack Hussein Obama is overwhelming but he laughs it off as a ‘useless name’ since its not reflected on his official documents.
Married to a Muslim Sudanese Arab, Weyers says his two kids carry Muslim names, even though they are studying in UK where Islam is somewhat a minority religion.
On whether his Catholic parents disowned him for converting, he laughs saying: “It’s quite a difficult question. It’s a long story,†he says softly.