Over 2000 grace 25th anniversary of Orumuri

By Abdukarim Ssengendo

MBARARA - About 2000 people from different parts of western Uganda turned up for Orumuri Omwekambi (PAKASA) forum which marked the climax of Orumuri’s 25 years celebration activities. The first edition of Vision Group’s Omwekambi forum in the region took place at Ntare School Conference Hall on Saturday.

Five celebrated entrepreneurs took part in the business conference.

James Tumusiime, the Managing Director of Igongo Cultural Center, Country Hotel and Fountain Publishers and chairman of Uganda Tourism Board, was the keynote speaker at the forum which attracted all classes of people.

Other speakers included Edward Kazire – of Kazire health products; former Mbarara municipality mayor Robert Rutenda – a now successful livestock farmer; Dr. Enid Natukunda and Barya Muhumuza a real estate dealer and renowned businessman in Mbarara.

Vision Group’s CEO, Robert Kabushenga said the forum was part of the celebrations to mark 25 years of existence of Orumuri newspaper.

He explained the forum seeks to equip people in the region with skills and knowledge on how they can start businesses and maximize opportunities round them. In this he committed himself that Vision Group would organize the forum every year and bring more business experts to help Ugandans get out of poverty

“We are going to have this forum organized every year and four of them if possible, we want experts to come and tell us how they have made it so that they can help many of us to achieve success,” Kabushenga said.

Kabushenga wasn’t happy with the increasing number of young men spending time in sports betting shops, pool table and drinking alcohol and urged their parents to step-up direct their children into a self-development direction.

Running for the first time in the western region, the forum is inspired by Omwekambi, a pullout that covers entrepreneurship issues in the Orumuri Newspaper. Godfrey Kiiza a resident of Nyakizinga Mitooma district who attended the forum and won a cow, said the forum was educative and urged Vision Group to organize it quarterly.

According to Karenzi, the first chief sub editor of Orumuri, first edition of Orumuri publication Volume 1, was published in 1989 printed by the New Vision Printing and Publication. Only 5000 copies were published and the first copy was distributed free of charge to its readers.

The face price was Shs100 a copy, and the main story was “NRM eshabire emyaka etaano” (NRM asks five years), Karenzi who still has the first copy of Orumuri in his file added. He thanked people who have been central in the development and growth of the paper.

Dr. Enid Natukunda discouraged young people from living expensive life style, spending much of their time on social media and sports betting. She also discouraged them from resorting to begging as a financial solution.

Edward Kazire, told them that for one to be rich, one must have earnings, have the spirit to save, invest, compound and protect their wealth and above all must set goals.

Robert Rutehenda challenged Ugandans taking loans from banks not to use them on luxurious lifestyles saying this has led to the collapse of many people’s businesses.

James Tumusiime said for any business to succeed one must have a mission, machines, manpower, method, market and money. He said there must also be value creation, patience, passion and one must aim at making profit and create trust among people.

Some of the things that kill business, Tumusiime mentioned are cultural barriers, high bank interest rates and he called for a need to have skills based curricula in schools.

Barya Muhumuza, advised business people to be honest, have a persuasive language, be approachable, organized and committed to their business, be positive always and think hard if they are to be successful in business.

At the forum many people who won in the “Hangura n’Orumuri promotion were given their prizes which included cows, flat screen TVs and cash. Those who won cows included: Tarasisi Gumisiriza-Kaboba, Kiiza Godfrey-Nyakizinga Mitooma Ruhinda, Dan Kariisa-yakayojo, Marriam Karinda -Nkokonjeru and Denis Twinomujuni-Rwampara.

During the advertisers’ dinner held at Igongo Country Hotel on Friday, advertisers requested Vision Group boss to change Orumuri newspaper from weekly into a bi-weekly paper saying  the paper coming out once a week was not providing sufficient information for them to read in the entire week.

Henry Bongerirwe, also demanded for increasing the pagination of the paper

The event also attracted hundreds of advertisers from different parts of the region. The dinner was also organized to appreciate the advertisers who have supported the paper’s growth over the last 25 years.

He was happy to note, that in the 25 years, many newspapers have started and collapsed, but Orumuri survived and is still in growing in the market. He was mostly impressed by the successful integration of Radio West and Orumuri which have built a powerful media establishment in Western Uganda.

He was proud that Orumuri and Radio West had built TV West into the number one TV station in the area. He committed himself that as part of the ongoing celebrations of Orumuri’s 25 years, he would also extend TV West to Kampala next year to meet the demands of people there.