Kwesiga, the young man steering Ugandans in America ahead

By Samuel Lutwama

Without a doubt, Brian Kwesiga is a busy man. After presiding over the special offertory ceremony and launching an internet radio; Uganda Crowd Funding Network at St Noah Sserwanga Wampewo Church of Uganda in Kasangati on Sunday April 19, 2015, he was whisked away to another function at Gayaza Junior School.

He is in Uganda for two weeks; two weeks which are packed with several appointments and meetings.

Perhaps this is to be expected of someone at the helm of the leading organization for Ugandans in the Diaspora.

Kwesiga is the current president of Uganda North America Association (UNAA).

He seems smaller than I expected, but he is not a pushover. At 27, he is the youngest president of the 27- year-old Association.

The youthful president is pleasant and easy going, with a distinctive aura of humility reflected in his personality.

He appears reserved at first, like a bulb that is saving its wattage for the bigger room.

In the course of the interview, it is apparent that Kwesiga is a brilliant person. 

Ugandans in the US got a glimpse of the youthful electronic engineer's abilities when he contested for the UNAA presidency and won in 2013. 

For many, it was a big surprise, but not for him. He says he had done his homework quite early, so, as is always the case, opportunities come to a prepared person.

"I joined the presidential bid because I felt that the association was not on the right track. I needed to fix it and restore the image of the association that was embroiled in a lot of controversy," he calmly says.

Asked how it feels to be at the helm of a such a big and influential association, Kwesiga says; "it's a privilege and I feel a great deal of responsibility because I personally know a lot of the young and the old people who supported and trusted me, so, I try to not to let them down," he says.

Upon assuming power, his first task was to handle the debt-ridden budget and restore fiscal discipline in the Association. "There was a huge debt that I inherited from my predecessors, so my immediate task was to fix it and also become more involved in Uganda's affairs," he says.

His hardnosed decision won him some enemies, but in some ways, he gained a lot of respect and affection. He proved to be a rock-solid president.

At such a young age, in such an admirable position, Kwesiga reflects on the difficulties he faced while growing up.

Orphaned at a young age

Kwesiga, who is single but dating someone he only identified as Daphne, was born Rukungiri in 1987 at Nyakibale Hospital a year before the UNAA was born. 

He considers himself to be a child of Kigezi. He says he has roots in Kabale, Rukungiri and Mbarara.

Brian's childhood was typical of a Ugandan childhood.

His parents died when he was still young. His mother; Rosemary Tindiwensi, who worked as a District Health Educator in Mbarara, died when he was eight years old.

Three years later, death struck again and claimed his father; James Kwesiga who worked District Health Inspector in Mbarara.

He found himself in a rapidly changing world, which in many ways influenced his life path. With both his parents gone, his paternal Uncle; Ben Musinguzi took him under his wings and that his how he came to be the person he is today.

The Road to UNAA presidency

At an early age, the importance of education was impressed upon him. He completed his primary education at St Peters primary school in Nsambya.

He joined Kibuli secondary school where he sat for his Uganda Certificate of Education exams in 2002.

But even then, as a boy growing up in Uganda, Kwesiga always felt like he was destined to be part of leadership in society and part of decision makers.

"I always wanted to step in if there was anything that I could fix and bring about a positive change in society," he says

After his Ordinary Level education in Uganda, he joined his elder sister who lived in Texas, USA. After his high school, he enrolled for a bachelor's degree in electrical engineering at South Methodist University in Dallas, Texas.

As a student, he went to Sao Paolo in Brazil on a study programme abroad for six months. It was while in Brazil that Kwesiga got the real insight of what people living in the Diaspora can do to support their home economies in developing countries.

He figured out that Brazil was able to emerge into a middle class economy riding on the wings of Brazilians in Diaspora.

It was an experience that would later direct the course of his life. From that time his perspective changed.

He left Brazil in July 2007 and in August that same year, he attended his maiden UNAA Convention.

It was not long before he discovered his new calling - to vie for leadership in UNAA. 

It was like falling in love. He just knew that he had to do something to bring about positive change.

He contested for several leadership positions within UNAA which eventually led him into the presidency.

In 2013, he served as the chairman of the UNAA Dallas Convention Organizing Committee which oversaw the 25th Annual Convention and Trade Expo.

He once served as the Deputy Speaker of UNNA Council representative for the South-West Region 2 (Arkansas Northern Texas, and Oklahoma).

He also once served as treasurer on the board of directors of the East African Chamber of Commerce and secretary of the Ugandan American Association of Greater Dallas/ Fort Worth before he stepped down to devote his heart and soul in organizing the 25th Annual UNAA Convention and Trade Expo, which, in his estimation was the stepping stone for him to vie for the presidency of UNAA.

Winning strategy

Over the years, UNAA elections were reserved for the more mature and experienced adults.

The younger people often came in for social gatherings. But that perception was going to change when Kwesiga stormed the race. 

He knew how to win the majority block of the youth and then capitalized on it through mobilization.

"I mobilized the younger people and encouraged them to join the electoral process," he says.

So on Election Day, the more traditional older group was taken by surprise when the youth voted overwhelmingly for Kwesiga. That is how the older group lost to him.

The storm brews

But hardly had he warmed up his presidential seat than things fell apart within UNAA. 

Just after his election, he was accused of mismanagement, creating cliques and disrespecting the 27-year old institution which prompted some aggrieved members to form a rival association faction which they named "UNAA Causes."

However, the youthful president who says that he is not affiliated to any political party, is not fazed by the breakaway faction saying it has been the tradition of the association to form breakaway factions whenever elections are held over the years.

'Whenever we hold elections we expect some sort of a breakaway faction," he says. A new executive is elected and sworn in every two years.

Kwesiga believes that the breakaway group was driven by the ego. "They don't know how to let go even when it is apparent that change has swept over," he says sarcastically.

Kwesiga's achievements

During his tenure in office, he has introduced the emerging Leaders Scholarship and Mentorship Program, aimed at grooming future leaders for the Diaspora as well as encouraging young people to pursue education.

The inaugural winner was a student studying Petroleum Engineering at Louisiana State University. The scholarship will be an annual event.

His administration also launched the Community Outreach Initiative (COI) where Ugandans interact with fellows Ugandans who live in the Diaspora.

He says when he became the president, the association was receiving sponsorship of $20, 000 (sh60m) from the Government of Uganda but it has been increased to $100,000 (sh300m) in two years.

Ultimate challenge

With the next election to be held during this year's UNAA Convention which will be held from September 4 to 6 in New Orleans, Louisana, USA, Kwesiga faces a daunting challenge of wooing back the renegade members into the main fold.

This, perhaps, is the ultimate test of his infant political career.

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