Impressions of my first visit to Uganda

In December 2012, I travelled to Kampala, Uganda to attend the 8th Annual Entrepreneurship Conference hosted by Makerere Business School. The following were my impressions.

1). Makarare Business School (MUBS) is doing very well in terms of Entrepreneurship Education. This is through actual teaching from certificate to doctorate levels. In addition, they have been hosting the Entrepreneurship Conference for the past 9 years. This conference draws participants from Eastern, Western and Southern Africa. MUBS has a centre for Entrepreneurship and Centre for Leadership Studies.

2). MUBS is one of the leading business schools in Africa in terms of Business and Entrepreneurship research. This is a necessity for any business school in order for it to be relevant to society!

3). Uganda has for some time been known as a national with high Entrepreneurial activity. I find it hard to dispute this fact from what my eyes saw last year and this year!

4). Kampala is very packed and congested! Driving there is no child's play! If one think's we have traffic jams in Lusaka, try Kampala and u will be thankful for the mercies we have here! In order to move quickly from one place to the other, boda boda's (motor bikes) have been introduced. They are not to be used by the faint hearted! But one asks can u really avoid them? My solution to the congestion in Kampala? They may well consider shifting the capital to some other town. Kampala seems a lost cause unless if investments in road bypasses are made and trains (both ordinary and tube trains) are introduced.

5). Ugandan people are friendly and hospitable. You feel most welcome when you stay with them from the first time you meet them to when you reluctantly say your good bye!

6). Ugandan food is very nutritious and welcome change from the western junk food that is invading most African cities! Try their matoke (cooked plantains), peanut sauce, fruits (pawpaw, melon and pineapple) which were served at all meals I had whilst there!

7). Ugandans love education and love to learn! From early times University of Makerere has been renowned for offering quality education to Ugandan's and other African nations. Another university spreading to neighbouring nations and Zambia is Kampala International University. In my current studies at University of Cape Town, four of the students in my class last year from Uganda and one of them was the best student!

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