KAMPALA – Members of Parliament have hailed the late Amirali Karmali Mukwano as a great entrepreneur whose enterprises enabled Ugandans to improve their livelihoods through access to jobs as well as basic needs.
In a motion moved by the Prime Minister, Dr. Ruhakana Rugunda, for a resolution of Parliament to pay tribute to Mukwano, he noted that Amirali Karmali started business in agriculture before venturing into other investments that made Mukwano Group of Companies a success in the country and region.
Rugunda also noted that Mukwano was among the few Ugandans of Indian origin who persisted and remained in the country when ldi Amin expelled Asians from Uganda; which enabled him to keep track of his business investments.
MPs said Mukwano exhibited responsibility and kept investing in new ventures within Uganda, which gave many citizens an opportunity for employment over the years.
“We should pick a leaf from this great investor who helped to check on the employment gap. Local investors should be given the same subsidies as foreign investors so as to promote local content,” said Hon. Francis Gonahasa (FDC, Kabweri County).
Hon. Ibrahim Ssemujju Nganda reiterated the call to support local investors saying that Government ought to put in place conditions that can support the rise of local investors like Mukwano.
“Once we have our own people investing in the country, there will be more jobs and we can stop exporting our labour to foreign countries,” Ssemujju said.
According to MPs, several business investments in Uganda had often crumbled owing to failure by owners to train potential managers, something which they said Mukwano was able to successfully execute.
“I am happy that Mukwano trained a successor to his enterprise and we have all read and heard that it is a lady. Ugandan investors should learn from Mukwano if they want their businesses to last,” said Hon. James Acidri (NRM, Maracha East County).
MPs raised concern over companies that produce counterfeit products that pose a risk to Ugandan consumers and also inevitably affect the market of Ugandan products in the region and internationally.
“Mukwano’s products are authentic and that is why many Ugandan homes use them, but there are many businesses in Uganda that sell fake products which have even affected the health of our people. We need to reign in on such companies,” noted Hon. Moses Kasibante (IND, Rubaga North Division)
Amirali Karmali Mukwano who was born in 1930, passed away on Wednesday, 10 July 2019 aged 89 years.
