Gaagaa's Closure is a real test on our unity and purpose.

Dear Mr. Alaka,

I wanted to address you inbox but since this is a matter of public concern involving private sector, the engine for region's growth and loss of jobs kindly permit me to share it here. I hope this finds you doing well! 

I'm addressing you as beacon of our unity on reported cessation of operations by Gaaga Bus once a model transport service business in East Africa. 

It's in times like this we test the efficacy of our business community associations, professionals, political leadership and unity of purpose.  I'm sure you and I agree that failure is not anything forestalled on any community. People have always survived if they do the right thing and something about their situation. 

You recall my engagement with you, Adibo and others on helping Gaaga Bus at Amoo restaurant in Centenary Park?Right now I feel this reported closure can only be laid at the feet of our inaction as individuals and group. Whatever the company needed; be it professional advise, money or lobbying of whatever nature, I'm sure the sum of our efforts was capable of delivering. Imagine we asked him to float the company's shares, wouldn't we have raised enough resources as a people? 

A few days ago parliament received a bailout request for ROKO. Ugandan traders who lost business in South Sudan were bailed out/ compensated. Bunyoro tobacco farmers have been bailed out. All these interventions were neither automatic nor inevitable. They took human intervention.

 I often keep wondering! Even as disadvantaged as we're, why is it always easy for us to fight one another but very difficult for us to rally  critical support for nurturing our own establishments? I'm sure all of us were alive to the company's problems but did little to salvage the situation. The business community in Arua is good at organising funerals but not working to save enterprises that create jobs for the youth. We politicians are always at the forefront rallying communities for war against each other yet do little in creating platforms for nurturing entrepreneurs.

I pray Gaaga's case gets ingrained in us as one of our greatest failures of our time. Israelis do not insist on doing business with fellow Israelis first for nothing. It's routed in their perceived disadvantaged position in the society and the need to overcome those hurdles.

Let's pick lessons for the future from this to avert similar incidents.

Wishing you a blessed weekend as we reflect on this.

Denis Lee Oguzu  (MP).