Ajabu Africa News

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A Kampala based fashion designer and 3 models greet hundreds of guests during the closing night of the 2016 Ugandan North American Association (UNAA) Convention at the Park Plaza Hotel in Boston. AJABU AFRICA IMAGE/H.MAINA

By:

HARRISON MAINA

Posted:

Sep,14-2016 19:11:34

(AJABU AFRICAN NEWS, Thursday, September 8, 2016 ) BOSTON__A colorful Ugandan North American Association (UNAA) convention in Boston wrapped up Sunday with revelations that the organization plans to launch day care centers to ease the burden on Ugandan Diaspora parents struggling with tight work schedules.

Making the announcement, UNAA president, Monday S. Atigo also thanked the Speaker of the National Assembly, Hon. Rebecca Kadaga, for a $50,000 cash donation the government of Uganda presented to the organization that brings together Ugandans living in USA, Canada, United Kingdom and the motherland through various local affiliate associations and communities.

The Speaker had led a battery of over 23 Members of Ugandan Parliament to the 3 day convention that was also attended by Ugandan Ambassador to the US, Oliver Wonekha, Government Chief Whip, Hon, Justine Kasule and Opposition leader, Dr. Kizza Besigye, who has been gaining popularity the world over for his frequent arrests and imprisonments by the government for his sustained political activities.

Atigo said that as UNAA grows in size and scope, it has decided to embark on real programs that will improve the standard of living in the community, starting with day care centers in cities that host significant populations of Ugandan nationals.

"The community daycare centers will be of big help to many parents who cannot find enough time to be together at home and who have to exchange kids as they switch shifts,"

Speaker of the Uganda Parliamennt, Hon. Rebecca Kadaga (in black-center), during the closing night of the 2016 Ugandan North American Association (UNAA) Convention at the Park Plaza Hotel in Boston. AJABU AFRICA IMAGE/H.MAINA

The UNAA president added that the funds recently donated by the Ugandan government to the organization had been disbursed to the various UNAA affiliations in different states and was already causing a positive impact.

"Madam Speaker, on behalf of the entire UNAA community, I would like to thank you for the donation of $50,000 that your office sent to this organization. I can assure you the money was received and disbursed to various local chapters serving Ugandan communities in various states."

Among the local chapters that received the donations were the Ugandan Community Association of Dallas, Ugandan Community Association of California, Ugandan Community Association of Atlanta, and the Ugandan Community in Seattle among others.

The UNAA president also said that the organization was constantly trying to improve its services to the Diaspora community and has already contracted a renowned attorney to deal with legal issues of all members at a heavily negotiated price.

He added that other members of the community not signed up for UNAA membership can also access the same legal services from the contract attorney, but will have to pay a much higher price.

"You do the math. Compare the amount of money you will spend to join UNAA and the benefits you get against the amount of money you will have to pay to get the same services as a non member," challenged Atigo, a resident of Dallas, TX.

Key Note Speaker, Major Dr. Lukia Mulumba

He thanked members of the local UNAA chapter in Boston for putting together a spectacular and well organized event.

Members of the community willing to join the umbrella organization get access to various services including legal help, discounted convention registration and hotel booking fees, as well free Trade and Investment Forums, workshops and corporate receptions.

Delivering a keynote speech, Major Dr. Lukia Mulumba, a Ugandan national serving as a major in the US Army, from where she founded the US- Uganda Sicklecell foundation after her daughter won a difficult battle to recover from the disease called on a few other Ugandans in USA who have been fighting to destabilize the community organization by forming a separate entity to join the rest of the community for stronger unity.

"Twenty years ago, during a labor summer barbeque by several Ugandan friends in Atlanta, Georgia, the idea of UNAA came up. Who knew it would grow to bring together so many people as you can see here tonight," said Major Dr. Mulumba, a highly accomplished Clinical Nurse Practitioner who published a paper of Sickle-Cell disease in Africa.

"As we are sitting here tonight, another meeting is talking place in Los Angeles. We don't need that. We want to be under one umbrella association for a stronger and need a more united community," she lamented.

She also urged Ugandans in the Diaspora to put their talents to work to solve various problems that are facing their motherland since they stood a better chance to do it due to the exposure they have gained while living and working in the West.

The highly entertaining convention ended with a fashion show where two Kampala based fashion designers paraded their prowess by bringing their sewing machines on the stage from where they held a live competition aimed at producing a wearable dress in 10 minutes or under.

Hundreds of bewildered guests watched in disbelief as the two designers cut material and sewed a dress each within the slotted time limit, then putting them on two models that had stood by patiently waiting for the dresses, to the delight of the cheering crowd.

Fashion designers from Kampala in a live competition to make dresses from scratch to clothe models waiting in the background during the closing night of the 2016 Ugandan North American Association (UNAA) Convention at the Park Plaza Hotel in Boston. AJABU AFRICA IMAGE/H.MAINA

The 3 day convention brought together over 3,500 Ugandans and their friends to Boston, among them Kenyan and American citizens. It was sponsored by over a dozen business organizations including Equity Bank and Postbank, Umeme, as well as UNAA member contributions.

And in keeping up with their culture, the Ugandans managed to cut a deal with the Park Plaza Hotel which allowed them to bring in their traditional delicacies for dinner including Matoke, Chapati, Ugali, Fish, Cassava and more in order to customize the regular American dinner buffet offered to Ugandan tastes.

Revelers also overwhelmed the local Boston cruise ship operators who could not cope with the overbooked demand.

Only one boat was available for about 600 Ugandans, leaving many more disappointed for the several cruise outings planned on Saturday night.

Models doning outfits designed live on stage hit the runway during the closing night of the 2016 Ugandan North American Association (UNAA) Convention at the Park Plaza Hotel in Boston. AJABU AFRICA IMAGE/H.MAINA

"It was a great 3 days here in Boston. This was an amazing event and we had a lot of fun. I am glad made the journey form Kampala to Boston just for this," said one very excited trader from Kampala.

Renowkned Ugandan Community Mcee, Chales Muvawala moderated the proceedings during the closing gala night.

According to organizers, the 2017 convention will take place in Miami Florida during the same Labor Day weekend as usual.

Source:

AJABU AFRICAN NEWS