Amanya Ivan

15/02/2021

13/01/2021

Unconditional love is called Grace

it was what God was trying to show to abraham when he asked him to sacrifice his son (isaac)

He had to show pinnacle love for God that was beyond his son. He was able to prove that his love for God was not attached to anything but unconditional.

The same with Job, God was trying to show the devil that job loved God unconditionally, his love wasn't attached to his wealth.

It was hard but Job and Abraham did prove their love for God .

Fast forward, God also, for his love for the world(which didn't really know Him and was not ready to accept Him )he also gave up His only begotten son Christ (john 3:16)

And that is what we call Grace of God toward mankind.
The love we are unqualified for.

What about you, do you need to be graceful? ,
The Lord instructs us to forgive those who do us wrong and also pray for our enemies, these thing are really hard to do and close to impossible that some people rather die than forgive.

This is where grace kicks in, Grace is a force that takes you to places where ordinary love can't.
Grace loves the "unloveable"
Grace heals the undeserving,
Grace is the only force that can make you forgive where there's no apology.
If love is second 🥈 place then grace takes the first place 🥇..
Love is lacking on it's own without grace.

Families and couples that live long have grace on top of their love.

Grace is the only reason why we also are Children of God.

04/01/2021

Kaboozi

Sometimes I post something and I find people while going around doing what I do and they engage me deeply on certain posts. I wake up everyday with a target of achieving at least 10 things. I have had this kind of mindset for at least 19 years and they add up.

Many of the things just require a phone call and others require physical presence. 3 to 4 must be major and others are miner but matter as well. With such a mindset if I post about 1 thing, you won't know about others which is okay. A friend of mine Isaiah Rembo recently told me when people see your post, they don't know how many things you have done.

Anyways, a guy meets me and says you can't be eating kikomando( chapati and beans) and what you posted is for facebook. I looked at this guy and couldn't understand him. I thought to myself, do I eat stones? Snakes, rats. Why would you follow my page if that's how you think?

Those pictures of me eating during that ride where actually taken by Justus Kojax Koojo. I wasnt going to take them, I was thinking about the remaining 70kms ahead. I just wanted to fill my stomach and move on. He always amused at how I look at life. He is a down to earth guy himself.

Am the type who will tell my driver to go home and I walk from Mutungo hill to makidye(16kms) or I will board a public taxi just for just. You enter a taxi and most times someone will know me. So you also use taxi like us? Why do people think like this? Between makidye and Mutungo( people will stop cars to ask if there a problem, are you okay Amos?). Of course I genuinely appreciate the concern but am living the real life.

I eat from many kafundas as long as its Fearly clean and people will be like, you also come to this places? Eh, I have always thought am me Wekesa! Yes, I thank God who has enabled me make some strides in life but the reality is that I haven't tapped into 30% of my potential. Businesses am involved in yes, are at the take off stage but not anywhere in the big league in this country let alone the region.

Besides, when it comes to food, I grew up first 10 years where food was for scratching, next 13 years in a children's home where things like chicken was never on the menu, meat maybe like 2.5 kgs for 48 boys once in a while( reality). During dry season often had salt and posh because we had grow vegetables ourselves. Constant was posho and beans. Am still thankful for that.

When I came to Kampala to hustle in September 1996, anything I ate was a bonus. If I used a taxi, it was a bonus otherwise, I simply walked everywhere. I was fit because of that. Hardily had medical bills to pay which I couldn't afford anyways. I never had a single person to try to make guilty for my own problems. I never explained to anyone my problems, I was above 18 and needed to deal with myself.

Only once I remember and this I have told you. I had spent a whole year and not tested meat and since I used to play badminton and table tennis at sharing hall( this helped me have a clear mind, exercise is so important for focus), I could see weddings every Saturday. I was earning 20,000 a month, my one funny room 5k a month, spent ushs 1000 a week for food( a lady used to make me katogo at ushs 100 and that would work as my dinner and breakfast, lunch was rear)

Anyways, I put on my Sunday best on one Saturday( ya kind of) and my aim was access to meat. Little did I know that kids from Kamwanyi slum had similar plot, so will take up the back during the wedding that Saturday , long bench was full. I was the most decently dressed chap amongst the flukers( thank God) and one of the organizers storms the bench and pulls kid after kid using different methods out.

The guy pulls out everyone on left and my right and leaves me there alone like an abandoned island. Kind of thought maybe I take off but picked courage and hangin there. Guys wedding were from western uganda, Guy might have thought I was a long lost uncle of sorts from the village( when poor, you look older than you are but that's a story of another day).

Guys, time for food came pretty fast and I made sure I don't go amongst the first. Eh, I served myself like a chap with rural appetite. I ate that food and walked towards home. But somwhere along the way, I actually shade tears while thinking, why was I born so poor that meat was such an important things. Those tears created a resolve deep in me and I promised to work hard.

If you had met me that evening and asked me about my future plans, I would have told you I was going to work hard and eat a lot of meat. After working hard, I lost appetite for meat and to be honest i eat mostly to fill my tummy. For the first 5 years into some financial freedom, I feared to eat in any highend eating place. I remember how poverty treated me and I knew being careless, would send me back.

After those 5 years, I decided that where hunger finds me, is where I will eat and hunger often finds in affordable places. This kind of lifestyle has helped me actually build businesses. I actually enjoy this lifestyle. In this affordable places, you find real people , am not saying those in highend places aren't. There is so much pretense in those highend places. A good percentage is scratching hard to simply be seen there........

Free to share on your time line.

26/12/2020

A short story all youth's should learn from

PATRICK BITATURE

I will share with you my life story...,

I was born into a reasonably well-off family. My parents worked for the EAC, so we had lived in Kenya and Tanzania. We had drivers and many privileges that I took for granted. We owned property, farms, buses, and cars.

When I was 13 my dad was brutally murdered by the Idi Amin regime. My Dad died at the age of 44, just as I began to really know him and admire him as my true hero. I really loved him so much. I was so devastated and shocked..…words cannot describe. It was the most heart wrenching experience.

Not only were we robbed of a father and bread winner. Everything material we had was taken overnight. All the material things we had were all gone in a flash. Taken.

Riches to rags doesn’t begin to describe what we went through. It was moments like these that I felt God had indeed forsaken us. Father Grimes of Namasagali college took me in with my siblings school fees or not for the next few years

The turning point in my life was about a year later, on the day when the family sat down on a mat, not a dining table, to have tea without Sugar for the first time. My mother insisted we just get used to it and drink the tea. Then my youngest brother started crying for Daddy. Then my mother who had 6 children by the age of 30 started crying too. Hysterically. And asking God to come and take us all. Then I felt a big lump in my throat.

That night I was on the Akamba Bus to Nairobi to look for some sugar. I returned the next day with a suitcase full of sugar – 15 kgs. I got the extra from concerned relatives that realised a 14-year old had come all the way to Kenya just for sugar. Traveling that far in those days was unheard of. It was like going to Syria today.

Communication was hardly there. Crossing the border was scary but no one suspected a young kid to be smuggling sugar in a school suitcase. When I got back home there was so much delight and happiness. My mum hugged me. I automatically realized that I was no longer a boy. I had become a man. That one act had re-defined me. The neighbors heard on the grapevine that I had brought sugar and almost begged to buy some. So we sold them half, and got 4 times what it had cost. And I was on the bus back to Kenya for another suitcase of sugar…and so my career began.

Do you know what it is to live without a Door lock on the front of your house, or not to have a bathroom door that actually closed? That is the loss of Dignity. I had to restore our dignity, and family Self Esteem.

Do you really know the Importance of jobs to society?

After 6 years in senior school, and 3 years at Uni, if you then spend the next 3 years looking for a job, knocking at so many doors and walking till the soles of your shoes are gone. With your now tattered CV in your hand. Your self esteem will no doubt diminish.

I encourage many of you to go out there and start up a business that creates jobs.
We need young people who will find a creative idea or a solution to a problem, grab the opportunity, take the risk, and set aside or postpone the comforts of today by setting up a businesses that will provide jobs and profit for tomorrow.

Jobs are what allow people to feel useful and build their self-esteem.

Jobs make people productive members of the community.

Jobs make people feel they are worthy citizens.

It is you the youth of today that go into business with knowledge and skills that have the power to harness the creativity and talents of others to achieve a common good. To put labor, capital and other factors of production to work.

This should make Uganda more competitive and a useful member of the greater East African region.

Let me make it clear to you all: Job creation is a priority for any nation to move forward.

I say to you, get a job if that’s the best option open to you, for not everyone can start a business. Take the job and work as hard as you can. Learn everything these companies can teach you-and build a network of contacts and friends, then leave whilst you still have the energy!

If you dream of creating something great, do not let a 9-to-5 job – even a high-paying one – dull you into a complacent, comfortable life. Let that high-paying job propel you towards building a business for yourself instead.

Looking back, I have succeeded where many have failed mainly because of hard work, persistence, focus on my set of goals, discipline, honesty, taking responsibility for my life and believing that I could change my future.

It was a time of dog eats dog. No, even man eats dog. And I had to find a way to support myself and my family. You are beginning as Uganda’s oil is about to flow.

I started by selling sugar, then shirts then ladies dresses, then shoes, then a Night club, foreign exchange, then mobile phones and airtime.

Ever since, I have tried to provide a service or product that is needed by a customer for a fair return.

And I realised that I got a lot of satisfaction in providing the service or that product period. Making a profit was simply the bonus that followed most of the time.

I set up Simba Tours and Travel, Simba Forex Bureau, Simba Telecom Ug, Simba Telecom in Tz with Vodacom, Simba Telecom in Kenya with Safaricom, invested in property, Hotels, Energy generation, Farming, Micro Finance banking, Media, Insurance and transport.

Today I stand here before you with humility, as the Chairman UIA, Chairman of a listed company -Umeme, with thousands of Ugandan shareholders, an advisor to H.E. the President, Honorary counsel for Australia to Uganda.

But most importantly I employ over 1500 staff today.

It was only when I had gained more experience and built my reputation, that I could borrow money from the banks and get into serious property and bigger business.

That’s the Simba story. From selling 5 kilos of sugar to the neighbors to becoming the biggest mobile money and airtime dealer in Africa

When I had shown success in the smaller businesses, I was able to raise money in the capital markets-through IPOs like we did for New Vision, National Insurance Company and recently for Umeme. And I have managed to develop some complex, capital-intensive businesses like ElectroMaxx the power generating company.

It’s not been easy; it’s been slow, but sure. One day at a time, one brick at a time. You, however, have time on your side. Use it well. And don’t be afraid to make a few mistakes along the way.

From kindergarten through to university, you learn very few skills or attitudes that would ever help you start a business. Skills like sales, networking, creativity and being comfortable with failure or rejection.

In fact you are taught not to make any mistakes. Mistakes are the best teachers if you learn the lesson and don’t repeat them.

No business in the world happens without someone buying something. But most students learn very little about sales in school or university

Moreover, very few businesses get off the ground without a wide, vibrant network of advisers and mentors, potential customers and clients, quality vendors and valuable talent to employ.

You don’t learn how to network crouched over a desk studying for multiple-choice exams. You learn it outside the classroom, talking to fellow human beings face-to-face. I commend MUBS for their different approach to this crucial training, it’s begun to pay dividends..

I must now end by wishing all of you good luck and may you be the future that transforms our beloved motherland Uganda.

This story was shared by Patrick Bitature during the MUBS Graduation Ceremony of 2013.

Patrick Bitature is a businessman, entrepreneur and investor. He is the Chairman of Simba Group Uganda. One of the Richest men in Uganda and East Africa.

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Building Africa As One Nation Through Entrepreneurship.

17/12/2020

DON'T INVEST IN RENTALS, BUSINESS IS BETTER...,

I believe you've come across people who tell you this, or heard something similar to it. Personally, I have told people the same countless times...,

Usually we say or you hear things like rental gives small annual return, recouping your investment will take longer.., Its not a wise investment etc.

Which is somehow true depending on which side of the table your sitting on. The table of inexperienced us or those who have been in the business world, experienced and succeeded.

The table of those who have knowledge about different investment vehicles and business or those who don't..,

The table one sits on matters alot when it comes to such decisions and choices. The person telling you doesn't know which table you sit on.

We also give you claims that a business gives you 30 to 40 percent return. What we don't tell you is, less than 10% of small businesses can guarantee you 30% plus return year after year for close to 5 consecutive years or more.

Most small business besides paying employees salary and business owners divident make small net profits, sometimes not at all. If they're doing very well, you can make upto 50% or more return, but these are 1% cases.

We also don't tell you that, of the fair but irregular return from these small businesses which we tell you to start, the risk involved is much higher (this is economic principle, higher return comes with higher risk). We don't know your risk tolerance!

This means most small scale businesses have very high risks. The failure rate is alarming, around 90 percent failure rate. Starting a small business, your chances of success or being operational after 3yrs is less 10%.

We also don't tell you that running business is hard, very very hard actually even experienced business people struggle. Add the fact that most African economic setups dont support small businesses with there unfavorable incentives like high taxes, license hurdles, lack of support, red tape etc makes it worse

And you, not being a business person before actually makes it worse. You lack basic skills, knowledge and experience about business. You are ok with the job and salary, you just want something to add on what you make.

Advising you to start a business rather than going rental without considering your risk tolerance, knowledge and skills, experience etc is not a good advise especially looking at the high risk involved and inconsistent returns.

We who somehow believe we can take the risky business or alternative investment journey, we shouldn't tell you to do the same, especially when the facts we have are inaccurate and most times from inexperienced sources.

If you have some good income or saving, your not the business type, have limited knowledge about alternative investments, you have a good paying job, you don't have time, then rental investment is good for you in the long run if you can afford its costs.

You can get small annual returns, but the return is 90 plus guaranteed and for good years to come. You have capital appreciation and above all, sense of security for you and your family. Don't listen to us, do what is right according to your circumstances and financial plan.

Which brings me to the question, Do you have a Financial Plan?

Fahad Bruhan Jr Is a Thought Leader and Writer in the fields of Business, Investment and Personal finance.

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Building Africa As One Nation Through Entrepreneurship.

09/12/2020

Understanding basic accounting..., Part 1

Accounts is the language of business. To be successful in running a business, you need grasp concepts in accounts.

I will be sharing few of these concepts on these platforms.

- Cost of goods and Cost of goods sold.
- Trading Account

What is the difference between cost of goods and cost of goods sold?

What is trading account and how do you calculate trading account. You can only know this if you understand the first question?

These are basic business account concepts, but you find most people don't know them, and in them is where you understand the language of business - Accounts.

Cost of goods is the amount spent to make or buy the stock. In manufacturing, you add direct costs like labor. In stock supply you add transportation.

Cost of goods sold considers only the goods sold, not all the stock bought or manufactured. Most times, the business doesn't sell all the stock at the end of the business year.

Trading account looks at these two items and the difference - also known as gross profit.

If you buy 100 pieces of battery at 1 dollar each. And sold 85 pieces at 2 at the end of the business circle.

Your cost of goods is 100 x 1 = 100 dollars.

Cost of goods sold is 85 x 1 = 85 dollars.

Gross profit is = Income from goods sold minus cost of GOODS SOLD

Gross profit = 170 - 85 = 85 dollars.

Most times when people are calculating gross profit, they consider cost of goods for this case 100 dollars instead of cost of goods sold which is 85 dollars.

Trading Account is basically the calculation of gross profit. But remember to use cost of goods sold, not cost of goods when doing that.

These are minor yet important differences.

I remember sharing, before you consider starting a business, learn business skills and language, and accounts is the most important of all.

Do you the difference between

Gross profit and Operating profit?
Net profit And Actual profit?



Building Africa As One Nation Through Entrepreneurship

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Find a person / people whose pain u can release...

In other words solve people's problems and then money will follow you

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Foolishness is abuse of knowledge
Ignorance is lack of knowledge..

20/10/2020

Our smartphone can open us with many opportunities. Are you using it for the right purpose?.

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Learning how to create websites without needing to code can help you start earning early! Enroll to start learning a highly demanded skill - WordPress at https://academy.coderstrust.com/courses/wordpress-customization. For assistance, please call: +256774330137 / +256703141563

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Word of the month...

Mind who you keep in your circle