• Contact Us
  • About Us
  • Advertise
  • Donate
  • Login
Watchdog Uganda
  • Home
  • News
    • National
    • Politics
    • World News
    • Media Outreach Newswire
    • Africa News
    • Tourism
    • Community News
    • Luganda
    • Sports
      • Football
      • Motorsport
  • Op-Ed
    • #Out2Lunch
    • Conversations with
    • Politics
    • Relationships
  • Business
    • Agriculture
    • CEOs & Entrepreneurs,
    • Companies
    • Finance
    • Products
    • RealEstate
    • Technology
  • Entertainment
    • Lifestyle
  • People
    • Showbiz
      • Salon Mag
  • Special Report
    • Education
    • Voices
  • Reviews
    • Products
    • Events
    • Hotels
    • Restaurants
    • Places
  • WD-TV
  • Donate
  • China News
No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • News
    • National
    • Politics
    • World News
    • Media Outreach Newswire
    • Africa News
    • Tourism
    • Community News
    • Luganda
    • Sports
      • Football
      • Motorsport
  • Op-Ed
    • #Out2Lunch
    • Conversations with
    • Politics
    • Relationships
  • Business
    • Agriculture
    • CEOs & Entrepreneurs,
    • Companies
    • Finance
    • Products
    • RealEstate
    • Technology
  • Entertainment
    • Lifestyle
  • People
    • Showbiz
      • Salon Mag
  • Special Report
    • Education
    • Voices
  • Reviews
    • Products
    • Events
    • Hotels
    • Restaurants
    • Places
  • WD-TV
  • Donate
  • China News
No Result
View All Result
Watchdog Uganda
No Result
View All Result

IAN ORTEGA: It’s not easy being a Ugandan entrepreneur

Watchdog Uganda by Watchdog Uganda
2 years ago
in Conversations with, Op-Ed
12 0
Kikuubo business centre in downtown Kampala

Kikuubo business centre in downtown Kampala

ShareTweetSendShare

I have learned the hard way, it is not easy being a Ugandan entrepreneur. In fact, I now respect anyone who tries to start a business in Uganda.

Business in Uganda is for the brave. Ugandans must be some of the most brilliant and resilient people in the world.

Most successful businesses in Uganda are nothing but a pure miracle. How do you do business in a country where it takes you more than an hour to cover a distance of 15km?

If you can do business in Kampala, you can do business elsewhere in the world. Imagine doing a food delivery business in a city with potholes? We hold our businesses here to such a high standard, we ought to be more forgiving.

I used to get annoyed when I entered a restaurant and my order took years. Now I don’t. I am more empathetic, I understand that they are dealing with more constraints compared to other parts of the world.

Ugandans try more than we acknowledge. They kind of have this spirit that gives it another try. If you do an export business in Uganda, you are facing totally different problems from someone doing the same business in Kenya or Tanzania.

One of the things we need to be proud of as Ugandans is the Ugandan spirit. The ability to work through the hardest of times yet still find time to laugh, joke. The ability to using humour as a tool to give it another try. It is a brave spirit. Ugandans are brave, they are forward looking. Amidst everything, they still show up. Ugandans can be broke, but they will still come together and put up a great party. We have learned to console each other. We are united by our banter, our lugambo, our kaboozi. It is our therapy. We speak, we laugh.

More than ever before, I am a proud Ugandan. There is something in us. Most people are shocked that despite every thing Ugandans face, they still smile. They still love. They still party, they still dance.

The one thing all East African countries can challenge us on is our humour, our party, our ability to laugh about out distances, satirise our pain.

If the gods gave me a second chance, I would still love to show up as a Ugandan. If you come out of here, then you can come out of anywhere.

Oh Uganda, May God Uphold thee!


Do you have a story in your community or an opinion to share with us: Email us at editorial@watchdoguganda.com
Share2Tweet2SendShare

Related Posts

Bwanika Joseph
Op-Ed

BWANIKA JOSEPH: The Ballot and the Briefcase, Uganda’s Corporate Workers Must Vote for Fairness and Dignity

5th July 2025 at 10:36
Dr. Ayub Mukisa (Ph.D.)
Conversations with

Dr. Ayub Mukisa: For Parish Development Model to have impact in Karamoja, Government needs to partner with NGOs

4th July 2025 at 09:10
Ms Irene Naikaali Ssentongo,Country Director, 
The Hunger Project – Uganda
Conversations with

OP-ED: Epicenters of progress, accelerating the Parish Development Model

3rd July 2025 at 20:10
Next Post
President Yoweri Museveni. Photo by PPU/Tony Rujuta.

Museveni makes changes in UPDF command

  • Prostitution in Uganda- Courtesy Photo

    10 dangerous hotspots known for prostitutes in Kampala

    1115 shares
    Share 446 Tweet 279
  • Silent Billionaire Bosco Muwonge Buys Mukwano Arcade at UGX 250 Billion Cash Down

    41 shares
    Share 16 Tweet 10
  • LIST: New salary structure for civil servants starting July 2020 out; scientists, lecturers get juicy pay rise

    2286 shares
    Share 914 Tweet 572
  • Uganda’s Billionaires 2025: Once Again Sudhir Ruparelia Leads a Resilient Pack

    45 shares
    Share 18 Tweet 11
  • LIST : Gov’t releases Revised Salary Structure for Teachers, Police, and Prisons Staff for FY 2024/2025

    121 shares
    Share 48 Tweet 30
Facebook Twitter

Contact Information

Watchdog Uganda is a portal for solution journalism, trending news plus cutting edge commentaries in the fields of politics, security, business, tourism, entertainment, technology, agriculture, climate change, environment, public health et al. We also give preference to Ugandan community news and topical discussions. The portal also publishes community news and topical discussions.

Email: editorial@watchdoguganda.com
To Advertise:Click here

Latest News

Ann Ssebunya: Uganda’s Radio Personality and Mental Health Advocate Transforming Lives Through the Drugs Hapana Initiative

6th July 2025 at 23:58

President Museveni underscores need to develop Martyrs’ birth places into pilgrimage and religious tourism sites 

6th July 2025 at 19:55

Check out

  • Trending
  • Comments
  • Latest
Minister Muruli Mukasa

LIST: New salary structure for civil servants starting July 2020 out; scientists, lecturers get juicy pay rise

24th May 2020 at 10:45
Pregnant woman

Shock as 17-year old boy impregnates his two sisters during Covid-19 lockdown 

17th June 2020 at 08:17
Sudhir Ruparelia is set to speak at business forum in United Kingdom

Billionaire Sudhir’s wisdom on how to invest in real estate

0

How a boy’s destiny turned from cotton grower to communications guru

0

Ann Ssebunya: Uganda’s Radio Personality and Mental Health Advocate Transforming Lives Through the Drugs Hapana Initiative

6th July 2025 at 23:58

President Museveni underscores need to develop Martyrs’ birth places into pilgrimage and religious tourism sites 

6th July 2025 at 19:55

© 2025 Watchdog Uganda

Welcome Back!

Login to your account below

Forgotten Password?

Retrieve your password

Please enter your username or email address to reset your password.

Log In
No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • News
    • National
    • Politics
    • World News
    • Media Outreach Newswire
    • Africa News
    • Tourism
    • Community News
    • Luganda
    • Sports
      • Football
      • Motorsport
  • Op-Ed
    • #Out2Lunch
    • Conversations with
    • Politics
    • Relationships
  • Business
    • Agriculture
    • CEOs & Entrepreneurs,
    • Companies
    • Finance
    • Products
    • RealEstate
    • Technology
  • Entertainment
    • Lifestyle
  • People
    • Showbiz
      • Salon Mag
  • Special Report
    • Education
    • Voices
  • Reviews
    • Products
    • Events
    • Hotels
    • Restaurants
    • Places
  • WD-TV
  • Donate
  • China News

© 2025 Watchdog Uganda