Home town Isingiro Ethnicity Muganda Name Gordon Wavamunno | Years active 1966 — present | |
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Born 16 December 1943 (age 80) ( 1943-12-16 ) Rugaaga, Isingiro DistrictUganda Occupation Businessman, entrepreneur, philanthropist Residence Munyonyo, Uganda, Kampala, Uganda, Uganda | ||
One on one with ugandan businessman sir gordon wavamunno
Gordon Babala Kasibante Wavamunno, but often referred to simply as Gordon Wavamunno (born 16 December 1943), is a Ugandan entrepreneur, businessman, and philanthropist. He is reported to be one of the wealthiest people in Uganda. He also serves as the honorary consul of Hungary to Uganda.
Contents
- One on one with ugandan businessman sir gordon wavamunno
- One on One with Ugandan Businessman Sir Gordon Wavamunno
- Background
- Work experience
- Investments
- Other responsibilities
- Personal details
- Photos
- References
One on One with Ugandan Businessman Sir Gordon Wavamunno
Background
He was born on 16 December 1943 in Rugaaga, modern-day Isingiro District, Western Region of Uganda. Following early public education in his home area, he moved to Mbarara, the largest town in the sub-region, when he was a teenager. He later relocated to Kampala, Uganda's capital and largest city.
Work experience
His parents owned a retail shop and he helped in running it as a young boy. When he moved to Mbarara as a teenager, he worked as a shop assistant in a produce store owned by an Asian family. Later, he began to purchase farm produce from the nearby villages. He would then sell the produce to the Asian shops and families in Mbarara. When he acquired his first automobile, he began a special hire taxi service in the town. He expanded this business to include a driving school. In his mid 20's, he relocated to Kampala and pooled all his resources to start Spear Touring Company. This served as the beginning of his corporate enterprise.
In 1973, one year after the expulsion of Ugandan Asians by dictator Idi Amin, Wavamunno leveraged his assets and started Spear Motors Limited, the sole Mercedes Benz dealership in Uganda. The dealership is also the sole authorised dealer in Jeep, Dodge, and Chrysler automobiles and parts. In addition, Spear Motors is the sole distributor of Deutz Fahr tractors and farm machinery in Uganda. Deutz Fahr is a farm equipment manufacturer based in Treviglio, northern Italy.
Investments
As of September 2013, the following were some of the enterprises owned wholly or in part by Wavamunno. The businesses listed here are sometimes referred to as the Spear Group of Companies or simply the Spear Group.
Other responsibilities
Wavamunno has an Honorary Doctorate degree from Makerere University, Uganda's oldest institution of higher learning, and from Nkumba University. He is a professor in business and entrepreneurship at Makerere and is the chancellor at Nkumba.
In January 2013, the Queen of the United Kingdom bestowed upon Wavamunno the British royal order of chivalry as a knight in the order of Saint John. Recipients of knighthoods in this order are not normally entitled to the honorific of "Sir". The award was in recognition of his philanthropic work with St. John Association of Uganda, where he has been a member since 1983. He currently serves as the chairman of the association. Among other charitable acts, he has donated two ambulances to the association, renovated their offices in Kampala, and offered bursaries to orphans.
Personal details
Wavamunno is married and is the father of both male and female children.