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Gordon Wavamunno

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Prof. Sir Gordon Wavamunno
Born (1943-12-16) 16 December 1943 (age 80)
Rugaaga, Isingiro District
Uganda
NationalityUgandan
CitizenshipUganda
Occupation(s)Businessman, entrepreneur, philanthropist
Years activeSince 1966
Known forWealth, Philanthropy, Mercedes Benz Sole distributor
TitleProf. Sir

Prof. Sir Gordon Babala Kasibante Wavamunno, often simply referred to as Gordon Wavamunno (born 16 December 1943), is a Ugandan entrepreneur, businessman, and philanthropist. He is the owner of Spear Motors Uganda—the sole distributor of Mercedes-Benz vehicles in Uganda. He also owns other companies like GM Tumpeco which makes Ugandan Vehicle number plates, Wavah Water Limited and Wavah Books Limited. He was the director for WBS Television and is reported to be one of the wealthiest people in Uganda.[1] He also served as the honorary consul of Hungary to Uganda.[2]

Background

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He was born on 16 December 1943 in Rugaaga, modern-day Isingiro District, Western Region of Uganda.[3] 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.[4]

Work experience

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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 later expanded this business to include a driving school. In his mid-20s, he relocated to Kampala and worked as a driver/tour guide for a tour operator called Equatorial Agencies Ltd., from 1967 to 1972. Wavamunno took over Spear Tours and Travel when its owner Ashok Patel was murdered by dictator Idi Amin's soldiers.[5]

In 1973, one year after the expulsion of Ugandan Asians by 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.[6]

Investments

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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.[7]

  • Spear Motors Limited – Franchise distributor and dealer in Mercedes Benz, Jeep, Dodge, Chrysler, Fiat and Deutz Fahr brands in Uganda.[2]
  • Wavah FM – A private radio station.[8]
  • Star Times Digital Satellite Television Service – A digital satellite distributor of television signals in Uganda.
  • Spear House – An office building on Jinja Road in Kampala's central business district.
  • Wavah Water Limited – A manufacturer and distributor of drinking mineral water in Uganda.[2]
  • GM Tumpeco Limited – A manufacturer and fabricator of steel products, including number plates, traffic road signs, and billboards. Also, furniture, spring mattresses, uniports, wheelbarrows, and truck and bus bodies.[2]
  • Fancy Furniture Limited – Importer and distributor of high-end office and household furniture.
  • Wavah Books Limited – A publisher of school text books and other writings.[2]
  • Nakweero Mixed Farm – A diary, beef, and crop farm in Nakweero, Kira Municipality, Wakiso District.[9]

Other responsibilities

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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 University and is the chancellor at Nkumba University.[10]

In January 2013, Wavamunno was appointed Knight of 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.[11]

Personal details

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Wavamunno is married[12] and is the father of both male[13] and female[14] children.

See also

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References

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  1. ^ Kanaabi, Michael; Kiryowa, Ssebidde (2012). "The Deepest Pockets". New Vision Mobile. Kampala. Archived from the original on 21 October 2014. Retrieved 14 October 2014.
  2. ^ a b c d e Nasasira, Roland (12 March 2018). "I am the star of my life – Gordon Wavamunno". Daily Monitor. Kampala. Retrieved 12 March 2018.
  3. ^ "Wavamunno: Making of a successful businessman". New Vision. Kampala. 5 September 2015. Retrieved 6 September 2015.
  4. ^ Kahunga, Matsiko (30 October 2012). "Wavamunno Tells His Entrepreneurial Journal". Daily Monitor. Kampala. Retrieved 14 October 2014.
  5. ^ Kahunga, Matsiko (30 October 2012). "The Work History of Gordon Wavamunno". Daily Monitor (Kampala). Retrieved 14 October 2014.
  6. ^ Kasirye, Faiswal (22 September 2014). "Spear Motors Celebrates 40 Years in Motor Vehicle Business". Daily Monitor (Kampala). Retrieved 14 October 2014.
  7. ^ Ndiho, Paul (8 June 2012). "Uganda's Success Story, The Remarkable Journey of Gordon Wavamunno". PaulNdiho.Com. Retrieved 14 October 2012.
  8. ^ "Gordon Wavamunno Starts Radio Station". MondayTimes.Co.Ug. 2014. Retrieved 14 October 2014.
  9. ^ "Executive Profile of Gordon Wavamunno". Bloomberg Businessweek. Archived from the original on 14 October 2014.
  10. ^ Vianney Nsimbe, John. "Meet Wavamunno, Nkumba's New Boss". The Observer (Uganda). Retrieved 14 October 2014.
  11. ^ Musasizi, Simon (15 January 2013). "And Now, Here Comes Sir Gordon Wavamunno". The Observer (Uganda). Retrieved 14 October 2014.
  12. ^ Musoke, Andrew (6 May 2013). "EMERGING MARKETS INTERVIEWS: "Interview with Gordon and Morine Wavamunno". Boston, MA, USA: Harvard Business School. Retrieved 16 December 2015.
  13. ^ Mugisha, Darius (10 May 2010). "Uganda: My First Million... Elvis Sekyanzi". Daily Monitor via AllAfrica.com. Kampala. Retrieved 16 December 2015.
  14. ^ Nankya, Connie (14 November 2010). "Gloria Wavamunno; a budding fashionista". Daily Monitor. Kampala. Retrieved 16 December 2015.
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