As Geofrey Serugo writes, Wava seized the moment to take the audience through some of his influential undertakings on top of providing tips for integrating children into business. For more than four decades, Wavamunno, also the honorary consul of Hungary to Uganda, served as board chairman of UAP Old Mutual.
Yet, for some reason, he rarely presented himself. His secret to this is to let the management shine. Wavamunno said this and more during celebrations to mark his legacy at the helm of the insurance company. Wavamunno, who owns several companies employing more than 700 people, stated that his children have been crucial in running most of his businesses, including signing his personal cheques.
“They have been running family businesses. If you don’t do that when you are growing old, you are wrong. Children cannot take over from what they have not been part of. When someone dies, you will hear children fighting with their mother, selling properties, and all sorts of things, but my children, please don’t do that,” he said.
He intimated how his successful entrepreneurial career attracted the famed Harvard Business School to take him up to mentor students. At the same event, it was also revealed that Wavamunno gives out 80 scholarships every year for Ugandan students to go and study in Hungary.
Still on the education front, it emerged that Wavamunno offered Shs 170 million for the reestablishment of Kyambogo College, which had been run down, and paid for the land title for Mutesa I Royal University. Wavamunno and the late Prof Tumusiime-Mutebile were also credited with the efforts to establish of Kakoba University.
“It has been a long journey, but somebody has to be firm and steady to make sure that you make it in life,” he said.
He brought the audience to cheers when he recalled his encounter with the Queen during her 2007 visit to Uganda for the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM).
“We were told never to talk to her; however, when she was shaking hands, she was able to recognize me, and she asked me to go and sit next to her husband, stating that she would not sit with me,” he said.
What’s more, it was also noted that Wavamunno has built four Catholic churches and three mosques, with the latest at Ggaba, Wavamunno road. On his part, Stephen Chikovore, UAP Old Mutual managing director, expressed the company’s deep admiration for Wavamunno’s entrepreneurial leadership.
“Sir Gordon Wavamunno has been instrumental in driving UAP Old Mutual Uganda’s growth, and his dedication to the company’s success has been inspiring. Under his leadership as board chair, UAP Old Mutual Insurance maintained its position as a leading insurance company, which paved the way to becoming the top insurance company to date,” he said.
Chris Rwakasisi, a long-time friend, described Wavamunno as an elephant. “He has touched so many lives, and whoever he touches has a different story to tell,” he said.
Meanwhile, Dr William Kalema credited Wavamunno with rescuing his mother, Rhoda Kalema, who was about to be killed during the Amin regime in 1979. Kalema revealed how he worked closely under Wavamunno and the late Dr James Mulwana to establish what came to be known as the Uganda Manufacturers Association in 1992.
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