By Godwin Abedican

Arua

The business community in West Nile is being called upon to unite if they are to maintain the legacy left by the late Samuel Ejidra, one of the prominent and most celebrated business icons the region has produced.

The late Ejidra Samuel born on 10^th October 1967 to Ephram Nguru and Erinah Nyakuru, was the one of the proprietors of the formerly famous Ozzu Brothers Enterprises.

The late, though with very little formal education, having stopped in primary 7 level at Jiako primary school in the then Arua district, came in to the business limelight after expanding the business beyond the borders of Uganda to South Sudan and the Democratic Republic of Congo.

While speaking during his funeral service at Green-Light stadium in Onduparaka, Ayivu Division West, Arua City on Monday 22^nd April 2024, Retired, Rt. Rev. Canon Solomon Adebo, who represented the Bishop of Madi West Nile Diocese, Charles Collins Andaku, questioned the business men and women in the region to ensure they sustain their businesses and leave legacies just like the late Ejidra did “Why is it that people in our region begin doing businesses, their businesses flourish and go high but suddenly collapses? What is wrong? People have done good businesses but they are no more in the business world.

I can remember we had a number of transport companies here, but now they are not there. What has happened? We need research to be done here so that when we have business the business must reach high level and stay there, even if the person who began it is no more, people can take over and continue to do that type of business. Samuel did good business and supported not only the family but any other person who is a human being” he said with concern.

According to Moses Obeta Drakua, a business man and Chairperson Greater Arua Business Community, many factors have continued to stifle businesses in the region “Since I knew the late he sustained his business using his own money. He did not borrow money anywhere. Many of our business men and women who are doing business with their own capita have remained in business. The issues of collapsing business is the se of bank money or borrowed money. That is what kills us” he said.

He adds that the bank rates are too high to sustain businesses. “You are borrowing money from the bank at 16 percent and you pay back this money monthly. The trade you are going into has a profit margin of 4 percent of the gross, against 16 percent bank interest. It cannot be possible that we can sustain businesses. Banks take advantage and bring ideas that are not worth what people can afford,” Obeta added.

Obeta further blames the political leaders especially Members of Parliament from the region for turning deaf ears to the cry of business men and women in the region as far as taxes are concerned.

Joseph Mabutu Etoli, a business consultant based in Kampala and caretaker overseer Nile Star Trade Link limited also decries the limited support towards businesses from the political leaders in the region saying, if the leaders were like from other parts of the country, many big businesses that collapse would have been bailed out by the government like it happens in other regions. “The only thing we have is just to unite so that we can leave a good legacy and people continue with businesses after us just like the late Ejidra did. Why we grow and begin falling backwards is because of lack of unity and individualism among many people in business. With the high taxes, yet our leaders are always quiet to seek for government support towards the people, we must fight for ourselves who are doing business,”Mabutu said.

Hon. Benard Atiku a former Legislator for Ayivu Constituency says, the parliamentarians from the region are not being honest to the people as far as policies towards businesses are concerned “We have people who are not sincere and honest because they steal from their employers. This is one thing that has also led to many businesses collapsing. When it comes to the high taxes being said, they are proposed by the government and passed by the parliament which has the prerogative to reduce or expands or even dismiss tax.  It is therefore incumbent upon our legislators. Our members of parliament have not been very critical in making analysis of the government proposals as regards taxes and that’s why we say people to be sent to parliament must have knowledge and experience on such matters,” Atiku voiced. 

Late Ejidra Samuel died on 16^th April 2024 in Nairobi after being admitted in the hospital for the fourth time of Liver complication that led to kidney failure.