A'ita Jaffer Joel
Sons and Daughters of a town are the first to contribute to the development of a region. Then this will attract foreigners to Join in. They can build schools, hospitals, hotels etc.
However, such multibillion projects most times are a preserve of the government which most times has to borrow money from organizations like the World Bank and African Development Bank etc. These are normally few projects in a town since the government has to do the same across the country. Hence, the development of a town solely rests on the sons and daughters of that town.
Before 2019, most of our developments were in Entebbe and Kampala. The mayor Isa Kato challenged me that why donāt you come home and we build home together. That challenge gave an idea for us to do the Arua Hill Stadium and Business Park.
Four years into the project we have so far injected 37 billion of which 30b is our contribution and 7b from the few who have bought some shops and again these are sons and daughters of West Nile.
Many times because someone wants it quick, they run to the bank to pick a loan to finish the project. However, this has led to the death of many people looking at the unfriendly interest rates Banks charge in Uganda. I have many of my friends whose properties have been grabbed by banks.
WHAT ARE WE DOING?Ā
Our company’s development infrastructure and Joadah consult go out to hunt for jobs across the country and across Sub-Saharan Africa. After working hard, we get part of the proceeds to put back home on this project. Once itās finished we go back to look for more jobs and then get back home with the proceeds, like a hunter who goes into the jungle to look for a kill and then brings home. With that, we are now able to develop our own home town and this attracts even foreigners to pick interest. I have two friends who have invested in Arua city just because of what we are doing. Ā They are not from West Nile.
Construction is a highly money-demanding activity. In fact, we joke that if too much money is itching you, start construction. That itching will end immediately. Many times in the village someone starts putting up their 4-bedroom house and you see the village drunkard starts laughing at them for why they have taken too long to finish. The drunkard has not even built a grass-thatched house. He is still staying in a house built by his wife. Reason he doesnāt understand.
In 2023 God has been good to us and has enabled us to win a number of contracts. We are pushing them and soon the proceeds will be injected back to the stadium and business park. We look forward to finishing it as soon as possible.
Once we are done, we shall have a project valued at over 100 billion shillings completed with zero bank loans.
This project will offer employment to over 1500 people who will be working in the over 170 shops, 3 hotels, a hospital, 3 Banks, nightclub, supermarket and several employment opportunities at the stadium itself.
It will transform the once abandoned playground with no grass planted to a standard football field which will be home to a number of clubs in West Nile and also can be used for various events like trade shows, music etc.
I applaud all the sons and daughters who are actively involved in building their towns. I also encourage the others like the village drunko to Join the rest in the rebuilding efforts. Talk is easy.
Looking forward to completing the project and we shall all rejoice.
The two pictures are the current state and how the ground was in 2019.
Joel Aita
Chairman Development Infrastructure
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