Guest Blog by Intern Ivan Aboga Rackara
The Entrepreneurship club of BOSCO Uganda yesterday (Thursday 25 January 2016), elected a team of five members who will form a cabinet to allow the smooth running of the club in a meeting that was graced by the presence of Joey Rich who represented BOSCO Uganda.
The Entrepreneurship club of BOSCO Uganda yesterday (Thursday 25 January 2016), elected a team of five members who will form a cabinet to allow the smooth running of the club in a meeting that was graced by the presence of Joey Rich who represented BOSCO Uganda.
The voting process had been postponed last week to allow the presence of more members especially the females, who were engaged elsewhere to attend, began at 3:20pm amidst excitement under the guiding authority of Samuel Komakech, the instructor of the club who also doubled as the chairman of the electoral process. The coting was conducted by “show of hands” where the candidate with the most votes was declared winner.
The first post for contention was that of Mobilizer where Samuel Bongomin emerged victor, in a tightly contested race that saw him beat off competition from Moses Adyel and Abdul Akim who both garnered 4 votes; one short of Bongomin’s 5 votes.
Jesca Odraru, a small bakery business owner emerged victorious in the next post of Treasurer after her 10 votes surpassed Abdul Akim’s 1 vote, thus making the sole woman on the male dominated cabinet.
The responsibility of the club General Secretary was sealed off without contest after Peter Baguma Ogwok the acting secretary general was nominated and henceforth voted unopposed by members of the club who extended his mandate to serve them further.
The administrative responsibility of the Vice Chairman of the club was decided by 5 votes which separated the two contestants who vied for the post with Dennis Olwedo becoming the newly elected Vice Chairman after gaining 10 votes to his competitor Constantine Adugunono’s 5 votes.
“With the power vested in me as the Chairman of the Electoral commission of the Entrepreneurship club I declare you chairman of the club” affirmed Samuel Komakech in recognition of the newly elected Onono amidst ovation from the members of the club
The voting was wrapped up with the final but most sensitive post; (Chairman of the club) where James Onono, a 68 yr. old member of the club was elected to the post with 11 votes defeating Abdul Akim who had vied with him for the post.
In his maiden speech Mr Onono thanked the members of the club for entrusting him with the authority to lead them and called upon members to make the club and all its activities successful.
He further went on to elaborate the implications of the involvement of members in the week old Savings and Credit Cooperative Organization (SACCO) as an important activity of the club giving a detailed explanation of the meaning of each word.
Mr Onono, who has formerly been a member and an advisor for a number of SACCO’s faces the challenge of running a club whose majority of members have never been in any business related organizations but he is optimistic that with commitment and hard work the Entrepreneurship club of BoscoUganda can excel.
“My first task at hand is to mobilize members to show responsibility and loyalty for the club to enable us succeed.” He said
In conclusion of the hour long process Samuel Komakech the patron of the club tasked the new cabinet to produce a work plan to allow their activities run smoothly.
Joey Frich the project manager of CE3 the project that houses the Entrepreneurship club gave an update on the forth coming business plan competition.
“I would like to thank you for your patience, in waiting for the competition” he said “We are in the process of coming up with judges who will evaluate the best business plan for the competition which might be scheduled after elections.”
In reaction to the election Bwambale a member of the club expressed his support for Mr Onono who he believes can deliver.
“Mr. Onen comes with experience that is currently lacking in our club” he said. “I believe that we can succeed under his guidance” he added.
The meeting was gathering was closed with the presentation of Business plans by Jesca Odraru and Samuel Okot who were the remaining members of the club who had not yet submitted in presentations to back up their business plans which comprised of Bakery and Ox Plough businesses respectively.