HOW TO GIVE POVERTY A BLOW THROUGH FARMING

HOW TO GIVE POVERTY A BLOW THROUGH FARMING

Written by Robert Bake Tumuhaise

I dare say: Poverty is a curse. I grew up among people who somehow normalized poverty and made it look like a blessing. I thought that poverty was humility. I thought that a poor person had more chances of going to heaven than a wealthy guy. Until I saw wealthy people funding crusades, sponsoring ministry, building hospitals for the poor, while poor people sat back complaining and cursing God asking “Why me?” In fact I found that it’s hard for a materially poor person to go to heaven. I now know that there are two kinds of poverty – the poverty of choice and the poverty of lack. Mother Teresa and St Francis of Assizi had a lot of resources but they stripped themselves of all materialism in order to serve humanity. That’s poverty of choice – it’s a blessing to God and humanity. It’s actually wealth in terms of love and sacrifice. Mother Teresa’s impact on humanity is more than that of most billionaires. The poverty of choice is different from the poverty of lack; where a home eats meat only on Christmas; where your child is always the first to be sent home for school fees.

My friend AMOS WEKESA the tourism mogul confesses that one of the reasons he has worked extremely hard and prospered is because he was originally too poor that he ended up hating poverty with passion. Those of you who follow him you know his stories of stealing sugar and walking for a long distance to fluke a wedding in order to eat meet. He got holy anger and turned it into action. Today, I do not know any Ugandan who is more successful in the field of tourism than Wekesa. And he doesn’t stop at tourism; he’s also earning big from properties. The same with my other friend LIVINGSTON MUKASA, the inspirational giant behind Clean Consult, Mulyazawo Bus Services, Mazima Retirement Plan and the book INVESTING FOR THE FUTURE. He grew up in the slums of Katwe and that made him hate poverty with all his might. Today, he’s not only prosperous; he’s also helping thousands of Ugandans also enter the realm of prosperity.

I too have had a fare share of poverty. Mine may not have been absolute poverty because I was born in a home where there was enough food, school fees and other necessities. But I studied most of my primary school barefooted. After university, I took on a job where I earned UGX 80,000 per month. I spent some good time in Kampala walking with no transport and no lunch. I recall those days when a nice meal meant that someone has taken me out or I’ve visited a relative. I know what it means to walk and your throat gets too dry and you need a glass of water but you can’t have it because you have no money in the pocket. I know what it means to put on the same shoe till its soles are off and water soaks your feet, making noise as you walk. I know what it means to have a friend or relative dying in hospital and you can’t even buy him/her juice. I know what it means to hide from people because there’s absolutely no help you can offer them. If you are going through such a condition, don’t feel pity for yourself because it’s not unique to you; I went through that. Just develop holy anger like me, like Wekesa, like Mukasa and determine to put a long distance between you and poverty.

Today, the government of Uganda has, in its Vision 40, a target of transforming Uganda into a middle-income economy. Well, in my view, there’s one way to kickstart that process. That’s promoting modern farming. There’s no way a middle-income economic status can be achieved when most of the working class is still spending over 75% of their income on food. That’s working for the stomach. Mukasa calls it a food war. It’s survival. That’s subsistence. You hear people saying “Nalya ki” (“What will I eat) if I don’t work today? That state of mind cannot promote investment, employment, export and industrialization which are needed for economic development. That’s why I am now an ardent promoter of modern farming. If just half of the Ugandan population can practice modern farming, even if for only production of food for their households, there would be much money saved. That money can be invested in what’s productive. And of course, after seeing how farming gives them food and peace (you know how much stresses hunger causes), some of them would be encouraged to produce more food for sale. And that would end up being commercial farming which would usher in an era of massive production, aggroprocessing and export. Judging from the quantities of products exported to Uganda, I used to think China is full of giant factories everywhere until I went there. What they have are mainly small scale cottage industries that are home-based. But when each household produces and they combine their output, they export in massive amounts.

Today, the real estate sector has collapsed. These malls and arcades you see in town are empty from 3^rd floor upwards. If you hoped to put your money into rentals, do so only for a cashfow but not profit. Do you know that to buy a plot of land in Kampala and build a house where you can earn rent of UGX 1m per month you need to invest at least 300m? And how long does it take you to recover that? 300 months! You are talking in about 30 years! Leave alone the costs of renovation and losses when tenants ‘disappear’ without paying. Yet, when you leave that money on the bank account and fix it, with a good interest rate, it can double in 15 years. That means the real estate business is down at the moment. When you read American books they will tell you that to get wealthy, invest in assets (buildings) and shares. Well, in our Ugandan context, I am telling you, to grow wealthy, invest in farming. Research has shown that there are two industries ruling the world – that’s food and technology. You want to succeed, tap into at least one of them. I am already tapping into both.

Let’s divert a little from traditional farming and talk about growing of trees. Some people say, “I don’t have time to supervise animals and growing of crops. Growing trees could be your solution. Trees do not require regular supervision, except when they are still too young. When you grow a tree, it may take 10 years, but after that, for a good specie, you can earn between UGX 700,000 and 1.4m from it (for instance if you sell it to those making electric poles or any other heavy construction work). I have a friend who has close to 10,000 trees and another who has over 300,000 trees each (calculate the billions; the figures of their wealth might not even fit on your calculator). I have invited both to come and share their insights with you at the Authors’ Forum – a magogomus inspirational event that WORLD OF INSPIRATION has organized on Wednesday 7^th December, 6-9pm, at Hotel Africans. We shall crown the year with swagger as we declare an #EndToPoverty, #EndToFamine, #End ToDebt through embracing modern farming.

Those who attended the last episode of the Authors’ forum your minds must still be blown. We hosted ROBINAH SSEMITALA, a Ugandan poultry farmer who started with 700 chicken 10 years ago and has grown to the level where she now has 40,000 chicken! If you do your calculation well, you will realise that she is no longer in millions of shillings but billions. What she shared at the forum was mind-blowing and she is coming back on 7^th Dec! We also had, SSALONGO WASHINGTON MUGERWA and DR EMMA NALUYIMA, a couple that’s doing wonders using only one acre of land. On that acre, they produce over 700 piglets a year, over 35 bunches of matooke a month, they keep 10,000 fish, rear chicken, keep cattle and grow maize, fruits, tubers, herbs and several other crops. What they practice is what’s referred to as organic integrated farming. They do so many things on a small piece of land, all in a system, using locally designed technology (the details of what they do is in the book MILLIONAIRE FARMER which I will later tell you about). With their approach you can even earn money from farming when all the land you have is your compound and verandah. This couple will also be back for the 7^th Dec Authors’ Forum! Those who were present, you also heard the tantalizing wisdom of WYCLIFF NATWEETA, one of the top managers of Housing Finance Bank. He too will be present to throw light on the aspect of funding commercial farming projects and of course also share more about his own farming experience (he rears hundreds of local chicken).

For those getting to know about this forum for the first time, on 7^th December, we shall be having PART II of the theme: EARNING BIG FROM FARMING. Don’t worry about what you missed last time; it was all caught on camera and on that day a DVD will be available at UGX 15,000. Remember the venue is Hotel African and the time 6pm to 9pm. Last time, the panel could not exhaust all they had for us. We still needed to know more about how to start a farming project, issues of how much capital is needed and how to raise it, how to prioritize activities, record-keeping in farming, how to recruit, train and supervise workers, how to get the best seeds and parent animal genetics, how to deal with disease and pests, how to make organic manure from urine and fish pond water, how to employ technology to maximize output, how to benefit from farm waste e.g. by making biogas the way Washington and Naluyima are doing, how to get the best market for one’s produce and much more. All these issues and much more will be discussed at on 7^th December. So planning to miss is simply committing inspirational suicide.

The Authors’ Forum event is open to the public as long as you can secure your entry ticket before they run out (we have less than 50 left). A ticket goes for UGX 40,000. However, today, we are running a promotion where we give you 3 tickets at the amount of 2 tickets (meaning you pay only UGX 80,000 but get 3 tickets worth 120,000). For tickets, visit WORLD OF INSPIRATION centre at LLOYDS MALL, Ground Floor, that’s Entebbe Road, Opposite Kamu Kamu Plaza or call me (Bake Robert 0779911844 / 0704666851) or Winnie (0774107287 / 0700714369) for delivery. Delivery of tickets (or any other products we offer such as books) is free, so if you are busy, instead of waiting and you lose out on the opportunity, call and we find you where you are. You can also use those phone numbers to order for a copy of the book MILLIONAIRE FARMER which captures the story, ideas and discoveries of Dr Emma Naluyima that will totally transform your mind and equip you to make money out of modern farming. It goes for only UGX 30,000. #DoItNow

I wish you the best. I love you and I pray for you.

#LoveLotsBake

#YouAreAChampion

#SuccessIsYourBirthRight 

BAKE’S INSPIRATIONAL MESSAGE OF THE YEAR

Dear inspired friend! I am sharing this inspirational message with you because you have been part of the AUTHORS’ FORUM – an inspirational event that I organize. My dream is to see every member of this forum unleashing their potential, prospering and reaching at the top. As we wait to gather again at Hotel Africana for the Grand Finale of the Authors’ Forum on 7^th December, let this message fire you up to end this year a different person – a person of big dreams and big results.

In the last one year, I have been able to achieve goals that under normal circumstances would have taken me at least 10 years. It is because I discovered the secret I want to share with you. This is a secret that all successful people in history – from the ancient rulers of Kingdoms to modern leaders, from spiritual leaders to business leaders, from those earning billions from their talents to those changing the world with technology – have discovered.

Today, I am giving you this secret and it is what I take as my major message of the year. Take your time and read it to the end and then take action. I can guarantee you unprecedented results. Part of this message is fully shared in my book UNLEASH YOUR POTENTIAL and the other in my other book TAPPING GOD’S BLESSINGS. It’s a message is about DEFIANCE. In Uganda when you talk about “defiance’ some people think you are talking politics. Well, I am not a politician. I am talking inspiration. I am talking about disobeying failure. Defying fear. Challenging status quo. Disobeying reckless appetites. I am talking about refusing to be party to traditional patterns of thinking that tell you, for instance, that you cannot get rich while still a youth. I am talking about refusing to be refused.

When Donald Trump joined the presidential race, some of us thought he would not even go through the primaries. He won. We said he won’t get even 30% of the votes. Well, he refused to be refused and today he is the president elect of the United States of America. That is DEFIANCE. Whenever you see anyone succeeding at anything, never think it happened by chance; they defied failure. Think of Nelson Mandela, Mother Teresa, Oprah Winfrey, Billy Graham, Bill Gates, or any other achiever. None of them reached where they are by accident; they did things differently. Everyday we see men and women registering fascinating achievements, one after the other. To the surprise of many, these achievers seem not to look different from other people. They aren’t necessarily taller, fatter, darker or lighter than others. They are just ordinary people who are achieving extraordinary success because they decided to think and act differently (defiance).

When I went to a leader of publishers in Uganda asking him to help me publish my book and he told me that I could not sell even 500 copies in a year if I dared go ahead and publish it, I went ahead and published it and sold over 3,000 copies in a month. That was DEFIANCE. I am talking about the stamina to defy every limiting factor. In my books, I also refer to this principle as ‘Divine Disobedience’. This does not mean disobeying God, but rather disobeying anything that disobeys what God wants me to achieve.

Divine Disobedience means turning a deaf ear to negative voices from within or outside our lives. It means disobeying every limiting theory, tradition, belief, culture or thought. It means, sometimes putting faith above reason. When I declared that I am expanding WORLD OF INSPIRATION and opening an inspirational centre, it was 2 years ago and I did not have even a hundredth of the money it needed. But I believed in my heart that once I achieve this, I will be able to touch lives as millions of people from all over East Africa will be served by this centre. Well, last month, which is 2 years later, it happened and now WORLD OF INSPIRATION is at LLOYDS MALL, surrounded by 5 banks and people keep asking how I did it. Well, I practiced the principle of DEFIANCE. I refused to fail.

Many people ask me: What’s the best business for me to do with such and such an amount of money? Well, I tell them: Every business can create a billionaire. It is about how you do it. Winners do it differently. Winners don’t follow the bandwagon. Crowds can be going in one direction and a winner is going in another. To prosper you must be willing and ready to take the risk of doing things differently, whether other people approve of it or not.

You could dig into the past for even to the time of the first civilization in the world where Egyptians invented the art of writing and constructed pyramids. You won’t find any of them who did not practice this principle of DEFIANCE – doing things differently from the common methods. Abraham Lincoln lost elections for various posts more than seven times before he finally became one of the greatest presidents America has ever had. Great thinkers like Aristotle, Plato and Archimedes were thought to be mad because they thought ahead of their times. But till this day their names are still remembered by history. Napoleon Bonaparte was in the class of peasants, who were never supposed to rule, but he challenged that tradition and ruled not only France, but also nearly conquered the whole of Europe.

You don’t have to do things like everyone else. Don’t open a salon because it’s what others are doing. You don’t have to rush to the music industry because your friends have said it’s the in-thing. Don’t let your life rotate around someone else’s way of doing things. Tap into your uniqueness and watch your potential explode to unimaginable magnitudes.

While most of my friends were stuck in the small talk of jobs, appraisals, promotions, salary increments and the like, I shocked them by resigning my job to enter the scary world of business. I had to defy all the traditional beliefs that give jobs undue prestige. Today, those who laughed at me have come back to laugh with me. Some of those who vowed that I could not make it are the ones testifying that they knew very well that I would make it.

I am challenging you to start disobeying all the cultural, intellectual, and contemporary patterns of thinking that limit your ability to achieve your set goals. If your colleagues call you a woman for taking a soda while other men are drinking beer, insist and continue disobeying them. If people say no one can start a business with no money, disobey that. If your relatives think your whole kika (clan) was not carved out for business, disobey that.

My most selling book is a novel entitled ‘TEARS OF MY MOTHER: The Success Story of Nyamishana, the First Female President of Uganda’. Even before being put on the market, it had already generated a big debate amongst my friends and colleagues, especially because of its title. People were tasking me to explain why I wrote about what hasn’t happened and cannot happen – a woman becoming president of Uganda. But who says it can’t happen? Just because it hasn’t happened doesn’t mean it will never happen. Why should I limit my thinking to what has happened before? Why should I write what everyone else is writing? Why should I think like everyone else? By not writing about the obvious, the content will trigger the minds of my readers to think. If you must prosper, at some point you have to part ways with popular opinion and think differently.

As I wrote that book, TEARS OF MY MOTHER, I knew that out there, there are infinite possibilities. I wanted the mind of the reader to enter the hitherto uncharted territory. I wanted the reader to enter into another dimension – a realm where nothing is impossible. No wonder, this book has fueled the dreams and ambitions of people from all walks of life – entrepreneurs, spiritual leaders, investors, parents, teachers and everyone else who is looking for secrets of success. This reminds me of the great words of the former South African President, Nelson Mandela, “It always seems impossible until it’s done.”

I have put together 10 powerful books that will make you master this principle of defiance and prosper no matter your field. Some of these books are written by myself, while others have been written by other great authors. Today and tomorrow I am giving them to you at a throw-away price. Each book goes for UGX 30,000, meaning the 10 books would have cost you 300,000, but I am giving them to you at only 180,000. You can also choose any 5 books at only 100,000 3 books and have them at 65,000. This offer lasts for 2 days only. You can visit me at WORLD OF INSPIRATION (LLOYDS MALL Ground Floor, Entebbe Road, Opposite Kamu Kamu Plaza). For those unable to come, we are able to deliver anywhere. Simply call me on 0704666851 / 0779911844 or Winnie on 0774107287 / 0700714369

Now here are the magogomus books:

1. UNLEASH YOUR POTENTIAL: In this book, I give you the real killers of potential that you must and how to deal with them and then I share keys that will unlock your potential in record time.

2. TAPPING GOD’S BLESSINGS: This book contains nearly all that I know about work, career, business and success from God’s perspective.

3. TEARS OF MY MOTHER: In this book I use a fictious character of a woman called NYAMISHANA to present success principles that will make you a leader in whatever field or trade you are in. It’s my most selling book.

4. COURAGEOUS WOMAN: This is the amazing story of how Prudence Ukkonika grew BELLA WINE, a business she started with 5 liters of wine in a relative’s kitchen using UGX 100,000, into a multibillion shilling company.

5. INVESTING FOR THE FUTURE: This is a powerful book on saving, investment, preparation for retirement and general understanding of money – how to earn it, how to retain it, how to spend it and how to grow it. It was written by a successful investor, Livingstone Mukasa.

6. MONEY MISTAKES TO AVOID: Written by FRANK KATUSIIME the CEO of Business Initiatives International, a man who has earned national and global reputation in the areas of real estates and financial investments, this book will sharpen your mind to make the best financial decisions.

7. YOU ARE NOT DESPERATE: In this book, Stephan Kiyemba, an accomplished sales and marketing consultant, farmer and businessman, packages timeless lessons for success into 18 powerful stories.

8. I AM NOT SORRY FOR MY MISTAKES: In this book, Dickson Mushabe, shares his business journey and the lessons he has learnt that every starting/young entrepreneur must know.

9. SUCCESS IS GUARANTEED: This book captures the life and ideas of H. E. Prof. Boney Katatumba, a man who made so much money that he bought a fleet of aeroplanes and invested in properties in London, and also lost quiet a lot of money (he frankly shares everything).

10. MILLIONAIRE FARMER: This book captures the story and ideas of Dr Emma Naluyima, a Ugandan revolutionary farmer who is using one acre of land to earn what some farmers have never earned even on a hundred acres of land.

I am waiting for you to come and get these books for yourself and also for your loved ones. If you give them to someone as a gift, that might be the best gift that person will ever receive in this lifetime. I am waiting to serve you personally. I have many staff, but when you come to WORLD OF INSPIRATION in these two days, I will serve you myself.

Otherwise, keep the date 7^th December market in your calendar because that’s the day we shall hold the last episode of the Authors’ Forum in 2016. As usual we shall be at Hotel Africana starting 6pm and ending 9pm. Tickets are still at UGX 40,000 (but today we are giving 3 tickets at the price of 2). You can team up with your friends and grab the offer. The numbers to call to secure your tickets have already been shared above.

Stay blessed and inspired!

#DoItNow

#YouAreAChampion

#YouAreAWarrior

#SuccessIsYourBirthRight

#WithLoveBake

WHY DO SOME UGANDAN BUSINESSES FAIL?

WHY DO SOME UGANDAN BUSINESSES FAIL?

Uganda has been ranked as the number one enterprising country in the world, but you and I know that many businesses started don’t see their first birthday. Why? When I was joining business, people advised me that to succeed I should: 1. Offer good customer care 2. Package my products well 3. Do good market research 3. Create solutions 4. Build a great team 6. Persevere 7. Follow my passion… (the list goes on). I was told mostly about what I should do. Unfortunately no one told me what not to do. For instance, I did not know that by spending without a budget I could end up eating my capital. I was never told that some businesses can fail because of trying to grow at a faster rate than normal (I now know at least 4 Ugandan businesses that were ruined by the excitement of success).

I want to know why certain businesses have succeeded, but I also want to know why some businesses have failed. My latest discovery is that there are at least 5 characteristics of businesses that have failed and of course those that are on their way to failure (I will be sharing that insight). For this reason, WORLD OF INSPIRATION has organized a special evening where a panel of experts will lead us in a mind-provoking discussion on the REASONS WHY BUSINESSES FAIL. There will be emphasis on areas such as bank services, recruiting staff, dealing with taxes, branding, customer relationship management, advertising without spending and so on.

The panelists include Diamond Trust Bank’s Head of Branches as well as a reknowned entrepreneur. We have also invited many other entrepreneurs and investors who have had experience in both success and failure to share with us their experiences. You can’t afford to miss. All this will be happening at the AUTHORS’ FORUM on Wednesday 4^th May, 6-9pm, at Hotel Africana. This forum is an open platform for every Ugandan who wants to grow in creativity and entrepreneurship. All you need is an entry ticket which you can get in advance at UGX 40,000 by calling Robert Bake on 0704666851 / 0779911844 or by Visiting WORLD OF INSPIRATION office (Luwum Street, MM Plaza T33). Note that subscribed members enter freely (so if you have your membership card, you don’t need a ticket).

Share this invitation with all your networks via email, social media, word of mouth etc. Miss this life-changing event only if you are sure you will be using the evening of next Wednesday for something better. Henry Ford, the inventor of the modern car, once said: “It has been my observation that most people get ahead during the time that others waste.” Don’t waste the evening of 4^th May. Invest it in yourself by attending this life-transforming event. You will thank me later.

Stay blessed and inspired!

DISTRACTIONS IN LIFE

By Robert Bake Tumuhaise 

Here is a quick exercise for you. Get a pen and a piece of paper. Try writing the letters A, B, C, D and E, while simultaneously counting 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5. I don’t know what you’ve just experienced, but for me it was nothing but confusion.

This is evidence that you cannot successfully focus on several tasks at a go. In the case of the above exercise, writing distracted me from counting correctly, while counting equally distracted me from writing correctly.

Distractions are those good things of this world that often divert us from the right path. Often, they come to us in form of the many pleasures that cause us to waste our time, money or energy. For instance, boozing or smoking may start as a small enjoyable leisure activity until it becomes an addiction and holds you hostage.

Sometimes distracters can be our friends. For instance, when you start a business, some instantly come in to assure you of how there are more profitable businesses and you begin to feel like you made a mistake. Friends can also distract you by filling your mind with what’s so irrelevant to your dream. I don’t, for example, want to find myself amidst friends who talk about politics or soccer only.

Distractions can come from your family. If your relatives have been causing you to over compromise your principles, values and goals, be careful. You could have a husband who begins to frustrate you the moment you start thinking out of the box, so that you do not become too successful for him to control. You could be having a wife who influences you to spend like you are an ATM. Watch out!

What are those distractions that often make you lose focus on your dream? You start building a house and another project comes in and you leave the house half-way. You save money to buy land, but another attractive idea pastes itself into the picture, and you end up diverting the money. You purpose to resign from your current job and start your own business, but your boss gets word and instantly increases your salary or gives you a promotion…. (TO BE CONTINUED)

The above message was picked from the book ‘UNLEASH YOUR POTENTIAL’ by Robert Bake Tumuhaise, published by inspirational giant WORLD OF INSPIRATION. Copies are available at MM Plaza T33 at only UGX 20,000. You can call 0779911844 / 0704666851 for your copy to be delivered.

I also remind every success-minded Ugandan that in conjunction with BANK OF UGANDA, WORLD OF INSPIRATION has organized a special inspirational evening focusing on HOW TO EARN PASSIVE INCOME on 6th April, 6-9pm, at Hotel Africana. The guests to inspire us on that day include a Director at Bank of Uganda as well as an investor with more than 4 successful businesses who is also a bestselling author on investment and retirement. The Event’s Name is ‘AUTHORS’ FORUM’. The entrance fee remains UGX 40,000 paid in advance (while annual membership remains at UGX 250,000). Tickets are sold in advance. You can call any of the numbers already given above to secure your ticket. #DoItNow