President Yoweri Museveni has reiterated his commitment to continue supporting the Indian Community in Uganda who he described as real business partners.
“In Uganda we have got real partners because you bring new skills and new energies and we add our own indigenous energies and the combination brings a big achievement,” Museveni said.
Tororo cement Chairman Hasmukh Patel delivering his speech during the grand opening of the Shree Sahajanand School in Bukoto, Kampala on the 3rd December 2022. Photo by PPU/Tony Rujuta.President Yoweri Museveni after unveiling the opening of the school in the presence of Minister for Kampala Capital City & Metropolitan Affairs Hajjat Minsa Kabanda (left) and Tororo cement Chairman Hasmukh Patel (second left) during the grand opening of the Shree Sahajanand School in Bukoto, Kampala on the 3rd December 2022. Photo by PPU/Tony Rujuta.His Holiness Acharya koshalendra prasad ji delivering his speech during the grand opening of the Shree Sahajanand School in Bukoto, Kampala on the 3rd December 2022. Photo by PPU/Tony Rujuta.Tororo cement Chairman Hasmukh Patel delivering his speech during the grand opening of the Shree Sahajanand School in Bukoto, Kampala on the 3rd December 2022. Photo by PPU/Tony Rujuta.President Yoweri Museveni being welcomed by (L-R) His Holiness Acharya koshalendra prasad ji, Tororo cement Chairman Hasmukh Patel, Minister for Kampala Capital City & Metropolitan Affairs Hajjat Minsa Kabanda and Shree Sahajanand school chairman Ramesh H. Halai at the gand opeeing of the Shree Sahajanand School in Bukoto, Kampala on the 3rd December 2022. Photo by PPU/Tony Rujuta.President Yoweri Museveni cuts the tape as a symbol that the school as been opened During the grand opening of the Shree Sahajanand School in Bukoto, Kampala on the 3rd December 2022. Photo by PPU/Tony Rujuta.
The President made the remarks on Saturday shortly after commissioning the newly built Shree Sahajanand Primary School located in Bukoto, a Kampala suburb.
The commissioned school which opens in February, 2023 and will follow the National Curriculum was built by proprietors of Tororo Cement in partnership with the Indian Shree Kutchi Leva Patel community (SKLPS) as part of their corporate social responsibility in Uganda and will operate under the auspices of Shree Kutchi Leva Patel Samaj Trust.
President Museveni thanked the proprietors for not only establishing the modern school, but also building a new Temple and a hospital to benefit the neighboring community. He also hailed the group for their ongoing efforts to establish a cement factory in Karamoja sub-region, which will be producing clinker, a key ingredient in the production of cement.
President Yoweri Museveni being welcomed by (L-R) His Holiness Acharya koshalendra prasad ji, Tororo cement Chairman Hasmukh Patel, Minister for Kampala Capital City & Metropolitan Affairs Hajjat Minsa Kabanda and Shree Sahajanand school chairman Ramesh H. Halai at the gand opeeing of the Shree Sahajanand School in Bukoto, Kampala on the 3rd December 2022. Photo by PPU/Tony Rujuta.President Yoweri Museveni cuts the tape as a symbol that the school as been opened During the grand opening of the Shree Sahajanand School in Bukoto, Kampala on the 3rd December 2022. Photo by PPU/Tony Rujuta.Minister for Kampala Capital City & Metropolitan Affairs Hajjat Minsa Kabanda delivering her speech during the grand opening of the Shree Sahajanand School in Bukoto, Kampala on the 3rd December 2022. Photo by PPU/Tony Rujuta.President Yoweri Museveni delivering his speech during the grand opening of the Shree Sahajanand School in Bukoto, Kampala on the 3rd December 2022. Photo by PPU/Tony Rujuta.Some of the guests that attended the grand opening of the Shree Sahajanand School in Bukoto, Kampala on the 3rd December 2022. Photo by PPU/Tony Rujuta.A happy face at the grand opening of the Shree Sahajanand School in Bukoto, Kampala on the 3rd December 2022. Photo by PPU/Tony Rujuta.Some of the guests that attended the grand opening of the Shree Sahajanand School in Bukoto, Kampala on the 3rd December 2022. Photo by PPU/Tony Rujuta.The grand opening of the Shree Sahajanand School in Bukoto, Kampala on the 3rd December 2022. Photo by PPU/Tony Rujuta.The grand opening of Shree Swaminarayan Temple – Bukoto, Kampala on the 3rd December 2022. Photo by PPU/Tony Rujuta.
“In doing all this, you are solving the problem of importing the clinker, you are also creating jobs, you will consume our electricity and water; so, we have nothing but happiness for your efforts. You are most welcome and we shall give you all the support,” H.E Museveni added.
The President also hailed the good relationship Uganda has had with Indians, dating back to the early days before their expulsion by then President Idi Amin. He talked of the 6 shops owned by Indians in Ntungamo district long ago, saying they helped a lot in buying their milk and beef and in return bringing in what Uganda did not have at that time like sugar, soap, textile, paraffin and some agricultural inputs.
The school Chairman, Mr Minsa Hasmukh Patel who is also the proprietor of Tororo Cement in Uganda and Mombasa Cement in Kenya said the new Temple is now the most high-tech Temple for the SKLPS Community in the world.
As Tororo Cement, Mr Patel disclosed that they will be taking up two students, a boy and a girl, from each one of the 56 tribes in Uganda, and sponsor all their education through university. He said the hospital will be treating patients using university intern doctors from Uganda, who will be working online with doctors in India.
The Minister for Kampala, Hon Minsa Kabanda commended the Shree Sahajanand community for the new school which will provide quality education which is cheaper compared to the private schools in Kampala area.
“They have added value to Kampala and we are going to work with them,” Minister Kabanda said.
The school launch was also graced by His Highness, Acharya Tejendra Prasadji, the Pope of the Shree Kutchi Leva Patel community.
