By Vision Reporters
PRESIDENT Yoweri Museveni has said he invited back Asians who were expelled by dictator Idi Amin in 1972, because he knew their contribution to the economy.
Commenting on businessman Sudhir Ruparelias presentation on how he built Speke Resort Munyonyo, Museveni told delegates at the opening of the 19 Smart Partnership diologue on Sunday that Asians contributed a lot to the countrys total value of goods and services (GDP).
Sudhir belongs to the immigrant community which Amin had chased away. Obviously, he (Amin) did not know the importance of GDP, thats why he chased the Asians. But for us who understand that a higher GDP equals success, we called them back, he explained.
In his presentation titled Transformation of Munyonyo; how it happened, Sudhir said his initial idea was to build a small getaway, where families could spend weekends quietly.
He narrated that he started the project on seven acres of land, but had now expanded to 150 acres.
It was a simple house which expanded bit-by-bit, and when occasions arose, we built cottages to accommodate heads of State. Now we are the biggest resort in the country, he said.
Museveni later hosted his guests to a dinner where the Police brass band and an array of traditional dancers entertained them.
He said it was only through regional integration that Africas socio-economic transformation could be achieved.
Museveni noted that many other international fora and think tanks often push the interests of the initiator, which was not the case with Smart Partnership.
Zambian President Rupiah Banda said the challenge the partners faced was limited capacity to implement their programmes.
PRESIDENT Yoweri Museveni has said he invited back Asians who were expelled by dictator Idi Amin in 1972, because he knew their contribution to the economy.
Commenting on businessman Sudhir Ruparelias presentation on how he built Speke Resort Munyonyo, Museveni told delegates at the opening of the 19 Smart Partnership diologue on Sunday that Asians contributed a lot to the countrys total value of goods and services (GDP).
Sudhir belongs to the immigrant community which Amin had chased away. Obviously, he (Amin) did not know the importance of GDP, thats why he chased the Asians. But for us who understand that a higher GDP equals success, we called them back, he explained.
In his presentation titled Transformation of Munyonyo; how it happened, Sudhir said his initial idea was to build a small getaway, where families could spend weekends quietly.
He narrated that he started the project on seven acres of land, but had now expanded to 150 acres.
It was a simple house which expanded bit-by-bit, and when occasions arose, we built cottages to accommodate heads of State. Now we are the biggest resort in the country, he said.
Museveni later hosted his guests to a dinner where the Police brass band and an array of traditional dancers entertained them.
He said it was only through regional integration that Africas socio-economic transformation could be achieved.
Museveni noted that many other international fora and think tanks often push the interests of the initiator, which was not the case with Smart Partnership.
Zambian President Rupiah Banda said the challenge the partners faced was limited capacity to implement their programmes.