cecilia akello

He started with UgShs240,000 (about $200). No car, No office. Today, his tourism businesses earn an estimated $8M a year (over UgShs32B), and he has put a Ugandan mountain on the world running map. Meet Amos Wekesa. 👇 Born in 1973 in Namisindwa, Eastern Uganda, to a modest family. In 2001, he started Great Lakes Safaris with that $200: a briefcase, a receipt book, and an office under a staircase in Kampala. His secret? A good name is gold. Be reliable and clients come back. He became the first Ugandan to build accommodation inside a national park (Murchison Falls). Way forward today: 👉 Great Lakes Safaris is one of Uganda's biggest tour operators 👉 His lodge brand, The Great Lakes Collection, includes Budongo Eco Lodge (Murchison Falls), Simba Safari Camp and Elephant Plains (Queen Elizabeth), Primate Lodge Kibale and Mwamba Lodge Tarangire in Tanzania 👉 Hundreds of jobs created 👉 2022 AHIF Outstanding Contribution to Africa Award 👉 New lodges planned in Uganda, Tanzania and Rwanda With time, then he came up with the Tusker Lite Rwenzori Marathon 👉 A 15-year dream, launched in 2022 with a flag raised on the Rwenzori peaks 👉 2025: about 6,000 runners showed up from 50 countries 👉 Reported growth from 1,000 to 10,000 climbers since 2022 👉 2026: Shs3.7B (about $1M) government boost, plus Shs100M (about $27,000) from Britam and Shs20M (about $5,400) from UDB 👉 Now the marathon has World Athletics Label status His next goal is Ugandan athletes ranked among the world's best within 5 years which is achievable ofcos to him. The lesson? You don't need big money. You need vision, patience and a clean name. Have you yet met this iconic man inspiring many around him?