Boston Loves Bakiga: ICOB Convention Drew People From All Over Diaspora and Uganda
Last weekend, new ICOB vice-president Ruth Ndyabahika and Los Angeles delegate Daniel Vien relaxed at this year's ICOB convention. Rebecca Harshbarger.
By Rebecca Harshbarger–
Last weekend, hundreds of Ugandans transformed Boston into Little Kigezi as they gathered for the International Community of Banyakigezi’s (ICOB) ninth annual convention.
Delegates enjoyed a cruise on the Boston Harbor, barbecued in Waltham, and took a tour of the Boston city, but also spent a significant amount of time focusing on how they could enrich and develop the Kigezi region.
Former president of ICOB, Dr. Frank Byamugisha, announced that next year’s convention will take place in London.
Dr. Ezra Suruma, a former Minister of Finance in Uganda who is now with the Washington, D.C.-based Brookings Institute, gave the keynote address on the role of Banyakigezi in developing their country. He also gave a talk on Saturday on the introduction of tea to Kigezi’s economy.
Dr. Ruhakana Rugunda, Uganda’s permanent representative to the U.N., and Pius Birigimana, the permanent secretary to the office of the Prime Minister, also attended the convention. Moses Wilson, the president of the Ugandan North American Associaion, also took part, as did many other important community figures in the diaspora.
Vendors like 30-year-old artist Rogers Asimira had the opportunity to show off their work at the convention.
The community used the convention as an opportunity to vote for new leaders. The delegates elected Johnson Mujungu as the new president of ICOB, and Ruth Ndyabahika as its vice-president. Rita Babihuga was selected as the secretary-general, and Margaret Tumusiime as the treasurer. Three new members also joined the Board of Directors.
For organizer Apolo Ndyabahika, his favorite moment was seeing so many Banyakigezi and their friends gather together.
“We had so many good moments,” he told Ugandans Abroad. ”From the boat cruise to the dinner, bus tour, and barbecue on Sunday.”
Looking smart at the Saturday night gala.
Some delegates, Ndyabahika said affectionately, were so excited to spend time talking about their culture, language, and legacy that they stayed up until six in the morning.
“We are glad that it went well with good representation from Uganda, U.K., Canada, and the United States,” he added.
The organizers also loved Dr. Tumusiime’s-Mutebile’s well-known “time is money” talk at the Saturday dinner gala, where he challenged the group to be better stewards of time. For the 10:00 a.m. service the next morning, worshippers showed up punctually to join Mutebile in different rukiga hymns.
“Naturally, I was swept up into the joyous celebration,” Ndyabahika recalled. ”This was one of many special moments at our convention.”
Ian Kavuma contributed to this story.
If you find this information helpful, please
to Ugandans Abroad.
No related posts.
Related posts brought to you by Yet Another Related Posts Plugin.
Indeed,ICOB is the mastermind diffusion of compexes in statesmanship,better be emulated. I fails to adhere to platitudes the like of ‘…….think not of your roots value before you make a pie on the nation’s piechart’.Absolutely abusive and eroding of self respect if not checked. Uganda can never be without basically individual hail of the “home”value stock.Mwebale naffe kyekitufubyako ku nsonga ezitaputwa ekifulanenge abegwannyiza ebyo ebitukola;Buganda. Go ICOB go,team up with us wherever and make a drive to have a chapter here in Amsterdam. Agalyawamu…………!