Amsterdam Celebrates Uganda Independence

The Uganda Independence cake

Ugandans danced the night away to local Uganda music on 9^th October 2009 at Grand Café in Amsterdam near Arena. His Excellency Stephen Katenta Apuuli, Uganda’s Ambassador to the Netherlands and European Union based in Brussels graced the evening. Grand café is a famous nightclub patronised mostly by African immigrants living in Amsterdam.

The Kenyan Dance Troupe preparing their equipment

The event was organised by UTAKE in conjunction with Pearl of Africa Organisation. UTAKE is a synonym for Uganda, Tanzania and Kenya music in Europe. It is headed by Steve Mbaziira; a Ugandan who also spins discs as a DJ at the club. 

The night started on a slow note. Patrons started trickling in at around 10.00pm, the time the Ambassador entered. Between 9.00pm and 11.00pm, all drinks were free. The MC of the day was Ibra Ndaula, also the secretary to Pearl of Africa Foundation, which brings together Ugandans living in the Netherlands. First item on stage was Sami Githu’s youthful Kenyan dance troupe, which mesmerised the guests. They were acrobats, singers, drummers and generally entertainers. 

               Smiles as the independance cake is cut

There was a young man who danced like he had no bones. He could roll into any shape, upstairs, downstairs and performing all those rare somersaults and stunts you can think of. He was the star of the evening.

Several Ugandan leaders were called upon to greet the people before the ambassador gave the keynote address. Christine van Der Pluijm, the chairperson of Mama Watoto organisation, Robert Kisitu of Nedas and Lucy van Teuling, the programme officer in charge of East Africa at Oxfam Novib.

In my capacity as chairman of Pearl of Africa, I invited the ambassador to address the guests. He started of by asking the Diasporans to unite and invest back home. He assured us that Uganda in 3 years time will be an oil exporting country and that kyeyo (odd jobs workers) will be running to Uganda from other countries for work and not the reverse as it is now. He talked of the East African community, which will soon be one political union. “Ugandans are soon falling in things when Uganda starts earning big with oil”, he said. 

Ali Balunywa and Ambassador Katenta Apuuli

He warned us to stop thinking about small issues like Mabira forest, Omukama, Kabaka or Kampala city expansion. With oil Uganda will undergo a transfiguration. Suddenly Uganda will be rich. He ended by quoting JFK’s famous quotation not to ask our country what it should do for us but what we can do for it.

After his speech, the ambassador was helped by some dignitaries to cut the independence cake. Champagne was popped and he officially opened the dance. The party went on up to 4.00am the next day.

A very good party was almost spoilt by overzealous bouncers. Around 2.30am, the Kenyan dance troupe was ready to leave. They asked me to help them take the band and other instruments to their van. After a few trips to and fro, we were done. However, on re-entry, the bouncer refused to allow me back. I tried to call the owner of the clubhouse, but he could not pick. Someone advised me to use the back door, which is the normal entrance for club goers. I found a short line with about 5 people. Out of the blue came a group of girls who did not line up, but were allowed in by the bouncer. I asked the fellow to measure up to his job, and let everyone line up as the regulations demand. The fellow got embarrassed because all the people around agreed with me. He lost his cool and threatened to lock me out. I dared him to go ahead. He did exactly that and swore that I would only get in over his dead body.

I called an assistant manager who tried to convince the fellow in vain. I asked for my bag and jacket to go home, but the assistant manager could not hear of it. He asked me to use the front door. After some negotiations, I re-entered the club but my mood for an evening out all but spoilt by the bouncers. However, the rest of the people partied until the next day.