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Southern War Generals Turn to Economic Battles

East African Business Week (Kampala)

NEWS
24 March 2008
Posted to the web 24 March 2008

By David Mugabe

They are former war Generals having sacrificed their youth and put their lives
on the line to bring hope and peace to their community.
They have also sacrificed the somewhat comfort of the western world to come and
be a part of the rebuilding process of their society after decades of war. Now
they are turning their battles to another front line-liberating their people
economically.
Mr. Deng Malwual Leek, Benjamin Bol and Deng A. Leeka are middle aged men who
are running profitable businesses in southern Sudan. They were in Uganda
recently to testify that the Sudan bubble has indeed not burst and indeed there
is plenty of businesses and opportunities to pursue.
Mr. Simon Duku, the public relations officer of Government of Southern Sudan
(GoSS) says GoSS is not only talking about the past "but we have young men
going forward.
It is evident that the return of these young people is a wide testimony that
the people of Southern Sudan are moving forward. Duku says their presence is to
encourage Ugandans that Southern Sudan is still open "to our brothers-
Ugandans."
"Our land is so big-dripping potential in mostly construction and real estate,"
said Bol.
Bol is the proprietor of Home and Away, an uptown hotel that has some of the
best facilities in Juba. According to Bol, the hotel is an example of a
successful story by a local investor-one of those out to show that out of the
war, good can arise and yes, it does not have to be done by a white or foreign
person only.
Bol's firm also installed a stone crusher which processes 180 lorries of
different aggregates in 8 hours. Currently, it costs about $120 per tonnage of
stones and the cost is expected to come down to $50 as the region acquires more
work efficiency in low cost infrastructure.
"Government is trying to link the Nimule-Gulu and Juba-Yei-Arua route.
Information available indicates that Ush5 billion was given to a company to do
survey for the Gulu-Nimule road and Bol expects this company to procure stone
and concrete materials for this work.
Sections of the Ugandan media have been awash with cases of reported
mistreatment of Ugandans in Southern Sudan. Officials say it is true that yes,
sometimes there has been some highhandedness. But by and large, Southern
Sudanese are grateful to Uganda and have no legalized intention of harassing
Ugandans.
They have one enduring word of gratitude; "You Ugandans protected and cared for
us. It was only in Uganda where you could eat a warm meal. Yesterday, when we
were in the dark place, Uganda was with us. That is why we had a revolution,"
said Deng Leeka, a one time colonel in the Southern People's Liberation Army
(SPLA).
Deng Malwual, the towering guy who passes for an NBA star also typifies African
power and having lived in America, now speaks with the blend of a true African
American. He is the proprietor of the Giant group which includes Giant
Technologies Ltd, Giant Properties, Giant Construction and Giant Restaurant.
Giant Technologies are the authorised local Thuraya service providers looking
after the Southern Sudan market. Giant Technologies is set for official opening
on November 4, 2008. They are targeting demystifying mobile phone operation in
Sudan where if they acquire the services of a call service provider, every
average Sudanese will use this facility.
Southern Sudan is one of the richest countries in the world going by natural
wealth deposits like minerals and oil. It is this latent investment potential
that these men in their thirties and forties want to grab and are calling the
East African region to join them.
The return of these young men and many others like them is testimony to the
emergence of the region and the decision of its citizens to take their destiny
in their hands.
"We are not only talking of the past, but we have young men going forward. Here
we are proving people wrong that we can do it ourselves," said Bol.
"You Ugandans protected and cared for us. It was only in Uganda where you would
eat a warm meal," said Deng with a pang of grateful emotion across his face.

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