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Press Releases
Ugandan wins 91Èȱ¬ Swahili young entrepreneur competition
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David Ssegawa aged 22 from Kampala, Uganda has won the Faidika Na 91Èȱ¬ (Prosper With The 91Èȱ¬) young entrepreneur competition. His award-winning idea is to launch a candle-making business which will stop people having to buy imported candles from China.
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David beat over 5,000 Swahili-speaking new business hopefuls to win the live finals and a cash prize of US$2,000 prize.
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David pitched his idea to a team of East African judges in front of a live audience and was presented with his prize by Tanzania's President, Jakaya Kikwete. Ìý
The finals were broadcast live across East Africa on 91Èȱ¬ radio and on Tanzanian television stations, ITV and EATV.
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The judges were impressed with his presentation and well thought through business plan.
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David explained: "Uganda suffers from loads of power cuts and there is a massive shortage of electricity. There is a daily problem of power rationing which has lead to the increase in the price of fuel and therefore a high demand for candles. At present, candles are imported from China but I want to launch a business which will make them locally and bring savings and benefits to the local community."
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David will use his prize money to buy a special machine for melting and moulding the wax. He will also employ someone and rent premises for three months.
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In addition to the US$2,000, David wins a laptop and the unique opportunity to address delegates at the Commonwealth Youth Forum, which runs from 14 to 21 November, prior to the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting in Kampala, Uganda.
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The President of Tanzania, Jakaya Kikwete, presented David with his prize saying: "Prosper With The 91Èȱ¬ is so brilliant that we have launched a similar young entrepreneur project ourselves. I thank the 91Èȱ¬ for coming up with such a great idea primarily because it's a challenge for young people. I truly hope the 91Èȱ¬ will do another project like this."
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He went on to add: "The 91Èȱ¬ is respected here because its stories are always honest and well balanced."
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The three Faidika Na 91Èȱ¬ runners up were Kenyan Arthur Buliva and Tanzanians Francis Wakara Baraka and Geofrey Kibiki who receive cash prizes and a mobile phone to help kick-start their business ideas.
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91Èȱ¬ Swahili Head, Solomon O Mugera, who launched Faidika Na 91Èȱ¬ in early April to coincide with 91Èȱ¬ Swahili's 50th anniversary celebrations, said: "David is a worthy winner, he has a dynamic and exciting business idea which thrilled the judges and will clearly benefit people in Uganda. I wish him all the best with his plans, I'm confident he has a brilliant future."
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The multi-award winning singer Lady JD gave a special performance at the event held at the Kilimanjaro Hotel with broadcasts going to Burundi, DR Congo, Kenya, Tanzania, Rwanda and Uganda.
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Visitors to bbcswahili.com can hear the show again for up to a week.
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Notes to Editors
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David Ssegawa speaks English and can be contacted for interviews. Pictures are available from Thursday 28 June.
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Faidika Na 91Èȱ¬ judges:
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Zablon Karingi Muthaka lives in Kangemi on the outskirts of Nairobi, Kenya. He started Beta Bins Waste Management and Environmental Conservation, with US$1,500 and now has an annual turnover of US$6,152.
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Humphrey Polepole is the current Secretariat Director of the Tanzania Youth Coalition and a member of UN-Tanzania CSO advisory committee. He is also a steering committee member of the Sustainability Watch Network under Tanzania Coalition on Sustainable Development. He is a freelance trainer and facilitator on development issues and research methodologies.
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Halima Abdallah is a well-known journalist with Uganda's national daily, Observer. Specialising in business reporting, she has done a number of researches and documented the viability of small agricultural enterprises as businesses for farmers.
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91Èȱ¬ World Service Publicity
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