Balaam Barugahara looks up to Karim Hirji

Hirji, one of the wealthiest men in Uganda, is mostly known for founding Imperial Hotels, Hotel Equatoria, and Cham Towers.

Some reports indicate that he sold Equatoria (now Equatoria Shopping Mall) to former Forum for Democratic Change (FDC) President Col. Kizza Besigye and one of the Imperial hotels to former Foreign Affairs minister Sam Kutesa.

Speaking to NTV in 2019, Barugahara said that Karim Hirji taught him to wake up at 5am in the morning.

Balaam Barugahara Pulse Live Uganda

He said morning hours are very productive and by 1pm he is done with work to focus on supervision.

Balaam Barugahara also revealed the first concert he organised, which was the launch of Bobi Wine's Bada, was at Hotel Equatoria and it was fully packed.

According to him, he paid Wine Shs8 million initially but he ended up adding him more money because the profits were good.

Juliana Kanyomozi Pulse

Barugahara, who was recently appointed a minister, said he collected Shs60m and used it to expand his business in South Sudan, while Bobi Wine bought land in Magele where he currently lives.

Musicians who supported Balaam Barugahara

During the interview, Balaam Barugahara thanked Iryn Namubiru, Juliana Kanyomozi, Bobi Wine, Bebe Cool and Jose Chameleone for taking a flyer on him when he was starting out as a promoter of events.

He has organised shows for all these artistes. Kanyomozi and Cool attended his swearing-in ceremony at State House Entebbe.

"They are my very good friends," he said.

He said none of them can refuse to show up when calls them for an event.