special guests and bios
NAMCA BOARD REPORT
TMS Ruge was born in Masindi, Uganda and grew up in Uganda, Kenya and the US.
Fellow members, I begin by welcoming you all, the Umukuuka Masaaba, his delegates the entire guests with
Capitalizing on his understanding of different cultures and markets, Ruge has become a
their protocol observed NAMCA Board and Founding Members, friends, and Members from Canada, Uganda,
successful global social entrepreneur.
Great Britain and other parts of USA and of course the host families in California San Diego.
Through Project Diaspora—an organization he co-founded in 2007 to motivate, engage
I take this opportunity to welcome you all to the 12th Annual General Meeting of the North America Masaba
and mobilize the African Diaspora to take an active role in Africa’s development—he
Cultural association. I thank you all for taking the time to travel from the various Parts of the world to attend
runs an indigenous farmers’ business (UMPG) in Masindi and advises a women’s jewelry
this important meeting. I especially give a warm welcome to those who have travelled from Uganda, your
making co-operative (Women of Kireka) in Kampala.
attendance and commitment in terms of time and resources reflects the great value you attach to NAMCA .
Friends before I proceed with business Lets take heart and have a moment to be mindful of our brothers and
A technology enthusiast, Ruge has written and spoken extensively on the need to invest in Africa’s ICT sector.
sisters that once played a Major role in this organization and are n ????HZXY? \? ??ZX?Y[?[?[B??H\?[ ??H?\?H?[Y]?\? ]Y??X?x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x?&[H X\?Y ? ?\? ?Y[X?\?? ??YHX?Y]?[Y[? ? ?H]?H ?X[^?Y[? H \? L?[? ???Z[?[?????\Y?H[??\?[??H???\?\????X][???\? \? YX\? ?H??H?]?Y[X?\??? H??[][?] H[??X?Y ?\?HY??X?[ ?[?[??X[ ??[\?[? ?Z[?? ?[? Z\? ?[XZ[???X???YK??]?[? H ?X[ ?^?H??\?\????X][? H?[?[??X[ ??\?Y[X?\??]?B?Z?[?\? ?\]Z\?Y ?[Y[??\? ?X?Y?X?H? Z\? \? ?\??\?[??[? ?Z\?[????XX?Y??H?]?YXx?&\?Y?X\?Y\??Y[?Y ?[??Y ?]?HH?? \?H ?? ][? ? \? \?X?[\? H?H?H??YX]^XH ?\?X?\?B??\?X]?[Y[??[?8?$???YX? X[ H?? ?X?]Y H[?]X[[[?[? ? ??\? ? \?Y??? ?] [??? [?][ H\?Y??? ? ?[? [??\ ?Y ??Y?Z[?? \??X????[? ?H ?]?] ??[?H??\[??\?[??H [? ] ??[??\?[?\?Y[X?\??[? B?]?[? ] H [??? [?]H\ [??Y?\?H??[? ^[?? [YH?[?? ?\?X\??[?\ ??X?[?? ?]?\?[??