Alex Ponton
By Alex Ponto
I officially left my job in finance in Toronto 8 years ago to move to Uganda. Why did you leave Canada to come to Uganda?
I wanted to see what it was to build and invest in a totally different context.
That’s it! No mission or pretention; just curiosity. The journey took me across most districts of the country. From Lira to Kasese, there are entrepreneurs that remember Alex from Canada. Everywhere I went, I felt welcomed and was often given a local name. I became Mubiru, Ochen, Tumusiime and Baluku.
I have worked and funded SMEs. I have started a few successful and a few less successful businesses. The roller-coaster of investing and building in Uganda humbled me, taught me lessons, made me lose my hair but also made me a better entrepreneur, team member, investor and human being.
I also met my partner in crime & best friend, got married and welcomed our amazing son.
To Uganda, I will be forever grateful. To 80 more years!
The writer is an investor in Uganda.
