Over the past years, a lot of uncertainty has been cast on the sources of riches by South African based Ugandan “businessmen” nicknamed Sangomas.
Whereas many have acquired the riches through legitimate ways, reports from the Madiba land have implicated some of Uganda’s tycoons on shoddy deals which have on several instances led to arrest of some.
Among the deals include armed robbery, Burglary, theft, conning organizations and posing as withdoctors to extort money from unsuspecting South Africans.
Fallen tycoon Ivan Semwanga was among the people who were rumored to be a traditional healer in South Africa although no one could provide circumstantial evidence to back up the claim.
Was Semwanga really a traditional Healer?
Growing up in Kayunga, Semwanga was raised in a fairly rich home; acquired education up to Advanced level although he never made it to any known University.
Semwanga first tried business in Uganda with limited success before moving to South Africa.
In just a few years, the youthful Semwanga had started living big; raising questions on how he could possibly make large sums of money in a very new environment.
Other Ugandans living in South Africa would later start claiming that the then rich young boy was a witch doctor.
But according to Moses Kyazze, a prominent business man who resides in the UK but started out his hustling in South Africa, there are many secrets behind the riches.
“Many people in Uganda are blinded by stories of witchcraft in South Africa, but the truth is, during the early and mid-2000’s, it could only take a flick of a finger for one to become a millionaire,” Kyazze reportedly said.
“There was a lot of illegal deals happening among rich South Africans and they were so cautious of how they would make their businesses work. The only way to do that was have clean bank accounts from non- citizens which in the case was us Ugandans because we were so desperate to earn a living.”
“They would transact their money through our accounts and in return give us commission which was in dollars,” Kyazze added.
Kyazze’s missives however can’t dispute the fact that a number of Ugandans got their riches through witchcraft.
In March 2016, South African news outlet The Daily Sun reported that a Ugandan had been arrested posing as a witch doctor and conning money from natives.
He was reportedly wearing an animal skin and had targeted a woman who had received her pension money.
Semwanga was also reported to have been involved in the same; although as a traditional healer.
The claims were made by fellow Ugandans who allegedly saw him dressed in backcloth and prescribing traditional drugs for South Africans.
Illuminati
It’s a common assumption in Uganda that any person who acquires riches in what appears like a short time “has joined illuminati” or has “gone under the lake.”
Just a day after Semwanga’s death, local newspaper Kamunye reported that the businessman had been involved in a standoff with top illuminati dons.
They further claimed that Semwanga’s riches were given to him by a snake, warning everyone who directly or indirectly enjoyed his money to stand warned.
Semwanga’s other Businesses.
That notwithstanding, Ivan Semwanga was a hardworking man with a strong enterprising mind.
By the time of his death, Semwanga had a chain of schools in South Africa, a number of estates and other assets with in Uganda.
He, together with his cousins (King Lawrence and Ed Cheune) had ventured in Agriculture; months before his demise.
The Tower Post can’t independently conclude that the departed tycoon was or wasn’t a witch doctor but hearsay has pinned him to the business.
Semwanga’s body will be flown into the country on Sunday and his burial is slated for Tuesday.
