Journalist Jimmie Kamenye has shared a detailed reflection on his first encounter with Ugandan events promoter-turned-politician Balaam Barugahara, describing a journey that has shaped his thinking on persistence, growth, and success over time.
“In 2013, I first became aware of Balaam Barugahara while covering Dr. Jose Chameleone’s Badilisha Concert at Kyadondo Rugby Club,” Kamenye recalls.
“At the time, I was a young journalist at UBC TV, and like many others, my attention was focused on the star of the show—Chameleone. We interviewed him, filed our stories, and moved on.”
He says Balaam was present at the event, but largely went unnoticed despite being behind its organisation.
“Balaam was there too, but I must admit, I paid little attention to the promoter behind the event.”
Kamenye notes that over the years, he began to observe a gradual but steady rise in Balaam’s influence within Uganda’s entertainment and business sectors.
“Years passed. I watched his journey from a distance, occasionally hearing his name attached to concerts, events, business ventures, and public conversations.”
The journalist says a clearer understanding of Balaam’s trajectory emerged during the launch of Radio 4 in November 2018.
“It wasn’t until the launch of Radio 4 in November 2018 that I truly began to appreciate something many young Ugandans often overlook: the power of consistency.”
He adds that success is often misunderstood because people focus on visible outcomes rather than long-term effort.
“What struck me was not one achievement, but the steady accumulation of years of effort, relationship-building, resilience, and growth.”
He argues that the public often celebrates success only at the point it becomes visible.
“While many people celebrate success when it becomes visible, few pay attention to the years of work, sacrifice, and persistence that make it possible.”
Today, Balaam Barugahara serves in government, a development Kamenye says should be viewed through a broader lens of experience and gradual progression.
“Today, Balaam Barugahara serves as Uganda’s Minister of Local Government. Regardless of one’s political views, his journey offers valuable lessons about ambition, perseverance, networking, and the importance of playing the long game.”
Kamenye says these observations inspired him to document the lessons in a book targeted at young people navigating early career struggles.
“That is why I wrote this book.”
“This is not simply a story about Balaam Barugahara. It is a book for young Ugandans. A book about consistency when results are not immediate. A book about growth when nobody is watching.”
He emphasises that the work is based on public information rather than personal interaction.
“It is important to note that I have NEVER met Balaam Barugahara personally to have a one on one talk about this book. Everything I have written is based on publicly available interviews, speeches, media reports, and insights from people who know him.”
Kamenye concludes that the core lesson lies in patience and sustained effort.
“My hope is that every young Ugandan who reads this book will look beyond the headlines and discover the deeper lesson hidden within the journey: success is not built in a day. It is built daily.”
“The journey is the lesson.”