Senegalese-America music star Akon whose real name is Aliaune Damala Badara Thiam, arrived in Uganda on Friday morning ahead of his meeting with President Yoweri Museveni.
Akon arrived aboard Ethiopian Airlines from Addis Ababa at 12.55 am last night and is scheduled to meet President Museveni today.
On Friday morning, he met with Aya Group boss, Mohammed Hamid and the two discussed areas of cooperation on how to build Pan African business entities.
Hamid who is also the proprietor of Pearl Of Africa Hotel, is remembered to have started Pan Afric Commodities company at the age of 16 before rising to become one of Africa’s top young money magnates.
He is also the founder of the Aya Group, a $650 million (annual revenues) conglomerate with interests in mining, milling, food manufacturing, commodity trading, transportation, agriculture, biscuits manufacturing, bakeries, and luxury real estate.
Hamid is also planning to set up a mega industrial park that is touted to employ thousands of Ugandans.
Akon’s trip will also involve a visit to national parks in the country.
Akon’s visit follows a recent trip to Uganda by his wife Ms. Rozina Negusir earlier this year. Akon’s wife also had the opportunity to meet President Museveni and they discussed different investment ventures that can be undertaken.
Akon was received by Abbey Walusimbi, the Senior Presidential Advisor on Diaspora Affairs, Musician and Tourism Ambassador Eddie Kenzo, Officials from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Uganda Tourism Board, and Sheikh Ramadhan Mulindwa from the Uganda Muslim Supreme Council.
In 2018, Akon announced plans to establish a $6 billion futuristic Pan-African smart city in Senegal dubbed “Akon City”.
Supported by the Senegalese Government, the 800-hectare solar-powered city will feature shopping malls music studios, tourist resorts among other attractions.
Akon will visit a number of Religious institutions during his stay in Uganda.
