Interview Summary
Chairman and CEO (Gordon Wavamunno) and Executive Director (Morine Wavamunno) of the Uganda-based Spear Group discuss how they successfully grew their business from humble beginnings into a diversified business group spanning insurance, automobile distribution, textiles, bottled water, construction, real estate, farming, radio, and television, among others ventures. Notably, Spear Motors became Uganda’s largest auto dealership after starting out in a small garage in 1973. After outlining the group’s trajectory, the Wavamunnos explain that future growth in Uganda will largely depend on whether or not it can engage in international trade. Morine Wavamunno speaks to her role as a female leader and describes her tactics for transcending cultural gender norms.
[P]urchasing power in Kampala was very low. …I started cutting down from mass production to individual orders; instead of a factory I became a tailoring company…
Additional Resources
Gordon Wavamunno, Gwotonnakaddiya: ekitabo ky’engero ensonge n’amakulu gaazo amakusike. Wavah Books, 2008
Gordon Wavamunno, Bino obadde obimanyi? Wavah Books, 2008
Gordon Wavamunno, The Late Ssaabasajja Kabaka Muteesa II: An Outstanding Defender of Peace and First President of Uganda. Wavah Books, 2007
Gordon Wavamunno, Ebyafaayo n’ebifa mu bwakabaka bwa Buganda: Ebyagaayo by’obwakabaka bwa Buganda. Wavah Books, 2004
Gordon B. K. Wavamunno, Gordon B. K. Wavamunno: The Story of an African Entrepreneur. Wavah Books, 2000
Gordon Wavamunno, Muteesa ne Uganda: Ekitabo ky’ ebyafaayo bya Sir. Edward Fredrick William Walugembe Muteesa II. Kabaka wa Buganda ow’asatu mu abataano. Wavah Books, c.2000
“Sir Gordon Wavamunno Interview,” Straight Talk Africa, June 6, 2012
Interview Citation Format
"Interview with Gordon and Morine Wavamunno, interviewed by S. Andrew Musoke, May 6, 2013, Creating Emerging Markets Project, Baker Library Historical Collections, Harvard Business School, http://www.hbs.edu/creating-emerging-markets/."
