VOTE FRANK MUSISI FOR UNAA PRESIDENCY

Haile Selassie's call has never been greater and louder than today within the leadership of UNAA. Our UNAA needs a new face and a new leadership with new ideas. Today, things matter most in the history of UNAA than before and, I call upon all those who can act to join our team so that we can provide and deliver services to our members. Our community is yearning for a strong, clear, focused and visionary leadership.

San Francisco's UNAA race is likely to be the most challenging for those candidates without a measurable and achievable plan. My leadership is ready to provide you with one. As a longtime community volunteer leader, Pan Africanist, Freedom fighter and U.S. Army veteran, I am prepared for this humble challenge. Our campaign is going to be ISSUE BASED and we will NOT engage in, respond to or entertain PERSONAL attacks. I am non-political and my campaign will be neutral and inclusive of everyone who believes in our ideas and goals of a New UNAA under a New Leadership. UNAA's elected and appointed officers under my leadership will have to adhere to this principle of non-partisan. We will focus on bringing new ideas and advancing UNAA.

Our campaign Platform is very simple, realistic and achievable: Financial Independence, Empowerment of the UNAA Local Chapters, De-Politicization of UNAA, Immigration Advocacy, and Establishment of a UNAA Secretariat, Education, and Northern Uganda Conflict

The elections in this year's convention in San Francisco during the Labor Day weekend August 30th - Sept 3rd, 2007, will provide us with an opportunity to elect a new leadership that will lead our organization to new levels. A new Leadership with new ideas. A leadership that is not self-serving and one that builds on what has been achieved so far. A leadership that is transparent, relevant, practical, and courageous in face of today's challenges. A leadership that builds coalitions with other immigrant organizations with similar values. When we elect leaders for the next board we need to look at character, integrity, honesty, selfless service, personal courage and proven community service. Progressive African governments are increasingly recognizing the ambassadorial influence and economic contribution of the Diaspora. Together, we can utilize this recognition and effect change positively and innovatively.

My names are LT Frank Musisi (USAR), a native of Bumangi Ssese Islands, Kalangala district, Uganda. A resident of Los Angeles, California. Raised by a single mother, late Mauricia Najjuma at Bugoma village, Ssese Islands I have come to appreciate how that village shaping enabled me to survive so many challenges including the war in Iraq. I remember walking eight miles a day to go to school. I could never forget that day in 1985 while in senior two at Kako Secondary School in Masaka, when the NRA, National Resistance Army fighters seized Masaka and we were separated from the rest of the country. Using my connections to Ssese Islands I was able to help my fellow students escape from the captured territories.

It is through this hard work and good leadership that I was given a DIRECT COMMISSION by the PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES to become an OFFICER within the U.S. ARMY bypassing the normal requirement of the Officer Candidate School. I rose from being a simple SGT in the enlisted ranks to becoming an Officer in the U.S. Army. History was made again when I became the first African born U.S. soldier to receive a Direct Commission of the U.S. Army and have the ceremony done on the African Continent. In 2004 I was also admitted into the Association of the United States Army (AUSA), the largest non-profit military organization in the United States, as a life-time member.

I have been involved in the community activities ever since I landed in the United States, August, 1990. My community activism especially in California can be attributed to Mr. James Kabonge of Washington DC, my mentor. I can attribute my little success in America to the advice James Kabonge gave me on my first day in America. He encouraged me to be active in community affairs and service. I also recall a meeting in Pasadena, California when Mr. James Nagenda of Los Angeles volunteered my name to be on the local organization committee in 1992. I would also like to thank the Ugandan Community in Southern California for the support and encouragement they gave me during my leadership as the Co-founder and first President of UCOC, Ugandan Community Organization in California from 1998 to 2000.

I would like to thank the following community elders in Southern California for the great work they have done in the past and continue to do today. Elders like Revs. Sam and Joy Magala, Pastor Edmond Mugwanya, Walter Ocala, Rev. Stephen Mung'oma, Patrick Muwanga, Major Kasule, Magala Sebunnya, Geoffrey Sendi, Stephen Musembwa, Benon Mukasa, Isaac Sebakijje, Frank Mwanje, Kenneth Bunnya, Sam Kasozi, James Nagenda, Edward Kabateraine, Ocan Otim, Mzee Moses Kabukuru, Joseph Muyingo, James Ssemakula, Abdul Kiggundu, Kenneth Muyingo, former members; Maria and Anthony Rwamukunyu, Bonny Galabuzi and the current leadership of UCOC. These people and many others continue to serve the California community under our adapted slogan "Unity Through Understanding".

The success of our community work in southern California can also be attributed to the members of the former UCDA, Ugandan Committee for Democratic Action, an organization that was instrumental in lobbying for Ugandan interests in America in the 1970s, 80s and early 90s. Together with this group of volunteers in collaboration with Dennis Revell and his wife late Maureen Reagan, we were very instrumental in convincing the Uganda Government in setting up a single investment center which later developed into today's Uganda Investment Authority.

I also recall vividly a presentation by former members of UCDA gave to the Odoki Commission through the late Lt. Col. Serwanga-Lwanga for the adoption of Dual Citizenship. Today, we all rejoice and some of us claim to have initiated this idea five years ago, not knowing it had been advanced in 1993-94 and we need to thank UCDA members for being visionary. In 1992 under the umbrella of the former Association of the Ugandan Community in California we presented the idea of Honorary Consulates to Uganda Government to promote trade, investment and tourism to be set up one in the South, Midwest, Southwest and West Coast today, only one in Chicago is effected. We can also be proud that some of the players today in Ugandan private and public sector emerged from our community in Southern California; former members like Mr. Peter Sematimba, Dr. William Kalema of the Uganda Manufacturer Association and many others.

I am very proud to have been a player and leader in promoting and advancing UNAA interests within North America. Therefore, I bring leadership, civility, selfless service, community mobilization, coalition building, personal courage and vision to UNAA.

Salongo Fred Kaddu and your team I commend you all for the great job you are doing putting together the most demanding program in UNAA history. Keep up the good job and we are all behind you. Do not forget to support and vote for Frank Musisi for UNAA President 2007-2009.

Like Dr. Martin Luther King said, "I have a dream." A dream that one day, our UNAA will become the best and most powerful Community based Non-Profit Organization to be reckoned with in North America.

Ladies and Gentlemen, the above volunteer community service should give you a sense of who I am and any references you may seek. I, therefore, ask you for the support that will allow me to continue my contributions to the community at large by electing me to the position of President of UNAA 2007-2009.

Frank Musisi
Your Next UNAA-President 2007-2009