Michael Ezra

Milestones

  • 09/10/2011: UShs 900 Million Despite not Qualifying!

    In an act of genuine philanthropy, Michael Ezra Mulyoowa said he will award the Uganda Cranes with half of the $ 650,000 despite them not qualifying for the Africa Cup Of Nations(AFCON)."I am a sportsman. So, i am well aware that there can be a win, draw or loss. I will therefore fulfill my pledge by the end of November so that the team can have christmas with their money," he declared shortly after the draw with Kenya's Harambee Stars.

    He said the squad comprises of old men and it would be a young squad to take Uganda to the AFCON and ultimately the World Cup."They have done their bit. That is why i am rewarding them," he said of the now old squad.

    Each of the 18 players stands to receive US$15,000 (UShs42.9m). The Cranes coach would pocket US$30,000 (UShs85.8m) with his assistant and goalkeeping coach receiving US$12,500 (UShs28.5m) each.

  • 05/10/2010: UShs 1.6 bn if Cranes Qualify!

    Enigmatic tycoon Michael Ezra Mulyoowa dropped another bombshell by offering Uganda Cranes $650,000 (Shs1.5b) should the team break a 34-year jinx of not qualifying for the Africa Cup of Nations, reported the Daily Monitor. That figure could rise to $700,000 (Shs1.6b) if Uganda win in Kenya at the weekend.

    Should the Cranes reach the 2012 tournament to be hosted in Equatorial Guinea and Gabon, the team will considerably receive the biggest prize in the history of Ugandan sport. Each of the 18 players stands to receive US$30,000 (UShs68m). The Cranes coach would pocket US$60,000 (UShs136m) with his assistant and goalkeeping coach receiving US$25,000 (UShs57m) apiece.
    An extra US$50,000 (UShs114m) will be won by the whole team if Cranes can win on Saturday, 9th October, 2010.

  • 21/12/2007: The Most Expensive Movie DVD in Uganda.

    Furthermore, in promoting Ugandan local talent, on the 21st december 2007, Michael Ezra Mulyoowa bought a DVD "down this road  i walk" a movie by Mariam Ndagire at the cost of US$ 5000. Michael Ezra bought it in absentia at its premier at theatre Labonita in Kampala, Uganda. This became the most expensive Movie DVD in Uganda ever and set pace for the future of
    the local movie industry in Uganda.
    All this is in line with promoting ugandan talent.

  • 25/09/2007:The Uganda VS Niger Match

    On the early morning of Tuesday 25th September 2007 at an exclusive press conference, the Uganda Cranes received a total of US $ 100,000 as earlier promised for their sterling performance against Niger (Cranes 3 - Niger 1).

    Michael Ezra Mulyoowa had promised the Cranes US $ 100,000 should they have qualified for the Nations Cup in Ghana 2008. Although their qualification hung in the balance, Michael Ezra felt it a fitting gesture to nonetheless reward the Ugandan heroes for their outstanding display in that match and the qualifiers in general.

    Coach Laszlo Csaba got a US $ 15,000 handshake while each player bagged US $ 5,000 and both Assistant Coaches each walked away US $ 2,500 richer. For those players that could not make it for the ceremony for various reasons like David Obua, Ibrahim Sekagya and Geoffrey Massa, their monies were promptly wired to their accounts.

  • 19/11/2006:The Emirates world record onboard auction ever

    Michael Ezra Mulyoowa won the Emirates onboard auction of the exclusive Montblanc chronograph centennial watch to raise money for the Emirates foundation that helps disadvantaged children around the world.

    A minimum bid level of $65,000 was set for the 18-carat solid white gold timepiece, which features a bezel set with black and white diamonds and a 43-faceted diamond on the crown. Michael Ezra's final bid of $250,000 delivered much more than the organisers had expected with the Chairman and CEO of Emirates, HH Sheik Ahmed bin Saeed Al-Maktoum, describing it as probably the biggest transaction ever made in the history of the travel retail industry. He added that all of the proceeds from the auction were to be handed over to the charity foundation immediately.

    This watch was a "one-off" production, meaning there has never been and never will be another like it, making it a world record in the duty free industry's 60 year history .

  • 01/11/2006:Touch Down on 104.1 Power FM.

    In trying to promote interactive debates on sports in the electronic media, Michael Ezra Mulyoowa decided to sponsor a sports talk show on Power FM, a Ugandan radio station. In doing so, Michael Ezra created a forum where sports men/women/lovers can get information on anything in the world of sports, ask questions and be sure to get answers from none other than Ugandan duo, Joseph Kabuleta and Mark Ssali.

    Michael Ezra ceased to be the sponsor six months after its debut when the show became an instant hit.

  • 03/10/2006: Bail out for the national football team

    Cometh the hour, cometh the man' quoted one Ugandan newspaper.Soccer governing body Federation of Uganda Football Associations (FUFA) and National Council of Sports (NCS) had failed to raise funds to transport the national team to Niger!Michael Ezra promptly saved the day with a Shs.60 million unconditional package which secured air tickets for all the players plus several officials.

    Not honouring the Niger fixture would have, among other things, cost Uganda a punitive fine for not showing up and prematurely end Uganda's campaign for the cup.

  • 06/06/2006: US$ 30m offer to the Ugandan government

    Michael Ezra Mulyoowa is still waiting for an official response to his offer for the Mandela National Stadium at Namboole in Kampala, Uganda.In mid-2004 Michael Ezra made the Government of Uganda a US$ 30 million dollar offer (in writing) to purchase the national stadium and to profitably manage it. As usual the media machinery did not suprise Michael Ezra by fanning intrigue and conspiracy theories about his offer.

    To this day Michael Ezra is patiently waiting to get an official response from the Ugandan government concerning his offer. Sadly this supposed national icon of pride is steadily spiralling into the abyss of most government-run institutions. Michael Ezra prays it will not be too late when some decision maker finally wakes up.


  • 13/08/2004: The Most Expensive Music CD in Uganda.

    Because Michael Ezra Mulyoowa also appreciates the effort local artists from Uganda put into getting their music heard, he chose to exemplify his sentiments by purchasing a CD of the Fa ku mudaala gwo album at US$ 10,000, the highest amount hitherto paid at a musical album launch in Uganda!. This changed music album launches in Uganda forever.

  • 21/04/2004: Shs 1 billion sole sponsorship

    Michael Ezra Mulyoowa gave one billion shillings for sponsorship of Uganda Sports Press Association activities for 2004 and 2005. Michael Ezra was encouraged by the way the association had made use of his earlier committment (of a blank cheque) and based on their experience the previous year, he felt a billion shillings would suffice but was ready to spend more if necessary. Of course the [media] circus once again came to town but the fact is that his donation was a fraction of his potential, if there was satisfactory progress, of revolutionising sports. Michael Ezra discouraged any form of co-sponsorship because he felt there wasn't a need for any, financially speaking. Besides, it saved him the bother of compromising on minimum standards.

    Michael Ezra gave Uganda Sports Press Association notice of his cessation of sponsorship at the end of 2005, advising them to seek corporate sponsorship instead since he had elevated their status to being attractive for those with a product or service to sell.

  • 23/03/2004: Olympic gold and silver from the Ugandan boxers.

    A three bed-roomed house, a brand new Toyota Corolla and US$ 30,000 was Michael Ezra Mulyoowa's bonus offer for any Olympic Boxing Gold medal; US$ 20,000 for Silver but nothing for Bronze.

    Michael Ezra offered the Uganda national coach, Dick Katende, a three bed-roomed house, a brand new Toyota Corolla and US$ 50,000 should any of his pugilists bring home any hardware.

    Six weeks to the Olympics the boxers dropped out of the training camp. Predictably none of them got any medals and therefore got none of the prizes Michael Ezra had staked.

    Michael Ezra tries not to let the poor judgement shown by a few, prejudice his faith in the talent out there. At an appropriate time Michael Ezra promises to intervene, hopefully he will have a more mature bunch the next time around.

  • 01/02/2004: Highest bid (GB£ 60 million) for Leeds United.

    Michael Ezra Mulyoowa proposed a 60 million pounds (approximately Shs. 208 billion) bid for struggling English Premiership side, Leeds United, causing panic and raising eyebrows in certain English circles. The club was struggling with debts and threatened with relegation from the Premiership's top division.

    The club's shares on the stock market jumped a reported 14% on news of Michael Ezra's offer but for reasons best known to their management, his bid which was the highest, did not secure him ownership.

    Michael Ezra has no regrets and has since lost interest in that particular investment opportunity. Michael shall instead bring his charity closer to home despite the relatively miniature size of the economies here in Africa.

  • 14/11/2003: Blank cheque sponsorship

    In a hitherto unequaled sign of committment and faith in the Uganda Sports Press Association (USPA), Michael Ezra Mulyoowa sponsored the 2003 Sportsman Of The Year gala with a blank cheque! he refused to co-sponsor the  event with any of the
    willing and eager corporate organisations because it simply was, and is, not his style.

    Michael Ezra wanted the USPA fraternity to organise the most lavish event yet, by removing any financial obstacles. He also wanted to show his appreciation for their selfless efforts of promoting sports in Uganda.

    They did not dissapoint him, which is why thereafter he gave  them a Shs 1 billion sponsorship package to cater for their operations for the next 2 years (2004/2005)

  • 19/07/2003: The Most Expensive Portrait of a Monarch In Uganda

    In an effort to raise money for the Tooro kingdom of Uganda for its various development programmes, the Kingdom decided to organize a fundraising at the Nile hotel gardens (now Serena hotel). The president of Uganda H.E Yoweri.K.Museveni was the chief fundraiser and guest. The main item for auction that night, was a portrait of the King of Tooro which was bought at UG shillings 10 million - making it the most expensive monarch portrait ever auctioned in Uganda.

    Michael Ezra Mulyoowa bought the portrait as his humble contribution to the Kingdoms development programme.

  • 2003 - 2007: NewVision Man-of-the-Year

    The verdict was out and, according to the NewVision poll, Michael Ezra Mulyoowa was the winnner for 2006. He was runner-up in 2003-2005 and again in 2007! consistently coming second to the president of the republic of Uganda, H E Yoweri K. Museveni. From Michael Ezra's personal point of view it showed him that there was an appreciation of his efforts.

    To all the involved parties: Michael Ezra salutes you and thanks you for taking notice.