Jalia Walda, a Ugandan-born but USA-based entrepreneur, has made a fortune selling skin and beauty products in America. Despite her success, she has chosen not to invest in her home country, Uganda.
In an exclusive interview with Allan Cruz, Jalia detailed her reasons for this decision, narrating her investment history and the challenges she faced in Uganda.
Jalia Walda and her husband have built a successful business empire in the USA. All their investments and properties are based in America, which Jalia considers her home.
She says that her focus remains on expanding their business in the USA. According to Jalia, “I call America home — it’s where my investments are, and I know this revelation might annoy a few Ugandans who might say I’m showing off, but it’s the truth. I left Uganda and became a permanent resident in the USA.”
While Jalia herself hasn’t invested in Uganda, her family members have. Her younger brother, Atta, has ventured into real estate and Airbnb in Uganda.
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Jalia Walda clarified that her investments in Uganda were solely for her mother. She purchased land, ensured all due diligence was done, and constructed a house for her mother. However, her experience with the Ugandan investment environment was far from positive.
One of the main reasons Jalia refrains from investing in Uganda is the lack of safety and reliability. She narrated an incident where, after purchasing land and acquiring the necessary titles, someone claimed ownership of the land.
This person alleged that Jalia had built on the wrong plot, forcing her to pay twice the purchase price, amounting to at least Shs200 million.
She also mentioned that her mother lost her initial properties due to a flawed justice system in Uganda.
Jalia Walda’s preference for investing in the USA is based on the stability and transparency of the American system. She believes that the US offers a more secure and reliable environment for business growth and investment.
