Building Bridges Across Borders: CEMBA Alumni Support the Launch of the Ugandans Association in Poland
Representatives of the CEMBA Alumni Association took part in the formal launch of the Ugandans Association in Poland — a meeting bringing together diplomacy, business, community and executive education.
Meaningful international cooperation often begins with a simple conversation — and with the willingness to listen, connect people and explore opportunities beyond existing professional and cultural boundaries.
Representatives of the CEMBA Alumni Association recently took part in a meeting marking an important milestone for the Ugandan community in Poland: the formal launch and registration of the Ugandans Association in Poland (UAP).
The meeting brought together representatives of the diplomatic, business, community and executive education environments:
- H.E. Mr. Diamane Diome, Ambassador of Senegal to Poland
- Samantha Olivia Bantu, Founder and President of the Ugandans Association in Poland
- Julius Zellah, representing the Light for Africa Foundation and the Uganda One Stop Trade Center
- Wojciech Palacz, Member of the Board of the CEMBA Alumni Association
- Paweł Lubowicz, CEMBA alumnus
The discussion focused on the development of the Ugandan professional community in Poland, opportunities for business cooperation between Africa and Europe, executive education, mentoring and the role of trusted international networks.
The launch of the Ugandans Association in Poland
The official registration of the Ugandans Association in Poland represents an important step in building a more visible, integrated and professionally connected Ugandan community in the country.
Founded and led by Samantha Olivia Bantu, the association aims to support Ugandans living, studying and working in Poland while also creating a representative platform for the community.
Its planned areas of activity include community integration, assistance with practical matters related to education, visas and legal procedures, and representing the interests of Ugandans in their relations with relevant institutions and diplomatic representatives.
At the same time, UAP intends to increase the visibility of Ugandan professionals, entrepreneurs and students in Poland and create stronger links between the Ugandan community and Polish business, academic and social institutions.
The CEMBA Alumni Association congratulates Samantha Olivia Bantu and the wider UAP community on this important milestone. Establishing a formal organisation requires determination, long-term commitment and a clear vision of the value it can create for its members.
Two complementary platforms
An important part of the discussion was the distinction between the community-focused role of UAP and the commercial objectives of the Uganda One Stop Trade Center in Warsaw.
While the Ugandans Association in Poland concentrates on integration, representation and support for the community, the Uganda One Stop Trade Center operates as a business-oriented platform dedicated to trade and investment relations.
Julius Zellah presented the centre's role in connecting Ugandan producers, entrepreneurs and institutions with potential partners in Poland and Europe. Its areas of activity include supporting the export of Ugandan products, such as coffee, cocoa and avocados, as well as identifying investors and commercial partners interested in opportunities in Uganda.
The presence of both organisations creates the potential for a complementary ecosystem: one platform supporting people and community development, and another concentrating on business, investment and international trade.
This combination can help transform social connections into professional relationships and, over time, into tangible economic cooperation.
The role of the CEMBA Alumni network
Representing the CEMBA Alumni Association, Wojciech Palacz and Paweł Lubowicz shared perspectives on how an established executive alumni network could support the development of UAP and its members.
The proposed areas of cooperation included professional networking, mentoring, access to selected business and educational events, and introducing Ugandan professionals to experienced managers, entrepreneurs and executives operating in Poland.
The Canadian Executive MBA programme at SGH, delivered in cooperation with the Université du Québec à Montréal, brings together experienced leaders from different industries and professional backgrounds. Its alumni network therefore represents not only a community of graduates, but also a valuable platform for knowledge exchange, mentoring and cross-sector collaboration.
For international professionals entering the Polish market, access to such networks can be particularly valuable. It can help them better understand the local business environment, build professional credibility and establish relationships that would otherwise take years to develop.
The meeting demonstrated how executive alumni communities can contribute beyond their immediate academic environment. By opening their networks to international communities and emerging organisations, they can support integration, entrepreneurship and the circulation of knowledge across borders.
Diplomacy, business and community development
The participation of H.E. Mr. Diamane Diome, Ambassador of Senegal to Poland, brought an important diplomatic perspective to the conversation.
His contribution highlighted the wider significance of initiatives connecting African communities with Polish institutions, business leaders and educational organisations. Cooperation between Africa and Europe is not built solely through major governmental agreements. It also develops through trusted relationships between entrepreneurs, professionals, universities, diaspora organisations and local communities.
Diplomatic engagement can provide visibility and institutional context, while community and business organisations translate these relationships into practical initiatives.
The meeting showed the value of bringing these different perspectives together around one table.
From conversation to cooperation
The launch of UAP should be seen not as the conclusion of an organisational process, but as the beginning of a broader journey.
Potential areas for future cooperation include mentoring initiatives, business networking events, educational meetings, support for entrepreneurship and connections between CEMBA alumni, Ugandan professionals and companies interested in African markets.
The objective is to create practical opportunities for people to meet, exchange knowledge and develop relationships based on trust.
The CEMBA Alumni Association would like to thank H.E. Mr. Diamane Diome for sharing his valuable diplomatic and international perspective, Julius Zellah for presenting the activities of the Uganda One Stop Trade Center and his commitment to strengthening relations between Africa and Europe, and Samantha Olivia Bantu for her leadership and determination in establishing the Ugandans Association in Poland.
We also thank Paweł Lubowicz for his engagement and contribution to the discussion.
There is considerable potential at the intersection of diplomacy, entrepreneurship, international communities and executive alumni networks. By connecting these environments, we can create stronger foundations for cooperation — one conversation, one relationship and one initiative at a time.