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Ron Kawamara was born in Fort Portal, Uganda, as one of nine children. He attended Buhinga Primary School and later joined Ntare School, where he completed his O’Level education. In his teens, Kawamara moved to the United States and studied at Los Angeles Valley College, where he graduated as valedictorian. He then enrolled at the University of California, Berkeley, earning a bachelor's degree in political science and development economics. Kawamara further pursued a Master of Science degree in African Development Studies at the University of Oxford and completed a postgraduate program in Development Economics from the University of Cambridge.^[1]

Kawamara’s professional journey spans e-commerce, tech, and hospitality. His career began in the San Francisco Bay Area, where he worked as a Business Development Manager at People Connect and later as a Strategy Manager at FedEx. In 2014, he returned to Uganda and co-founded Hello Food, which later became Jumia Food.^[2] As the pioneer of e-commerce in Uganda, Kawamara played a vital role in building online food delivery services, educating vendors, and developing logistics to support the platform’s growth. His leadership saw Jumia Food become one of the top e-commerce platforms in East Africa.^[1]

Between 2016 and 2022, Kawamara served as Senior Vice President at Jumia Group and CEO for Jumia Uganda, expanding the company’s operations across East Africa.^[3] Under his leadership, Uganda became one of the most vibrant e-commerce markets in Africa. Kawamara also contributed to Jumia’s listing on the New York Stock Exchange, the first for an African tech company. In 2023, Kawamara transitioned from Jumia to focus on his company, Hugamara Group, a private equity firm specializing in hospitality and fintech. He continues to serve as the chairman of Uganda’s e-trade and Startup Association.^[4]

As CEO of Jumia Uganda, Ron Kawamara led key initiatives, including a partnership with Liberty Insurance in 2019 to offer customers a one-year insurance on products purchased through Jumia, covering theft and damage. During Jumia's Mobile Week, he unveiled a report highlighting Uganda's growing mobile penetration and smartphone adoption, positioning Jumia as a leader in offering affordable smartphones with up to 60% discounts.^[5] Under his leadership, mobile phones became the most popular and revenue-generating items on the platform, further driving the growth of e-commerce in Uganda.^[6]

Under Ron Kawamara’s leadership, Jumia Uganda marked a decade of growth, expanding to sell six million products and deliver across the country. Kawamara credited consumer trust, strong partnerships, and continuous innovation for the company's success. Jumia has maintained its position as a leader in e-commerce, supported by a wide distribution network and dominance in food delivery through Jumia Food, which partners with over 450 restaurants.^[7]

Hugamara is a long-term holding company dedicated to founding, acquiring, and creating beautiful businesses and stewarding them with exceptional, values-driven leadership. Hugamara owns and operates a portfolio of 18 hospitality, microfinance, security, and logistics companies run by extraordinary leaders in Uganda, Kenya, DRC, the United Arab Emirates, and the USA.

Kawamara is credited as a key figure in the development of Uganda's e-commerce ecosystem. His work at Jumia laid the groundwork for the growth of online retail and delivery services.^[8] He advocated for technological solutions to local challenges, including last mile logistics, payment systems, and supply chain management.^[9] Kawamara has also been a vocal supporter of consumer protection, trust-building in e-commerce, and reducing barriers for entrepreneurs.^[10][11]

Kawamara is a strong advocate for tech innovation in Uganda. He has engaged with the government on issues such as internet taxation, import tariffs, and the need for regulatory frameworks that support the growth of e-commerce and tech startups.^[9] Through his leadership roles, he has promoted the importance of entrepreneurship in solving critical challenges in Uganda’s education, health, and transport sectors.^[1]

Ron Kawamara is married and has a daughter. In his personal time, he enjoys reading about politics and economics, spending time with family, and supporting tech and entrepreneurial communities across Africa.^[12][13][14]

Throughout his career, Ron Kawamara has been recognized for his leadership in the tech sector and his contributions to e-commerce. Under his guidance, Jumia Food and its parent company received multiple awards for innovation and service delivery. Kawamara was also instrumental in securing partnerships with organizations like the UNDP during the COVID 19 pandemic to assist market traders in adopting e-commerce platforms.^[1]