By Spy Uganda
Azhar Bandali Jaffer, the Managing Director of Fairway Hotel last week hosted his Aunt, Ugandan-born senior Canadian Senator, Mobina Jaffer Sherali Bandali at a family get-together dinner to welcome her back to Uganda.
At the above event, Jaffer introduced some of his friends to his Aunt and among these included Pan African Pyramid (PAP) speaker who also doubles as CEO TheSpy Uganda, Andrew Irumba Katusabe who has had an opportunity to host PAP debates at this luxurious hotel for over a decade now, courtesy of Azhar’s father the late Aneeze Jaffer Sherali Bandali’s pan African golden heart.
Now, from the get-together party, Irumba secured an opportunity to share an exclusive moment with Senator Mobina that saw the two share a wide range of issues concerning Pan-Africanism and Ubuntu remembering how Mobina’s father Sherali Bandali sheltered dozens of Ugandans in Canada in 1971 after expelled him and other Asians from Uganda.
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”To date, I still can’t believe how loving your father was, he had a golden heart. Amin expels you from Uganda, and you reach Canada as refugees, but you still get mercy for Ugandans there, you feed them and shelter them? It’s unbelievable and for your information Senator, this is the reason why we awarded your father in 2022,” Irumba told Senator Mobina something that seemingly warmed her heart as she was seen politely smiling (she was surprised that some Ugandans knew about his humanitarian works from way-back).
Mobina noted that Uganda’s former President Idi Amin Dada was very unpredictable leader, who was capable of doing anything, anytime. This kept every one o tenterhooks, and this was to every one, not Asians per se, but every body, she adds. “Do you know many people would go missing like goats? I remember, very vividly, fishermen would find fingers of human beings inside the fish whenever they went fishing, especially in Lake Victoria, meaning these were feeding on the flesh of human beings thrown in the lake,” she noted.
Asked about how her family was expelled from Uganda, she revealed that it was such a panicky and horrific moment that should never have happened.
”It was a tough moment because we grew up knowing that Uganda was our home, therefore telling us to go was so shocking and confusing, going where?. My family and that of my husband were all permanently here in Uganda. My husband was born in Fort Portal in western Uganda and I was born here in Kampala, all puir parents were here, all their businesses were here, here’s some saying ‘go to your country’, where?” said wondered.
Fairway Turns Into A World-Class Hotel; Thanks To Azhar’s Creativity
Mobina said the expulsion came 1yr after her wedding which was held at Fairway Hotel, and this was the very first wedding at this swanky hotel whose story began from a humble family home in Nakasero that belonged to the Jaffer family since 1927. Little did they know that in 1969 a knock from the Vatican would convert their Home into a modest Hotel to host the Pope’s delegation for his First ever visit to Uganda.
Mobina said following their father’s death, her brother Aneeze Jaffer (Azhar Jaffer’s father) took over, and now it’s the grandson, Azhar (3rd generation), the current MD who has taken the entire family by surprise with the creativity and standard he has elevated the hotel to, turning it into a classic Hotel guests love to turn into a home away from home./
”This hotel was officially launched in February 1971 by His Highness the Aga Khan with 50 operational rooms. If you move around, you will realize that it now has hundreds of rooms, but also today’s artistic impression is on an international level, my niece Azhar is hardworking and very innovative, as a family we are super proud of him,” added Mobina.
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More About Senator Mobina
Born in Kampala, Uganda on August 20, 1949 (74yrs ago), Senator Mobina represents the province of British Columbia in the Senate of Canada. Appointed to the Senate on June 13, 2001, by Prime Minister Jean Chretien, she is the first Muslim senator, the first African-born senator, and the first senator of South Asian descent.
After spending almost a decade with the Standing Senate Committee on Human Rights, Senator Mobina had the opportunity to chair a number of studies including one on the sexual exploitation of children in Canada and the need for national action. A champion of Canada’s linguistic bilingualism, she advocates measures to advance the use of English and French in communities across Canada. As public safety has assumed a significant place in national debate and policy, Senator Mobina raised awareness on the abuse of profiling in counter terrorism measures and the fundamental imperative to respect privacy, Human Rights, and the rule of law. Communities are at the heart of any successful policy initiative and progress; Senator Mobina works to engage communities in protecting Human Rights, celebrating Canada’s diversity, and promoting progress.
Senator Mobina served as Canada’s Special Envoy for Peace in Sudan from 2002 to 2006. From 2002 to 2005, she chaired the Canadian Committee on Women, Peace, and Security. Mobina is often invited to speak at International conferences on security issues and the United Nations Security Council Resolution 1325, which “urges all actors to increase the participation of women and incorporate gender perspectives in all United Nations peace and security efforts” and “calls on all parties to conflict to take special measures to protect women and girls from gender-based violence, particularly rape and other forms of sexual abuse, in situations of armed conflict.” As a grandmother, women’s rights and children’s rights are central to Senator Mobina’s advocacy.
An accomplished lawyer, Senator Mobina has practiced law at the firm Dohm, Jaffer and Jeraj since 1978. Appointed a Queen’s Counsel in 1998, Mobina was the first Ugandan-South Asian woman to practice law in Canada and she has a distinguished record of service to the legal profession.
The Women’s Executive Network named her among Canada’s Top 100 Most Powerful Women in 2003 and 2004. In 2003, she received an Honorary Doctorate from Open Learning University.
Senator Mobina earned a Bachelor of Laws from London University in London, England in 1972. She has also completed the Executive Development program at Simon Fraser University in British Columbia. She’s linguistic by nature, who speaks six languages with ease. Mobina is married with two adult children and two grandchildren.
