In the small, sunlit home in Masaka, Uganda, Herman Mukasa’s mother called him Eriman, her voice warm yet firm. She shared a Luganda proverb that would echo through his life: “akugoba yakuwa ekubo.” It meant that a pursuer’s shouts could reveal an escape route. If they called for others to grab you, you’d slip away, choosing a path they’d never expect, like north, south, anywhere else. Those words, spoken amid the simplicity of their Masaka life, became Herman’s guiding star. They taught him to listen closely, move quickly, and shape his future, no matter who stood in his way. It is a tale of determination, with roots in the royal family of Uganda, experience of political turmoil, and an American life he made in the United States.
A Boy in Masaka’s Embrace
Herman grew up in Masaka, a town alive with the hum of markets and the chatter of neighbours, where his family was linked to the Buganda Kingdom’s royal line. This heritage brought no riches or grand halls; their life was humble, woven with effort and love. Evenings around a flickering lamp, his parents shared tales of the kingdom’s past like stories of courage, pride, and survival. Those narratives stirred young Herman, planting a seed of ambition. As a boy, he dreamed of honouring his family, of carrying their legacy forward with strength and dignity.
Uganda was put under a dark shadow of the 1970s and 1980s. The reign of Idi Amin turned into havoc and closing schools, emptying markets, and scaring people. The scenes that Herman witnessed were of his neighbours losing homes, livelihoods, and most importantly, hope, barely old enough to comprehend. But he also could perceive their passive rebellion, their determination to rise out of the ashes. A woman who had sold bananas would redevelop her shop after the soldiers had moved on, and a carpenter would recover his tools to rebuild. These outlooks of struggle and determination developed the young years of Herman, and he learned that hard Ice could outrun even the long nights.
A Journey to a New World
The dangers in Uganda grew too great, forcing Herman to leave the country. Staying meant risking everything, so he sought a safer life elsewhere. At a young age, Herman left his homeland, clutching only his parents’ lessons and a hunger to make something of himself. Stepping into the United States was like walking into a whirlwind, cities buzzing with lights, voices, and endless possibilities. He settled in a quiet, working-class neighbourhood, far from Buganda’s royal whispers. Here, Herman was just a young man with a thick accent, his story invisible to those around him.
Adjusting to America tested him. As a Black young man from Africa, he faced assumptions that he was less capable, less worthy of success. Strangers’ glances and quick judgments stung, but they didn’t break him. Instead, they lit a fire inside, pushing him to prove he could thrive. Learning the rhythm of a new culture was like learning a new language. Yet, Herman faced each challenge with a quiet strength, determined to carve his place in this unfamiliar land.
Turning Doubt into Purpose
Herman held his mother’s proverb close: “akugoba yakuwa ekubo.” When others doubted him, he didn’t retreat; he chose a new direction, chasing bigger dreams. Comments about his background or simple clothes didn’t dim his spirit. They fuelled his drive. He wasn’t out to prove others wrong but to show that where you begin doesn’t limit where you can go.
High school was his first proving ground. Some teachers skipped over him, assuming he couldn’t keep up. Herman refused to let their words and assumptions define him. He stayed up late, poring over textbooks under a dim bulb, fighting exhaustion to grasp his lessons. Scholarships came, not from natural genius but from relentless effort. Each one was a small victory, a sign that he belonged, a refusal to let others’ doubts shape his path.
High school wasn’t just about academics; it was about navigating world. The American education system, with its different rules and expectations, felt foreign. Cultural differences added another layer of challenge. Yet, Herman thought of Masaka, where people rebuilt after loss. He channelled that same grit, keeping his eyes on his goals, refusing to be pushed aside. His determination to rise above doubt became a defining trait.
Building a Future in College
College was not only a place to learn, but also a place to develop. Herman absorbed lessons, and developed strategies to find professors and classmates who were ambitious like him. He established a network, knowing that working together was one of the keys to success. At graduation he was not only carrying a diploma. He had a dream of his future and a flame to continue moving on.
Chasing Financial Freedom
Herman turned to investing to break free from others’ expectations. He didn’t chase money for its own sake; he wanted the freedom to shape his own life. He started small, opening a trading account, buying a few stocks. Nights were spent reading about markets, studying real estate, and listening to those who knew more. He worked with tax advisors and lawyers, not from doubt but from a clear-eyed understanding that success needed strategy.
People warned him to play it safe, saying investing wasn’t for someone like him. Their words echoed his mother’s proverb about pursuers’ shouts. Herman ignored them, buying a second house and turning a house he previously occupied into a rental. With contractors and experts, he fixed it up, before turning it into a rental property. That first win sparked more properties, stocks, and small businesses. Each deal built toward a stronger future.
Mistakes happened. He misjudged deals, took loans that strained him. Those errors hurt, but they sharpened his judgment. He learned to blend instinct with expertise, to take risks that made sense, to keep his goals in sight. His portfolio grew, each success a quiet answer to those who thought he’d falter.
Facing Bias with Results
As a Black immigrant, Herman often met what he called “saviorism”, the assumption that he needed others’ guidance to succeed. Some questioned his plans, predicted failure, or saw his background as a flaw. He wasn’t reckless; he was focused. Many immigrants and minorities knew this struggle, their achievements brushed off as luck or charity. Herman let his work answer them. A major deal closed, a business grew, and these spoke louder than the doubters.
Proving himself was tiring, but Herman kept his focus. He looked to the next goal, buying a property, starting a venture, each step challenging what others thought possible. His ability to rise above bias, to let results speak, became his greatest strength.
A Story of Endurance
Herman Mukasa’s path from Masaka to America is a story of endurance. His mother’s wisdom carried him through Uganda’s turmoil, cultural shifts, and societal biases. Each obstacle, political chaos, stereotypes, investment risks became a chance to learn, pivot, and grow. His journey mirrors the struggles of many striving to overcome barriers for a better life.
From Buganda’s royal roots to his American achievements, Herman’s story captures his mother’s advice: listen, shift, keep going. His success in business and investing shows that hard work and strategy can break through any barrier. Herman builds on, not just for himself but for others, proving that your beginning doesn’t set your end.
