CHUMA BLOG
![East African Business Leaders celebrated in Kigali unnamed]()

The winners of the East African round of the 2016 All Africa Business Leaders Awards in Partnership with CNBC Africa (AABLA) were announced at theKigali Convention Centre (KCC) during an elegant ceremony in Kigali, Rwanda on 8 September.
CNBC Africa will broadcast an AABLA East Africa highlights special on the network on15 September at 7pm CAT, DStv Channel 410 or streamed live on YouTube and CNBCAfrica.com.
The East African winners will go on to compete against the boldest business leaders from around the continent in the Grand Finale to be held later this year for the coveted title of Africa’s most respected pioneer in their chosen field.
Identifying game-changing business leaders in a variety of categories, the 2016 All Africa Business Leaders Awards in Partnership with CNBC Africa recognise the diversity of the African business landscape, and the Kigali leg celebrated those who have forged and helped shape the East African business world.
CNBC Africa will broadcast an AABLA East Africa highlights special on the network on15 September at 7pm CAT, DStv Channel 410 or streamed live on YouTube and CNBCAfrica.com.
The East African winners will go on to compete against the boldest business leaders from around the continent in the Grand Finale to be held later this year for the coveted title of Africa’s most respected pioneer in their chosen field.
Identifying game-changing business leaders in a variety of categories, the 2016 All Africa Business Leaders Awards in Partnership with CNBC Africa recognise the diversity of the African business landscape, and the Kigali leg celebrated those who have forged and helped shape the East African business world.
The event saw close to 200 guests fill the main auditorium of the KCC to recognise and celebrate business excellence in the region. Guest of honour, Rwandan Finance Minister Claver Gatete, gave the keynote address in the presence of His Royal Highness (HRH) Kgosi Nyalala Pilane of Bakgatla Ba Kgafela, Ambassadors and captain’s of industry.
The 2016 AABLA East Africa winners:
-Young Business Leader of the Year – East Africa presented by Lancaster University Ghana and Transnational Education Africa
Darshan Chandaria, Director and Group CEO of Chandaria Group
-Entrepreneur of the Year – East Africa presented by the GGDA
Ashok Shah, CEO of APA Insurance
-Business Women of the Year – East Africa
Bethlehem Tilahun Alemu, Founder of soleRebels
-Innovator of the Year – East Africa
Danson Muchemi, Founder of Web Tribe
-Company of the Year – East Africa
Bank of Kigali
-Business Leader of the Year – East Africa presented by Bosch
Egide Gatera, Founder of SP Group
-Industrialist of the Year – East Africa presented by the IDC
Claver Mugabo, Founder of Trust Industries
-Philanthropist of the Year – East Africa
Damaris Too-Kimondo, Director of Shrand Promotions
-Lifetime Achievement Award – East Africa
Jacques Rusirare, Founder of Ameki Group
The AABLA, now in their sixth year, recognise Africa’s bold leaders of business in East, West and Southern Africa and once again are partnered by Bakgatla Ba Kgafela to bring Africa’s leading business award to the continent. The AABLA will move on to Johannesburg onSeptember 29 before finishing the regional rounds in Lagos on October 20. The Grand Finale will crown an All Africa winner in Johannesburg on November 11 and promises to be the business event of the year.
For more information, go to www.aablawards.com and follow the 2016 All Africa Business Leaders Awards (AABLA) in Partnership with CNBC Africa on Twitter: @aablawards and #AABLA2016
The AABLA East Africa are supported by Bakgatla Ba Kgafela, Lancaster University Ghana and Transnational Education Africa, Bosch, IDC, the GGDA, RDB, Rwanda Events, Jaguar Land Rover, University of Rwanda, Radisson Blu Kigali, Independent Newspapers and Forbes Africa.
For more information, go to www.aablawards.com and follow the 2016 All Africa Business Leaders Awards (AABLA) in Partnership with CNBC Africa on Twitter: @aablawards and #AABLA2016
The AABLA East Africa are supported by Bakgatla Ba Kgafela, Lancaster University Ghana and Transnational Education Africa, Bosch, IDC, the GGDA, RDB, Rwanda Events, Jaguar Land Rover, University of Rwanda, Radisson Blu Kigali, Independent Newspapers and Forbes Africa.
The event is proudly produced by ABN Event Productions.