Monday 26 July 2021

Business: Start small and learn

 One of my friends wanted to open a Spare parts shop. He did the unconventional. Woke up one day, took a month off his normal work and went on internship in Kisekka market.


For a month, he woke up every morning, and humbled himself at Kisekka market. He became a student. He learned the luganda names for most of these automotive parts. He learned about the fast moving and slow moving stocks. He learned to tell apart genuine and fake spares. 


After this internship/apprenticeship at Kisekka, he was now ready to open his Spares Parts shop. Of course learning continues but he was not the kind that wake up and simply throw money at a business idea.


Unfortunately most corporate people think that’s not how business works. A friend calls it; “doing business with a finger.” Many woke up one day, bought some chunks of land and then decided they were ready for agriculture. Every weekend, they they would be seen heading off to their farms. They pumped in money like crazy. Then they decided, it was also time to trust a farm manager. All they had to do now was get weekly updates about the farm and send money to solve any emerging issues. Fast forward, many abandoned the farms and are cursing agriculture. 


Your entire life you’ve never reared even one chicken, now you think because you have some money, you are ready to invest in the chicken business. 


Sacrifice some time and learn from the field. It costs you nothing to ask to volunteer at someone’s farm where they are rearing chicken. Learn about the chicken feeds. Learn about how to mix your own feeds. You think someone else will run your chicken business as you relax in the office. At least first understand the business so that you know the right questions to ask as you manage it remotely. 


The Baganda say; “Nanyini muffu yakwata awawunya.” You must know the smelly part of your business. Your employee cannot know your business better than you. And when your employee realizes that they understand the workings of the business better than you, then why would they continue working for you? Or why wouldn’t they cheat you? Anti yakutegelela! 


If you can’t become an apprentice in another person’s business, then start small. You who has never reared one chicken, what makes you start off with 1000? Be humble and start with 20! Don’t burn your cash, in business, what we have is time. Be patient enough to learn. Go slow but surely. Make your mistakes and learn from them. 


Anyway, many since then have returned to the tried and tested ways of building rentals! At least they only lose money to the builder. Until you meet Najjera tenants.... then you learn that rentals are not a walk in the park!

Thursday 22 July 2021

An African Dad

 An African Daddy

You asked for Ugx 10000 and your dad says he will give it to you in the morning before he leaves for work. This is after he has thoroughly scrutinized what you needed the money for, all the questions he asked, made you angry already. Throughout the night your dad can't sleep because he is thinking of how to give you his last Ugx 10000. Comes the morning, he calls you into his room and gives you Ugx 9000 instead of Ugx 10000, You are not happy and squeeze your face in discontent and reluctantly say thank you after complaining that it is not enough,

after your Mother sees this, she doesn't say anything but meet up with you in your room to give you Ugx 2000 from out of her own money and says " don't mind him take this and it's going to be enough for what you asked ". You begin to smile like you have won the lottery, And you quickly run to Facebook, Instagram and WhatsApp to update your status saying...

"I have the best mother in the world, I love my mother".Now your dad has gone out with just Ugx 1000 in his pocket with no fuel in his car, Because of you, he uses public transport today to go to work. At work he works over time, After closing late, everyone keeps saying "daddy is never always around except mum".

Your good dad will never allow you to see how much he suffers for the family because he is a MAN. Please, Always try to appreciate your dad because you can never tell what he is going through for your sake, That he is not always around like your mum but that does not mean he does not care about you deeply.

Lets appreciate all "real physical" Dads.

This is the African Dad.

A slave in his own home !!!!!

Hardly appreciated.

But he shoulders on.

God Bless you

Tuesday 13 July 2021

TOGETHER WE ARE GREAT

 "I tasted all that is sweet, but I found nothing sweeter than good health. And I tasted all that was bitter, but nothing was more bitter than being in need of good people. And I carried both, iron, and rocks, but nothing was heavier than debt. I discovered therefore that life is comprised only of two days: A day for you and a day against you! So when it is for you, be not reckless;  and when it is against you,  be patient.  Because both days will expire!!

If you can't be a bridge to connect people, then don't be a wall to separate them. If you can't be a light to brighten people's good deeds then don't be darkness covering their efforts. If you can't be water to help people's crops sprout, then don't be a pest destroying their crops. If you can't be a vaccine to give life, don't be a virus to terminate it. If you can't be a pencil to write anyone's happiness, then try to be a nice eraser to remove their sadness. We can only be each other's keeper.

 TOGETHER WE ARE GREAT

Good days are short and short days are, more often than not, good

 Ayaayaayaa! The watering hole which quenched the thirst of all with the magic water. 

The job of fork and spoon which made all forget the  definition of hunger.

The gigging to the music, both live and recorded which was another way of working out.

The ambience which made all feel at ease.

The serenity which allowed all to interact. 

The tranquillity which we last experienced at the get together. 

The speeches which perfumed the occasion. 

The order and organisation that handled the humongous populace with excellent skill and know-how.

The amnesiac effect which made all forget their hardships; at least for the while spent thereat.

The soft choreographed foot work exhibited by the Mayors wife as she danced to the tune and the rhythmic shaking of her well rounded bottom. 

The friendly weather which obeyed God's instruction by not drenching us with rain.

How proof was displayed for all and sundry to know that the loveliest moment is when work is done .

How the standards at the occasion showed several strata and notches above the ordinary. 

How the Mayor proved to all that he earned wings through principled hard and diligent work.

How the rewards of an acrimonious political campaign are really sweet.

How throwing an amazing party is a grand way of sharing happiness. 


I will not mean more by saying more but suffice it for me to say that the day was fabulous and full of splendour. 


All this boils down to one  thematic statement: 

Good days are short and short days are, more often than not, good

WHEN U THINK U R LEFT ALONE

A graduate in Biology was having difficulty 

in finding a job.... He saw an advert in one of the daily newspapers for a job at a zoo.

In the interview, the manager told him that their gorilla, which had been a tourists attraction has died so they needed someone to dress up and pretend as a gorilla. The graduate was embarrassed, but since the salary was okay, he accepted the job. The first day, he put on the gorilla skin and entered the cage, he started jumping up and down, beating his chest and roared like a gorilla. The next day, he put on a gorilla skin and started moving around the zoo again and mistakenly entered another cage and found himself staring at a lion. The lion roared and rushed towards him. The scared graduate quickly forgot that he is a gorilla and started shouting like a human, "Help! Help!" The lion leaped onto him, knocked him to the ground and whispered in his ear, "Ongom" , it's me "Mike", your course mate." My brother, No jobs in this country. Infact dat crocodile in dat water is not a crocodile, that is "Munialo Peter".. 😁😄😃😀😁😆.

COVER THEM UP INSTEAD OF EXPOSING THEM✍

After I had cleaned and tidied up my house, my brother phoned me and said, "My wife and I are coming to visit you."

I went to my kitchen to prepare something for them, but I could not find anything available to serve them.

After much thought and search, all I could lay my hands on were a few oranges. Therefore, I made two cups of cold juice immediately.

When my brother and his wife arrived I was shocked to see his mother-in-law with them, who came to visit us for the first time.

So I served the two cups of juice to his wife and her mother, and I placed a cup of water in front of my brother, saying, 'I know that you like 7Up.'

He drank a sip and realised that it was water.

And suddenly his mother-in-law said, I'm feeling for 7Up. Please give it to me!

Here I was, baffled and caught up with embarrassment.

But my brother saved me by saying to her, 'I will bring you a clean glass from the kitchen.

After a while we heard the sound of a glass breaking in the kitchen. He then came back and told his mother-in-law, 'Sorry, it fell from my hands and the glass broke. But no problem, I will go to the shop to get another one.

His mother-in-law refused and said, "There is no need for that. It was not meant for me anyway."

Eventually when they were going, my brother bid me farewell and placed some money into my hand and said, "Don't forget to clean the kitchen of the 7Up so that ants do not come." And he bid me farewell with a smile and love.

In this way, my brother considered my feelings and concealed my shortcoming.

THIS IS SIBLING LOVE, AND BLOOD RELATIONSHIP.

When you're in a position,use it to lift others.

Running anyone down will never make you better!

This is a very touching story.

 Let me ask👇

How do you treat your

 SIBLINGS?

 FRIENDS?

 FAMILY?

COLLEAGUES, etc


Do you cover-up their shame or you expose them?


A food for thought!

COWS DON’T GIVE MILK

A peasant used to say to his children when they were young: when you are 12 years old I will tell you the secret of life. When the oldest turned 12, he anxiously asked his father what was the secret of life. The father warned him not reveal it to his brothers as yet and told him, "The secret of life is that the cow does not give us milk." "What are you saying?" asked the boy. 


He went ahead, "The cow does not give milk, you have to milk it. You have to get up at 4am go to the field, walk through the corral full of manure, tie the tail, hobble the legs of the cow, sit on the stool, place the bucket and do the work your self. That is the secret of life, the cow does not give milk. You milk her or you don't get milk." 


There is this generation that thinks that cows GIVE milk. That things are automatic and free: their mentality is that if "I wish, I ask..... I obtain."


They have been accustomed to get what ever they want the easy way. But No, life is not a matter of wishing, asking and obtaining. The things that one receives are the effort of what one does. Happiness is the result of effort. Lack of effort creates frustration.

We should share with children from a young age, the secret of life. So they don't grow up with the mentality that the government, their parents, or their cute little faces are going to give them everything they need in life.


Remember, Cows don't give milk. We have to work for it.

 Life is a circle of CONTRIBUTION


I contribute.

You contribute. 

We contribute. 


When any party ceases to contribute, the circle will be broken and leakages will be discovered. 


Whatever you are enjoying today is someone else's contribution. 


Whatever you are lacking today is because someone who is suppose to contribute didn't.


Don't be that person, who because he refuses  to contribute, causes leakages to the circle. 

Every person on earth is here to contribute to make the world a better place. 


Contribution is the essence of living.

You can contribute anything useful. 

You can contribute in knowledge, in understanding, *in wisdom,  in love, in peace, in resources, and in finances.

Also, You can contribute physically, spiritually,  intellectually, financially,  morally etc.


When you contribute, people will eat, when people contribute you will eat.


 Ask yourself: 


What is my contribution in that place that I am?

What have you contributed to make progress?

What is lacking as a result of your refusal to contribute?

What is the way forward?

The answer explains the scarcity or abundance in that place. 

Your presence is irrelevant if you have nothing to contribute.


Contribution is the way to go...

In the church, contribute. 

 

In the organisation that  you are, contribute. 

In the school, contribute. 

In the house, contribute. 

In the market, contribute.

In the society, contribute.

In the village, contribute

In the community, contribute.

In the family,  contribute...

 In your street, contribute. 

Everywhere try and contribute...

You have something to contribute: Contribute in Love...

Instead of complaining, contribute.

Instead of destructive criticism, contribute.

Instead of being embittered, contribute.

Instead of watching, contribute.

Contribution is the  right use of energy...

*Nobody destroys where he has contributed to build.


*Contribute by passing this to others. 

THE WORLD WILL BE WORTH LIVING IF EVERYONE CONTRIBUTES MEANINGFULLY.

 Cheers.

Hi admin, please help me warn your lady followers to be careful with these so called church guys during this lockdown. I met this guy called Martin (Mwene Reverand) in the last week before lockdown at our church. He had a cool vibe so we became friends and exchanged numbers.

A week later we went into lockdown and churches were closed. So the following week he called me and asked if I was free so he could come for a bible study session with me at my place in Kigongi and I said it was okay.

Munange nga this guy comes with his bible. We started reading the scriptures together and an hour later we started discussing random things going on in the world. He was good and keeping a conversation going. He was very funny too.

I don't know what came over me but the guy stopped talking in the middle of our interesting conversation and stared at me straight in the eyes and looking at my lips as well. He slowly moved his lips closer to mine and gave me a tender wet kiss. I developed goose bumps all over my body.

Luckily, I quickly got back to my senses and told him that i couldn't sleep with him on the first day and that we were not married. He picked his phone and sent me mobile money worth Ugx 350,000 and told me that he was serious about me. I gave in and ended up sleeping with him that day.

When i went to withdraw the money later in the evening, i was shocked to find out that he had actually sent me a fake Mobile Money message. It wasn't actually real money. I tried to call him immediately and his number was off upto now. (I mean, are you too seeing what i am  seeing?) 

I went back home and noticed he had even walked away with my laptop because he had come with a bag where he kept his bible. I feel so very betrayed. I can't believe a man of God did this to me. Am also scared that I could be pregnant because I missed my periods meant to start 2 days ago.

#Tales_of_Church_Boys

Sunday 16 May 2021

Side chick !

 I DIDN'T HAVE SEX WITH MY WIFE 

AND I LOVED IT...


Wleegar was hanging out with his male friends as they talked about the women they were sleeping with, most of those friends are actually married with numerous side chicks.


As the other men were busy laughing about women and how some women suck in bed, have smelling vaginas and are confused by a good penis; as those men bragged about how great they are in bed, Wleegar tuned off the conversation and started looking at his phone.


"Hey Wleegar, bro. You are awfully quiet! You are OK?" one of the friends asked.


"Maybe he is not getting great sex at home. These wives can get boring sometimes, what are side chicks for?" jocked another friend.


All the friends laughed.


Wleegar just smiled and said "Yesterday I had the most amazing time with my wife and there was no sex involved. I have never loved her more, in fact, because there was no sex involved, I fell in love with her even more" 


The friends looked confused.


"Bro, no sex? Your tool is not working or something? How can a man go without sex?" a friend asked provoking laughter from the others. 


"Oh my tool is working just fine. Yes, my wife and I didn't have sex and I loved it. We just stayed up till late talking, laughing. It felt like I was knowing her afresh, there are so many things about each other we had missed out on and we were catching up. We didn't talk about our kids or our responsibilities but about us. We had really good laughs, laughs so pure and heartfelt. I had forgotten how funny my wife is. There she was laying on my arms, we talked so much till she dozed off. I kissed her and watched her sleep. I closed my eyes sleeping next to her in peace, yesterday was one of the most amazing nights in my marriage and no sex was involved"


"Wleegar, you are talking like a man who is in love. That is not how men talk" a friend joked.


Wleegar smiled and said, "And what is wrong with me loving my wife? To be honest, I am sitting here watching you all pretend you are living the life but you are unhappy. I hear the drama you go through in your affairs, I see how you stay at the bar till late because you dread going back home, some of you have raped your own wives in the name of demanding your conjugal rights. Us men hide our pain behind humour, we gather here and make coarse jokes but when we are alone, reality reminds us that we are not OK. I am just saying yesterday I had an amazing night but instead of you being happy for me and learning from it, you are mocking me. You call me brother, shouldn't brothers be happy that my marriage is in a good place?"


The friends kept quiet.


"Our wives want us to talk to them. Give your wife a listening ear and you will see how peaceful and warm your home will be. Since morning, my wife has been sending me great messages, I can tell she is in a good place just because of last night, we have not chat like this in a long time. The problem is most men have reduced their wives to sex machines and baby raising robots, but if we are honest, even us men want more than sex. The only reason we just focus on sex is because as men we gather to talk about sex. I know alot of us are hurting in silence but we can't gather to talk about our hurt, so we talk about sex and politics. I want to challenge you, just create that time to talk with the woman you love and you will see the difference"


The friends looked at each other and laughed.


Wleegar peacefully got up and left, texting his wife as he left the laughing friends.


Wleegar had yet another great night with his wife. He woke up to a text from one of his friends saying "Bro, I followed your advice. After you left, I went home too. I didn't demand sex from my wife, I just put my phone away and gave her undivided attention. We talked as we cuddled like new love birds, she even cried when she opened up about her dad battling cancer. I didn't know her dad has cancer, that is how far we had drifted apart. All she needed was for me to make time for us. God bless our marriages bro. Thank you.

Thursday 29 April 2021

Men only

 "Dear Men, work hard so that in your old age you have something for yourself , forget about the children and their mother! You are the only stranger in that family you call yours, that house is for your wife and kids ! My grandfather told me that a married man is like a tractor that builds a road, does it very nicely BUT when the road is completed , they bring a low loader and carry the tractor away claiming it will spoil the road!! That tractor is never allowed to step on the road it built ! Same case to a married man, you deny yourself , get loans , wear used clothes to see your children through high school and college because we believe that the only gift you can give your children is quality education cos there are no more shambas!! When the children hit teenage, now the Father is dispensable, most of these women poison the children against their father, language like "If it wasn't for me you wouldn't have studied, he was only interested in alcohol and women!! Now the tractor is about to be carried away!!! Once the children start working , mzee has retired and when the children come visiting the poor mzee is given two hundred infront of the mother , while the mother pulls them to the kitchen and the Father doesn't know what mama has been given! Once the children drive off, the mzee is told to buy sugar with the two hundred unless he wants to drink sugarless tea!! These are some of the reasons why men die early and leave widows behind suffering !! I have seen mothers fly abroad to visit their children while the mzee is left at home looking after their two cows, ever wondered why? That poison spread by mothers towards the mzee !! Dear men work hard and save something for yourself because nowadays aging without property is almost like a death sentence !!! Wake up struggle while you can before your old age." 

     FOR MEN ONLY

Saturday 24 April 2021

Integrity

Hey, It pays to build a name, the reward doesn't come quickly but it will come however long it may take and it lasts longer.


At the point of death, a renowned civil servant, Tom Smith called his children and after praying for them, advised them to follow his footsteps so that they can have their peace of mind in life.


The eldest child, Elizabeth, a graduate, looked at the other siblings and yelled, "Daddy, its unfortunate you are dying without a penny in your bank account. It is a pity you are leaving us the same wretched life you lived. Personally, I can't emulate you, she continued. Other fathers in the neighbourhood that you tag as being corrupt, thieves of public funds left houses and properties for their children.See the kind of comfortable life they live and the schools they attend.You are dying after 35 years of public service with just one rickety car. The only honour you have in this room is the citation of an award you won as the best Public Service Accountant when we were not even born.Even this house we live in is a rented apartment.Sorry,I can't emulate you.You are dying of a common disease and we can't even fly you outside the country like the others do.How can we cater for our mum and the little ones by living like you did in this part of the world.How? Daddy please let's chart our own course, let's paddle our own canoe"


Few days later, their father gave up the spirit.


Three years after, Elizabeth finished her Masters Degree. She applied for a job and went for an interview in a multinational company. 


The interview panel had already penciled down a candidate for the highly coveted post but wanted to complete the formality of interviewing all applicants on the list.


As soon as Elizabeth sat before the interview panel, the Chairman of the committee looked through her CV, nodded and asked, 


"Hi Miss Smith, tell us a bit about yourself" and   Elizabeth replied, "I am Elizabeth Smith. My Dad, the late Tom Smith was the Regional Head accountant of the National Insurance, and also served as Administrator of Public Health for many yesrs...." But the Chairman cuts in, Oh my God, you are the daughter of Mr Tom Smith? I can't believe it.He turned to other members and said "This Smith man was the one that signed my membership form into the Institute of Chartered Administrators when he served in our district in the North and his recommendation earned me where I am today. It was really difficult getting a man in such high office to do that during those years. You needed to be rich to get your form signed but the amazing thing is, he did all these free.I didn't even know his address,he never knew me from Adam.He just did it for me.I returned to his office after a year only to hear he was transferred. That was it and I never heard from him again. He turned to Elizabeth; "I have no question for you, consider yourself as having gotten this job, resume tomorrow, your letter will be waiting for you.For how your dad remained honest and served everyone with diligence, I trust you will follow his path in this job.


Elizabeth Smith became the Corporate Affairs Manager of the company with two cars, one official and one for private use, attached to the office, with a duplex and two drivers and a salary of £250,000 per month excluding allowances and other costs when she travels outside the country.


After two years of working in the company, the Group Managing Director of the company came from America to announce his intention to resign and needed a replacement. A personality with high integrity was sought after, again the company's Consultant nominated Elizabeth Smith.


In an interview, she was asked the secret of her success and the sudden sky rocketing profile.And in tears, she replied, my Daddy paved these ways for me.It was after he died that I knew that he was financially poor but fabulously rich in integrity, discipline and honesty. She was asked again, why she is weeping since she is no longer a kid as to miss her dad still after a long time. She replied, "At the point of death, I insulted my dad for being an honest man of integrity. I hope he will forgive me in his grave now.I didn't work for all these, he did it for me to just walk in.


So finally she was asked," Will you follow your father's foot steps as he requested? And her simple answer was, "l have already been doing that. I have met a number of people after his death and I haven't seen or heard anyone say a word against my dad's life in public service. I now adore the man, I have a big picture of him in my living room and my office. He deserves whatever I have after God.


Are you like Tom Smith?  It pays to build a name, the reward doesn't come quickly but it will come however long it may take and it lasts longer.


Integrity, discipline, self control and fear of God makes man wealthy, not the fat bank account, luxurious cars and mansions. Leave a good heritage for your children and the next generation. Are you building a good name for your children & or a fat bank account? Money fades, fame goes, cars get out of system but a good name stays on forever. 


As an agent of CHANGE, please share don't keep it  to youself; this is a true life story. God bless us all.

Wednesday 14 April 2021

Ug. Police. Express Penalty Scheme for Road Offenders

“LEAVE YOUR VEHICLE HERE AND GO 

On Saturday as I was coming back from Entebbe where I had gone to attend the Uganda Law Society Annual General Meeting, I had the misfortune of taking the Station Road which has since been converted into a one way. It was only when I got to the end of the road that I saw the sign indicating no entrance. Well seeing as there was nowhere else to go, I joined the main road. Lo and behold a policeman came running towards my car, charged like a hungry lion, indicating that I should leave the line and park on the pavement, which I did. 


I knew I was in the wrong and so did not bother replying him when he went on and on about how I had broken the law. As if he had not just been alerted to it by their spies who stand in that corner acting as their collecting agents. Well I apologized and admitted that I was in the wrong and was ready to pay the penalty as set out by law. 


To my utter astonishment, the Policeman told me that I was required to park the vehicle right there by the roadside at their makeshift Police Post at Kitgum House and go and pay the fine first and then come back and retrieve the vehicle. He was probably hoping I would offer him a bribe like the gentleman I had just seen in the car in front of me. 


I told him that his order was ludicrous, illegal and out of the question. He insisted that he had a directive from his boss. At which point he allegedly called his boss whose phone was allegedly switched off. 


Well I told him the Traffic and Road Safety Act, 1998 and specifically the Traffic and Road Safety (Express Penalty Scheme for Road Offenders) Regulations, 2004 that provide for express and fixed penalties, give the offender a period of 28 days to pay the fine. Furthermore there is no requirement to leave the motor vehicle at the police station prior to payment of the fine. There is no one above the law and laws are not conveniently amended at the whims of policemen. To further prove my point, I asked him for the Penalty book and showed him the wording “PAYABLE WITHIN 28 DAYS AFTER THIS NOTICE”. 


At this point the enraged policeman could only look at me in anger. I stared right back at him and told him to give my ticket and I would pay the penalty later but leaving my vehicle behind was out of the question. He sighed and said “you can go!” and off I went. 


In a nutshell, get acquainted with the law and always stand firm and defend your rights against any goliath that thinks they are the law.


P.S. Follow and like our page and we will keep you updated with the law :-)

Friday 9 April 2021

Money can be a fortune

 *SMALL SMALL REMINDER*

1 Brick Costs UGX 250

2 A bag of Cement ~ UGX 40,000

3 A trip of Sand UGX 200,000

4. Stones 200,000

5. A piglet costs UGX 150,000

6. Monthly Feeds (UGX 60,000/ animal)


You need 1000 bricks 250,000, 10 bags of Cement 400,000, a trip of Sand 200,000 and Stones 200,000 to build  a standard Sty. You also need UGX 300,000 to buy two Piglets to start with.


It takes one year for the two to grow and give birth to 10 piglets each. So you have 20 more animals per year.

Threshold is 40 animals and you have an independent farm. In the third Year you're Ready to sell 50 animals per Year. UGX 25m/year


*SIMILARY*

An average New Phone costs UGX 500,000

A girlfriend costs min UGX 1,500,000 per year

A new shoe UGX 100,000

A new Shirt UGX 50,000

A new pair of Jeans UGX 60,000


*ADVICE TO THE YOUNG MEN*

Barack Obama once said, if you're confident about your worth, you won't move around with gold chains around your neck


No one will arrest you for using a Techno instead of Iphone at 20, invest your money


No one cares if you wear new clothes every month or wear the same clothes every month, invest your money


No one will arrest you for not having a girlfriend at 20, invest your money


One pair of shoes can stand for 400 bricks, no one will arrest you for having a single pair of shoes, invest your money.


Spend your early 20's investing to avoid overworking yourself in your late 20's and the rest of your life.


Thanks

Monday 5 April 2021

You are born a winner


Biology says that after sexual intercourse, about 200 to 300 million sperms are deposited by the man, they all begin to swim upwards within the track to meet with the ovum, out of the 200 million that are deposited only 300 to 500 actually reach the site (others get tired on the way because is not an easy race) and of the 300 that manage to reach the ovum (egg), only one fertilised the egg and in this case the winning one is YOU. 

   Have you ever thought about this? You ran a race without your eyes and your legs you WON, you ran a race without your education and you WON, you ran without certificate and you WON, you ran without help and you WON, what makes you think you will Lose now? 

  Now that you have both eyes and legs, now that you have the knowledge of God's word, now that you have plans, visions and dreams, beloved you didn't give up on day one, so you can't give up now, giving up now is an insult to your creator. 

  It doesn't matter what you see now, take it as a challenge and always remember that you WON from womb. 

  You will win this battle, against Covid 19 viral scare, and will surely come out victorious and unscathed.. share widely .. Stay safe ☝️

Saturday 3 April 2021

The good News, Jesus loves you

 The little boy put on his clothes for the cold and then told his father:


"Ok dad I'm ready"


His Dad, the pastor, said: "Ready for what?"


"Dad, it's time to go outside and distribute our flyers."


Dad replied: "Son, it's very cold outside and it's drizzling."


The child looked surprised at his father and said: "But dad, people need to know about God even on rainy days."


Dad replied, "Son, I'm not going outside in this weather."


With despair, the child said: "Dad, can I go alone? Please!"


His father waited for a moment and then said: "Son, you can go. Here's the flyers, be careful."


"Thank you dad!"


And with this, the son went out into the rain. The 11-Year-old walked all the streets of the village, handing out the flyers to the people he saw.


After 2 hours walking in the rain and cold and with his last flyer in his hand, he stopped at a corner to see if he saw someone to give the flyer to, but the streets were totally deserted. Then he turned to the first house he saw, walked to the front door, rang the bell several times and waited, but no one came out.


Finally the boy turned to leave... but something stopped him. The child turned back to the door and began to ring the bell and pound the door strongly with his knuckles. He kept waiting. Finally the door was opened gently.


A lady came out with a very sad look and gently asked:


"What can I do for you, son?

With radiant eyes and a bright smile the child said:


"Lady, I'm sorry if I upset you, but I just want to tell you that God really loves you and that I came to give you my last flyer, which talks about God and His great love.


The boy then gave her the flyer.


She just said, "Thank you, son, God bless you!"


Well, next Sunday morning, the pastor was in the pulpit and when the service began he asked:


"Does someone have a testimony or something they want to share?"


Gently, in the back row of the church, an older lady stood up. When she started talking, a radiant and glorious look sprouted from her eyes:


"Nobody in this church knows me. I have never been here, even last Sunday I was not Christian.


My husband died a while ago leaving me totally alone in this world. Last Sunday was a particularly cold and rainy day, and it was also in my heart; that on that day I came to the end of the road, since I had no hope and didn't want to live anymore.


Then I took a chair and a rope and went up to the attic of my house. I tied a noose and the other end of the rope to the rafters of the roof; then I climbed onto the chair and put the rope around my neck.


I then stood on the chair, so alone and heartbroken, I was about to throw myself off the chair, when suddenly I heard the loud sound of the door being knocked.


So I thought: "I'll wait for a minute and whoever it is will go"


I waited and waited, but the door knocking was getting louder and louder every time. It got so loud that I couldn't ignore it anymore. 


So I wondered, who could it be?

No one ever comes close to my door or comes to visit me!

I released the rope from my neck and went to the door, while the bell was still ringing and the door was still being knocked on.


When I opened the door, I couldn't believe what my eyes saw, in front of my door was the most radiant and angelic child I've ever seen.

His smile, ohhh, I can never describe it! The words that came out of his mouth made my heart, dead so long ago, come back to life, when he said with the VOICE OF CHERUB: "Lady, I just want to tell you that God really loves you"


"When the little angel disappeared between the cold and the rain, I closed my door and read every word of the flyer.

Then I went to the attic to remove the chair and rope.


I didn't need them anymore. As you see. Now I am a happy daughter of the King.

Since the direction of the boy, when he left, was to this church, I came personally say thank you to that little angel of God who came just in time and, in fact, to rescue my life from an eternity in hell. And replaced it with an eternity in God's presence. "


Everyone cried in the church.


The Pastor came down from the pulpit to the first bench of the front, where the little angel was sitting; he took his son in his arms and cried uncontrollably.


Remember, God's message can make a big difference in someone's life, never be afraid to spread it. Amen

The Broken Dish story...



"Today I was walking in the supermarket and suddenly I heard a noise of things breaking. I walked down the aisles and saw that some people were murmuring . When I walked down their aisle, I saw a group of people staring at them.

An older lady had hit the shelf containing plates and glasses with her cart and many had fallen to the ground and broken.

Kneeling on the floor embarrassed, the old lady was frantically picking up the shattered pieces, while her husband peeled off the bar code from each broken dish saying:

See!!! Now we will have to pay for all this.

What a sad scene. Someone has a mishap, and all eyes were on her. When I knelt beside her to explain to her not to worry, a young man came and knelt beside us and said:

- Leave it, we will pick this up. Let’s get your information, so you can go to the hospital and have that wound in your hand looked at.

The lady looked at him, embarrassed and said:

- No. But I have to pay for all this.

The young man said:

- No maam, We have insurance for that kind of loss, and you do not have to pay anything.

When the young man got up, I could see that he had the information for the supermarket manager and sent the customer to get checked out.

For you who have read this so far, I would like you to give me a minute. Wherever you are, close your eyes, and imagine God doing the same for you!

Collect the pieces of your broken heart for all the blows that life has thrown at you. , God will heal all your wounds and I assure you that your sins and mistakes will be forgiven.

There is a warranty called grace, that when you recognize that you were wrong and you accept God as your only savior, the manager of the existence of the universe (GOD) will tell you: "Everything is already paid for ... go on your way, go!" 

May God bless u for reading.


Sunday 14 March 2021

Experience should be respected

 


 

A giant ship's engine broke down and no one could repair it, so they hired a mechanical engineer with over 40 years  experience.


He inspected the engine very carefully, from top to bottom. After seeing everything, the engineer unloaded the bag and pulled out a small hammer.


He knocked something gently. Soon, the engine came to life again. The engine had been fixed!


7 days later the engineer mentioned that the total cost of repairing the giant ship was $20,000 to the ship owner.


"What?!" said the owner.

"You did almost nothing. Give us a detailed bill."


The answer is simple:

Tapping with a hammer: $2

Knowing where to knock and how much to knock: $19,998


The importance of appreciating one's expertise and experience...because those are the results of struggles, experiments and even tears.


If you do a job in 30 minutes it's because you spent 20 years learning how to do that in 30 minutes. They owe you for the years, not the minutes.

Wednesday 10 March 2021

THE SINIYA SPIRIT

 

The Gates of SINIYA Open wide like a road to the garden of dreams.  Cool air and silence as you watch a  never seen revelent design of Great Kennedy Hall and welcomed by the manifesto *SCIENTIFIC ORIENTED BOY CHILD*


Welcomed by smiles of junior prefects little knowing that you will soon become their servants.

As long as you are still with your parent,  you are a prince, as they lead you to your domintory smiling and carrying your mattress. 

Every one waves for you in the compound, and strong men escort you as your bodyguards. 

They lay your bed well. And help you to escort your parent back. 

On return, the story changes. Your case broke open,  an army is waiting for you like lions craving for Daniel to be thrown in the pit. The rest is history. 

By evening, you have a million stories to tell. 


Anger first fills you, but very soon you start to learn that what happened to you almost happened to everybody, that that's the road to the crown of SINIYA spirit. Then day after day, it is nolonger torture but lessons, and soon you begin to love the way SINIYA teaches life lessons. 

And you get learn that 

We work like a team, we share resources. Your basin seazes to be yours alone the moment you enter the gates of SINIYA. The same applies to your sugar, your pocket money, your samples, and sometimes your clothes.

 We believe that we are all powerful. Power belongs to you today, tomorrow you lose it. You are powerful in s3 than in s5. 

We fight to remain united. We wake each other up for morning porridge, and preps and we share assignments and tests solutions.

We don't leave anyone behind.

And when we meet as Old Boys, the first word is SINIYA oyeeee... 

STUDENTS of the ONLY SINIYA. UNITE!

Sunday 7 March 2021

The Batooro

 I have always seen people dissing the most polite and humble Nation in Uganda.. the Batooro. Comedians have made a fortune over throwing jibes about them. At times I don't find it as funny because I believe all of us are Ugandans. However, at the peril of my OBs and great friends whom we met in High School, Kyomuhendo,  Businge his young brother and Andrew M. Mwenda that I met at Makerere University when he had a part time stint as a Lecturer of Development Economics and  assured  me in 2001 that he would marry a mufumbira, and up to now, we are still waiting. 


But allow me to share my experience with this aimble group of Ugandans. 


The first mutooro I interacted with was Patrick.  You see when you are from an upcountry school, he was from Nyakasura School and I was from Kigezi High School, as a few real westerners (I use the words "real westerners" because there were other westerners who had grown up and schooled in Kampala, therefore their realness had been compromised), we automatically had to connect. 


I had never heard anyone speak rutooro  but because I knew Rukiga, i could pick. Credit to him I learnt alot of Rutooro from him. As S. 5. new students, in the 1st one week it was basically orientation. However, every after supper that's around 7PM, Patrick would disappear. The rest of us would be mixing and mingling in that time trying to learn some luganda as well as learning to pronounce words like Sajest for Suggest not what we used to pronounce as Sagesti, Patrick would be no where to be seen. After 4 days I asked him where he used to disappear to after supper and he told me politely, in rutooro, niimba ngire mukitabo, to me ekitabo was was a book. So I asked him, we barely have any notes, we haven't been introduced in library, did you come with your own books. He said Naangwa, ekitabo  nimanyisa in the bed. Now I learnt that a bed is ekitabo further investigations later alone actually reveal to me that in real RRR (Runyakitara) a bed is ekitabo. But again there was a word he used "naangwa" to him he meant "no" yet in Rufumbira it means "but". So I learnt 2 words in 1 minute.


Slowly but steadily I kept learning Rutooro and I can confidently say that I know Rutooro. So recently, we had a function in Kyenjojo, I was with my parents in the car so we arrive at around 6PM and the rendezvous was a certain hotel called Akanyasi, I think because they have an outstanding  grass thatched structure. I dint know the place so I stopped a boda boda rider to direct me. He tried to casually explain to me, without pointing fingers to where we were going but just mentioning names of turn points. I just asked him how much it was to get to that place (all this in pure rutooro to the bemusement of my "passengers") he told me it was 1k. I told him geenda mumaiso nkuhonderere.. move in front of me I will follow you. My key passenger Charles Sendegeya who is my dad btw, told me, Robert be honest, have you ever dated a mutoorokati, to which I told him the truth. No. I know up to now he cant believe it.


Fast forward, we seated at the hotel after dinner then I ask the waitress to serve us drinks, she politely walks, I am avoiding using the word sluggishly, to the counter which was inside. 10 minutes later she wasn't yet back. I walked there only to find her chatting and laughing with her colleague in the counter. I ask her whether she had forgotten, and guess what, she was like, naangwa ndiyo ningareeta kyaari. Sorry I dint forget I am bringing them. I walk back she follows me puts the drinks on the table but with no opener. I asked her where is the opener, kangeende ngireete taata. Let me go and bring it please. I just laughed, If you follow the vibe. Anyways 5 minutes later the opener was brought. So we asked her to bring double double to avoid future delays.


Now the killer was this boda guy, my cousin and I slopped to town to look for a hard drink but everywhere we went they dint have what we wanted, so I thought fast and got a very brilliant idea, let's ask these boda guys since its them and hawkers who know every corner of their towns. 


Those who know Kyenjojo at the stage to Kampala, there's a boda boda stage. I politely greeted them, baptized myself empaako, then asked, nituseruura amarwa agibakweta Black Label lundi Jameson? Kugarabure, nitwiija kutwara redi leebo. We are looking for alcohol called Black Label or Jameson but in case we  don't get that, we shall go with Red Label. This boda guy who was listening attentively, confidently told us, mugende aho muduuka yabayindi.  You go in that Indian Shop behind you. Hearing Indian shop we were more than sure, this was it. We walked minus reading the sign posts because there was too much light.


 We entered with the confidence of Kiptegei entering State House to meet HE after winning gold medals only to find the big indian shop was a Pharmaceutical Shop. I gave up.


Nice read dear friends

Saturday 6 March 2021

LANGUAGE BURRIER

 


Knowing that not knowing a language is a barrier happens once you are in a situation that requires you to know that language you don't know. I happen to have interacted with people who speaking different languages and I must add that I can comfortably speak over 7 Ugandan languages whereas internationally apart from English and Kiswahili, I can only pick a few words in French and some little Spanish. 


A friend of mine of Rwandan origin who grew up in Masaka - Uganda once told me how she went to Kigali and needed to use a moto as they call boda bodas there. Yes she could speak Kinyarwanda fluently but because, like in Uganda, Kinyarwanda has been infiltrated by some french words especially among town dwellers, it was not going to be your daily casual walk in the park.


So the lady who is at Remera asks the boda guy, that how much it was to Town (Kigali City Centre) in Kinyarwanda. Nangahe kujya mumuji? The Boda guy tells her ni cinq cent (500 Rw Francs) but poor lady didn't know an ounce of french and having alot of Ugandan influence she had to negotiate.. oya ndaguha magana'tanu (No I will give you 500Rw Francs) The boda guy also comfortably told the lady ngaho icara tugende ... Fine you can sit and we go. They rode smoothly to her distination. However, something keep itching her mind why the guy accepted her offer immediately.  It was until she reached home and asked a cousin who had grown up in Kigali and therefore knew french that she realised cinq cent was actually the same as magana'atanu. What an embarrassment. I am sure many have experienced this or something related to this. Crazy world.


So, yours truly got a opportunity to study a short course in the Holy Land as they Jews call their country, Israel. It was a 2 weeks course in International Project Planning & Management, from Galilee International Management Institute ((GIMI).  A short period but the scope of coverage was more extensive than our typical semester system covers. Every second you waste you end up eating into your time. If you delay doing a task, you will find when your meal card has expired. If you are supposed to entre the dining hall at 7:15pm and finish at 7:45pm, should you go there at 7:46pm, your meal card will be retained and you won't get food. If you have an assignment, which are done online, once it clocks time out, the computer turns itself off before you even save the little work you may have done. Very serious people there.


Now back to my language experience.  In our cohort, there were different students from across the world but majority were Africans and whereas we were doing the same course, the mode of instruction was different.  Some did it in French, others in Portuguese and then us in English.  So there was this very beautiful lady from Angola. I must add that she fitted in all the attributes I regard as a complete beauty. We stayed in the same apartment, same floor, door after door. We also had the same timetable for everything apart from classes. So going to the dining we would move together, evening excursions together, everything. Unfortunately we couldn't even greet each other verbally for spoke Portuguese and the only word I knew was Comusta. Not enough to mean anything, anyways.


I would wave at her or even knock on her door to wake her up and she would do the same but in sign language. I was always feeling I should tell her how I felt about her, which I did actually but in English and everything was agazi.  Even when I looked at her closely, it wasn't hard to see that the feeling was mutual. Life went on like this for all the time we were there. On our last day after graduation, we had our final excursion to the Dead Sea, we carried our bags to the waiting bus, sat next to each other through out the journey from Galilee to Dead Sea, through the West Bank. We went to swim in the Dead Sea - By the way the Dead Sea is below Sea level so even if you don't know how to swim you still can float. Don't be misled I ain't no swimmer.  She dint swim but was at the shores laughing at me with her well shaped dental formula spiced by a glittering black gum that made me melt inside. If you get the grip.


From the Sea, at around 7PM we walked to the bus holding hands BUT NOT TALKING still. Entered the bus gazing at each other like idiots till we reached Ben Gurion Airport in Tel Aviv. She was using a different plane back to Luanda, Angola and I was on my way back to Uganda aboard Ethipian Airways. Magically we hugged for about 5 minutes i looked straight into her eyes and saw a tear drop. She gave me piece of paper where she had scribbled some words which I couldn't read apart from the email address she had written at the end of the letter. When I reached Uganda I unpacked my stuff but failed to get the paper to use Google assist or even reply her via email. 8 years later, I have never heard from her and vice versa.


That's how not knowing a language can be a barrier. 


The baganda say okutambula kulaba, okudda kunyumya.. when you travel you experience and can only talk about what you saw. Please make sure your children learn as many international languages as they possibly can.

Monday 1 March 2021

let my brother get it too

 ```An African man was given the opportunity to ask for

anything he wants

 

The condition was that, whatever he gets, his brother would receive double.


He thought about asking for a house; but he did not like thought of his brother having two houses.


so he thought about asking for a million dollars to go to his

bank account; but again, he was unhappy with the thought of his

brother having two million dollars in his account.


The man sat down

and thought hard, “What can I have and still be better than my brother when he has double?”


so, he thought of having one of his eyes removed so that his

brother might have his two eyes gouged.


This sounds like a very unlikely story; however, this is the typical mentality that has set Africans backward for ages and caused witchcraft to thrive in Africa.


an African wants to be better than his brother at all costs


The African man is only careful:

-to share his beer, not his books;

-to spread his diseases, and not the cure;

-to transfer his problems, and

not the solution


when an African man fails, he wishes his brother same fate so that he won't be the only one who had tasted the bitterness of failure.


An African man is happy when evil besets his brother.


When most African men succeed, they want to enslave their

brothers; they try to make the class gap between them and their brothers widen daily.


An African man wants to outperform his

brother in every area and most African men do not want to let their brothers have any chances of success because they want to be the only ones succeeding.


when an African man gets to sit on a seat of authority, he wants to

keep it to himself and refuse to give anyone else a chance to sit.


in African schools, students who can afford textbooks do not let other students borrow their textbooks because they want to stay top of the class or they don't want to give another student the opportunity to perform better than them.


when one independently discovers the way to success, an African man who refused to give directions would still do all he can to stand in the way of that success.


An African man is ready to spend money to intimidate his brother and make him look like nothing.


africa will become better; When we begin to share books to pass knowledge, not just our drinks.


When we begin to let others also lead without our influence.


When we begin to give the same quality

of food and clothing to both our children and our maids.


when we let our servants eat on the same table with us.


When the boss lets

his lower staff get paid before him.


Africa can become progressive when we begin to look out for each other rather than stand in the way of one another.


when we can sincerely say, “let my brother get it too, and if I can't get it, let me help him get it


 The Problem with Africa```👌👌👌👌

Wednesday 24 February 2021

why most African Men die in their early 60s

Have you ever wondered why most African Men die in their early 60s soon after retirement? Read On To Find Out Why.


The article below is a long read but quite informative and eye-opening. A friend shared this with me and I thought I would share it with you as well. 

Most men always find out the hard way when it’s too late to turn back time. However, if you have found this article and you below 50 years of age, Congratulations Today is the day you turn your life around.


Growing up, I noticed something very interesting: A lot of the men in my town who were in the formal economy and could rely on monthly income, died shortly after coming to retirement, normally between three and five years.

Many of them, would have just semi-completed their building projects (not done but still habitable).

The next thing is for them to finally invest some of their NSSF (National Social Security Fumd) cash into their wives’ business (normally groceries store).

Unfortunately, a couple of them still pay fees of children (normally out of wedlock).

They then suddenly die.

The superstitious inclination of the local folks triggered rumours that the poor widow, the wife “knows something about the death” because she wanted the house and the petty business all for herself.

Sometimes family members would even go and enquire from the oracles what killed their man?

But come to think of it, what really killed these men?

I believe it is the “ pension shock” syndrome:

1. A lot of these men will work for an average of 30 years in the formal sector religiously depending solely on their salaries.

2. Personal savings and investments are very alien to them. They chop everything they earn.

3. They believe their biggest security is their children who will come and take care of them when they are old.

4. There is over reliance on the NSSF & pension Funds. They believe the bulk money will take care of all their problems, including starting/completing their building project.

5. At the peak of their career, they are so indulged in the pleasures of this life, busily funding the “side chick economy” and fathering all manner of children outside their matrimonial homes.

6. Then the day comes, they turn 60. They receive a letter from their employers, it is time to go. Bungalows are vacated, a truck is made ready to transport them back to the destination of choice.

7. Some move to family houses temporarily (or even permanently), others move into their hastily and shabbily completed homes, mainly funded by the proceeds from their pension.

8. Funny enough, they realise there was nothing lumpy about the “lump sum” NSSF paid to them. The money is all gone at this time, and they are forced to solely depend on the monthly pensions, which is a pale version of what they received as working class.

9. Some attempt to farm, with no prior experience, others help casually at their wives’ provision shop, majority sit in their lazy couch most of the day, reading through the dailies with their radio set by them at their porch, intermittently receiving greetings from passers-by.

10. They spiral into bouts of depression when it dawns on them that by being old and broke, they’ve become half (or even less) the men they were. Majority don’t survive this mental turmoil and die before their time.

11. They may also run to contest a chieftaincy stool with the aim of continuing life. The battle of securing the stool coupled with its litigation is also another problem to think of.

So what can we learn from our fathers?

1. Take control of your financial independence. Invest consistently during your working life. NSSF should not be your plan A.

2. Little drops of money wasted today, will cost you your harvest tomorrow. Keep your focus, avoid the “side chicks” and “side children”.

3. Don’t plan your old age around your children, many of them may not find their feet before you die.

4. Set your spouse up early. Invest in her business when you have access to loan facilities and make sure before you go into retirement, the business is already established.

5. Complete your building many years ahead of retirement. Your pension is not meant for that.

6. Get other sources of income. You have decades of your working life to develop a sustainable side business.

Be determined to retire a rich man. After all, the good book says “the righteous man leaves an inheritance for their children’s children.

Nobody is fond of a broke pensioner. Determine not to become one, otherwise, you run the risk of becoming one.

Tuesday 23 February 2021

Help without insulting

 This is a true story.... People go through alot.... That's why I couldn't stand seeing people undermine those who started CPA direct from A level..... Kindly pick a few lessons


When i joined MTAC  the first person i become friends with was Ann.. She was friends with opio becuase they were tribemates and we werr doing the same course.  Everytime we would miss lectures He would update  us and also make sure we get handouts. I evetually became friends with opio.. We would sit around the MTAC grounds and jazz about so many things but he never opened up about his story. 


Sometimes he would miss lectures becuase he didnt have transport or his uncle in the village had summoned him to go help out on his farm in the village as compensation for paying his tuition.. As usually we would keep him updated in handouts. 


Everything went on well till the last semester when we had to pay registration for the final exams,  opio opened up to Ann how hes uncle had refused to give him tuition and registration unless he worked at his farm for afew months.. We had adeadline for payment and surely he couldnt beat it. 

She pleaded with him not to travel to the vilage because he could surely miss the exams, she suggested to help him pay half of the registration fee but opio declined since he had no means of getting the balance. 


Opio had lost his mom, she never told him who his father was. He tried so much to find out his people but his uncles told him they knew nothing about his dad.  

Since his childhood he was always aslave to his uncle who would make him work on thier farms so they could pay for his tuition.  Being hard working, he had no problems with it until they started Throwing insults at him of how his mom was aslut thats why his father was unknown.. "you will never amount to anything just like your mother"

This didnt go well with Opio.. One day he was tempted to fight back but they stopped him. 

He desperately needed money for his registration and tuition and this is when his uncle broke the final  news.. Of how he wasnt getting any peny till next year. 


Confused desperate with no one to talk to.. He went, bought arope.. Tied it around his neck and climped atree and hunged himself.. Fortunately someone saw him and made an alarm.. They rescued him and took him home. 


From that day Opio was adifferent person.. They kept watch over him for afew days to make sure he doesnt kill himself. 


Afew weeks passed, as he walked around people would talk behind his back.. Life wasnt the same anymore..


 Whenever we tried to call him either his phone wouldnt go through or he wouldnt pick. 


We kept wondering what went wrong with him. 

We completed our final exams but it was painful knowing that Opio had missed. 

Ann decided to travel to Opio's village,  only to find out that he was burried aweek ago..  He finally hunged himself 😥🙏


Rest well Opio. 


Can we be mindful what we say to people!

Can we help without throwing insults! 

Lets share the burden we feel with others maybe we heal.

Saturday 20 February 2021

THEY DON’T THINK BEYOND THEIR CERTIFICATES


*1. THEY DON’T THINK BEYOND THEIR CERTIFICATES*

Albert Einstein said, “Education is not the learning of facts, but the training of the mind to think.” Have you ever heard  creativity term “Think outside the box”? One of the major reasons why most graduates are poor is simply because they can’t see and think beyond their certificates. 

I have seen engineering students work as bankers. I have seen medical doctors with great skills in web and graphic designs. I have seen lawyers that are very dexterous with finances. The list is endless!


The basic truth of life is that the skills that are needed to be much sought after and become more successful in life are not really found within the walls of the classrooms. Your certificate is just a proof that you are teachable, it does not suggest what you are totally capable of doing. You are full of possibilities when you think beyond your degrees and certificates.


*2. THEY PRIORITIZE THEIR CERTIFICATES MORE THAN THEIR GIFTS AND TALENTS*


I have often advised some of my colleagues, never to leave their gifts dormant while pursuing and hunting for jobs with their certificates. There must be a complementary balance in the pursuit of your passion and in the search for jobs.


Everybody is gifted for something, but the winning edge comes from our ability to work on our gifts and bless the world with it. The very best way to develop yourself is in the direction of your natural talents and interest. In order to live a fulfilled and impactful life, we need to work harder on our gift than our job. We need to discover our gift, develop it, and sell it. Don’t bury your TALENT with your certificates.


*3. THEIR CERTIFICATES PREPARE THEM FOR A WORLD THAT NO LONGER EXIST*


It has been found that most of the skills taught in schools are becoming obsolete in the present world. The world has changed a lot, and so are people’s need! It is imperative to know that the present form of university education does not prepare students for the future.


Graduates are becoming endangered species in the face of a changing world. Our archaic methods and approaches of learning are preparing graduates for a world that no longer exist, as we are churning out degree holders every year with certificates that have face value but no intrinsic worth. Most learning institutions are filled up with lecturers and pseudo-educators with lecture notes, methods and approaches that have lost relevance in a changing world.


*4. THEY KNOW LESS ABOUT THEMSELVES BUT MORE ABOUT THINGS*


Certificates and degrees don’t reveal people to themselves; they at most measure our IQ (Intelligent Quotient). I have often tell people that there is no Recovery without Discovery. A poor man is simply someone that has not discovered himself.


The more you discover yourself, the more you realize the treasures that are hidden deep within you. We carry inside ourselves latent treasures that can only be unveiled through self-discovery.


*5. CERTIFICATES AND DEGREES CAN KILL INITIATIVES*


Degrees and certificates can close up your minds to ideas while initiatives open it up. If you are not careful, your degrees and certificates can close up your mind. The purpose of education is to keep your mind perpetually opened towards limitless possibilities!


Fred Smith saw an opportunity for overnight delivery of anything anywhere in the USA, and ultra-fast delivery anywhere in the world, FedEx was born. It will be interesting to know that Fred Smith got a grade “C” in a Yale economics class for an idea that the professor belittled as unworkable. 

Fred Smith’s company became the first American business to make over ten billion dollars in annual profit. Beginning with just 186 packages delivered the first night, FedEx now delivers in over two hundred countries using over 6,030 aircraft, 46,000 vehicles and 141,000 employees.


*6. DEGREES AND CERTIFICATES POSITION YOU TO LOOK FOR JOBS AND NOT FOR OPPORTUNITIES*


Our certificates and degrees prepare graduates to look for jobs and not open our eyes to life-changing opportunities. You are not poor because you don’t have a job; you are poor because you are not seeing and seizing opportunities.


Being POOR is simply Passing Over Opportunities Repeatedly! What keeps people ahead in life is not their education or degrees, it is simply the opportunity that they seized. Jobs may be scarce but not opportunities.


As long as there is a problem to be solved, there will always be opportunities. It is a waste of our education, exposure, and experiences if after we graduate from school, all we think about is searching for a job. An enlightened and educated mind should be able to see and seize opportunities.


*7. CERTIFICATES AND DEGREES PREPARE PEOPLE TO LOOK FOR SECURITY AND NOT TO TAKE RISKS*


We must be willing to make mistakes and take breakthrough risks. Taking risks and learning from mistakes help us in knowing what works and what does not! When Thomas Edison was being questioned by a mischievous journalist on how he felt for having failed for 999 times before getting the idea of the light bulb, his response stunned the whole world when he confidently said, “I have not failed 999 times, I have only learned 999 ways of how not to make a light bulb”.


Many graduates and degree holders are becoming progressively poor because the skills required in the modern world to get rich are not taught in schools and institutions.


By 2025, we’ll lose over five million jobs to automation. This means that future jobs will look vastly different by the time many people graduate from the university.


*Future jobs will involve KNOWLEDGE PRODUCTION/CREATION* and innovation, and people that are only equipped with skills found in the classroom will definitely be a misfit in an ever-changing world. Skills like critical thinking, creativity, people’s skill, STEM skills (e.g Coding), complex problem-solving skills etc. are central to living a more comprehensive and productive life.


THEREFORE, in conclusion, my humble and candid advice to graduates and students in institutions is to think wide, deep and outside the box. Take voluntary jobs, and don’t be afraid to navigate fields that are different from your field of learning. Your future career will require you to pull information from many different fields to come up with creative solutions to future problems. 

Start by reading as much as you can about anything and everything that interests you. Once you get to college, consider double majoring or minoring in completely different fields. Trust me, it’ll pay off in the long run.


Don’t limit yourself to the classroom. Do something practical. Take a leadership position. Start a business and fail; that’s a better entrepreneurship. Contest an election and lose. It will teach you something political science will not teach you. Attend a seminar. Read books outside the scope of your course.


Think less of becoming an excellent student, but think more of becoming an excellent person. Don’t make the classroom your world, but make the world your classroom. Step forward and try something extra.


Invest in something you believe! Real financial security and freedom is not xx in your job, but in your passion, gifts, talents, and your ability to see and seize opportunities.

Thursday 18 February 2021

2021 Friends (Season or Reason)


Learn when someone’s role in your life is over and let them go. You’re either helping each other or ruining each other. Discern when someone’s season in your life is over and release them. Else you won’t enter a new season in your life. When you start petty quarrels with your friends, their reason and season in your life may be over. If you hold on to them any longer, you’ll patronize each other’s progress.


While some friends are life-time friends, most people you meet along your way of life are seasonal. Learn to review your associations. Some friends you part ways because of shifting values. Others you part ways because of vision crash. And still others, you part ways because of your own growth. Valuable friendships are idea oriented. With friends who are equally progressive, you can be vulnerable. 


Who are your 2021 friends? Are there relational debts you have Brought Forward (B/F) to 2021? Do you really take stock of the value your friends add or subtract from you? No matter what prophecy you received for 2021, if you don’t review your associations, you’ll have a repeat of your past years. You may turn your calendar leaf but you won’t turn your life around. 


You’ll never rise above your associations. Your level of association determines your destiny. The income range of your best three friends is likely to be within 10% variance. If you truly want to know your values, cross-examine your friends. If you truly want to move to your next level, groom new relations. Associate more closely with people who don’t know your historical baggage.  


From 2021, don’t walk with people who judge you from your history. Don’t try to prove anything to your relatives and childhood friends. Don’t try to convince your high-school mates anything. Don’t compete with your collegemates. It’s pointless. Many of your former colleagues don’t appreciate your growth. You don’t need to persuade them. Simply hang out with those who see the 2021 Version of YOU. 


Tuesday 16 February 2021

Be a solution, an encouragement and inspiration. Avoid being a leech, a user or nagger.

 

There is something in life called "Social Capital." The people you know; the  people who know you and how they know you. 

Quite unfortunately, people think or behave like social capital is only needed on weddings and burials. That is why you see someone will not have contacted you in ten years but out of the blue they are sending you a message, "Hello so and so, long time. Btw, next Sunday is my pre-wedding. I need your support."!


Social capital is not built overnight; it is reciprocal and does not need money (especially in this virtually connected world) to build. It just needs being sensitive that people have emotions and that you can't sneak into their lives only when you need help.


Social capital is massively important and when built and used correctly, it can make a very big difference to one's quality of life. It can save you money, make you money, get you a better job, make things easier and safer, it can save you from prison, or save your life: it can save you time and effort, and make life more enjoyable and productive.


As we progress through the year, please learn to connect with people in your circles. Check on people, send someone a birthday message, check their timelines and comment something positive and inspirational. Pick your phone and call someone,  or text them. It could be your relative,  your colleague,  your former schoolmate, a former or current boss, your CEO, your parents etc.


Creating a connection with people is important for building your social capital. And even if they don't respond, at least keep in touch and don't just reach out when you are in need.


Most importantly, respect everyone no matter their status in life and be there when others need you. Be a solution, an encouragement and inspiration. Avoid being a leech, a user or nagger. Just be a nice person who in a calculated way stays in touch with people and brings joy, encouragement and hope.


The most important asset you have in life is not your job, money or title; its people. Your network is your networth.


Have a Blessed Connective Life.

Monday 15 February 2021

The egg seller

She (Buyer) asked him, 'How much are you selling the eggs for?'

The old seller replied, '$.25 an egg, Madam.'

She said to him, 'I will take 6 eggs for $1.25 or I will leave.'

The old seller replied, 'Come take them at the price you want. Maybe, this is a good beginning because I have not been able to sell even a single egg today.'


She took the eggs and walked away feeling she has won. She got into her fancy car and went to a posh restaurant with her friend. There, she and her friend, ordered whatever they liked. They ate a little and left a lot of what they ordered. Then she went to pay the bill. The bill costed her $45.00 She gave $50.00 and asked the owner of the restaurant to keep the change.


This incident might have seemed quite normal to the owner but, very painful to the poor egg seller.


The point is,

Why do we always show we have the power when we buy from the needy ones? And why do we get generous to those who do not even need our generosity?


I once read somewhere:


'My father used to buy simple goods from poor people at high prices, even though he did not need them. Sometimes he even used to pay extra for them. I got concerned by this act and asked him why does he do so? Then my father replied, "It is a charity wrapped with dignity, my child”


I know most of you won't share this message but if you feel that people need to see this, then do spread this message.

Sunday 14 February 2021

His Journey to Jinja

 Ziipu (Zip) ekankwaata, yanyaaza


Omumwaka gwa 1990, that is a cool 30 years ago, nkaba ndyomwegyi omu siniya ya kabiri at Jinja Senior Secondary School in Jinja. I looked like this. This was the passport size photo in my Student ID.


 Ndamanya ngu some of you were not born, or mukaba mukyayanjura murazanira omumucuucu, konka itwe ba kaaha keira tukaba twatambwiire kuruga Kabale twahikire Busoga.


My journey to Jinja came during the Xmas holidays of 1988 when shwento who had lived in Jinja for many years, returned for the holiday and decided to take me along with him.


Nkaba mazire P7, banyesire kuza kwegyera Kigezi College Butobere, Siniya, and even my admission letter, which then was known as 'Call' had come.


Tukabitamu engeito, bus ya People's twagitembera omurubaju, twagukwata ogwa Buganda na Busoga. We left Bukinda stage 3am buri kusheesha, enkoko zitaniire. Eshaaki yeitu niyo yatwimukize yatandika kubika ngu kukurikoooo!

In those years, the road network was so por with many potholes. It took you an entire day to travel from Kabale to Kampala, a journey that today takes about 6 hours.


In some cases, buses would be stop in a place called Kinoni in former greater Masaka, spend a night and connect the following day. The reason for this was because of insecurity especially due to the presence of rebels of Herbert Itongwa, a rebel leader that plied the swamps of Katonga.


When we boarded the bus, my uncle wanted to hide me ngu ndi omwana and as such to be exempt from paying the transport fare. Atyo, anta omumkwahwa ntambura ndotami ngu ndebeke nkankaana kagufu. It is also true ngu nkaba ndimugufu, but at 13 years, I wasn't a baby.

When my uncle sat down, he held me between his legs. Then the bus set off. After Muhanga, an inspector entered and smoked me out.

"Ogu timwaana, ayine kushashura," he told my uncle.

"Come here," he said.

My uncle insisted that I was young and not old enough to pay.

At this point, the conductor decided to do test on determining whether I was old enough to pay the fare or not.

"Reeta omukono" he instructed me.

"Gwereeze ogurabye eheiguru yomutwe oyekwate aha kutu," he said.

I raised my right hand over my head and touched my big left ear.

"Tiwareeba!"

"Nikakuru," he declared.

Apparently, the only sure way of telling whether one was old enough to pay transport charges was whether he or she could touch their ear from above their heads.

My uncle pleaded and was allowed to pay half fare for me.

Kutwahikire Lukaya, bus ekemereera twaza kunia no kunyaara. Nyowe oruhago rukaba ruri heihi kubaruka. When I tried to quickly open the zip, ekankwata, yanrya akanankani.

 Remember most kids those day never wore pajemas. I was not an exception. If a zip has ever 'eaten' you, you know the pain I am talking about.


Nkanena eriino, nasheesha, reero ahanyima nashumurura ziipu mporampora until it released me.


After that, uncle akangurira ekifu kyenkoko eyokize hamwe na muhogo yembumburi, ntyo ngizaho nguguguna. We arrived in Kampala at around 8pm, omwirima gwakwasire, konka amashanyarazi garaaka.


Kutwahikire Namirembe Hill, nkaranza eseeri hariyo ekyombeko kiriho amataara gamaani garaaka.

When I asked my uncle, he told me that that was Uganda House, the building that houses UPC eya Uganda Congress of Milton Obote.

What amazed me most, nokushaamaara kweena was a word that kept moving around the building in bright lights, reading that : Drink Bell, for a Good Night and a Good Morning."

From Kampala, we drove through Mukono, the famous Mabira Forest and by around 10pm, we were crossing the Owen Falls Dam, over River Nile into Jinja proper.

My Jinja experiences and exploits are in our book, Waringa and Other Stories...

Saturday 13 February 2021

Gambling taught me the hard lesson

 


We arrived in Jinja at People's Bus Terminal, around Lubas Road at 10pm in 1989. It was in early January. It was raining heavily and we had two pieces of luggage, ebitundu, one containing Irish potatoes, emondi zamukooreeka and the other dried peas.


We alighted, reero uncle yampa the smaller luggage of peas, and he carried the Irish potatoes.


Tukatambura kuruga Jinja town up to Masese landing site, a distance of about 5 kilometers. I fell into stagnant water in the potholes because as we walked through the dark alleys,  stagnant water looked like dry land.


Jinja nkarebayo ebintu byingi, konka erizooba kambagambiire, let me tell you about one experience that taught me a hard lesson that I will never forget.


Shwento akantungira omwanya in Jinja Secondary School, natandiika senior one.


At that time, Jinja SSS was the biggest school in terms of population, in the whole country, some even say in East and Central Africa.

 The school had a total enrollment of 4500 students--enkumi ina nabitaano. Omu senior one alone, tukaba turi 480 students. We had twelve streams in senior one, from A to M. At the end of first term, I was number one in S1B. Nkabasinga nabagarika hari.


Eizooba rimwe, shwento akampa esente kuza omukatare, Jinja Central Market, to pay and collect my school uniform hamwe nebindi bintu.


Nkaruga omuuka, omukasheeshe, natambura naaza omu tauni. When I crossed the railway line after a place called Kazimingi--those who know Jinja know this place--it used to have many maize milling machine. This is where we used to buy kawunga for mingling. Our major food then was kawunga and mpuuta.


This place also was the stage where people going to Walukuba and Masese boarded taxis from. It perhaps had the oldest vehicles plying any route in Jinja. Ebimotoka bikaba bikuzire, majority of them, old and tired beetles, ebikyere, Volkswagen, that when you entered, you literally could see the ground through the holes on the floor of the vehicles.


Some people often joked that if the breaks failed, the driver would ask passengers to pull out their feet onto the ground through the holes, to cause the car to grind to a halt.


Anyway, across Kazimingi was a dusty taxi park where vehicles plying long distances to Kamuli, Wairaka, Mafubira, Budumburi and other places would pick passengers from.


It is here that I found a man, surrounded by several other people, playing what looked like a lucrative game.


He has a small table and three cards-matatu, chanisi cards. The cards liked identical on the top, but inside, they were different.

The game was known as wakareeba, okalabye, okabwoine. The game master would speak the language of the majority of the people that sorrounded him or who joined to play the game.


The rules were simple: Two of the cards had no image on them. Only one had a drawing.

 He would shuffle the cards while singing: bwotekka wanno offirwa, bwotekka wanno offuna,  and ask you ngu, nooha owakareeba? Who has spotted it?


If you were convinced that you had seen which of the three cards had the drawing, you would put  money on top of that card, and if you got it right, you would win double the amount of money placed, betted.


Good deal? Yes, it looked.


I stood and watched and watched contemplating whether I should use the money my uncle had given me to multiply it and make a profit.


As I looked, two men came and played and won, and left.


Then another one came and looked at me and said, "young man, you look lucky today, if you play, you will win."


I listened to my heart and believed him.

I watched closely and got absolutely sure that I had seen it.


I placed 500 shillings. He turned the cards and I was wrong. It was potea. He took it.

I was now 500 shillings less and couldn't therefore buy what I had been sent to buy.

I stood still, nkomuti gwamashanyarazi, wondering what do to next.

"Try one more time, you will be lucky," another muyaye who came around told me.


I watched the man shuffle the cards, and this time I was absolutely sure I had seen it.

I placed another 500. It was again, a miss.

The second loss hit me so hard. I now could not even buy half of what I had been sent to you.

What would I tell my uncle, I contemplated. Would I tell him the truth about what had happened or was I to manufacture a lie?

The man who was operating the wakareeba now seemed to pity me. He looked at me closely and suggested another robbery trick.

"You can also use your watch to win," he said .

He valued the Disco watch I had on my wrist at 2000.

I thought hard and it looked like a possible final move to salvage my loss.

"I could be lucky this last time," I said to myself.

Slowly, I removed the watch from my arm, held it in my hands, said a prayer and looeor at the cards even more closely.

The man shuffled the cards slowly, as if to give me a chance, to this time get it right.

He placed them face down.

"Make your pick," he said, before adding: "This time, if you fail on the first attempt,I will give you another free chance." He was speaking in Lusoga "ndakuwa omurundi ogundi,"

Hesitantly, I placed the watch on the card that I was sure was the one. The master slowly reached out, turned it upside, and I was wrong..The third time. The third loss.

"Try your luck on the remaining two cards," he offered omurundi ogundi.

I placed my hand on another card. He flipped it up, and I was wrong again.

At that point I did not even wait. I simply took off, running back home with no uniform, not groceries, no money and no watch. I later learnt that the two men who played and won, were actually playing a syndicate. They were part of the robbery team staged to give the game some semblance of credibility.


From that day, over 30 years ago, whenever I find people gambling, betting here or there, whether it is in a casino or on the streets, I look the other way and walk away as fast as I can. Gambling!

Thursday 11 February 2021

Luganda

 EMBOOZI EZITANYUMIZIKA - EKITUNDU (Episode) 9


OMUWALA EYATULIKA NGA BBOMU MU SSANTIRI (Akatundu II)


Twaleka nnyimirizza Doreen, eyali ava ku mulimu akawungeezi nga ntandise okumutokota era nga mmusabye akkirize mmuwerekereko. Bino bye byaddirira....


Doreen yanziramu nti, “Kyokka bannange, Hmmnh, olina ebigambo bingi bulala! Olwo omperekera wa eyo gy’omanyi?” Ko nze nti, “Ewuwo.” Omuwala kwe kumbuuza nti, “Simanyi oli ‘student’ wa wano? Naye nga sikumanyi era sikulabangako? Abaana ba wano bonna mbamanyi.” Ko nze nti, “Era kyenkana ndi ‘student’ naye nze ndowooza ssinga wakkirizza ne nkusitulirako ebintu, twandibadde na kati tutuuse.” Omukazi kwe kukola kye nnali simusuubira, n’ankwasa ekiveera ekya kiragala omwali ebintu bye saategeera. Oba yali asibye mmere!? Hahaha!


Twatambula bw’ambuuza nti, “Kati erinnya lyange walitegeerera wa ggwe atali w’eno? Ate tonnimba, kuba nze sikulabangako. Mpulidde ompita erinnya ate nga nze sikumanyi.” Ko nze nti, “Erinnya ly’omukyala asinga obulungi ku kitundu teriyinza butamanyibwa.” Doreen yaseka n’agamba nti, “Hahaaa, naye bannange! Wanzijiridde leero musajja ggwe nno! Ye kati bwe bansanga nga njogera naawe era nga tutambula, ne bakumbuuza erinnya olwo mbagamba ki?” Ko nze nti, “Mpita Mesach.” Edda nalina omuze gw’okuwa abantu abatammanyi erinnya eryo, ate awamu nga nkozesa lya Mulindwa ne tugendera awo.


Doreen yasulanga munda mu yunivaasite era bwe yali atuuse ewuwe mu mmita nga kikumi (100) okuva ne we twali tuvudde, n’antegeeza nti, “Ssebo…., eh, mpozzi waŋŋambye ggwe Mesach? Nze ntuuse ewange. Mpa ebintu byange, nkusiibule.” Namugamba nti, “Nga sinnagenda, nsaba okkirize nkukube akaama.” Doreen yaddamu nga bwe yeekunkumula nti, “Bandaba nno! Ssebo ggwe, gwe simanyi onkube akaama, e eh kyokka bannange!”

 


Nayanukula n’obuwombeefu bwe nnali sikozesangako nti, “Naye Doreen naaweeeee, kati akaama obwama kaliko ki? Kkiriza nkukube akaama. Oba nfukamire, nnyabo?” Doreen yantegeeza nti mbimugambire awo, ekirungi tewali awulira mulala naye nti tajja kukkiriza kumwogerera mu kutu. Namusaba essimu ye n’anziramu nti eri wala mu nsawo ye, ne mmuddamu nti, “Sitegeeza ssimu yo yennyini, wabula ennamba yo.” Awo kwe kunsekerera, “Hehehehehe, otegeeza nnamba? Kati ogyagaza ki ggwe, gwe simanyi? Oyagala kunguza bakisalamutwe?”


Ekiwala kyandoobya nnyo ekiro ekyo mu keezi akaali kaaka nga kuggulu tekuli wadde akale akasirikitu, naye oluvannyuma munda yange ne nneesunako nti olaba kimpa obudde obwo bwonna, kitegeeza nja kukimegulako ettofaali munne w’ettafaali. Nasikayo essimu yange ne nfukamira nga bwe kindagira okusitukawo mangu naye nze nga sibiwulira. Nafukamira ne nkisaba kiwandiike nnamba yaakyo ku ssimu yange, era bwe kyakkiriza, ne nneebaza byansusso. Awo kwe kukigamba nti, “Kati nga sinnagenda, nsaba okkirize nkukube akaama kange akasembayo awo nkuleke.” 


Doreen yanziramu nti, “Vva wano, bajja kukukubira bwereere ate nkuleetere ebizibu by’otoosobole.” Ko nze nti, “Ku ggwe ne bwe bankuba biba binnyumira kuba baba bankubira nnalulungi w’oku kitundu n’eggwanga lyonna.” 


Ye bannange, nga sinneeyongerayo, ka nkikinale mbuuze nti, mulitegeka ddi empaka z’obwannalulungi ne sserulungi w’oku mukutu guno? Tulina wano envubuka ennangavvu ne baanabawala abalungi lwondo. Mujje muzitegeke nga nze kamwakoogera naawe ffe basazi baazo. Hahahaha! Ka nzireyo ku mboozi, temugambira awo nti leero sirina bye nnazze kunyumya.


Omuwala yateekawo okutu naye mba nsembera okumukuba akaama ate n’akuggyawo nga bw’agamba nti, “Ye ng’opapa bulala? Nze lindako! Oyagala kunkuba kigwo?” Namuddamu nti, “Nedda sweet, sisobola kukugwira. Teekawo okutu nkubuulire.” Yateekawo okutu ne mmukuba akaama nti, “Doreen, nkwagala. Nzikiriza enkya nkulabeko mpe obujulizi eri ensi n’eggulu nti…” Teyaŋŋanya kubimalayo n’aggyawo okutu n’anziramu nti, “Kale ssebo, mbitegedde. Kati genda. Sula bulungi Miisaaki.”


Namwagaliza ekiro ekirungi naye nga ŋŋenze simazeeyo kye njagala kumugamba ate nga simanyi oba enkya anakkiriza okundaba. Enkeera nakeera kukubira Doreen era essimu yagikwata n’aŋŋamba mmukubireko edda, nange kye nakola. Wabula kw’olwo teyalabikako wadde nga twateesa aw’okusisinkana akawungeezi ng’annyuse. Natuula mu kirabo ky’emmere ekya Maama Isma ne nkonkomalira omwo, okutuusa lwe nnennyula ne nvaawo!


Nga wayise ebbanga, namukubira essimu n’antegeeza nti yabyerabidde. Nalina okudda mu kibuga nkole era enkeera ku Ssande, Doreen namulumba bweru wa ‘ddayiningi’ n’antegeeza nti tantegeera bulungi naye mmuwe obudde yeerowooze. Naddayo e Kampala nga omutima guntundugga kuba ‘ekintu’ nnali nkirekedde agasajja agatali gangu ku kyalo! 


Buli lunaku nakubiranga Doreen essimu era olunaku lwe twalagaana ajje mu kibuga mmutwaleko ‘awutu’ ku bbiici, nalwetegekera ng’agenda okumala omujiji oboolyawo n’okusingako anaabaaga. Nagamba nti abawala bano oluusi balimba era kye nakola kwe kugenda butereevu mu kyalo mmukimeko. Namubuuza oba taakole kw’olwo n’antegeeza nti buli wiiki bawummulamu ennaku bbiri ate ne wabaawo omulala amutuulirawo. 


Namubuuza by’akola n’antegeeza nti omulimu gwe gwa kubala mmere abayizi gye balya n’okukola ku by’okugigula wadde ng’olumu ayambako mu kutegeka ddayiningi n’oluusi okwenyigira mu kufumba. Twagenda ku bbiici ya Sese Gateway kuba gye nnali ntegeera obulungi anti natwalangayo nnyo agaduuda. Doreen yeepiika ebbidde nange ne ntya nga simanyi bwe tugenda kudda mu kyalo. 


Ku olwo nakuuma obuntubulamu era nalina ekimotoka ki Premio ekikaddekadde. Omwo mwe namuteeka ne nkivulumula akawungeezi ako okuzza Doreen mu kyalo naye nga ebbidde limusibye enkalu. Ekimotoka nnali sikivugangako kukitwala lugendo lwa mu kyalo naye nayambibwa ne tutuuka bulungi kyokka nga sisobola kusitula Doreen eyali atamidde era nga yeebakidde muli munda nninga atwala omugugu! 


Nnali simanyi bwe mpita ku ggeeti ya yunivaasite n’eggwala kyokka bwe nasangawo munywanyi wange Ssentumbwe, bwe twazirunda, twayogeramu bitono n’anzikiriza okuyingira nga mmulimbye nti nzizaayo omu ku bakozi b’omwo mulamu wange awummuddemu mu mutto gw’emabega tuva ku mbaga mu kibuga. Teyatawaana na kukebera, ng’andeka nga mpitawo nga nserengesa lintu lyange.


Nagezaako okuzuukusa Doreen kyokka nga yenna tategeera biri ku nsi. Oluvannyuma yazibulamu katono ne mmubuuza awali ebisumuluzo  kyokka ng’avuya buvuya. Nakwata ensawo ye ne nkebera ebisumuluzo, olwo ne nneebagajja lintu lyange ne ndiyingiza mu kasirise. Ekyannyamba tewali yatulaba, mpozzi nga baali mu madirisa na bumooli nga mwe balingiririza. 


Najja nneesunze okutiiya Doreen ekitiiyo naye akinnyonnyoke oba kale nze waakiri nkinnyonnyoke naye bwe mmutuusa bwe nti mu ntebe, ne ntandika okumuweeweeta ate awo n’awaliramu katono. Ku budde obwo yali asiiya busiiya nga ansaba kimu ndeke kumukolako mikolo, nnindeko. “Miisaaki, naawe! Sooka olindemuuko. Kale lindako nnina kye nkugamba. Ayiiii, sooka oleke naaweeee!” Namugamba nti, “Kale nkulese nno mbuulira ky’oŋŋamba.”


Awo Doreen, eyabuulukuka ng’amenvu ga ndiizi yenna ng’abulako kuliibwa, kwe kwogera nti, “Hmmnh, kyokka ggwe mwana ggwe…” Awo ne ntwala olugalo okuluyisa mu bisambi nga bwe yeekuniza ate nga bw’asiita ebigere n’okuntangira nti, “Nedda, sooka olindeko! Mpulira ebintu ebyo mbitya! Leka nno tuteese naaweee….” Olwo nno ng’omukono gwange ogubadde gwolekera obwengula, agunywerezza awo mu gasambi agaboobevu agabuguma tayagala gweyongereyo.  Ku budde obwo nnali ntetenkanya we nnyinza kugula bupiira si kulwa nkalakata ekintu ekinanzaalira ebitukula. 


Wabula mu kulwana ennyo nga Doreen anneegayirira tuteese, engalo zange zeesogga awali omukwesese gw’emmese ya Doreen. Nagenda okuwulira nga mpulirayo ekikaluba. Okukwatako obulungi nga omukulu ali mu ndoobe (pad) abagenyi bakamyufu baamukyalidde era nga simanyi lwe balikyaluka. Natya nnyo era n’ekyagala kyanzigwako. Nafuluma ne ngulira Doreen amata ku kantiini ssaako amenvu ne kkeeki bye yantuma.


Namusiibula ne nzikirira ewa Maama nneebake. Omukadde namugwako bugwi era yeewuunya nnyo obutamutegeezaako nti nzija, ne mmulimba nti nsiibye mu nnimiro yange ku kyalo Mawu era obudde gye bunzibiddeko nga njigga basajja abanaasaawa ensiko mu kitundu ekyali kiduumye omuddo. 


Doreen ndowooza bwakya alowooza nze era essimu ye ye yampawamula mu kirooto kye nnali ndoota nga ndya ennyama y’akamyu. Yanneebaza okumutwalako ‘awutu’ era n’anneetondera olw’okunkomya ku njokye nti naye bambi si bwe yali ayagadde, kyokka n’ansuubiza okunzikakkanya ku lwakiriro mu bwangu ddala.

 


Naddayo ewuwe ne mmulabako ne nnywaayo ka caayi oluvannyuma ne mmukwanga emitwalo ena, n’afukamira okwebaza! Nagamba nti oba mpase ono anzaalire ebyana ebirungi, anti nga ndaba n’empisa zimuyisa kuli! Omukazi afukamirafukamira atyo nzijukira yali Nakimuli, gwe nnali nfunidde ku mupiira e Namboole. Bannange Nakimuli, ow’omu katale k’e Kireka, yali afukamira, ho! Nga buli kimu afukamira, kyokka nga tetuli na bafumbo! Oyo nno naye yawooma n’asukka. Oba yalaga wa? Mmaze emyaka 10 simuwuliza.


Nadda mu kkekete lyange ne ndikalakata okudda ku kibuga nga tulagaanye ku wiikendi eddako tusisinkane. Wabula Doreen yankubira essimu nga nnaakatuuka n’antegeeza nti yeetegerezza nga ajja kuba ‘off’ (ajja kutwala ennaku ze ez’okuwummulamu) ku Lwokutaano n’Olwomukaaga oluddako era namulaalika nti mmweetegekedde ng’ensanafu bwe zeetegekera omutamiivu ekiro.

 


Ku olwo nannyuka mangu ne nzira awaka era nga obumere bwange bwonna obwali butera okunkyalira ku wiikendi mbuyimirizza n’okububikira nga bwe nfiiriddwa mu kyalo nti ŋŋenze kuziika. Eggwala lino Erinyarwanda nalikima ku siteegi awo e Wankulukuku ne tugenda awaka ku makya. 


Nagenda ndiwaana nti, “Ffiga yonna na buli kirungi ekiri ku bamalayika baabibaggyako ne babiwa ggwe!” Nga nno lyo bwe lyesesa nti, “Hmmnh, Kyokka ggwe nno! Hmmnh! Nze ndeka onoonya okundyako ebyange by’otonnasasulira ewaffe!” Ko nze nti, “Yiiyii, ogenze okuntunuulira nga ndabika okukulyako ebibyo? Ggwe naawe togenda kundya?”


Awo kwe kunziramu nti, “Yiii, ggwe oyagala okundya kyokka mpulira nkutidde. Laba bw’ondeese ne gye simanyi! Oba kiki ekindiko? N’engeri gye nzize wano sigitegedde! Simanyi Misaaki oli mulogo nga wandoga?”Ko nze nti, “Nange simanyi. Naye weebale kujja kundabako na kusalawo osuleko ewange.” Doreen awo yanziramu nti, “Bakazi bo tebansanga ne bankubira wano?”

 


Awo kwe kumukakasa, kyokka nga mmudyekadyeka n’okumusiikasiika ssaako okumukuba adiisi nti sirina bawala, nti abakazi baali bantama era nti bulijjo nnoonya mukazi omutuufu, bwentyo akageri ke nfunye ye, nti awo omutima gunzise era gundi wamu ka twagalane batubaggyemu embaawo. “Akageri ke nkufunye, ggwe nkwesoose era nkubuukinze. Ekyo ne mu ggulu bakiwandiise!” olwo anti ntabbira eggwala Erinyarwanda nga bwe tuyingira mu nju nzenna nfa ejjakirizi. 


Doreen yanziramu nti, “Kyokka bannange! Nze tonsesa. Ombuukinze, ogenze okulaba nga ndi ndibota?” Awo ne tuseka ne tuyingira ne nsooka nkweka mangu akagatto k’oluwala lu Fiona olw’e Rakai, ebiseera ebyo olwateranga okunkyalira. Lwali lwerabira omugogo gw’engatto zaalwo era emu eyali eringiza nagisindika wansi w’entebe nga Doreen tagirabye. 


Nayagala ntandikirewo naye Doreen n’aŋŋamba nti, “Kkakkana. Wano sigenda kuvaawo. Opapa ki ng’ate okimanyi nti ndi wa kusula onkole buli kimu ky’oyagala? Kyokka bannange Misaaki?” Twasookera mu byakulya kyokka ne nzijukira nti sirinaawo ggirikooti. Nneefuula aliko kye nkimye ku dduuka era awali ‘pharmacy’ okumpi we bammanyi, nayitawo buyisi si kulwa bansunga! Awo nneeyongerayo eyo ku kkubo eriyita emabega w’ekisaawe ky’e Wankulukuku, gye nagula ggirikooti nga nzenna nneebisse akakoofiira ate nnyambadde gujjaketi saagala bandabe mu maaso.


Nagulayo bu kkaadi bwa matatu era twasooka kukuba matatu nga ndekera Doreen n’ampangula, nsobole okumusanyusa. Twanyumirwa nnyo naye nga nze nfa ejjakirizi nga nninda ssaawa yokka eri eyalagirwa. 


Nagenda okukwata ku Munyarwanda wange nga yayidde dda! Okumusitula w’abadde atudde nga wonna wasaze ogupaapi ogunene ne ŋŋamba nti luno luno, ho! 


Okumwebasa ku kitanda, yafuuwa aga ttaapu nga galinga olukka ne gagwa emirannamiro w’ekitanda, ne njula okugwamu ekisujja ky’ekitengo. Nagamba nti, ono anaasoboka ono, eh!! Bukya ndya myungu ku luno nno kirabika ŋŋenda kumeketa butanga!


Ebyaddirira bya nkya oba luli. Mubeere bulungi!