A proud father about his kids: Mr. Bikosa

I have not had time to write about my late father since he died. It is not that I have been too busy to do this. I write by instinct and somehow, that had not come to me until now. I will write this for myself. Then I will get another time to write another piece for my brothers and sisters, my mother, and perhaps other people. I will. There are many things to write about CHB. Most of it is fantastic stuff.

See a photo of Dad and Peter here. Peter is my youngest brother. He enjoyed Dad's love. There are things any first son would write about an excellent father. I looked up to my CHB so much. I trusted him fully. I still do. In my life now after 40 years, I have not found anyone that trusted me like my father. He was so sure I was on the right track. His sort of trust in me and the rest of his children was scary. My father believed in his heart that I was an upright man. My father even boasted among his peers that we his children were cool. I listened to him many times saying this. Sometimes he said these things after a bottle or two. Some of you will not understand this. CHB despised bad behavior to the core of his nerves. As his first son, I know how much he wanted me to be disciplined at school. He made it a point to introduce me to teachers and school heads.

Beautiful Day: We got another wife on Saturday 23rd!

In our culture, a wife is for the home or maybe I should write that a wife belongs to the home! You don't go get a woman alone and have her alone! Not at all. Getting a wife is a clan or family business. It is an affair that involves many people. By the way, on the day of 'giving away' the girl to her suitor, the father hands her to the father of the groom. And it is always a moment of joy where both families have their most close family, friends, and acquaintances present. There are some special songs, monologues, folks, brainteasers, some dancing, nice food and drink, and elegance. Anyway, we can write about this next time... I have taken some time without writing. Not by my own making. It has been a tough period. I hope to write about it soon. Dap passed on and it will take God-given courage to write about that. He was such a good friend of mine. Such a good man. That's a piece for another day. But I thought I would make a note. Today we stepped out as a family, as a group of friends as Kin for a function to receive a wife. She is the 4th wife joining our family: The Bikosa Family. We first got Cathy who is my wife, We got Sherrie who is Edmunds, we got Patience who Edson’s and today we got Angella who is Peters'. Isn't God good? We are a full house. to bond, love one another, and rejoice.

Angella comes from a very decent family. The Auncle who gives Angela's hand in marriage is a very good man. He is a retired head teacher of secondary schools and a very respected member of the community. He is Mr. Polly Turambure. I have enjoyed every bit of interacting with him on this journey of Peter and Angella getting married. Such men who are well respected yet down to earth are few here. God bless him. Angella's mum is a bit emotional. Joy fully. She spoke motherly at the Kuhingira function today. I am not sure Angella will forget a thing. Our mothers are special.

At the Kihingira function today, Peter and Angella were very smart. I have a strong feeling they selected their type of music for the party. I thought the decoration was exquisite! You will agree with me. Look at the background of the ladies’ photo here. It was some African blended touch with bright golden lights around. Who doesn’t want nice things? It was all gospel - some nice selection of trending gospel songs. See what the Lord has done! Graham Tugume The pastor from Watoto Church prayed for them. Before that, he preached. He exposed I Corinthians 13. "Love does not dishonor...because honor is the position of God's Children. God bless Graham for this exposition.

We had a good ride going back home to - Nyakareire in the evening. We drove thiking about the beutiful day amd the gain. The weather was excellent all day. The rains were hard in the previos days but this day was all cool weather. It would look like it would rain but only to keep a dull shadow. It was perfect weather for the day! We will have a wedding function on January 19th, 2024 in Kampala. God has been good, God is good, may the name of the Lord be praised.

The Kuhingira function was held the Palm World Hotel in Mbarara. That of course was reminiscence in all ways! I and Cathy hosted our wedding reception at the very sport on May 7th, 2011. And I had no hand in choosing this as the venue for Agella’s Kuhingira. I think it was a nice coincidence. Like some other nice things come to us.

Rain drops in an emotional full season!

Let me tell you something, God is amazing! Amidst all storms and being overwhelmed, God is present. This weekend was an interesting one! We have a good harvest of coffee after all. But then my Dad is unwell. In fact, we drove in an ambulance very early on a last Saturday morning for 5 hours to the city. The story can be told well by the air. Not by people. But we had spent a night at another hospital where we never met a doctor. Surprisingly the hospital has a name to the effect that it is an open area or square in a town for doctors. Because I think that is the definition of what a Plazza is. That's the name of the Hospital actually. But there was no doctor on duty at night or at least we did not see one that night. in the morning, the first doctor must have shown up at 9:00hrs. Oh, what a night it was!!

But anyway, I want to tell you that the drops of rain are soothing. at 14hrs. Amidst the emotional environment, the rain started in this part of the city. And so I felt so normal. Everything else goes on anyway. When we were young, I used to enjoy the sound of raindrops on the banana plantation near our house. I loved it. This memory takes me back to the days. Let it rain!! Thank you.

A book for every child in a remote village in Uganda

Dear Friend, March 2nd, 2023, is World Book Day! In Uganda, like in many other Sub-Saharan African countries, this is not a day that is celebrated a lot. yet we should. The Wordbook Day.Com states that ‘Reading for pleasure is the single biggest indicator of a child’s future success – more than their family circumstances, their parents’ educational background or their income.’ For us in Uganda and particularly in our village of Nyungu, children do not own books. As a matter of fact, some adults don’t own books either. They are illiterate. The adult literacy rate of Uganda increased from 56.1 % in 1991 to 79 % in 2021 growing at an average annual rate of 6.15%. We still have over 20% of adults who cannot read and write. We have 4 primary schools in our area each about 2.5 miles apart. None of these schools has a school library. None of the schools own a computer. Children start school and finish primary school level (grade 7) to join secondary school before they own a book. Before they take basic computer lessons. We are working to change this. Our family has set up the first village library in our entire district. The Nyungu Streams Village Library. The library is owned by the village and run by an elected village committee. The village library has a daily newspaper available for community members to read. We have over 250 books and magazines for children and adults. Our reading space accommodates 8 adults and 10 children at every single sitting. It is small but ‘enough’ for our village to use. We are excited about the contribution we are making. We want to do more. We want to conduct the mobile library for schools. We want to make sure that every child of 5-6 years in our community owns at least one good book. That’s the age at which the majority of the children start school in our community. This year, 304 children started primary school at the 4 schools in our neighborhood. Will you support us to hand them a book? Each good book will cost us about $5 in Uganda. We are also looking for $2,500 to procure a tricycle with a big metallic bookcase for our mobile library needs. This way, we will visit each of the 4 primary schools in our village once a month with books to lend out to children and teachers.

Our work is intentional and we are sure to make a great contribution to children's motivation to remain in school. Many children are dropping out of school. Data from the Ministry of Education shows that of the 1,880,000 learners who joined Primary One in 2016, only 832,659 completed Primary Seven. This means that 1,047,341 (56%) learners dropped out along the way. This statistic is appalling. Partner with us today to bring the change we desire! Lets promote reading together. Like Worldbook Day.com ‘’We want to see more children, particularly those from disadvantaged backgrounds, with a life-long habit of reading for pleasure and the improved life chances this brings them.’’ Send us an email: Streams Community at nyungustreamscommunity@gmail.com

It is 15 Years Working with Childcare Projects!

I have had the opportunity to work on childcare projects since 2007. It is 15 years now! I thank God for this life-given chance to impact and transform lives! All the projects I have worked on concern Orphans and other vulnerable children. The current project that I work with is amazing. We support child caregivers. Children who are the sole carers to their dying parents who are enrolled in #hospice care. Just like other projects that I have worked on, these children suffer a great deal of psychosocial distress. They are deprived of their childhood. They get to do things that adults should otherwise do. Fend for families, offer bedside care for sick adults, clean, think hard and wonder. They miss playing and doing other things that children do. They have to grow up fast due to the nature of the roles they play. We do our best to offer support and instill hope. Some of these boys and girls exhibit exceptional academic potential. We pay their school fees. We have some in colleges now. They will be professionals soon! I am always encouraged whenever I meet one of them that has made it through school. Full of hope and realizing their full life potential. It is always gratifying. One of the other things is that some of these children face life-threatening illnesses themselves. Some face cancer and HIV/AIDs. Our work enables them to access and continue treatment. We never have these children in foster care. No! We support these children within their communities and with help of their communities. This work is supported by generous people. Both in-country and abroad. It is amazing how many people come to help. You too can join us to support. We need a larger family of supporters. Wherever you are on the globe. Email me mark.mwesiga@pcau.org.ug or use markmwesiga@gmail.com Or WhatsApp me at +256785884505. Be one of our partners. This is charity work that has great community transformation potential. I will out to hear from you. Today is the last day of the Global Giving September 2022 Little by Little campaign! Every amount donated to parents will be matched by 50%. https://lnkd.in/dDA5FFSn #hospicecare #community #dying You could use this platform to donate. But other options are available. I will look out for your email. Thank you. Mark

I got MPH and was at the Graduation Ceremony in Person

On May 6th, 2022, I woke up a bit early. I normally get out of bed at 6:30 am on my usual days. But that Friday, I got up a few minutes earlier. It was such a rainy morning. My daughter got me to wake up early. She is close to 5 years and very cheeky. She was excited about my graduation. I had brought the graduation gown the previous night and she had asked very many questions. I agreed to her request that we would be together at the graduation ceremony. She was overjoyed. She made sure to wake up so early to wake me up to prepare. 

So we drove to Uganda Martyrs University-Main Campus in Nkozi. It is about 70 KM from Entebbe to Nkozi. 

I decided to attend this graduation ceremony because the journey to it was a bit rough. When I did a master' Degree at Uganda Management Institute just a few years ago, it was not as tough. My job then was not as busy and I was a bit younger. I always don't find issues with academic stuff. 

During my MPH studies, I just had no time! I missed several lectures mostly due to but also a few social demands. When we had just started the MPH our daughter was born. I was in class that evening. on Friday 22nd September 2017. I received a distress call to rush home. I missed some lectures that weekend. I was overjoyed by the smile on the baby's face as I prayed for her on the morning of Sept 23rd. I just couldn't go to class. No way! I think I missed classes for the next weekend too. We used to have to sleep in turns to offer care etc.  

But work demands made it rougher. In the middle of the studies was in the USA in July 2018 over work matters. I missed a couple of lectures which was not so bad. Bit missed the class test and coursework. I was returning home on Thursday so I could attend lectures and a test on the weekend. I missed my flight on KLM. I had been booked on a bus from Mishawaka in Indiana to Chicago. The bus had many stops. Too many stops! At one time even a new driver joined and the other driver who was leaving the seat took about 25 minutes giving instructions. They were both black people. I thought of speaking to them in Runyankole that we had over-delayed on the way. All along, I was looking at my watch. The last announcement to take-off was made for my scheduled flight was made just as I checked in at the airport. I remember the hasty voice of the lady who was announcing. I think more than one passenger missed that Chicago - Amsterdam flight that afternoon. They announced so many times that I felt dizzy. In the USA airports, there is too much security checking. You need to be at the airport for at least 2 hours to make it smooth. I think the ideal is 3 hours as is the norm for sure. Anyway, I missed the flight. I had to be booked on another flight the next day. The work partners I had visited were kind to book me on another KLM flight the next day. Somehow I got on business lass for that trip. I enjoyed that. But didn't attend the tests at school that weekend too. As we neared completing the course, I got a leadership role at work. The demand for my time for work further increased. I think it doubled this time! Some of these jobs can be so time demanding. As a matter of fact, there should be some compensation for this. I will be advocating for this kind of thing at my next level soon! So I had to retake one exam. 

Retaking an exam was not easy. I had never failed an exam. Anyway, there is always the first time. The university also asked me to pay for the exam, delayed handing in research reports, and missed the graduation year. It was a lot of money. I paid anyway. If there are any gifts you send, bring cash hahaha! 

So I got the Masters in Public Health - MPH - Health Promotion. It was joyful to be there. At the graduation ceremony. There were lots of people and dancing. The Prime Minister Rt. Hon. Robina Nabanja was the Chief Guest. I like her 'reality'. She speaks good English. I waited for her speech and she didn't disappoint. She gave out some brown envelopes to everyone who was awarded anything. She is a lovely woman. I think.

It was such a rainy morning all through. I found my classmates who had missed earlier graduation too. that was a bit of relief or call it consolation. So had some photo moments as the ceremony went along. I can imagine some organized parties etc. They were equally excited to have come to the end. Let us see if we go ahead to read more. The bottom line is that something more should have to come. Change!

  

The next day was May 7th. it was 11 years of Marriage for us. We didn't quite celebrate. But we had a nice talk and great feelings. we attended a wedding party for Mr. Patrick Mutabwire's son. Uncle Patrick as we call him is a friend of my father. he never misses any weddings at our home. The groom didn't dance a bit at all. We laughed about it. Later on, as we left the reception, Hazel and Omukyala did some dancing. We drove home talking and feeling good. 

Hazel & Cathy Dance

The next day Sunday the 8th was mothers day! 

With Mum on Mothers Day 2022

That same weekend, our high school English teacher, friend, and now mother-in-law had a thanksgiving church service. She had attained a Ph.D. in Languages, Culture, and Society. We were excited about that. Teacher Alice Tumwesigye was now Dr. Alice. We loved it at the church. The Rt. Rev. Dr. Sheldon Mwesigwa preached about being grateful. We drove to Kampala after the Church service. We had some photo moments outside the church after the church service.  

With Alice Jossy Kyobutungi Tumwesigye (PhD), Peter, Cathy, Mum, and Hazel 

It was such a great weekend. 

It was not a Joyful Easter Holiday 2022 !

Romans 14:8

If we live, we live for the Lord; and if we die, we die for the Lord. So, whether we live or die, we belong to the Lord (NIV). 

 

Let me tell you something, I believe that times and seasons pass with events. The rainy season passes with the plating of crops. The dry season passes with harvesting and drying the harvest. Christmas passes with eating and merry-making.  So I often want to mark my times and seasons with certain events.

 

For Christmas and Easter holidays I always travel with my family to the village.

 

There was a time during my undergraduate studies at Makerere University when I missed going home for Christmas. That year remains in my memory. I think there was a student’s strike that forced exams to be pushed into near Christmas day. Students led strikes nearly every semester during our time at Makerere. We would run all over. The Police would chase us with tear gas and rubber bullets. Some of the rowdy students used such strikes to run over kiosks, shops, and food stalls. I always never participated in strikes myself but the Police would chase everyone around the hill anyway. I think the Police had some poor orientation about student-led strikes. So I missed traveling home for Christmas so I could concentrate and pass my exams. I did pass excellently. But missing my travel home remains in my memory.   

 

This particular 2022 Easter weekend, our relative Abias Kigambirwe was wedding his partner Barbra of 10 + years. The wedding was on Saturday, April 16th, 2022. I didn’t have a specific role at the party. I was asked to drive to church with some of our relatives who sought to attend church. I did. We had a great wedding service at Emmanuel Church Kabwohe. The Rev. Canon Bejuura is a great preacher. He told us the difference between boiling milk and boiling water. Boing milk that if left unattended becomes a mess. But boiling water dries up slowly. To him, marriage needs attention. If left unattended, it boils to make a mess. Because he thinks that there is always ‘boiling’ in marriage. Milk is a delicacy in my homeland. In fact, our part of Uganda is referred to as the land of milk and honey. 

 

With Rev. Canon Nyabwere (right) myself after, Edmund, Rev Canon Bejuura and Naboth Tumwine after the weeding of Abias and Barbra at Emmanuel church Kabwohe. 

After the church service, we had photo moments. One of such photos was with Rev. Cannon Nyabwere. You should have read about this man on my blog. He was my godfather and grandfather. He loved me. I helped him write his autobiography. Edmund my young brother had driven with Cannon Nyabwere to church. They drove together talking. After the church service, we drove home and enjoyed the party in the village. We had good food. While at the party, Rev. Cannon Nyabwere was asked to speak. As an elder of the community. He said 3 words: Nashemererwa, nashemererwa, nashemererwa, this was an expression that he was happy.  

 

That evening, after the party I spoke to Cannon Nyabwere. He told me that I was the one supposed to preach at our church. I responded that the Lay reader had not informed me. He looked a bit bothered by my response. He wondered why the lay reader had not communicated. We parted well. 

 

Later in the middle of the night, Cannon Nyabwere became unwell. He was driven to a hospital by one of his nephews. We had our Easter Sunday at church without him. It was very unusual.

 

On Tuesday, I traveled to see him at Ruharo Mission Hospital. He was weak. But in a jovial mood. He instructed his attendant to remove the mosquito net so that I and he could speak to each other. We had a good chat. He shared with me his plans. He requested that we build a children’s chapel. I encouraged him that all would be well, I parted with him at around 9:30 pm. 

Before I left the hospital, I spoke to the doctors. Good enough these are people who were known to me. One of them told me that Cannon suffered from pneumonia.

 

The following day, I spent my day at Kisiizi Hospital. I had a work trip there to meet the leadership of the facility. That evening just before 8:00 pm. Rev. Canon Nyabwere died. We were all shocked. I informed my mother who in turn informed my father. My father has been unwell for some time. That evening, I had asked that he shouldn’t be informed of the death of Cannon. But my mother knows my father more than I know him. She insisted on informing him. She did. My father was strong. As a matter of fact, he walked well the next day to pay his last respects. He even had a chat with people around. His main statement was that Cannon had remained with his skin texture and muscle. This was true! Cannon looked peaceful sleeping.

 

So, Rev. Canon Nyabwere died. He was a man of great faith. He did a lot of good for others. He did not personally possess much. One could say that he was a ‘poor’ man. But that would be such a huge joke. Yes, he had no cows and big banana plantations or coffee plantations but he had lots of people to his name. Multitudes! He had friends across Ankole, Kigezi and Budanda. He had mentored and supported so many people. In fact, my own father was partly educated by him. 

 

On Thursday morning at 4:30 am, my mother woke me up with a shout. She walked from her outside of her house and shouted at my window. I had to join the Parish Priest Rev. Canon Mugasira, and the Archdeacon the Rev. Canon Mwehongye to go and support the team at the hospital to make a program for Rev. Cannon Nyabwere’s final send-off. I drove from home with Nathan Mbarebaki from Rutooma and the parish priest. Nathan is a churchman who has been part of many missions. He is kind of different from his brothers who are also our friends. Some of his brothers enjoy beer. They always speak in tongues thereafter their sessions in our home trading center.

 

I supported the process of bringing the body of Rev. Cannon Nyabwere home. My brother Edmund helped us to contact his friends the run funeral services. I called my other brother Peter too. We had to mobilize some initial little monies to help us move.

 

We buried him on Saturday. His burial was attended by a multitude of people. The burial expenses bill was huge but it was all covered by mourners. I should say the bill was covered by cannon and his friends.  In fact, we had some leftover funds. I can add briefly that before his death, he would tell us that he desired never an expensive burial. As a matter of fact, he would ask that we don’t slaughter a cow or something like that at his burial. But we got 3 big cows to feast on. There was lots of food all the days of the mourning for everyone. 

 

God revealed himself. 

 

Psalm 34:10

The lions may grow weak and hungry, but those who seek the LORD lack no good thing (NIV). 

 

At his burial, a speech written by him was read. He had written it sometime back. He instructed us as his godchildren to meet every Easter Monday. I hope we do! 

 

After the burial, I visited one of our surviving grandmothers. They are three remaining. One is in Rwakizibwa, another in Rweyeshera, and another in Bunyaruguru. I visited the one in Rweyeshera which is closer to home. She told me how God had Kept Cannon Nyabwere as an only child of his mother. His father did not necessarily offer support. The father was the kind of man of those days who would have many wives. One time, Cannon Nyabwere as a youth was imprisoned for some reason. It was while in short detention that he found favor. The sub-country prison attendant allowed him out to graze their goats. He had food at the staff quarters and was able to do some schooling. This opened his world to civilization. My grandmother also told another story about how this man had survived death.  One day, a wall in the house he stayed with his mother fell. It took the community some time to dig up the rabble to get him. God kept him alive. His mother had also naturally escaped.

 

According to my grandmother, cannon Nyabwere was the older brother during their youth days. It is possible that Cannon was born before 1926. But for now, we take 1926 as his year of birth. After all, that is what he stated in his book. People of long ago in our community have no birth date records. Somehow, an estimation of age is always made.

 

God

blessed Cannon Nyabwere! He gave him a lot of friends. So much.

Dorah our younger cousin and one of Rev. Can Nyabwere's immediate grandchildren received a bible upon installation as heir.  

The next morning after his burial. His will was read. He left our young cousin Dora as the heir. Dora is a nurse. She was charged with the responsibility of making sure that the great legacy continues. She will do it! No doubt! 

 

We will miss him!