Kakoba...Childhood!

Mark Mwesiga Araali (from where Araali came from, only God knows), I'm not known for being emotional but your article certainly brought out exactly that. Its the first article i have read over and over again.

Kakoba; a place we called home for good and colorful 10 years. Memories come in shifts like el nino rains leaving behind nostalgic waves. On a warm evening, we returned home from Bishop Stuart Demonstration P/s to find new neighbours; two healthy (read big) brown boys; Mark and Edmund Tumwesiga. You joined our already big army of wanton boys; Atwine Andrew, Peter, Mugaiga, Innocent, Abibu, Latin and Hakim etc. We would make up a football team. You would later be our inseparable friends. Edmund and I were young but looked at you, as our elder and you did that exceedingly. You acted big brother roles, guided us, advised us and truthfully, we feared you out of respect. You lever of conceptualisation was far higher than your age. You grew before you could grow. I remember one evening when Ayiya (He used to stay at Mr. Ilalia's place) slapped Edmund Tumwesiga (was also the first time I saw that big guy cry and I pray the last). That's when I understood the meaning of the adage...touching a leopard's anus. As his elder brother, you led us to wage war on Ayiya with stones and chased him the whole College over. And we always knew that in you, we were protected.

I remember our evening walks in, around and beyond the College, Nganwa Hall fading paths, climbing the Rwemigina/Kaburangire hills. Recently, I visited them and save for many gardens and pine trees that decorated the plateaus, they are still as refreshing as ever. There is a time, we strolled down those mountains through the water gullies near Mzee Katsigazi's place down to Ekirehe amidst fear of snakes or proverbial animals thought to dwell in those dark places. Like Vasco Da Gama and his ilk, we navigated those vallies till we found our way home.

I also remember the crazy things we did...In your Vacation and there was a dance in the main Hall at the College. And as usual, you were always smart and with your stature, earned you a right to dance with any lady (madam shouldn't read this). But I was a small young man and with little self-esteem (if any). As you danced with a beautiful lady, I looked around and grabbed the nearest to me. Little did I know, she had a disfigured face... And you knew. As I closed in on her, you were silently praying for me not to....and I finally grabbed. In your words, you said "Yaza kumukwata...yaza kumukwata....yamukwataa) hahahahaaaaa. The following day, we laughed our lungs out.

Thank you for loving me, you a brother I owe a life. Your house was our house. Katabazi's porridge was our porridge. And 11 years down the road, you are still my elder brother, mentor, role model and I will never miss an opportunity to listen to you counsel. I shall always be grateful. I thank God that we grew together and to live to tell the tale. Tr. Bazitiire is in Ntungamo, still teaching. And surely, we need a weekend together to share, laugh... reminiscing about Reeba Ahiturugire. May the good Lord grant us longevity to share such in our 80s and 90s with our children and grand children.

Conned MPs failed morality test: Period!

In Uganda, the Police arrested and paraded Franklyn Babibasa suspected of obtaining money from Members of parliament (MPs) who desired to be appointed Ministers. This story was run by various media and many commented. According to the story, some Members of Parliament had recorded statements at the police pinning the arrested man. It was a rather unfortunate story. That a person of the stature of a Member of Parliament can be lured to pay money for a ministerial post points out bigger concerns. For starters, Members of Parliament are expected to be some of the enlightened members of our society. They are should for example be of the caliber that understand that appointment of Cabinet is a prerogative of the Head of State. While sending money to the suspected conman, they intend to bribe the President?

This story in the press fell short of mentioning the names of MPs that had recorded statements with the police but eventually they will be known is the case proceeds to court. Whether the suspect is finery found culpable or not, the MPs who are said to have been conned are indebted to the public and out to explain their actions. It is important that the Ministry of Ethics and Integrity, the Leadership of Parliament and the Presidency take interest in this matter. Whereas the Police have duly done their work of arresting the suspect, the public image of our leaders and institutions are at stake in the eyes of the public.

The crux of the matter is the extent to which some members of society seek to attain positions, wealth and privileges through short cuts. Still with the MPs for example, the courts of Law have found a number of them without required academic qualifications to be in Parliament. As a result, their seats have been declared vacant. Normally, the courts stop at punishing such MPs by kicking them out of Parliament and perhaps by issuing court fines. However such MPs out to answer the moral questions. They out to explain why knowingly they chose to use uncertain ways to attain leadership positions.

There is need to rethink the whole idea of reinforcing our moral fabric. The responsible government institutions ought to find ought to find out other strategies of making national leaders accountable to the public for their dishonesty. As the courts enforce the Justice and constitutional matters, the other departments need to complement by looking at the ethics and the integrity of the culpable leaders. 

Such measures would go a long way in mitigating behaviors of the young who look up to the leaders. While the young people for example grapple with unemployment, some of them believe that for anybody to attain employment they have to bribe their way there. Conmen have therefore thrived at targeting unsuspecting graduates both for Jobs in the Private and Public Sectors. The conmen have extended to lower governments and the us suspecting retired long retired Civil Servants who head District Service Commissions been targeted. Whereas some employers or their agents obtain bribes or employ on reference of relatives, in some instances comment take advantage of unsuspecting job seekers.

The notions of hard work and merit out to be championed by our leaders and all those in positions of authority. The Church and the Mosque need to take practical steps in correcting members of their congregations and not only to console them. Such would ensure role models for the future generation.