A Season of Parties at Home! The Joy of Giving Away!

Barbra the beautiful bride on Dec 24th 2018

We just had a mevoluous season!

Okuhingira Barbara. Then her wedding to her beloved Justus and all that comes with it.

Barbra my young sister is the only girl among my mothers children. I hope this is good English. We are four boys and her. So my mother produced the five of us.

My mother is a strong woman. I need to cross check this fact but I think before her early 30 years of age, she had all of us here and about. My father got her just in time. She is therefore still beautiful and energetic. You can read about her in my other pieces on my blog.

Before I found Omukyara the two: Barbra and my Mother were the only women of my life. Later on, my friend Humura joined. I now have four of them. I also have other two sisters and a brother. So add to the five I mentioned earlier on. We are a a big family.

Of the women of my life, Omukyara and Humura occupy more space on my mind because they are full time partners.

Now Barbra has left with another man.

Barbara in the sitting room at home on her
give away Dec 24th 2018 

I can tell you something small about Barbra. Just something brief about her childhood. She grew up loved. My grandmother gave Barbra many names. The prominent one was Nyakikongoro. But there was also another name: Ekiteramasinde! I particularly liked the second name. I could tell you why, if we had evening tea together. The other thing that I remember about Barbra is that she really breastfed. Actually, she would go out playing and whenever she was tied, she could come to my mother and ask to drink. On the day she let go, a lady friend of my mother had visited. It is the friend that advised that way. So they sent me for some red paper which was applied on my mother's breast. This was enough. Barbra went out crying never to touch our mother's breast again. Barbra had excellent health all through her childhood. I don't remember her getting bedridden due to sickness. The rest of us had some malaria episodes here and there. But not much. We all really had good health. nothing threatening. Thank the heavens. Many children in our community suffered all sorts of illnesses.

There is something else I remember but cannot write here. It's one of those funny things that ought to be kept a secret.

In our culture, there is a proverb which attests that "...it's better for an old woman who studied your childhood days to die before you are an adult..." Akakeikuru kakumanya kuri okura kakafa.. Whenever we meet at home, we normally share those childhood memory things. Some of those things are too funny. I think it will be cool when our children grow to hear some of these stories. They will laugh! Or by the way they may find the stories not funny. Kids of these days do not face life the way we did. Who among them will go to well to fetch water ? Or go out grazing cattle ? I think my brothers will agree with me. Our kids will miss our kind of life. They are here wearing shoes in cars hehehehe.

Barbara studied at great schools, Kashozi Boarding Primary School, Keizooba Girls, Bweranyangi Girls and later faced the gates of the great Makerere for her undergraduate.

I think Barbra did not study primary one. Because our mother was a primary school teacher, Barbra stayed with Mum in P.2 untill she was of age to proceed to P.3. Actually most of my Mums former pupils now big people did carry baby Barbara.

You know, teachers had a way of bring their children in class. The baby would be in the conner as lessons are going on. At break time, it was fine to find the other children requesting to carry the baby. It was just fine.  Is this still happening ?

So Barbra must have had at least two or three years in Primary two. She skipped Nursery and Primary one.

Leaving aside the light side, Barbra is now a woman! Soon she will have a clan around her. Her own children etc. Perhaps I will also add other women at my household to follow my friend Humura. This is about seasons that come and go. Do you know that song ? It's a cool song by the Anglican Youth Fellowship - AYF. They are very good! I sometimes wonder why they still refer to themselves as youth. these are some mature guys. But they are still AYF. I should ask my best man why this is so. He knows these guys more. 

So we had such a great give away ceremony for Barbra at home. The weather was perfect, the food was plentiful and our friends and relatives showed up. Some of our friends actually visited home for the first time. My friend Mujuni came with his wife Patience. It was cool to receive Patience at home. Hope also came. She had her sister and brother. They enjoyed the party, at least they told me so. It's impossible for me to mention all friends that turned up. They were many! Thank you all for coming. The Area Member of Parliament,the District Chairperson and his dear wife, the Mayor of the Municipality  and many other leaders came too. 

To say it differently, we had a multitude of people at my fathers compound on December 24th 2018. One day, the younger ones who danced nearly all night will tell the stories. People of Peties' age and those younger. They danced till late. We had Ekibali singing and Doris dancing too. Great decoration by Teacher Alice and all other beautiful things that happened. We also had a good MC in Speed.

In the middle of it all, Lonah a long time friend of Barbara walked with her around. They actually danced walking. I have not yet conceived why dancing has become part of these parties. All I know is that in our culture, a bride is supposed to be as composed as a giraffe in strong wind. But this is changing. Brides and their entourage dance a round. some sing actually. So Barbra Danced too! She was beautiful and her entourage too. 

I gave a speech. I told everyone about our family. The four core attributes that make us:  

We believe and in Trust in God the giver of everything. 

We are humble people - our Dad especially.

We work hard - we are self made and seek our own identify. 

We love ourselves a lot - we are family - we care for one another. 

I then introduced people:  Our core Family, Ba - Shwenkuru , Ba shwento , Ba shwenkazi - Mr Mugisha and his entire family, Ba Marimi, Bamawento, Friends of our family - Rev. Rukundo, Mr Muhanguzi, our in-laws, Barbra's employers, our friends ad abataka. I thanked everyone! 

Barbara and her beutiful maids on Dec 29th 2018. 

Because of the Okuhingira things, our entire family missed church on December 25th. This was perhaps the first time in many years that we missed church on christmas day. Or maybe there was another time that I don't remember.

Did the church miss us ? I hope so. We had the church leaders the previous day at home. They are our people. Leaders at our church are forever friends to my parents. 

So we remained home on Dec 25th to clean around, wear off fatigue and all that. Stories from church indicated that they had a great service.

I was able to attend church on Dec 26th. The preacher, some old Reverend appealed to us to be bold in doing right. To stand firm on truth always. He spoke about St Stephen in Bible and how he died for the sake of the gospel of Jesus Christ. 

Barbra and Her Husband receiving a gift from Dr Kiiza Besigye.
In our culture, such occasions transcend politics.
My mother is a staunch NRM leader.
Leaders from diverse political parties were hosted at the party. 

On December 29th, Barbra and Justus had their wedding occasion.

This was at St Peter's Cathedral Bweranyangi. The couple enjoyed their day.

The choice of the church was perfect. Remember Barbra went to Bweranyangi Girls Secondary School for her high school. The school is just adjacent to the church of her wedding. Justus grew up around the same hill. What a memorable experience.

Barbara was beautiful. She is such a beauty. You know she resembles my Mum a lot. They are beautiful women.

The day was special. The couple hosted their guests at a hotel in Bushenyi town. We had a great time. My friend Norah did sing at their wedding. We had good food. Many people attended including the area Women Member of Parliament Bushenyi District and Dr Kiiza Besigye. It was sort of a mix of colours. What a cool day. Where love is, people from all walks of life meet and greet pleasantly. 

I gave a speech too: 

Barbra & Justus 

My parents Mr and Mrs Bikosa on whose behalf I stand to speak this day!  Religious Leaders, Political Leaders ,Our relatives, all our our friends , Ladies and Gentlemen! 

Barbra! 

What a beautiful day ! Can could you imagine such wonderful weather ? Look how beautiful you look! And everything thing here is beautiful!  Let me thank people who have been in your life! 

- Thank you Dad. You love us! You sacrificed a too much for us. 

- Thank you Mum. You love us.  

- Thank you - Edmund, Edson & Peter. You have loved Barbra too. 

- Thank you our wives - Omukyara, Nyamunyonyi and ; Kikwanzi. You have loved Barbra. 

- Thank you Barbara's friends! You are many! You have been with her. I could name those I know.

- Thank you all our relatives.

- Thank you so much the Bible Society of Uganda. Barbra has not worked else where. You received and embraced her. You are part of our family. Justus, please do yourself a favor. Live the work that Barbra does at BSU. Meet and befriend her friends and workmates at BSU. You will find it enriching and valuable. You will be in the right path that way. You will speak to Barbara's heart that way. 

Edmund has already said enough about Barbra. Let me add one thing. We love you Barbra. And we know you love us too. Justus, Barbra is a dedicated human being. You have to work with her. You need to think with her. You have married a serious woman. Be a real man. Mean this that you have started. 

Let me introduce introduce our family & Friends. 

-  Dad & Mum  Bashwento, Bashwenkazi, Omwahure weitu hamwe na Omuburuzi weitu, Bamarimi, Ba Nyakwento our in-laws.. sinc, Our Cousins - Thank you so much Polly, Paghi Mugisha & your wives for joining us. Thank you all our cousins who are here.  All our friends! Mwebare! 

Barbra, Dad & Mum gave you a heifer. Bikosa foundation gave you one too. Dad & Mum natured & educated you! Gyenda obe omukazi. Mukama akuhe omugyisha omukayaawe. 

On December 30th we visited a good lady in Rubindi. She is a good friend. A window, down to earth and one who loves. She gave gave to us from her granary. 

I preached at our Church on New Years Day. This had not been part of schedule for the season. The leader of our church asked me to through a phone call. I did accept.  

Mukama Asiimwe ! 

Mukurike omwaka bantumwe! 

This has been a long one! Let it stop here.

The Joke of the year during the give away ceremony of Barbra was that the next at our compound would be that of my friend Humura. We pray for you madam and look forward.

Session: 1 Be a Dependable Team Player!

Hi, I am writing to you on a Sunday afternoon !

We were at Lubowa today.

A good friend of mine currently heads a great organisation in town. His organization is the Federation of Uganda Employers.  He does many things because of this role and acumen. For the purpose of this write up, I will focus on his write ups in the New Vision news paper.  His write ups are published every Monday.

I read a news paper every day. I have something or someone to look up to daily. When I was growing up, I looked up to Mr Ras , Old Fox (never mind that some of it was adult content) and Ekanya.  Now I look up to other things. I never want to miss Muwonge C.W Magembe, my friend Mer Douglas Opio and others.

In one of his recent pieces Mr Opio wrote about the importance of building strong teams at a workplace. It was a good read. It made me remember an incident that happened years ago.

I will be brief with the story.  I will write it simply and plainly. Then I will return with the principles, theory and moral lessons in another session.

One time, I worked under a very good supervisor. I say good because he had a way of delivering through us his team. He equally worked hard and was dependable.You could count on him. He could stand by his word by all standards. At one time he instructed me to do something which backfired. He stood by his instruction and defended me including on media. He apologised for my mistake. He gave me confidence.

One of the key things that our division did for the organisation was to organise events.  So one time we had a big event to organise. As was nature of my supervisor, he invited me to his office and requested me to lead the rest of the team in organising this. We were to launch a new project at a hotel facility. After our meeting, I invited our team of 20 people and briefed them. We agreed to share tasks and created departments. The departments included branding and decoration, catering, publicity, transport, security venue preparation etc. I requested team members to volunteer to head the departments. The team approved volunteer heads of the departments. Each department would meet and present a detail on how and a workable budget for their tasks. We had a general budget which was shared with the volunteer heads. 

At our next meeting, all departments presented except the transport department. The volunteer head explained that he was yet to meet the head driver of the organisation to sort the detail. Infact all Members agreed that we did not have to waste time discussion transport after all the organisation had many cars.  So departmental budgets were passed by the meeting except that of transport and the one of branding and decoration which was deemed on a higher side. The meeting however passed the artwork of the brading and decoration after numerous changes. The lady incharge of decoration was asked to venture out for a more manageable budget. At the next meeting, the transport department was still not ready with a detail and budget. The lady in charge did not attend the meeting. On phone, she informed everyone that the price for the decoration had been revised and she would hand in the new costs on Monday the following week. 

By nature of my work at that organisation, I had looks of engagements. two day to the event, we had the last meeting. All departments had received money for their activities except the two. Everything else was sorted except the two departments. The departments of Brading and decoration plus transport.  

To cut the long story short, the team worked around the clock to sort out the branding and the decoration plus the transport. The event was very successful but the team was disjointed.  Team members felt let down by two leaders. The evaluation meeting was full of negative energy instead of praise. 

Please note that the top leadership of the organization was extremely impressed by my team. But my team was not happy with me. They wanted me to push for the punishment of my two colleagues. how do you have people punished when the team has performed excellently ? 

I will not let you know how this ended but it did. Like all things do. we danced and hugged at the party offered by the organisation head to thank us for a job well done. 

In session 2, we will delve into real serious stuff. What does it mean to be a dependable team player ? 

Palliative Care - Because I Matter

Dear Friends,

WHPCD 2018 Theme

Today I write to you about something different from my usual stories. This blog is about my thoughts. I intend to start writing about some of the work that I have been involved over time.
This piece is about my currently work. Its work not for the faint hearted. It is meaningful work - touching lives and all that. Please read up to the end.

On Saturday October 13th 2018, the world will commemorate the World Hospice and Palliative Care Day (WHPCD 2018) under the theme Palliative Care – Because I Matter! This is a unified day of action to celebrate and support hospice and palliative care around the world. The Palliative Care Association of Uganda (PCAU) where I currently work is spearheading the commemoration of this day in Uganda. The event will be held at Makerere University Sports Grounds. The aim of the events will be to create awareness and to promote collaboration for advancement of palliative care services in Uganda. 

These activities have been planned for the day:  

• A Palliative Care Walk around the Makerere University Hill to raise awareness about this important service
•  Exhibitions by hospices.
• A football game between Executive Directors of hospices and patients who will volunteer to play. - 
• Other games by staff working with hospices in the country. 

The World Health Organization (WHO) defines palliative care as “an approach that improves the quality of life of patients and their families facing the problems associated with life-threatening illness, through the prevention and relief of suffering by means of early identification and thorough assessment and treatment of pain and other problems, physical, psychosocial and spiritual.

Globally, the diseases that require palliative care for adults and children include cancer, cardiovascular diseases, HIV/AIDS, liver and kidney diseases, among others.

In era of increase in the incidence of Non Communicable Diseases (NDCs), palliative care services are as important as any other element of Universal Health Coverage (UHC) and cannot be ignored. There is evidence by research to show that early palliative care interventions improve survival and patient outcomes and, for this reason, should be provided from the point of diagnosis.

The provision of palliative care services in Uganda started in 1993 with the establishment of Hospice Africa Uganda (HAU) founded by Anne Merriman a British Doctor. It is now therefore, silver jubilee of Palliative Care service provision.  

Over the last 25 years, Uganda has realized milestones and registered globally recognized best practices in this field. Some of these achievements that are envied by the palliative care movement in the world include the following: 

• Palliative Care was integrated in Uganda’s Health Sector Strategic Implementation Plan since 2004. Palliative Care is included in the mission statement of the national health policy and is included within the Uganda Minimum Health Care Package (UMHCP). 

• Uganda was the first country in the world to allow specially trained palliative care nurses and clinical officers to prescribe specific opioid analgesics including oral liquid Morphine for pain control in 2004.  This greatly contributed to spread of Palliative Care in the Country.

• The government of Uganda pays for the production of Oral Liquid Morphine a World Health Organization (WHO) recommended medicine for management of moderate and severe pain. Patients access this medication free of charge.

• The World Health Organization (WHO) and Worldwide Hospice and Palliative Care Association mapping in 2014 highlights Uganda as the only country in Africa which had achieved advanced integration of palliative care into mainstream service provision.

• The Quality of Death Index published by the Economist Intelligence Unit in 2015 ranked Uganda as the second in Africa after South Africa and 35th globally out of the 80 countries studied. Parameters of measurement included: Palliative and healthcare environment, human resources, affordability of care, quality of care and community engagement.

• Research conducted by the Palliative Care Association of Uganda shows that there is a form of Palliative Care in at least 90% of all districts in Uganda

Whereas Uganda is hailed globally as a model of palliative care service provision in Africa, there is still a significant unmet need for palliative care and pain relief services. Currently only 11% of those who need pain control within the wider context of palliative care access it in our country. 

The recent  Annual Report by the Uganda Human Rights Commission (UHRC) to Parliament set out recommendations on the right to palliative care in Uganda. The recommendation made to government include: 

• The need to expedite the development of the National Palliative Care Policy to streamline the provision and regulation of palliative care in Uganda.

• Instituting of a clear monitoring and evaluation strategies for palliative health care services.

• Reinstating the legal instrument allowing specially trained nurses to prescribe morphine.

• Strengthening the national and district coordination mechanisms for the provision of palliative care services.

• Ensuring that the proposed National Health Insurance Scheme covers palliative care.

• Increasing the budgetary allocations to the Health Ministry for palliative care services.

• Scale up training of palliative care human resources and integrating palliative health care service professionals into the mainstream public service structure.

The Health Sector Development Plan 2016 – 2020 by the Ministry of Health shows that hospice and palliative care services are being offered in only 4.8% of the hospitals in the country. The African Palliative Care Association (APCA) Atlas of 2017 also revealed some gaps in policy, education, service delivery, access to medicines and data collection.

Whereas research by Hospice Africa Uganda shows that majority of the palliative care patients desire to die at home, the dominant health care arrangement in Uganda does not emphasized home care. Instead, the sick have to travel long distances or be transported to health facilities.

The standalone hospices which would fill this gap are few, scattered and greatly under resourced. They survive on minimal contributions by their founders, individual member’s donations and foreign aid which makes some of their programs unsustainable.

The WHPCD 2018 Flier from PCAU 

The Palliative Care Association of Uganda is also urging the government to put in place practical steps for the implementation of the 2014 World Health Assembly ((WHA) Resolution on the strengthening of palliative care as a component of integrated service at all levels within the continuum of care.

All stakeholders including government and civil society actors need to work together to realize action on these recommendations. Whereas the field of palliative care is still developing in our country, freedom from pain is a fundamental human right. No one ought to die in pain and suffering due to long term illness in the era of palliative care. Everyone deserves dignified care at end of life.

The WHPCD 2018  gives us the opportunity to come together as partners and friends share notes, talk about our services to humanity, strengthen our collaboration and networking, advocate for palliative care together and also have fun.  I mean, you could come along with your entre family. There will be some juice and all that. I hope you come. When you do, please let me me you read this here. 

"Then She Has Started Today"

Bishop Henry Luke Orombi Praying for us

During the first days of meetings with Omukyara, she tagged a long also a beautiful lady. Ofcourse we were younger those days and you know how we loved stories. I mean, we would talk all talk. 

So this other lady who was very friendly added
to the talking and the listening. She was outgoing, full of energy and selfless. She was that the kind of "not boring self person". You know such people that you often look forward to meeting agian. Those ones who smile easily, extend a hug quickly and state a genuine "how have you been Mark ?" Then they tell about themselves selflessly and you feel motivated to share too. Such people motivate and live a full life. They sort of do a lot of things yet they have time to get personal. They are full of positive energy! I mean the kind of people that this world should posses in plenty! So Madam Mirembe was a such a person. 

Izi with a hood saying somethin to JJ his young brother. 

Now she is still so and much more. Look, she is still light. She has a calm husband, children, a business mind and is motivational. She has travelled a lot and is more exposed now. With her husband, they do 'styling' people. I mean they deal in genuine fashion or simply dress or wear items which they import themselves.  God blesses good people. Madam Mirembe has a good man and a blessed home. Her children are full of power and yield real self esteem. 

As you know, September 23rd is such a bright day at our house hold. Now it fell on a Sunday and we decided to start the day at 5AM. This was not necessarily very good for my friend Humura because her sleep was interrupted. We woke her up. 

The cause was noble. We had decided that on her 1st birthday, we would present and dedicate her to the Lord. She was born at 8AM and we sought it would be cool to dedicate her around the same time. The Chaplain had granted our request. 

By the way Omukyara used to attend the 7 O'clock service at Church during those days of Madam Namirembe. I was a church Usher then together with with friends like Racheal , Maliza, Annet, Duncan while Cliff my best man was the Church Administrator. Omukyara was nealy all the time late to church. You know that time when ushers are a little bit free. I mean, nearly everyone is well seated and parise and worship is done.. By the way we enjoyed serving! I will spare you the detail of this story now but I promise to tell it another day.

Back to waking up early and 'hitting' the road. About half a kilomentor from home, there was a certain man who was rushing. He drove into the road quickly. It would have been fatal was it not for God's own hand over us. The man was driving a huge 'fuso' track. As he tried to overtake a slow track, his did zig zag about four times on the road. The thing seemed to be coming back to hit our car, then it was massively swayed off the road by a certain force. It muzzled its weight into a trench on our right (a few meters away) and it could move out not any longer. The trench grabbed its tires tightly. 

I am often alert while driving. but I can tell you that God just thought about us as he does constantly. I think He saw us just there vulnerable and decided to sweep the zig zagging machine off the road to the trench. No human was hurt. I somehow managed to look back to see the driver disembarking the dahm fuso thing. later on, I shared about this and my friend Mr Muganzi sent me  scripture:  

Psalm 91

⁹ If you say, “The Lord is my refuge,”

    and you make the Most High your dwelling,

¹⁰ no harm will overtake you,

    no disaster will come near your tent.

¹¹ For he will command his angels concerning you

    to guard you in all your ways;

I fully believe that His angels were fully on duty during this road trip. Thank you lord. 

We got to St. Francis Chapel on time. Had a quick meeting at the Vestry. Bishop Henry Luke Orombi (he said he prefers to be called that other than former archbishop of the Church of Uganda) was to dedicate Humara. 

He briefed us 

       "whenever I dedicate a child, I like it that the parents hold the child...I am dedicating the entire family.."  We agreed with him. 

What a beautiful Church Service we had ! The first song was true to the occasion ! Indeed we stood on holy ground. We did dedicate my friend Hazel Humura on holy ground! We stepped forward and Bishop Orombi prayed for us. He spoke prophetically direct into our lives. We are blessed! So blessed beyond a curse. Everything about us in God governed.  My friend Hazel Humura is blessed! 

The church Service was to conclude MAKFEST 2018 . The theme was from “I am Making a Way-Isaiah 43:18-19”

Bishop Orombi preached from  Luke 15:11-32: 

The Parable of the Lost Son: 11 Jesus continued: “There was a man who had two sons. 12 The younger one said to his father, ‘Father, give me my share of the estate.’ So he divided his property between them...... 

The towering man spoke like he often does. He spoke his heart about the "Love of a father". I saw his sweat! I was close. 

He spoke directly to me: 

    - Love is generous.  

    - Love lets go.  

    - Love out waits patience.  

    - Love forgives!  

As we moved out, Amos who took the front seat shared a photo he had captured. We also met Ezra & Eunice (never mind that these are actually supposed to be referred to as grandparents to my friend Humura). So we had more photos around. We were all present Edmund, Edson, Barbra, Peter, Dad & Mum. Some of our friends that dont mind waking up early make it too. Mr Opio Douglas, Hope, Patience was present. 

I will write about what happened the afternoon of that day. Remind me if I forget. 

But briefly, Michele one of the lovely daughters of Madam Mirembe Phrased the title for this peace. This is how she did it: 

Guess who Mishelle is among these beauties 

Michelle: Come dia Hazel, this is your sweet. (Dia Hazel receives the sweet, take a bit, another one, as I watch) Omukya: Come on Michelle Michelle: Yes Auntie Cathy 

         Omukyara: Please         don't give Hazel Sweets

Michelle: Why ? Omukyara: Because she is still young and she doesn't eat sweets: Michelle: (with kind of a brushing) Then she has started today.Omukyara: Ok, please bring Hazel to me. Michelle: Please leave her alone, let her be free! 

A night in Chicago by Force!

Adorable siblings in Downtown St. Joseph Michigan .
I planted $5 in their suitcase. Did it germinate ? 

One of the things that God gave each one of us is the capacity to imagine!

Ok, I know there are some people who actually don't believe that all we attribute to ourselves is God given. They don't want to bother themselves thinking about the fact that we were created in the image of God and therefore we are fearfully and wonderfully made! God bless them.

But anyway, so today Friday 8th 2018, I missed a flight back home. One of the reasons for this was the unpredictable heavy traffic towards Chicago City. So I write this from a good room at a Hotel. It's called Four Points by Sheraton. This will be a night in some spacious room with a bed covered by white everything. Although I hope this AC Machine will stop its noise to offer me sleep. 

It is not my first time to miss a fight but it is my first time to miss one and spend a night. But these things happen anyway. Nearly all travellers have one of such stories. I missed one in Istanbul in 2017 and had to wait 8 hours to get on another. I sat in a good chair and slept off for half of the time. I think if it were (is this correct English ? Teacher Alice or  Modern  will deal with that question)

You see, I have all long been imagining how my friend Humura looks like now. I spoke to my Katrina on phone and got to here my friend singing in the background. Yes she was singing. Her usual kinds of songs. I imagine she will be a musician. Not sure what kind. I hope she she sings church music or conducts a gospel choir.  Its is possible. Her grand dad, the great JCHB taught music to University Students. He did sing too. I think the only disconnect is the missing of the music acumen in her father and my Katrina her mother. We just cannot sing! I am better maybe hehehe. We could do this for a bate ?

But knows, maybe my friend will be an astronaut or a marine. hehehe None of us knows now except God. We can only imagine. We can only pray for her and ourselves.

So the thing is, I have been imagining for about 14 days now. I left my friend crawling. Is she walking now ? Is she still smiling the same way she did ? The girl has a cute smile. In fact she picked that from her mumier. Completely! on that, I am out. So my mind keeps drawing pictures of how she looks like now. I will have to wait to meet her. I will wait for more than 2 days. I imagine she will come along to welcome me back home. So I packed some goodies for her.

Yes I miss them, I miss my soldiers. I miss my friend and my katrina. My soldiers.

Trying on actual size shades. The sun was too hot to the skin

So let me tell you very briefly about my stay in Mishawaka this time round. 

I will say more some time next week after meeting my soldiers but let me tell you about a good couple. I am sure they will not read this anyway. I can say as much as I want about them. These two people are godly. I think they are blessed. Roberta and Thomas Spencer live in South Bend Indiana. They are both gifted with love. I met Roberta  first in 2015. Then I met Tom in 2016. I think Tom is better than Roberta but then I think they are better than each other. I like them. They are are so helpful to many. You can tell from their eyes that they are genuine and selfless. I want to give examples to explain my assertions later. I mean when I write again.

Its good to fly world business class

So while bidding farewell, Tom said "...Don't do anything I wouldn't do..." Now how I am to do what Tom can do ? Let me tell you, the man opens the car door for you when he is to drive you to see around...he keeps your bag and jacket as soon as you get to his house, he serves you juice.

Roberta will read your mind very well. I am not kidding. She could easily go and do shopping for your spouse's jewelry after a one day interaction with you.

I intend to keep writing short pieces but a number of them. So let this one end here. I think its a gift to write. How do people write huge volume books ? I mean, I can only do a short piece. 

Roberta drove me to see places. Of course she drove further with others. I had less time to enjoy her company.

Thank you.

Feeling Lazy to Write!

So I have spent some time without writing here.

Yes, one of the reasons and perhaps the most realistic one is that I have been lazy at my game of writing lately. Definitely I am quite busy but thats not to say I fail to get a minute to read too many many messages posted on Abanyasheema whatsApp group. By the was all these messages rotate around the same thing. Kind of hot news that seem to remain on people's heads.

You know, the Dr Elioda Tumwesigye  decided to stand and was actually elected Member of Parliament for or rural Sheema Municipality. Of Course thats no brainer but the news is here. Dr Tumwesigye was already Member of Parliament for Sheema North. Some people felt he should have left it out for another to take the Municipality seat. But he also had reasons. So he got onto the ballot and people decided to vote him.

In essence Dr Tumwesigye becomes a Member of Parliament representing two constituencies albeit temporarily. So commentators have been talking, writing and chatting about this scenario.

Perhaps I should add that Dr Tumwesigye is known to me. Or I should say I am known to him. He is my friend.  I took on at job at his founded Organization (ICOBI) after my stint at the Scripture Union of Uganda (SU).

I can tell that at both work places, I enjoyed my time. But perhaps I enjoyed my stay at SU more. We walked to work and we were youthful. We did Life Skills sessions in high schools and spoke loudly. we enjoyed the morning Glory and had overnight prayers. Yes there at SU. I think I can come back another time to tell my story at ICOBI. On the first day at work, I was handed an old motorcycle. I enjoyed that thing. but the thing broke down often! Sometimes the thing would break down at awkward hours as I rushed home from Bunyaruguru. But that the story for another day.

Or maybe I should add that later on before I left the job, I was handed a new Toyota Double Cabin that I drove around. It was a bit cool to drive the thing. Never mind that I was allocated a drive who I often left a side to drive. I mean, I was young then. You know what this means.

I did not tell this story well but I know you will bear with me. Dr Tumwesigye was in the election with my friends Dr Misharch Katusiime and Raymond Kamugisha. But somehow the ultimate contest was between the NRM and the FDC. There was a 'new comer' Mrs Plan Mugyenyi of FDC who showed up. This lady gained a following within a short time. Up to now, she claims she won the vote. I think she is going to court or something. I don't know how this will end but I am sure that Dr Katusiime will write a piece about it. This was an experience for him. I can bet on that.

For a record, I did not vote. I was on travels to the USA from where I am writing. But I had preferences for sure.

By the way this whole is not what I intended to write, I wanted to share about my second trip to the USA and how it is all going. I traveled in Summer. The Dress cord right from Entebbe told it all.

I think I should write another one.

This is already long.

See you. bye

Football Fans to Build a Hospice in Uganda - This gesture is the first one of its kind!

The Palliative Care Association of Uganda (PCAU) has entered into partnership with two big football clubs in Kampala for a joint fundraising drive to build a hospice in Arua. The Football Clubs, KCCAFC and the Onduparaka FC are among the biggest brands of Football in Uganda and East Africa. KCCAFC is owned by the governing authority of Uganda’s Capital while the Onduparaka FC hails from the West Nile Region. They both have multitudes of supporters and lovers of soccer across the country. The two clubs have now partnered with PCAU to organize a fundraising drive to support New Life Hospice Arua (NELIHA) to establish a permanent h

ome in Arua. This partnership is as a result of a request by PCAU to both clubs. In 2017, PCAU launched a five year strategic plan which among other key areas focuses on raising resources to support hospice and palliative care initiatives in remote districts of the country.

The World Health Organization(WHO) defines Palliative care is an approach that improves the quality of life of patients (adults and children) and their families who are facing problems associated with life-threatening illness. It prevents and relieves suffering through the early identification, correct assessment and treatment of pain and other problems, whether physical, psychosocial or spiritual.

Palliative care service provision began in Uganda in 1993 through the establishment of Hospice Africa Uganda(HAU). To date, there are 13 standalone hospices across the country with the majority of these located in the central districts near the capital Kampala. This leaves the larger part of upcountry districts in Uganda without hospices. This greatly impacts the provision of palliative care services because ordinarily, the public health care system in Uganda does not offer home care services. Research by Hospice Africa Uganda has shown that majority of patients in their last days prefer to die from home other than in hospital settings. It therefor very important that stand alone hospice arrangements are supported because they offer services such as community out reaches and home care. Otherwise, patients often die in great pain and suffering. This comes along with great distress to the entire family where these patients die.

This year, the palliative care fraternity is celebrating 25 years since these services were first introduced in Uganda. The Palliative Care Association of Uganda which was founded has realized great strides. The Association works closely with the Ministry of Health and has the vision of Palliative Care for all in need in Uganda. A profound achievement for the palliative care fraternity in Uganda is that Morphine which is the World Health Organization (WHO) recommended medicine for treatment of pain among the terminally ill available for patients free of charge. 

The government pays for the production of this medication at Hospice Africa Uganda. Since 2004, the Ugandan laws also allowed specially trained nurses and clinical officers to prescribe this controlled narcotic medicine. This made Uganda the first country to allow this task shifting as opposed to the norm where doctors are the only ones allowed to prescribe such medicines. These among other developments have made Uganda a model of palliative care service provision in Africa.

However, statistics by the Ministry of Health indicate that only or slightly above 10 percent Ugandans in need of Palliative Care receive it. The Health Sector Development Plan 2016-2020 indicates that hospice and palliative care services are being offered in only 4.8% of the public hospitals. This portrays the magnitude of need and why such initiatives and partnerships to support establishment of standalone hospices are valid. The football clubs should also be credited for allowing to use their brands to give back to society.

The KCCA FC and Onduparaka FC will play a charity games in both Kampala and Arua town. The game in Kampala will be played on June 16th while that of Arua will be played on June 30th 2018 at Star Times Stadium Lugogo and Betway Greenlight Stadium respectively. The gate collections from the sale of tickets will go towards the establishment of the first building for the New Life Hospice in Arua (NELIHA).

The two events are expected to raise 500 million Uganda Shillings, which is the estimated cost of establishing the building with its facilities. The building will house a patient’s waiting room, three office rooms and hostel capacity for at least 20 cancer patients receiving treatment at Arua Regional referral Hospital and patients in transit after referral to Uganda Cancer institute (UCI) in Kampala. The location of this hospice is prime given that the communities in West Nile host refugees from the Southern Sudan and the Democratic Republic of Congo. The proposed hospice will therefore serve not only  the locals but also refugees but also citizens of the two neighboring countries who after all travel daily to access health care in Uganda.

Football has a unique way of bringing together people from all walks of life. It is a unifying factor. The planned football games are expected bring together large crowds of over 10,000 football lovers but also philanthropists and policy makers. The games will be utilized by palliative care organizations to give out messages on the services. In addition, the games will offer a platform to advocate for key matters such as the passing of the National Palliative Care Policy by the government. The development and passing of this policy has stalled for about 10 years.

In a world with the ever increasing incidence rate of Non Communicable Diseases, specialist services such as palliative care ought to be prioritized not only by government but also the business community and civil society actors. Universal health coverage(UHC) which as a central place in achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) by 2030 is also defined with palliative care as central. In essence, the WHO has defined UHC to mean that all people should have access to the full spectrum of essential, quality health services they need (health promotion, prevention, treatment, rehabilitation and palliative care) without the risk of financial hardship when paying for them.