WHAT HAPPENED TO THE FUNDS THAT WERE RAISED ON BEHALF OF NAMUTAMBA DEMONSTRATION SCHOOL IN 2017?

 

Tuesday, 21 February 2017

YOU ARE MOST WELCOME TO NAMUTAMBA DEMONSTRATION SCHOOL

The Management Committee of Namutamba Demonstration School welcomes you as a School visitor. The School was opened to the first pupils in 1936, so in 2018 it made 82 years.  It is Church of Uganda founded and Aided by the Government of Uganda under the Universal Primary Education (UPE) scheme.  The School Management Committee Chairperson is Venerable Canon Stephen Kaziro. 

Namutamba Demonstration School is under the Church of Uganda Founded Schools and the Bishop of Mityana Diocese is the CEO.  He is currently Bishop Kazimba Mugalu (PhD).

Contact for the Bishop - skazimba@yahoo.com

The School Management Committee welcomes you as a prospect partner in the rehabilitation of the school whose infrastructure is in most cases badly dilapidated as partly illustrated below. We have ideas regarding how the school can be got to excel in all spheres of education of a child, however, we welcome interventions that can boost the school as long as they are acceptable to the guidelines for running and managing Primary schools in Uganda as well as to the Church of Uganda.  The School admits all children irrespective of religious denomination and gives them freedom of worship as long as their religion is among those recognized in Uganda. The School has at least 24 acres of land to which development projects and infrastructure to boost the school can be put as well as managed.

You are most welcome

Have a nice tour.

PLEASE: WE WELCOME YOUR SHARING THIS TOUR WITH ANY PERSONS OR ORGANIZATIONS YOU MAY WISH THAT HAVE A KIND HEART WHO WE MAY NOT BE ABLE TO REACH.

2 Corinthians 9:7  

"Each one must give as he has decided in his heart, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver".

Our target to get Namutamba Demonstration School to the status we desire is at least Ush 1,000,000,000 or US$ 278,000.   

Our School Account Number is: 3201755610

In Centenary Bank - Mityana Branch

Swift Code: CERBUGKA

In the name: Namutamba Demonstration School  

Thank you very much. 

Martin Ssessanga /Secretary School Management Committee as well as Head Teacher.

  

Tel. +256777867696

Mailing Box Number: 

C/O Mityana Anglican Diocese
P. O. Box 102
Mityana,
UGANDA.

THE SCHOOL IS A DEMONSTRATION ONE WHERE TRAINEE TEACHERS ARE SUPPOSED TO PRACTICE

Mr. John Kataza is the Principal of Namutamba Primary Teachers' College whose trainees do some of their teaching practice at the Demonstration School.

 

The Geography of the School:

Namutamba Demonstration School is situated on a spur of Namutamba Hill and this spur is locally known as Kiwanda. Administratively it is Musaale Sub-County, Ssingo County, Mityana District; politically it is Kiwanda Local Council I, Namutamba Parish, Bulera – Sub County, Mityana County, Mityana district.

It is an eighty eight (88) kilometers’ journey West of Kampala, via Mityana and twenty one (21) kilometers North of Mityana by road. It is an altitude of 13,520M above sea level.

 

Namutamba Demonstration School was a leading school in Mubende district in all spheres of education of the child. The School was proud achiever in all spheres of school life including academics, sports and extra curricula activities. The school to - date is proud of having produced very useful citizens and a number of its products are serving locally and others outside Uganda. Unfortunately, the greatly reduced funding to the school has contributed seriously to the deterioration of the school infrastructure and academic performance. 

Dr. Richard Sezibera, former Secretary General of the East African Community is just one of the personalities that went through the school.

The main building which also accommodates Primary Seven class. It has a number of facilities missing. 

The school has slowly deteriorated in nearly all aspects.  The school infrastructure is on average in a bad shape.  A few years ago, the area Member of Parliament then Hon. Gordon Sematiko was able to get some funding which saw the putting up of some school infrastructures, however, given the sorry state of most of the buildings, there is need to do serious repairs on a number of structures as well as put up new ones.  

Hon. (Dr) Gordon Sematiko helped Namutamba Demonstration get some structures.

One of the blocks which the school got through the contacts of Hon. Gordon Sematiko.

The challenge as of now is to see the school rehabilitated in all areas of school life.  This effort calls for the input of all the Old Students of the school and well wishers who may give the school a hand. 

The children at School

A classroom block for infants.

THE CURRENT SITUATION AT THE SCHOOL

The School has a population of : 70 pupils in P1; 65 pupils in P2; 66 pupils in P3; 74 pupils in P4; 53 pupils in P5; 51 pupils in P6 and 48 pupils in P7. The total enrollment is 425.  The figure would be far greater but the poor school infrastructure has played a leading role in having a low total enrollment.  

Water Storage ability and harvesting modalities

Having sure water supply for serving the children in food preparation and promotion of good hygiene remains a big challenge. There is need for water tanks big enough to hold water harvested when it is the rainy season, and capacity to pump water into the same tanks during the dry spell.   Big water tanks' availability is a step in the right direction, and this may be supplemented by an improved well near the school where children can easily collect water for cleaning purposes and for gardens during the dry season.

Teacher’s Residential Houses and some classrooms.
There is need to construct residential houses for the teachers while those in place need renovation giventhat they are in bad shape and not worthy accommodating staff.  The same applies to classrooms and other school buildings.

Class buildings with various renovation requirements.

An incomplete Classroom block

Teachers' houses in very sorry state.

The School Kitchen

The teachers 
The school currently has 10 teachers on the Government payroll, three additional teachers are paid by the parents. The teachers paid by the Government of Uganda get an equivalent to US$117, those who are paid by the parents get an equivalent to US$70 a month! It is also true that if the school is boosted, the teaching population will need to be increased in number. If our strategies work out and the school is able to generate income, each of the teachers would need to at least get the equivalent of US$167 a month.

A Boarding Facility 
Majority of the children in primary seven and six need to be in a boarding facility to be able to concentratebetter on their studies. There are no proper boarding facilities. For the boarding facility, a teacher's house is currently used. It is possible to grow in the school garden much of the food the children can eat if resources are got to open then up.

Computer Facilities

The school does not have any computer which is necessary in enhancing communication as well as in the typing of the children’s examination papers as well as storage of vital information and also enhancing Internet connectivity.

A Secretary 
There school has no Secretary. It is difficult to imagine how a school worth the name can at this moment in time do without services of a Secretary.

A School Nurse
The school needs to have an equipped Sick bay as well as at least one nurse to deal with children accidents and manageable ailments.  

Trial Examination Papers 
In a situation where the school has no Secretary and or computer facility, the option remains getting examination papers from friendly schools schools and or being able to buy from commercial dealers who set papers for children trial testing.

Solar Power
Being able to get solar power for mostly lighting will mean that the school will have little re-current costs to maintain power mostly for lighting purposes.

A Chapel

Prayers at the School are conducted under trees.  The school would love to construct a Chapel and have it in the name of the Lea Wilson Family who founded the school and did so much to support it.

A School Library 
The school has no library infrastructure. There is stock of books which were got from Government, but these one's need a proper book store.
 

Science Apparatus 

The School has no ability to handle Science Practical lessons – the resources needed for practical classes are not in place. There is need to work on a proper Science Laboratory and have it well equipped to enhance children's practical learning of Sciences.

Science is very important and cannot be learnt in a textbook alone, hence the need to have a Science Lab to do the Practical teaching of the subject. Understanding the practical part of things goes along way in easing the learning process as experiments leave a lasting imprint in the children minds.

Therefore, there is need for a fully equipped Science Laboratory that will help mold and prepare the children for a future in a Science and technology driven world using equipment and training.

Sports Facilities

The school has good land where children can do their sports, however, the equipment needed for sports are not in place. 

The 24 acre land resource 

While the school has one of the biggest assets as land. What is needed is developing the school farm for three purposes: For both children and parents, the farm will serve the purpose of on - farm technology learning; it will be source of food and animal products for the children and it will be source of sure income to the school  when some of the produce is sold on the market. 

 The type of infrastructure the school would like to put up for zero grazing cattle.

Mangoes and a number of improved fruit trees can flourish well in the environment of the school.

Vocational training

 Carpentry tools that can boost training in woodwork.

The school does not have vocational skills to-date. With children participating in crop as well as animal husbandry, they will learn skills to enable them utilizeland from a knowledge perspective. We would like to promote Carpentry/woodwork training at school as well as skillful training in making of crafts. The products by the children should not only earn money tothe school, but the children should share some percentage as motivation.   

School Transport Facility 
The works which the school has to undergo call for some own means of transport.  We will be grateful if we are able to get a pickup vehicle.  There are many items that will need to be transported to the school.  An own pickup vehicle will go along way in transporting school equipment and building materials as well as taking farm products to market.  

THE PROPOSED STRATEGIES TO THE SCHOOL PROBLEMS

1.The Management Committee saw the reach out to the school's new found friends and pouring out the school's sorry state and making an open appeal for funding and or equipment or even any partnering strategies as possible methods of helping the school given its sorry state.

2. Guaranteeing accountability for all the support given and ensuring value for any financial resources as basic in our relationship with all who are ready to give us a helping hand.

3. With the funds raised, the school should be able to utilize the school land resources as a capital good.  The land can be utilized for commercial purposes to earn the school some income to help in sustaining it. There should be extensive growing of food to enable the children have assured lunch at school and decent as well as a balanced diet for the boarder pupils.

4. There will be a community outreach program implemented where the parents who have land resource but are not utilizing it well for income as well as good nutrition will be helped through practical lessons on the school farm and extension services at their gardens.  We can be sure that with good yields these parents should be able to make good of the demands by the school as the means to sustain quality education and worthy school infrastructure. 

6. Incorporating the parents and old students of the school in activities to boost the welfare.  The big push which we anticipate will be used as a drive to return hope to the parents as well as the old students to work hand in hand with the School Management Committee for positive results for the better health of the school.

7. Ensuring that the school academicstandards are boosted to be the best in the district.  This will help the school get more parents with money and desirous of academic excellence, hence helping the school sustainability.

8. We shall welcome any positive partnerships with organizations and or schools as long as they are viewed to be healthy for the school which has a Church foundation and has to stick to the objectives of educating the children as stipulated by the Ministry of Education and Sports of Uganda.   

THE HISTORY OF THE SCHOOL.

The School was started in 1936 AD as a Community School at Butumbizi. The Proprietor was Mr. Lee Wilson (RIP) a British who came in the area to open up a Tea Estate.

The purpose of starting this school was to enable the children of his workers (at the shamba) to have education. At this time the school was known as Butumbizi Sub- Grade. The parents were not directly paying school dues. School fee was deducted from the wages of the employees who had children. This was by the manager who would later pay it to the school administration. 

In 1941, the school was transferred from Butumbizi to Kiwanda. The reason for the transfer was to have it in close vicinity to Namutamba Vernacular Teacher Training College (VTTC) which had been transferred from Mukono.  Students from the VTTC would carry out their School Practice at the school. The school name was changed to Namutamba Practicing School. The school had classes One to Three, and Reverend Bulasio. K. Lwanga was the Head teacher.

The staff of six at Namutamba Demonstration School in 1943.  3rd from left is Late G. Tibamwenda who was appointed Headmaster after Rev. Blasio Lwanga.

In 1946, the School was promoted to full Primary status that is from primary one to six and officially made a Demonstration School. When Rev Lwanga left, Mr. G. Tibamwenda was appointed to Head teacher. 

In 1957, a Junior Secondary School was started with Mr. G. W. Kiberu and Mr. John Nagenda the class teachers. The Head teacher was Mr. G K Tibamwenda. 

In 1959, the Principal, Mr. Kayongo appointed Mr. Besuel Kiwanuka Head of the upper classes and Mr. Tibamwenda the Head of the primary section. There were two heads under one School. In December 196,1 Mr. Besuel Kiwanuka was transferred to Kasaka Junior Secondary School. Mr. Kiberu was appointed Head teacher of the junior section after the departure of Mr. Besuel Kiwanuka.
July 1959, Mr. Kiberu left for an upgrading course at Buloba, and returned in 1960. Mr. Nabembezi Joshua Ssalongo was the 1st Head teacher of the fully integrated Namutamba Demonstration School and this was in 1964.

In September 1965, Mr. Nabembezi was granted a Commonwealth Scholarship to study Education Administration in The United Kingdom. When Nabembezi left, Mr. Samuel Munyegenyo was appointed Acting Head teacher. Mr. J. Fred. Muleto (Ssalongo) joined the staff of Namutamba Demonstration School in September 1966. In January 1967, Muleto was appointed Head teacher hence taking over from Mr. Munyegenyo. Mr. Muleto left in April 1968 to take up an appointment as Assistant Education Officer within in the Ministry of Education.

Mr. Kasule Yekosofati joined Namutamba staff on 1st January 1966. On 1st May 1968, he was appointed third full Head teacher succeeding Mr. Muleto. At the end of 1970; Kasule went to study for a diploma at Makerere University Kampala.
When Mr. Kasule Yekosofati left, Mr. Kaboggoza Kalibbala David replaced him and was Head teacher up to 1977. Kaboggoza had been District Sports Officer for Mubende district. Mr. Njagala Godfrey was promoted Head teacher of Namutamba Demonstration School after the departure of Kaboggoza, but his appointment was short as he took up a teaching post at Namutamba Teachers College.
Mr. Sebuliba Seth replaced Mr. Njagala as Head teacher in 1980 and he was Head teacher of the School up to 1985.

IT IS SO PAINFUL WHEN SOME PEOPLE REAP FROM YOUR SWEAT.

I have seen it all for 13 years now. But God has been good that He has granted me life up to now.

Experiences some of us have to endure in Uganda.

But why would you put me through the suffering I have to endure following my own efforts?

My fundraising efforts from 2010 to 2023 where I have not been able to access a coin are listed below:

1.

http://williamkituuka.blogspot.com/2010/09/kind-appeal-for-moral-support-and_01.html?m=1

2.

http://billkiwanuka.blogspot.com/2014/10/kiwanuka-kituuka-for-2016-uganda.html?m=1

3.

http://kiwanukaofunityinafederateduganda.blogspot.com/2015/05/kiwanuka-kituukas-appeal-for-financial_7.html?m=1

4.

https://communityeducators-uganda.blogspot.com/2020/06/welcome-to-community-educators-uganda.html?m=1

5. Namutamba Parish Local Economic Development Model.

DO YOU KNOW WHERE NAMUTAMBA PARISH WOULD BE NOW?

If only some people had not shared the monies I received in my fundraising appeals for President in 2010 and 2015, Namutamba Parish where I grew up would be a Centre of Excellence. 

1. Namutamba Demonstration School would already be back to one of the leading schools in Uganda.

2. Namutamba would be popular for growing Organic food.

3. Namutamba would be getting local and foreign tourists in hundreds every week.

4. Namutamba cattle farmers would slowly be changing from having large herds to small zero grazing cattle with high returns.

5. Namutamba would be having tarmac roads linking many places.

6. Namutamba motorists would be having a reliable fuel station in the area.

7. Residents of Namutamba and its hinterland would no longer have to go to Mityana for their shopping, they would get 95% of their needs in Namutamba.

8. There would be extension agents virtually in all villages of Namutamba and organized marketing channels of the agricultural produce.

9. Namutamba Parish would boost of a Healthy Centre IV and expanding with services including: Ambulances; Surgery; Maternity; Eye-care; Dental and Primary Healthcare Services to mention some.

10. There would be at least one Demonstration Farm in each of the village of Namutamba Parish.

11. We would have a sports playground with prospects of being very competitive in Uganda.

12. We would try as much as possible to get people to work and change their wasted time in unproductive politics of parties to income generation.

13. We would by now be supporting Religious Organizations in their roles to promote morality which is the greatest problem of Uganda.

14. We would be sponsoring youth to train in vocational skills where such training is available and these would come back to Namutamba to boost the local economic development.

You cannot believe, this plan has not taken off. It is now 12 years simply because of the moral decay, impunity and love for free things by those who are connected.

Some of us have practical ideas and means to execute them, but we have people who think that they know a lot. Others use all sorts of unviable reasons to take what is due to the likes of myself.

We are poor because we have some people with primitive thinking. Those who undertake primitive accumulation of wealth. 

If only God can intervene and I recover funds that were stolen by the so - called connected people, I can assure you, Namutamba Parish will turn into the Mecca of Uganda.

GOD WILL SURELY MAKE SOME PEOPLE PAY DEARLY FOR MY SUFFERING.

But why would you put me through the suffering I have to endure following my own efforts?

Just be sure: Your sin will catch up with you soon.

My fundraising efforts from 2010 to 2023 where I have not been able to access a coin are listed below:

1.

http://williamkituuka.blogspot.com/2010/09/kind-appeal-for-moral-support-and_01.html?m=1

2.

http://billkiwanuka.blogspot.com/2014/10/kiwanuka-kituuka-for-2016-uganda.html?m=1

3.

http://kiwanukaofunityinafederateduganda.blogspot.com/2015/05/kiwanuka-kituukas-appeal-for-financial_7.html?m=1

4.

https://communityeducators-uganda.blogspot.com/2020/06/welcome-to-community-educators-uganda.html?m=1

5. Namutamba Parish Local Economic Development Model.

DO YOU KNOW WHERE NAMUTAMBA PARISH WOULD BE NOW?

If only some people had not shared the monies I received in my fundraising appeals for President in 2010 and 2015, Namutamba Parish where I grew up would be a Centre of Excellence. 

1. Namutamba Demonstration School would already be back to one of the leading schools in Uganda.

2. Namutamba would be popular for growing Organic food.

3. Namutamba would be getting local and foreign tourists in hundreds every week.

4. Namutamba cattle farmers would slowly be changing from having large herds to small zero grazing cattle with high returns.

5. Namutamba would be having tarmac roads linking many places.

6. Namutamba motorists would be having a reliable fuel station in the area.

7. Residents of Namutamba and its hinterland would no longer have to go to Mityana for their shopping, they would get 95% of their needs in Namutamba.

8. There would be extension agents virtually in all villages of Namutamba and organized marketing channels of the agricultural produce.

9. Namutamba Parish would boost of a Healthy Centre IV and expanding with services including: Ambulances; Surgery; Maternity; Eye-care; Dental and Primary Healthcare Services to mention some.

10. There would be at least one Demonstration Farm in each of the village of Namutamba Parish.

11. We would have a sports playground with prospects of being very competitive in Uganda.

12. We would try as much as possible to get people to work and change their wasted time in unproductive politics of parties to income generation.

13. We would by now be supporting Religious Organizations in their roles to promote morality which is the greatest problem of Uganda.

14. We would be sponsoring youth to train in vocational skills where such training is available and these would come back to Namutamba to boost the local economic development.

You cannot believe, this plan has not taken off. It is now 12 years simply because of the moral decay, impunity and love for free things by those who are connected.

Some of us have practical ideas and means to execute them, but we have people who think that they know a lot. Others use all sorts of unviable reasons to take what is due to the likes of myself.

We are poor because we have some people with primitive thinking. Those who undertake primitive accumulation of wealth. 

If only God can intervene and I recover funds that were stolen by the so - called connected people, I can assure you, Namutamba Parish will turn into the Mecca of Uganda. 

HOW CAN YOUTH MAKE GOOD OF UNEMPLOYMENT AFTER GRADUATION?

It is normal in Uganda Today for youth who have graduated in various areas not to be able to get employment in line of their training. This is very frustrating. It is best that a youth thinks of a way forward given the unemployment problem.

From 2010 to 2022, I was involved in fundraising from outside Uganda. My fundraising had a strategy to help the development initiatives in Namutamba Parish. This would eventually help in offering employment opportunities as well as boosting the welfare of members in Namutamba. Unfortunately, as I write, I have not been given chance to access a shilling of the monies I raised.

In 2022, when I was resigned with fundraising, there came a good Samaritan. This one had bought a plot of land and put a house into which I shifted in September 2022.

Once in the house, I focused on the way forward. I decided to start gardening. I was able to buy Banana Suckers from Kawanda Research Station, some Fruits including: Orange, Mango, Jack Fruit and Hass Avocado. My dream was to be eventually able to get my food needs from the part of the plot outside the compound of the house. The area where I am doing my gardening had much of the soil used in brick making. I decided to harvest water and in the process, some soil from the upper part of the land above my plot has proved good in providing free top soil from elsewhere.

With the rains on in March and likely to continue through April, onlookers are already realizing that my strategy seems to be paying off.

To my friends who earned degrees and or hold other qualifications, agriculture does not discriminate. Whatever academic qualifications one has, he or she is capable of earning from Agriculture.

I look at just two Cassava plants which I planted on my Birthday in October 2022. Had I for example had land and planted an acre or two, a few months from now, I would be making a big harvest. We get food from as far as Kabale to Kampala markets. There is no way one can go wrong in gardening as long as he or she does the work correctly. There is no reason why one does not malch Cassava. Surely, bigger tubers can be realized with good care.

It is also important getting the correct planting materials that give good yields.

Early each morning I wake up with a plan. I get a lot of weeds. I manage these weeds knowing that they will greatly add to soil fertility. My Banana plants have in front a water collecting area that I dug. It means that the Banana’s can benefit from this water and indeed that is not in dispute. I imagine that in the near future, I will be able to harvest a bunch of Matooke every fortnight. 

My advice to the youth is simple: As long as you can have access to land where you can practice agriculture, please do. You can always get technical advice from the Internet sources and or from technical people in agricultural undertakings. With dedication and good management, you should not regret. At the end of the day, earning is what is important.

Youth who have just completed school more so the boys should desist from the temptation of leaving the family of their parents early before they get viable employment. Youth should keep away from Alcohol so that they remain sober 24 hours a day.

Instead of begging for transport to look for jobs which are not there, I think one can easily raise money for agriculture from the one he or she would beg transport money from.

ARE YOU ONE OF THE BENEFICIARIES OF THE FUNDS I RAISED?

Have you made your Will yet?

I got a vision from God that He is soon taking all who shared my money yet He had endorsed my fundraising.

Some people may not take me seriously when I talk of a ‘vision from God’. Don’t be like Ndiwulira.

At an appropriate time, after consultations and agreeing, I will tell the world the vision I got from God and the fruits are there for all to see.

Some people in Uganda MUST stop jungle law or lawlessness, in that because they are politically connected, they are entitled and are at liberty to disregard the lawful means of doing things.

Please have your Will in place.

JOHN MWESIGWA NAGENDA ( 1938 – 2023): THE LONG WALK BACK HOME!

“John Nagenda confessed salvation in his hospital bed”.

By Dr. Martin M Lwanga.

As he lay dying, the son stood on the edge, a storm of thoughts clouding his mind. His father, whom he loved deeply, was a famous global Evangelist, who had preached for a quarter of a century around the world the Gospel of salvation in Christ. However, himself, he had long walked away from the faith.

Late John Mwesigwa Nagenda 

When I met John Mwesigwa in his early eighties, he not only shared with me his final moments with his father, William Nagenda, but on the subject of receiving Christ as a personal Savior, he was quite adamant. “I loved my father dearly,” he told me, a bit teary. “But I just don’t believe you need to be saved to go to heaven!” It was just after noon and he took a sip of whiskey at Kampala Club where as President of Kampala West Rotary Club I had just honoured him with a vocational award, for his life of service as a writer.

In 1912 William Nagenda, had been born to a leading Muganda saza (province) chief, Festo Munyangenda. During the early reign of Ssekabaka Mutesa 1, Munyangeda briefly served as a regent. As was common then for sons of chiefs Nagenda Sr was taken to King’s College Budo where he excelled to go to Makerere University. He graduated with a Diploma, the highest award offered then, and was posted to the colonial Central Government base in Entebbe as a clerk. There while attending an open air crusade meeting led by a one Simeon Nsibambi, he made a life turning decision to accept Jesus as a personal saviour. And his life was never the same.

Nagenda Sr resigned his secure Uganda Government  job, to engage in full time Christian ministry. Together with Nsibambi the two married two beautiful sisters of a leading chief, Erastus Bakaluba. While Nsibambi would marry Eva; Nagenda went for the younger Sala.

Nsibambi had also resigned from his government job as Health inspector. A chance meeting with a British missionary, Dr Joe Church, had led him surrender completely his life to Christ. After that Nsimbabi had also led his younger brother, Blasio Kigozi, to Christ. Kigozi as well married a Bakaluba girl, Katherine. This trio became full time lay preachers, using the Nsibambi home in Bulange as a base.

Blasio Kigozi was a fiery preacher whom audiences could not resist as he urged all to repent and accept Jesus. Dr Church appointed him as Headmaster of Gahini Evangelistic Training School. However, in 1936 after a mission trip to Gahini, Rwanda, where Dr Church had started a missionary hospital, Blasio passed away following a short illness. Nagenda was posted to Gahini to succeed him. And it is here in 1938 that he and Sala gave birth to a bouncing son whom they baptized the name of Mwesigwa (“Our God is faithful!”)

Bishop Stuart who headed the Anglican Church easily saw in Nagenda the kind of leader he wanted. After a brief time as a Chaplain at a Tea estate owned by a committed Christian business couple, Leslie Wilsons, he convinced Nagenda to attend Bishop Tucker Theological College and join mainstream clergy.

Founded in 1913 by Bishop Alfred Tucker the College was the best theological institution in the region, not just training priests of the Anglican Church, but also teachers and certain other vocational skills. When Nagenda joined he was on fire for Christ and started preaching against sin, repentance and modern practices that had made the Church “cold!” Nagenda roused his fellow students to get up at 4 am for fervent prayers. Feeling threatened by this “revival movement” of young believers, the administration resisted. The matter went up to Bishop Stuart who was already under siege from the young balokole (savadees) accusing the Church of being lukewarm. He sided with the administration. The radicals were given an ultimatum to cease with their revival campaign. But they refused to balk down. In the end Nagenda Sr together with 26 students, just a month to graduation, were all expelled.

But that was not the end of the matter. The Anglican Church now felt under attack from the radical balokole who were pushing her traditional members to embrace salvation. Coincidentally these balokole were from the leading Baganda families and wielded a lot of influence for the Church to be concerned. Yet, also, among the balokole were also those who wanted to leave the Anglican Church and form a separate Church. What saved the day was when Nsibambi and Nagenda, the leaders of the movement, decided against exit. Their reasoning was that the Church needed them most and it was better to preach “okulokoka” (salvation) while still in the Church, than outside. Indeed, to this day, the balokole remain part of mainstream Anglican Church.

It is generally acknowledged that if Nsibambi, a former Head Prefect at Budo, had not given his life to Christ, and continued with his government career, he would have risen to become a Katikkiro (Prime Minister) of the 500 year plus Buganda Kingdom Government. Likewise, for Nagenda too, Bishop Stuart in sending him to Mukono, the idea was he could one day rise to become the first African Bishop. Bishop Stuart was disappointed when Nagenda refused to repent, who insisted that he had obeyed God. As a result of that, he was punished more, with Bishop Stuart revoking his license to preach in the Anglican Church.

Denied of the opportunity to share the Gospel in Church, Nagenda Sr decided thereon to spend the rest of his life sharing the gospel of salvation as a Street evangelist. He and Dr Church, whose license was also revoked, would occasionally be invited to speak within and outside Uganda. In 1946 Nagenda made his first evangelical mission to England. He had a very good command of the English language and easily won over crowds. Soon he was visiting the rest of Europe, parts of Africa, the US and South America on evangelical missions.

As Nagenda Sr became a global evangelist, Sala at home was busy as a doting mother. Like all believing mothers, Sala introduced Sunday School stories about Jesus to her son. Although we have no record, at one point, Sala, must also have led young Mwesigwa in a prayer of salvation, which would normally happen with all children raised in a believers’ home.

Nagenda and Sala also decided to take Mwesigwa to the best Christian mission schools around at the time. Starting him at Mwiri College, Busoga, Mwesigwa, who also had a stint at Kigezi High School, would later join King’s College Budo in the most famous class of Jubilants (Budo @50 years). His Budo classmates would later read like Who is Who in Uganda. Among them was Charles Kikonyogo, later Governor Bank of Uganda; Professor FIB Kayanja, later Vice Chancellor Mbarara University of Science & Technology; Professor Phares Mutibwa, later the noted historian; Dr Jack Jagwe, later Medical Superintendent Mulago hospital; Dr Edward Kakonge, later a Cabinet minister. But there was also Rev Laban Bombo, later not only my muko (brother in law); but one who would return to Budo where for nearly 30 years he taught a future generation of global leaders.

After passing his Cambridge Certificate of Education with a first-class, Mwesigwa joined Makerere University where he had two interesting classmates- Joyce Kaddu, later a Vice Chair of Public Service Commission and Benjamin Mkapa, later President of Tanzania. They would remain close friends over the years. “Once when President Mkpa was in Uganda on a visit,” Joyce Kaddu would share with me, “Mkapa invited both of us for a private dinner at Sheraton hotel. We had such a good time reminiscing about our Makerere days!”

At Makerere University Mwesigwa’s love of writing flowered. It was not by accident though. Mwesigwa’s maternal grandfather, Erasto Bakaluba, was a writer of a small book “Emmere y’ abaganda! His mother Sala had written an unpublished novel. When Mwesigwa joined university a young and restless African educated class was rising eager to define African identity in their words. Mwesigwa would become editor of a literary magazine  ‘Penpoint’ which first published his poems and short stories. In 1962 after graduation, Mwesigwa joined the Oxford University Press where he would edit and publish many of the emerging works of African writers.

As Mwesigwa rose and established himself in the literary world publishing poems like “Gahini Lake” and short stories like, “And This, At Last” he started cooling towards the faith of his parents. Somewhere in the mid sixties after preaching salvation on the five continents, Nagenda had slowed down. Concerned about his health, his many friends in the United Kingdom took him in, but as his condition worsened, he returned to Uganda.

By then Nagenda and Sala had given their all to their six children: Stephen, Ruth, Jane, Tendo and Jim, the best education of the day. Through their global connections they secured them places in overseas universities and all would go on to become well established. They looked with pride as Mwesigwa not only established himself as a writer but became a lion in the sporting world. In 1975 Mwesigwa would represent East Africa at the World Cricket match, by then recognized as perhaps the fastest bowler in East Africa.

So why would Mwesigwa, successful in life, now start cooling towards the faith of his loving parents! What had happened is that out in the world, freed from the religious atmosphere of his childhood, Mwesigwa had encountered a world of intellectuals and egregious sports lover, some hard drinking, who inevitably shook his earlier beliefs as a born again Christian. Among African intellectuals who, ironically had largely been educated through missionary schools, it was a fashion to scorn Christianity once exposed to the rest of the world. Many were quick to observe that Christian missionaries had hypocritically painted African cultures negatively as they held up theirs. In reaction prominent writers like Nagenda’s age mate, James Ngugi, decided to renounce the Christian faith as the religion of the exploiter. James Ngugi renounced his Christian name James, though Mwesigwa never went that far and retained his name John.

Another reason, less obvious, but clearer to the spiritual eyes, was because Mwesigwa was the First born of Evangelist Nagenda’s six children. In the Bible we find that when Moses went out to plea for the release of the Israelites and met opposition from Pharaoh, the only way the latter agreed was after God moved to snap the life of all First borns, with the exception of those of the Israelites. In as much as the First born belongs to the Lord; the enemy who comes to “kill and destroy” is always after these! If Mwesigwa would turn his back on his father’s faith, as the eldest child, then the rest had no one to look up to. Each one could walk his way.

On this point we must note that, as Mwesigwa walked away from the faith, the relationship between his parents remained strong. To the end they prayed he would return to the faith they had given their life to and preached around the world.

No longer identifying himself as a Christian, Mwesigwa now embraced humanism as an alternative belief system. The seventies were perilous times and Mwesigwa like many intellectuals of his time fled into exile. His fellow writer, Robert Serumaga, was one of those who took up arms to fight for removal of Idi Amin. In 1980 President Obote returned to power after contested elections. Some of those aggrieved decided to take up arms and wage a guerrilla war using Luwero Triangle as a base. Along the way Mwesigwa also joined in the struggle helping connect Prince Ronald Mutebi with Yoweri Museveni, of whom many Baganda were quite sceptical. Eventually he led Prince Mutebi to the battlefield, which was a turning point in that wars’ fortune.

Grateful for his support, after Mr Museveni took power, in 1986, Mwesigwa was appointed a member of the Commission of Inquiry to investigate the abuse of Human rights in Uganda. Having distinguished himself, he was later promoted to Senior Presidential advisor on Public Relations, a position he held up to the time of his death. In a sense Mwesigwa was one of those who had the longest running relationship with President Museveni. But it must be said, also, it was often a fractured one, especially when out of exasperation and apparent lack of access to the President, he would take to his pen that could send shiver in many where he openly disagreed on important issues like removal of Presidential term limits.

In the early 2000s I started attending Prayer Breakfast prayer organized by Mr Balak Kirya. In 1966 Balak Kirya was one of the five ministers detained without trial by the Obote government who were opposed to his coup plot against President Mutesa II. After Obote regained power Kirya quickly joined the rebels and took up base in Nairobi. One day he was kidnapped and hauled back to Luzira maximum security. There alone in a cold cell Kirya gave his life to Christ. Now as a Minister in the Museveni government he started weekly prayer breakfast meetings focusing on leaders. One day we were joined by Stephen, the younger brother to Mwesigwa and, one who himself confessed Christ as a personal savior. Later when he left to take over the management of the Namutamba tea estate, I could only relate with the Nagendas through Mwesigwa’s New Vision weekly column: “One man’s week”.

I was an enthusiastic reader and aside from following his incisive commentaries I could not help but count how many times he would bring up the memory of Nagenda and Sala, whom he had outlived for over thirty years. Yet, almost in the same breath, Mwesigwa, would also remind readers, that unlike them, he was not a believer. “My religion is humanism” he shared freely in one of his last New Vision interviews.

Incidentally, Mwesigwa was not the only First born to walk away from his father’s faith. The eldest son of Nsibambi, Dr John Nsibambi, had also backslid. Married to my cousin Solome Nabulya, I never heard anything about the faith of his father while growing up. All I knew was that he was living a high town life. But with the passage of years, Dr John Nsibambi, repented and gave his life back to Christ. Later he was joined by his younger brother Apollo Nsibambi, then Prime Minister of Uganda.

But where was Mwesigwa! Unlike his Nsibambi cousins, Mwesigwa, held on to the fences, even as he aged. In one New Vison interview, then 80, he spoke ruefully, “God exists and I don’t deny that according to the Bible, Christ came. I have read a lot about it, but I have my point of departure from my cousins, like Apollo Nsibambi, who got saved and stopped and then became a Christian again..!”

By then his star as a writer had soared, with a novel “Seasons of Tembo” to his name. He took on many prestigious positions in society, chairing the Uganda Cricket Association, among many honors. High as he went there was though that distinct, quiet but highly regarded part of society who, whatever Mwesigwa wrote would read and see him through lenses of “the son of an Evangelist”! For one of the permanent facts about our lives is that none of us can deny our identity. All of us inherited a certain identity at birth. If you are born a child of a Sheikh even if you turn out something else, you will always be known as “the son of a Sheikh”! Jesus is the “son of a Carpenter”! So, even as Mwesigwa took on a different belief system, and cast doubt on his father’s, he would remain ever “the son of an Evangelist!”

More importantly, many of the balokole were praying for him, that however long it took, no matter, one day, Mwesigwa- omwana’ w’omulokole, (son of a savedee) would come back to his father’s fold, as he would have wished.

And why would they care so much? For some it was simply because a man called Nagenda and his wife Sala, had led them to Christ. In her autobiography, “My Life is weaving” Rhoda Kalema shared how as a young newly born-again Christian she visited the Nagenda home in Namutamba. “William was approachable, friendly and humble. He talked to me in a personal way about my new salvation…He promised to pray for me, for God to guide me.”

After handing him his Rotary vocational award we continued to engage. Although I have read he could set terror in many, personally, I found him a gentleman of extreme grace and with a rich sense of humor. Once after the loss of a sister I placed a call to him but we missed each other. The moment he got an opportunity he got back to me apologizing profusely.

In another call I shared a matter of great concern. After reading about Nagenda and the 26 students expelled in 1941 from Mukono, because of their beliefs, I wondered if was it not about time that Uganda Christian University (the successor of Bishop Alfred Tucker Theology) where I was then on staff, should apologize for their summary dismissal and award them posthumous diplomas! History had vindicated the Nagenda-led expelled students, who never wavered in their beliefs even if the decision had cost them their career ambitions. Through these expelled students the East African revival was born that touched the rest of the world. Mwesigwa immediately warmed to the idea. But then, by now, his health was in steep decline and we didn’t follow up. Our last conversation was when he told me how he was struggling to take regular walks out on his wide veranda, and I encouraged him to just carry on.

Far away in Tanzania, while following events back home, early this month I received news that Mwesigwa had passed on. Immediately a thought raced through my mind, almost too terrifying to behold. “Did Mwesigwa finally return to the faith of his father!” I felt a mixture of sadness and anger at the same time, thinking what a loss!

Then, as the day closed, my heaviness was lifted when news came from a close family member: “John confessed salvation in his hospital bed to his wife. I talked to him while he was alert. He didn’t deny his confession. Yesu talina gwalemwa. Tukutendereza!”

Jesus once asked, “What do you think? If a man owns a hundred sheep, and one of them wanders away, will he not leave the ninety-nine on the hills and go to look for the one that wandered off? ( Mathew 8:12). To illustrate the point he gave the story of the prodigal son who, left all his father had for him, wandered out in the world, only to realize there was no better home to be than return his father’s.

Not so long ago I happened to be attending a funeral of some important person. The Mwesigwa’s cousin, Prime Minister Apollo Nsibambi stood up to say something about the deceased. “I wonder what kind of rejoicing is happening now in heaven!” he mused. “It must be home coming joy up there!”

Nagenda and Sala gave all their lives to win over the lost to Christ. What a joy it was and, is, that the First born, had returned home, finally, to enjoy eternity together with Maama and Taata! The heavens must have rejoiced with, “Tukutedereza Yesu!”