It's great to live, since humanity requires us to live.
Well,when you live for long,very many people give a comment on your life.
We normally see people mourning for the deceased. Well,how often do we learn from the funerals we attend?
We normally experience situations differently. In this case,I would like to introduce one challenge to all people on this planet earth. The challenge goes to all those whose desire is to live benevolently but have tried it,all in vain.
The saddest day.
That Tuesday evening,my real life was enjoying Christmas fete breeze.. Indeed my hard work was at real time zone.
That was the final day. My eyes would not see her again. But how did it happen?
Well,I was brought up by this great woman at a tender age of three. My parents never made that decision,but my dear granny made it wise for me.
Those who have tasted the plight of living with a grand parent can testify how sweet it is,as they confirm what I'm talking about.
I was only a toddler, but later found myself in her shelter. Whenever dad and mum came for me,my heart would breathe fire. In fact she could tell them
"My boy is here"
Time never waits. I found myself in a primary school.
You can't imagine how religious I was....!!!
In the year 2000,doom was not only prophecied at home,but real action became realistic. That was my father's death..But time for that is not now..
My permanent settlement at my grany's home was launched.
This later attracted my siblings who too shared the plight.
She made us forget the death of our dad.
Oh,that's when our mum realised the widow life system.
she really tested and faced the music challenge.
The grand mum toiled for us.......No wonder she was our mothers mother.
The only UPE school was kyanamira primary, a reason for our early academic journey.
This didn't leave her out.
she was their for the Headteacher's building fund torture.....
How sweet it was to enjoy the night at a holy hill when training as "abanyangabo"
I was a true soldier of Christ.....I remember the course at Rushoroza would not spare my grand mum's two cups of beans and at least one basket of sweet potatoes.
One of my aunties at home would complain,but my grany would give a deaf ear.
No wonder she was a church helper ironing and washing church vestments.
That's when I started building churches at home...
I acted real priesthood,as she admired the system.
I trembled one day in fear after stealing paraffin from the lump. Did I get the price?
Yes,I burnt my thumb....
Oh,it was a lesson of the day,as I waited for my warp. Little did I know that she was a no nausence iron Lady.
One day,one village drunkard attacked this young priest."myself"
I remember the dramatic scene created by my heroe in saving the rights of a child.
After some good years of happiness and learning, I was confirmed as a catholic by the then Bishop Robert M Gay(RIP)
So when your comrades join you for a party and you have nothing to accommodate them with,the feelings become fiction.
Wao,that confirmation party was greatly sponsored by her..
I remember the "rabbit"that was slaughtered was ever admired at home.
My sister put a lot of salt, in that special meat. I remember how sad my grand mum became..but she tried her best to appetize my visitors.
I was now a grown up,but she never felt tired of calling me "my boy"
So,if you want to know how rural life is,just let me tell you how hunger almost consumed us...
Our season would not bring out our expectations,something that led to scarcity of food. Did this grand mum feel the tune?
Well,the yellow bananas would immediately fall into her thinking. I even reached to an extent of fearing myself due to the love this old woman had for me. Moreover, I was not the only child.
That primary vacation almost made me a priest since I had filled seminary forms,but the wise decision by my grand mum was not purely welcomed..
Did I join the seminary?of course not,but st Marys was also fit to train me into priesthood. Moreover I had that desire.
Four years later,I was a grown up in high school with lack of school fees issues.
Time never lingers,indeed my heroe used her time to grab the Headteacher's attention. Was I a fees defaulter in any way? Yes,I was...
Filling senior four forms was ably managed by her strategic plan with the Head teacher.
(Another episode not for now.)
What of Higher level struggle?did she make it a point as a parent?
Extremely made it possible for me to complete senior six with a debt at school.
If you want to know how confident she was,just the Headteacher's office room recorded some good storyline of the whole system.
She never used any means of transport apart from her Godly given feet from kyanamira to Rushoroza in a daily basis.
God answered her suffering,I completed my secondary education.(more episodes not for now)
Did I enjoy vacation with her?
Obviously not because i was up and down for what next?
My mother was in scarcity. A reason for the sufferings..
Time still never lingers,I was later admitted at university but with no fees.
Did I join? Obviously no.......
That's how I failed to grab my priesthood desire...but later graduated as a teacher in another institution. Thumbs up to her who could pay my transport fares at the end of the semester.
The job I got first was due to her attitude,struggle and hard work. Did she link me to a job in Kampala? Obviously yes......
That's how is started earningng something for myself.....
No sooner had I grabbed a good job than her sickness decided.
I had only saved three month salary with her....
That 17th day of December 2013,shall ever remain in my brain.
My aunt called me at around 2:30pm when I was having lunch at work..
These were the words.
"Davis,please,mukaaka says she needs you. Come and say bye to her because her health isn't good."
I immediately took to heels up to home for the journey.
I had not even boarded the only "Horizon bus" when my sister called me saying"it's over."
I couldn't believe everything until I reached KABALE.
Still I was not convinced until I saw people in a meeting as my grany's soul stared at me. I was helpless...
Had I at least got something for myself,
Had I at least been ordained a priest?
Had I at least met someone for a wife?
Had I at least acquired some land?
Had I at least accumulated some wealth?
She really left me in the hands if another world where i need to toil for her sweat.
I am sure one day,I will live to celebrate her struggle and sufferings when I'm celebrating with the people I grew up with.
That's why I shall live to celebrate the life of my grand mother "Tashemere Christine"
Daughter of a former kigezi prominent chief Paul Kakwenza(RIP).
May your soul RIP my dear Mukaaka.