Mother’s Day special

Mother’s day is here and I am excited to write something about my mum.

My siblings and I came up with a list of lessons our mum has passed on to us over the years.Here goes the list and it’s in no particular order:

+Family is the strongest bond. We are a close knit family and share everything. My mum’s siblings are the best and my jaja takes the award for the best jaja in the entire world.

+Listen to your children.What they say is important . My mum listens to us all and it’s humbling. In turn we have learnt to listen to each other even if what we hear we don’t agree with.

+Apologize when in wrong. My mum apologizes to us. I know the notion that African parents don’t apologize to their kids but my mum does and it’s humbling😊😊.

+How you talk to people is important. She always says, ba nembaaza.

+Heritage. We speak our languages well and where we don’t know, we consult her and she will explain. We know where we come from and what forms our identity.

+Be patient. There is a time for everything. Don’t be in a rush.

+Put yourself out there because in the process you meet new people,explore new environments and land opportunities that will never leave you the same.

+Listen to your elders and follow their counsel.

+Give yourself time. Things eventually fall into place.

+Be happy always.

+Hard work is a great virtue. She always says, ‘atakora talya” directly translated he who doesn’t work doesn’t eat😂😂.

+Discipline yourself. Is there anything that can be achieved without discipline?

+When dating, otemarayo 😂😂.

+As you work, save some cash and better yourself.

+Never settle for less. Mum always pushes us to do better, desire more and aim for the very best.

What lessons has your mother or guardian passed on to you?

Happy Mother’s Day to all the mothers out there. You are awesome.

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55 reasons why I love Uganda

I am joining the many bloggers writing my Ugandan story thanks to Ug blogging community and Kafunda creatives http://ugbloc.com/the-55ugblogs-kafunda-kreative-ugbloc-campaign/.

We are into our 55th year of Independence and here are my 55 reasons as to why I love my motherland.

1.I am a foodie so food had to take this spot.Uganda is a food basket.Have you had matooke in ndagala (banana leaves) with g.nut stew or meat ,fish and chicken? Try it.Did you know you can make fries with YAMS??The variety of food is insane and never boring.(Follow @AkitchenInUg for more tips)

2.Ugandans ooze hospitality and warmth.We welcome all people.You can’t get lost fwaaaa, people will help you get to your destination and even give you tips on how to avoid thugs.How cool is that?

3.The Ugandan Rolex; I honestly can’t believe it’s a big deal now.The creativity in the Rolex business is amazing.Rolex with minced mix flavored with chilli is my specialty.

4.The sunrise and sunset in Uganda are magical .It feels like God spent a little more time there.It’s simply B-E-A-U-T-I-F-U-L.

5.The endless green cover that has no boundaries. It joins districts with trees, flowers of all sizes and colors.I don’t have to go to the Amazon to see green cover,I have it right here in Uganda.

6.The hills and mountains that sit in various districts.Have you seen Mbuya hill, or been to the Western part of Uganda?I visited Mbarara over the weekend and it was breathtaking.

7.Our weather or climate.We have almost 3 rainy seasons in a year and we are the real ”basummer” ,we have the sun out always.

8.The smell of soil when rain drops kiss the ground.That chemistry can’t be taught in a lab,it can only be smelt.

9.Great music.I am a lover of muziki and each generation comes along with it’s flavor but some flavors linger on.Like Elly Wamala , Afrigo band and Madox Sematimba.I am currently obsessed with Judith Babirye’s Mukama Talimba, Ddagala by Robin San & Fortune spiceUg.

10.Musicians joining politics!!This was unheard of but it’s happening.Bobi Wine got voted into parliament and is doing mighty exploits.#kisoboka

11.Catch phrases created from our music and current events. These become part of our lingo for example teka sente wolaba,okikolotya btw?, togikwatako. These spread like wild fire.

12.Taxi stories.People who talk loudly while having phone conversations,that woman who eats boiled eggs when traffic is at its peak,that man who fights with the conductor over 100/= balance.or the conductor saying,’aba since when temuyingira”😂😂😂

13.The parks(new & old as well as usafi)harbor taxis going to any part of Kampala and Uganda at large.As long as you know which park has what taxis,you can’t go wrong with taxis.

14.There are bus parks too which make it easy for people to locate various buses going upcountry like Arua Park,global buses park among others.

15.The entrepreneurial spirit is contagious.Any business can flourish in Uganda.Numerous entreprenuers are doing amazing things in various sectors like fashion, music, chocolate.

16.Ugandans love to associate with success.When Obama became president,children born during his era are called Obama, Rolex stalls in my neighborhood were rebranded to Obama.

17.The young people finally have a voice and are making things happen.Gone are the days when that had to look on as things happened.They can’t be ignored anymore.

18.The political atmosphere.Some of our MPs are married to the nation and doing their job too well.Did you see the fight they put up in the recent #agelimit debate that raised the #togikwatako slogan?. I am proud to be alive at such a time.

19.The revolution of the fashion industry.Many designers are making clothes that Ugandans are wearing to the red carpet,weddings and various events. Designers like Kwesh, Sylvia owori,Anita Beryl, Martha Jabo.

20.We have our own Fashion Week.Growing up I watched New York and Paris fashion weeks until Gloria Wavamunno birthed Kampala Fashion Week(KFW).

21.Modelling industry has grown too.This was an industry parents wouldn’t let their kids indulge in.Look at Aamito Lagum,girl is doing incredible things.The models signed to Joram Management are doing well too.

22.Ugandan material on the market.This is a big achievement since growing up I never knew Ugandan authors.Read some Ug literature and it’s good.Books like wealth files and called to greatness by Moses Mukisa, Forearmed by Michael Katagaya, Homegrown Love by Elma Asio & Evelyn Karungi. You can find them in bookshops. As a reader and writer, I am inspired.

23.Growth of the comedy industry.I love a good laugh and Anne Kansiime is doing a great job.Anne Kansiime gets to travel to other countries to make people laugh.Comedians like pablo, Salvador who has a one man show this month,fun factory and many more.

24.Growth of content drama series.I can actually stand watching some Ug drama series like coffee shop,lies that bind ,among others.

25.Variety of TV stations. Gone are the days of UTV😂😂 only.

26.Variety of radio stations.I have close to four favorite radio stations that play super cool music and the hosts are great too.

27.Our rich culture 1;have you experienced the traditional dances from all over Uganda??You need too.The dances are graceful, beautiful, passionate,energetic and above all,they tell the Ugandan story.

28.Rich culture 2;traditional outfits that add flair to all functions they are worn too. The baganda have gomesis,people from Western Uganda wear sukas though,different tribes drape them differently.

29.Traditional weddings that are so Ugandan.These pay attention to tribal traditions and fulfil them when it comes to dowry, dress code, and so much more.

30.Royalty talk.Our kingdoms still exist with their kings and elders.That’s a heritage that will never be taken away.

31.The beautiful cows used for meat, milk, horns used to make decor, jewellery and as dowry.

32.Freedom of worship.It is exceptional.All religions worship what they want,who they want,where and when they want.

33.Our tea.I am a tea lover .I love me some kisubi tea,ginger tea with mudalasini (cinnamon in it’s raw form not the processed one).I am no coffee person.

34.Our money which is familiar and very easy to count and tell apart.It has significant symbols that tell the Ugandan story.

35.Our anthem that is prophetic.Being a believer,each time I sing it,’Oh !Uganda May God uphold thee.”I surrender my beloved country to God.

36.Education is a priority and most parents are doing whatever is within their power to put their kids through school.

37.Adrenaline junkie activities exist in Uganda away from TV 😂. I have experienced bungee jumping and ziplining and still looking forward to many more.

38.We love to dance and be happy.That’s why the Kampala city carnival is a hit each year.

39.The advertising of Ug products gives me life and has gotten better over the years.

40.The beautiful rivers,lakes and water falls.These create magical journeys and moments as they decorate our country.

41.Variety of fruits which are juicy and tasty. Some of my favorites include mangoes,jack fruit,water melon and pineapples.Plus they are affordable.

42.Our boys are being mentored in this generation.Check out http://pkahill.com/55ugblogs-who-is-mentoring-boys-to-men-in-this-55-years-old-country/

43.Generosity of Ugandans .People rally to give into various causes for example 4040 foundation building a dorm, baby Kayla’s operation in India,Mtn marathon,Buganda run, and so much more.

44.The beautiful animals in our national parks.They add a pop of color to the greenery.

45.We are a young nation with potential and every other day ,year and month there is a breakthrough for a young person .I am proud to be alive at such a time.

46.Natural hair is a thing of the future.Gone are the days when we had to relax our hair.Our very own Ugandans have come up with products that cater to our hair with a made in Ug tag.This is exciting .

47.Numerous opportunities to make wealth in various sectors.The market is growing rapidly. some youth have take advantage of this and others should too.

48.Our uglish that is tailor made just for Ugandans.Its our very own English.’ They stole me’ simply meaning they took/stole something from me.

49.Second hand clothes that are affordable.These can be found downtown and in various markets around Kampala like Nakawa, Kamwokya and Usafi.Who wouldn’t want to be stylish on a low budget??

50.Ugandans are so nice,cool,intelligent,funny with a pinch of sarcasm.We smile and greet each other in taxis.I tried this in Kenya and my neighbor gave me the look.

51.The various restaurants owned and run by Ugandans dealing in local food.These are exciting because some times I get tired of KFC and Java’s caribbean jerk chicken.

52.Nsenene (grass hoppers).I love these insects and when they spice them up ,I am undone.Though my Kenyan friends can’t eat them.

53.Youth and women empowerment is being done by fellow Ugandans.Organisations like Kyusa are problem solvers.

54.I almost forgot boda bodas.I got a bad accident while on a boda this year but I can’t deny the fact that they are convenient and super fast.

55.I love Uganda because it is home and home is where the heart is. Everything is familiar,the people,dialects, structures,food, airtime,money.I love Uganda in all colors❤❤💙💚💜💞💟.

Photos courtesy of Kafunda Kreatives, Imigani and personal archives.

©Racheal Kizza 2017

Extraordinaire 8: Live Martha

1.Who is Martha?

Martha Ainomugisha Mugisa is a Leadership Development enthusiast who is passionate about empowering others. Her heart is sold out to youth, children and the vulnerable. She’s been married to Gideon for the last 8 years and is a mother to 2 precious girls, Hannah and Hadassah! She loves a good read,travelling and having a good hearty laugh!

2.Genesis of Livewire.

The first LiveWire forum was held sometime in 2012. Early 2012, I was visited by 3 young men who I had mentored years back. They were at a point in their lives when they were completing university and they felt we needed to meet, catch up and chat like old times and especially talk about issues of love and relationships that were a puzzle to them at that point in their lives. We agreed to meet over some nyama choma like old times. Two weeks to our meeting, a few other friends from the good old times showed interest in coming so we opened it up and decided to find a venue, and do logistics for a real meeting. I think we had over 30 young people in attendance. At that meeting, it was agreed that another meeting should happen. When I met with the initial 3 guys for an evaluation meeting, we agreed to tentatively call the meetings live wire and this is why: I had met these precious people during a time when I worked with Scripture Union Uganda. They used to volunteer during youth conferences during which one of the most popular parts of the program was a session we called live wire (intended to mean that things were discussed as openly and bluntly as could be). And your guess is as good as mine, the hottest topic during live wire at the conferences was relationships, love , sex and everything in that line. So, without really planning to, we started having regular meetings. The name has still stuck. It was only modified to The LiveWire Forum”. We have debated over the years on whether to change it but well, let’s see what the future holds. The Spark team(a group of volunteers who plan and execute the forum’s activities) was constituted and here we are. The rest, like they say, is history.

3.How do you juggle livewire and your day to day life of being a mother and managing other ventures?

From the very start, we appointed a team of volunteers to plan and execute the activities of the forum. This means that the burden does not lie squarely on my shoulders. So I have learnt to empower others to be part of the work so that the responsibility is not heavy. As earlier said, this team of volunteers at LiveWire is called the Spark Team! There is also a group of married people who are burdened about this ministry who have come on board over the years. We call them “Elders”. They are a great source of encouragement and support.

4. How often is LiveWire held?

We hold 4 forums a year usually around March, July, September and November. The November forum is custom made for those planning to walk down the aisle. It’s code-named “Planning To Say I Do”. This September our forum is happening on 30th,dubbed ,”lad_lady in Waiting.”

5.Achievements so far?

The testimonies of impact are so many. That is what has brought us this far and gives us the grace to keep going. We have interfaced with over 500 young people over the years. Seeing young people finding courage to face tough situations, make tough but life changing decisions, arise to pursue their dreams or deciding to live right is what we live for at LiveWire. Also, we have since defined our niche and focus and also gone on to expand our scope of reach. The LiveWire forum is now a program under a registered non-profit, IGNITE Initiatives (www.igniteinitatives.org), whose vision is to empower the next generation of influential leaders. We are excited about what the future holds!

6. Challenges faced.

Like earlier stated, the start of this forum was not planned. It really just happened. So, along the way when it became clear that we needed to keep going, my team and I had the challenge of deciding where we wanted it to go and how. We have had to go before God to give us direction and guidance. We have had to embark on Long term thinking and planning. This process is actually ongoing. I like what the future looks like. Our other burden and challenge has been follow up. In this kind of work, you must follow up on people and build support systems if you are to have long term and meaningful influence and impact. But because this is something we do part time and with a small team, it’s been a challenge. However, since we have decided to think long term, we are working on processes and systems to help us be more effective.

7.How does one join the forum?

LOL!!! you don’t have to recite any creed OR be a certain way. Are you a young person keen on making godly decisions on matters of love, relationships and marriage OR are you keen on discovering God’s purpose for your life and pursue it? Just attend one of the forums or join us on the WhatsApp group and you will officially be part of the family.

8.What advice do you give to youth who are struggling to find their purpose?

My first word would be breathe in and out and go easy on yourself. Every single person you see around you goes through that phase at some point in their life (especially those who seem to have it all together)! Now, you won’t believe it but your purpose is closer to you than you think. All you have to do is look around you and inside you. I believe and have come to appreciate that our purpose is woven intrinsically into every fibre of our lives by God our creator. Who you are; your personality, likes and dislikes and your experiences in life will quickly help you define your purpose if you take a close enough look. So a good place to begin is by asking the one who made you- God. In simple terms, pray about it.

9.Social media sites

Whatsapp: https://chat.whatsapp.com/KHHqtln3GQt1sJ541y1n1T

Facebook:https://web.facebook.com/groups/244871502271995/

Twitter: @LiveWireForum

Join us!!!

©Racheal Kizza 2017

Careless in the Love of God

Sunday is my day out .I am picked and dropped from Worship Harvest, Kibuye location by a very good man also a member of the church(hold up!!!!, he isn`t my hubby, hehehe. He has a beautiful wife-Gladys and they have two adorable children).

The good man is Ivan; he has a daughter-Erica. She is a bundle of joy and has so much energy, she is a rock star with a fierce personality. Erica knows who her daddy is and she carelessly lives it out.

Erica will reach out to her dad amidst clusters of people with the “he is my dad attitude.’’ She doesn`t fear when her father is around; her actions portray her confidence in her father. She is so careless in his love.

Watching them, I am reminded of God`s love. Ivan symbolizes God, who loves us and desires we bask in His love. A love so pure it oozes liberation, inclusion and acceptance. It makes no demands but only seeks to love some more each day.

We are in a covenant relationship with Him. This ultimately means, we are in a heaven bound relationship that can NEVER be broken. So quit worrying about those monies, tuition, that health situation, job placement, marriage, family dispute, and promotion. Hand it over to Him and remember Romans 8:32, “He who did not spare His own Son, but delivered Him up for us all, how shall He not with Him also freely give us all things?’’

Bask in His love. Love limitlessly and allow to be loved, worship recklessly, lift up those hands with abandonment, dance like there is no tomorrow. Quit harbouring fear.

Be careless in the love of God.

Racheal Kizza © 2017

Book review#6

Title: Homegrown Love

Authors: Evelyn Karungi & Elma Asio

HomeGrown Love is a short story collection written by two amazing ladies; Evelyne Karungi who is a law graduate with a master`s degree in social sciences ,and a certificate in United Nations Studies. She lives in both Kampala and NewYork. The other writer is Elma Asio who is an accountant with a bachelor`s degree in commerce and has been writing stories for as long as she can remember.

The stories are shared in two parts giving both writers time, space and paper to share their stories. All stories are inspiring and cover a wide range of topics, including importance of holding onto hope and letting go of misguided love, integrating past hurts into a functional life, and how to cope with watching friends disappear as the golden years slip way.

In part 1 ,Evelyn takes us on a journey of love and the forms love takes from heartbreak to the art of confusion. I have been in love before and experienced heartbreak so my memoirs resonated with the flipping of each page in part one. We all react differently to heartbreak and like Livy aka Tough Cookie , “I am not in denial, I just don`t have the time to stop and think.” I relate with her but the pain always needs an outlet. Part 1 ends with the way of love with an attached scripture from 1 Corinthians 13; A beautiful passage on what love is according to God. “Love never gives up.” Love cares more for others than for self.

Part 2 takes centre stage with a conversational tone on a tale of black roses. The pains of love, whether it is with a Dave who put a ring on it or with a loss of a friend like Cookie who made life seem theatrical each day. The chapter is dedicated to Homegrown love where the writer reminds us to remember where we came from. And as we remember that, we know we are perfect, beautiful and special.

Homemade loves are just that and no one can change that fact. I have heard moments where I too wondered where did my love go? A common occurrence in every day life when we wonder where did our love go for our kids, family, careers, God, friends, etc but we say we are okay to the world and strong yet we need to be shown the path back to love. I related with the stories in the book too and the ending is perfection itself-“Only bruised.’’

We all go through situations and circumstances and we all should grieve the best way we know how to and then say “I was only bruised and I give myself permission to live.’’

The Language left me in awe , it is simple and for those who don`t remember their English and literature classes, use google as you enjoy the melody of each sound tagging at your heart and mind.

The book cover is simply beautiful; a glowing lamp with beautiful butterflies looming around it a typical depiction of love tales in our African traditional society. The stories were told over a fire or a lamp and it always warmed the hearts of the listeners. May the book warm every heart that reads it as it has warmed my heart.

I recommend the book to all people who appreciate the fusion of fiction and reality. The writers share their stories with humor and compassion allowing the reader to feel every emotion and resonate with a character or story shared.

Racheal Kizza © 2017