Friday, January 17, 2025

Dr. Daniel Ruhweza’s Writing Journey

   This has been borrowed from the CLC Website



Dr. Daniel Ruhweza’s Writing Journey

My understanding of the Lord at an early age

My name is Daniel Ruhweza. I am a Christian, a husband to Clare Katwesigye which means ‘trust and my quiver is full’ – we have four children, all unique in their way, Keije , Kemanzi, Kaine, and Karuhanga are their names, Keije means welcome. She is the firstborn in our family – an intense bookworm and writer. We also call her Damita which means Princess, and she has penned her first novel we are editing at a slow pace as she works through her GSCE exams. Kemanzi means warrior- she is a worshipper and quite the organizer and people person; We also called her Darlene after the worshipper in Australia. Kaine is a free spirit, a beautiful lady with a heart for people too. We also gave her the name ‘Devine’. Karuhanga means he is of the Lord is a leader and growing to be a caring and good-hearted man. We also called him Daniel Junior.

I came to know the Lord at an early age. I recall my mother singing the praise and worship songs and my elder brother (RIP) carrying me on his shoulders and taking me to the church where I learnt the Lord’s prayer. At primary school, we started a fellowship of sorts. It was irregular with hindsight, I am amazed that we took God seriously even in our naive way. I attended Busoga College Mwiri, well known in our country’s Scripture Union and Pentecostal circles for arguably producing the highest number of Pastors in the nation. However, Mwiri was where my Christian walk developed. We had daily evening fellowships before a new Reverend cut them to three; we had prayers and fasting and Bible reading, and that is where my journey of mentorship kicked off.

Some Christian boys helped us grow- they challenged our way of life -inspired us to be clean, responsible, and hardworking. They gave us responsibilities and introduced us to leadership. It is here that I honed my leadership skills as well as my participation in co-curricular activities, from Scouting to wildlife to music, dance, and drama. It was a no-brainer when stood for and was elected head prefect – a position which was in many cases filled by a Christian.

It was time to revive my passion for writing

It was, however, in Mwiri that I resumed my passion for writing. This passion had started in primary school where we would write for the Schools notice board and for news to read at the Assembly. At Mwiri, I started writing and collecting poems, and during my break before the A levels, I also started earning from writing short stories for our nations leading newspaper “The New Vision”.

I continued to write poems even through the University where I went to study law. The poem helped me to communicate with the girl of my dreams. On paper, I became alive, and we ‘journaled’ quite a lot. That collection of poems that Clare and I used to write and others I have written over the years are to be published as an Anthology this year. You may lookout for it.

The journey of impacting lives

As a law student at Makerere, the Lord opened up doors for me to be mentored by great Christian lawyers who helped guide me in the decisions I made. My purpose, therefore, was far from merely making money but loving mercy, doing justly, and walking humbly before the Lord. The Lord guided me to return to the University to start impacting the lives of young people as a lecturer, mentor, a patron to the Christian union, and mooting society, and supporting their passion and innovative minds.

I also became President of the Uganda Christian Lawyers Fraternity that opened up doors for me to impact more people in the judiciary, and legal practice world. I have also been able to make vital contacts with lawyers in Africa and the world. This position was critical to helping me reach more students of law and impact them. The story has greatly changed in Makerere School of Law. Indeed the athiest nomenclature and reputation of the School has changed. With the guidance of a few Christian lecturers, I have been able to involve myself in helping students have hope and not give up. Their stories and my interaction with them deeply inspired me to write the book “WE DO NOT TEACH THAT AT THE UNIVERSITY: CONFESSIONS OF A UNIVERSITY DON”

When I noticed that the boy child at the law school was taking a back seat and getting lost, I started the Manhood versus Maleness Conversation (which the girls also attend anyway). This series of talks which also happened in the period of lockdown have helped boys, and students to engage in hardly talked of topics – sex, leadership, relationships, failure, etc. All of them are in my book.

The mindset we should all have

In the book, I talk about the skills, mindset, and necessary attitude which a student in particular but all of us, in general, require to survive in this ever-changing VUCA world. While the title might assume that only University students should read it, the stories and wisdom in there apply to all people. The book was published just before CoVid 19 shut the world down. Amazingly, the advice there was aimed at helping people unlearn, learn and relearn, and have the attitude and grit to manage the times. I use the story of Joshua as an example of having the right attitude and my personal story of faith to help the reader localize the wisdom there.

By God’s grace, I have had a chance to talk about this book in the media houses and to have reviews of the same written in the media. This is because I have been a regular pundit on constitutional and political issues in our nation. Additionally, as a Zonal Pastor in my church, I have been blessed to interact with men and women who have helped me form the ideas in this book. I am a Rotarian, a lover of nature, an Advocate of the Courts of Judicature in Uganda, and an assessor/mentor in some leadership spaces. I am also an alumni of the Universities of Cambridge and Kent where I earned my Masters and Doctoral degrees in law.

The book is on Amazon

For those who are eligible to vote, here is my link

https://africanauthors.net/the-passion-had-started-in-primary-school-where-we-would-write-for-the-schools-notice-board-and-for-news-to-read-at-the-assembly/

Saturday, January 11, 2025

THE TONY KAKOOZA I KNOW and WHY I Support His candidature

 THE TONY KAKOOZA I KNOW and WHY I Support His candidature


Right from Law School days, he opened Prof JMN Kakooza's Library to us and we always benefitted from that. He is a true brother to me. Always available to help when I need that help and generous to the dot. He is the most honest and truthful lawyer I know. When he was told that he didn't get an Upper second degree, he voluntarily went back and changed his certificate and transcript. That left an powerful mark about his character 



He is very generous, humble, hardworking to the letter and dedicated to the cause he seeks to pursue. It is no wonder that he has been honoured and uplifted without cutting corners. He has a unique blend of having led as Dean of Law in a Private University  that has produced stellar lawyers in Uganda Law Society and the JLOS sector


As Partner in a busy Law practice (where he is arguably one of the country's lead IP experts), he has led the IP Cluster of the Law Society very well and responded to the needs of the vulnerable like the musicians and others. He has worked in the NGO world where UCLF offered free legal services, and so has a clear understanding of the needs of the less fortunate 


He has worked as a Commissioner in the Law Reform Commission and therefore is well acquainted with the justice needs. As a fellow decision maker and leader at the Law School, he has always been available, helpful and responsive to the needs of students and the leadership. He is also kind hearted and never loads his success over anyone


 In many instances he has interned in various matters to help avert stalemates. He is a certified arbitrator. Helping in fast resolution of commercial disputes amicably


That is the Tony I know and I am certain that he will be a welcome addition to the JSC

Friday, January 10, 2025

On Prof Chris Mbaziira

 I have been keenly reading Christopher Mbazira' s Bellbottom Series. The series are not only captivating but say a lot about the man.


His background influences the way he approaches life. Christopher thinks about making life better for others. He is aware his surroundings and the people he seeks to serve. His desire is not personal aggrandisement but the benefit of all and sundry especially when it comes to access to resourced justice and opportunity. 


The economic challenges his family went through exposed him to a life of resilience and innovation, trying out various trades at a young age.


Some experiences with unscrupulous people (the bicycle story) or the iron sheet lifting shows that he has learnt to appreciate not to be naive and so he is wiser, professional and able to stand his ground.


The life lesson from the series is that life is not constant and bad times teach one lessons that turn out to be valuable. One can emerge from dispair to success.


Dr. Daniel Ruhweza

WHY I WILL VOTE FOR DR ANTHONY KAKOOZA FOR THE JUDICIAL SERVICE COMMISSIOON


Truth be told, the Judicial Service Commissioner must be a man or woman of proven integrity and high moral standards


Truth be told that Commissioner needs to be both just and merciful 



Truth be told such are not taught in the law School 


You either got it from your parents, your community or your God


As Dean of Law, Dr Kakooza resisted so many temptations to change results, admit ineligible students or look the other way in case impropriety revealed its ugly head


As  a law student, who was being taught by his own father, he could easily have accessed the examination scripts or questions of subjects his father taught. He did not


When, as Makerere Law Society we started the Sir Udo Udoma Memorial Symposium, Kakooza was in charge of getting us the painting. We gave him the money and then an unscrupulous Gentlemen amongst us tried to get a cut off it. Tony refused and even reported him to us. I was Speaker of the Society at the time. U can testify


When he gave his life to Christ, he was given an ultimatum to either lose his Scholarship or his new found faith.  Tony stood his ground and patiently calmly (as his true self) said No


Am hoping that we shall all recall not to rely on the power of a Single version of a story as Chimamanda tells us in her stellar piece https://youtu.be/D9Ihs241zeg?si=3WP_xTz5RiYqxmOd


The Tony is an honest, humble man of integrity and moral   uprightness


That is why I hang out with him

That us why I call him friend and brother

That is why I will vote for him

Friday, September 06, 2024

ON THIS DAY



On the day
The bride was glamorous and magnificent
Like a true twinkling star

On this day
Reverend Stephen Bamutungire convened Church service
Like a true Man of God

On this day
Anthony Kakooza drove the vehicles to and from Church like Michael Schumacher

On this day
Eric Hatanga oversaw the service of the meals like a Master Chef

On this day
Arora was in charge of the Groom like a doting father

On this day
Joyce and Cathy were by the Bride like two wings of a bird

On this day
Daddys, Mummys, bridemaids and groomsmen waltzed into Church and Hall
Like true royalty

On this day
Friends and family
Acquaintances and
Workmates
Gathered together in celebration

On this day
The Lord came smiling upon us
Like the bright morning Sun

On this day
We celebrate
And continue to do so

On this day

Happy Wedding Anniversary to us

06. 09. 2024

Wednesday, September 04, 2024

 WHAT IS LOVE ?


Love is

Long phone calls deep into the night

Long stares deep into big eyes

Loud laughter

And giggles aplenty


Love is

The glance into the wells of your loved ones eyes

Communicating everything

But saying nothing


Love is

The long hold of the lovers' hands

The tight hugs and side smiles

Whispers, Whispers, Whispers

The squeeze of hand

Which sends thrills down the spine


Love is

The patient wait for the bride

To walk down the aisle

To ululations and hand claps

And signs of relief


Love is

Imperfect perfections

Missed phone calls

And mistaken words

Burnt amaido and misplaced socks


Love is

The long nights awake

Awaiting the dear one

From a long journey


Love is

Sulking

Childish fights

Stilled tempers

And passionate reconciliations


Love Is

The mingling of posho and kaalo

The peeling of mbooli and servings of envuluga


Love is the back rub and foot scrub

The belly massage

Expecting the new baby


Love is 

The Groom laying down His life

For the bride

Like Christ did for us

His church


Indeed

Love is 

Michael and Sandra Bageya
doing life together 

Sacrificial

Forgivingly

Passionately

Peacefully 

Forever


Amen

Wednesday, July 03, 2024

ON SALVATION OR BEING “BORN AGAIN”

Receiving salvation or getting saved a.k.a born again does not mean that I am better than the next person. It rather means that I have failed on my own attempts. It means that I am in desparate need of a saviour because I cannot (and will never do it) on my own



The one who is saved or born again is like the leper who went to Jesus Christ for (and received) healing. He or she had been erstwhile cast away from society and I think (s)he had to walk with a bell to announce his unclean presence. He was the rejected of society. The kind who would live outside the camp of the people of the Lord or outside the Walls of Jerusalem so as to avoid infecting others with the deadly plague/leprosy



The C.V. of the sinner before (s)he received Christ reads of death, failure, damnation to death, being unsuccessful, riddled with sin like an infestation of ticks and jiggers. Then, arrives the Saviour with the perfect antidote - The perfect medicine – The perfect silver arrow that CLEANSES everything and clothes one with a new garment  ... 🙏🏾


Even if I fasted ad infinitum

Even if I prayed every hour

Even if I sacrificed my choicest bull ...let alone my son 

Even If I whipped my self to the bone

None of the above can save me from Hell fire

But just like the wrestler shouts " I SUBMIT..." in order to be rescued from the choke hold around his neck 

So do I shout "I SURRENDER ALL"



To my Saviour and My King Jesus


Monday, June 24, 2024

 When you find the girl......

 By Clare K Ruhweza


https://clareruhweza.wordpress.com/2019/11/15/when-you-find-the-girl/ 


My son; a time will come in your life when you will see the girl and your heart will beat and your mind will race and you will want to say things but words might fail you.

I hope you remember my words.......

To find a girl of great personality; a woman within a girl. One who wears wisdom and peace, graceful and kind, bold and industrious. One not afraid to complement you and point out where you are challenged.

Find a girl that loves the Lord for this will be the connection and source of your values. Do not fall for the outward beauty and charm "for charm is deceptive and beauty is fleeting"

 


Find a girl that is practical and not afraid to do the odd things, one with an opinion but respectful.

May she amuse you with her wit, challenge you with her intellect and surprise you with her creativity. Find the girl next door that will listen to you and grow to respect you. One that has deep family roots and has a good head on her shoulders. You have been raised by strong mothers and grandmothers; women who have been partners and supports in their homes.

 


And you my son must......

Have courage to walk up to her and speak to her from a place of conviction and genuine truth

 


Focus on the character and bring out the best aspects of the girl.

You must learn to notice the little things for "God is in the details". Study her and bring out the rare aspects that show her beauty...... in and out

Not be afraid to be yourself and bring out your best side but be vulnerable for her to know your weaknesses; no one wants a fraud. But let me remind you; brutal honesty doesn't cut it. 

A kind word spoken in truth is like "apples of gold in settings of silver"

 


Be prepared and take your time, to speak as one who has empathy and understanding. Kindness and chivalry are still very much in demand

You must be a man's man. Decisive but considerate, firm and gentle all wrapped up together

Have a plan, at the least an idea of where you are heading. We girls want to work on projects and must be given a dream.

Its okay to be rejected and life will present plenty opportunities for you to learn this truth. Learn to accept it with grace. Sometimes you have to walk away.

 


Be generous but be wise...

 


A little secret.... a NO today is not a NO tomorrow.... focus on friendship and building trust. You can win her over in the long run.

Show up, man up and to go the extra mile.

My son there is so much I must teach you......this is only lesson one.

https://clareruhweza.wordpress.com/2019/11/15/when-you-find-the-girl/