Wednesday, August 16, 2023

A Belated Birthday Tribute to Dr. Daniel Ruhweza

 A Belated Birthday Tribute to Dr. Daniel Ruhweza

By Benjamin and Flavia Tumukunde

Dr. Daniel Ruhweza, a guiding light so true.
Your birthday's grace, like stars that gleam,
In our lives, you are the radiant beam.

A force you've been, a compass strong,
Guiding us right when things went wrong.
Flavia and I, forever grateful we stand,
For your wisdom and care, a guiding hand.

Our paths converged, destiny's embrace,
In this intricate tapestry of time and space.
You've enriched our lives in ways untold,
A treasure trove of knowledge you've boldly unfold.

With your brilliance, you've lit the way,
Inspiring us to seize each new day.
Through hurdles faced and dreams pursued,
Your presence, a blessing that's imbued.

As days unfurl and life's chapters unfold,
May blessings around you endlessly mold.
Goodwill and grace upon your kin,
May happiness and love forever begin.

In this ode to you, Dr. Ruhweza so dear,
We celebrate your birth with heartfelt cheer.
Late as it may be, our wishes stand true,
A belated happy birthday from us to you!

From us...Including Ikiriza

By Benjamin and Flavia Tumukunde

Wednesday, August 09, 2023

Who is that uncircumcised Philistine?

 

Who is that uncircumcised Philistine?

 





Who is that uncircumcised Philistine?

That clouds your atmosphere

Challenging your belief system

And down playing your commitment

To the Lord Most High?

 

Who is that uncircumcised Philistine?

That offers you a bowl of lentils

In exchange for your undefiled inheritance

A temple of the Holy Ghost

 

Who is that uncircumcised Philistine?

Who defies the God Most High

And belittles His Word

In lewd and uncanny jokes

 

Who is that uncircumcised Philistine?

Who tries to destroy the destiny of God’s people?

By trying to kill the new born babe

Be it Moses, Jesus of your destiny and purpose

 

Who is that uncircumcised Philistine?

Who is that naysayer

Who claims it is not possible

That God’s people cannot unite

And stand as one?

 

Who is that uncircumcised Philistine?

Who is that Hamaan that tries to destroy

The Apple of God’s eye?

You? His favourite Nation

Doesn’t he know, not to touch, the anointed of the Lord

 


Who is that uncircumcised Philistine?

Who tries to destroy the destiny of God’s people?

By trying to kill the new born babe

Be it Moses, Jesus of your destiny and purpose

Who is that uncircumcised Philistine?

That is going to be destroyed by David, Mordecai and Esther

And gobbled by lions in the den

Or swallowed by the earth

For failing to recognise

That the Lord God is one

And is to be Worshipped alone

 


Circa 2021

 

 

Tuesday, August 01, 2023

NO CHILD IS SAFE

 NO CHILD IS SAFE!!


By D.R.Ruhweza

8am it was
They knocked at my door
They actually banged at my gate
A Lady
Two Gentlemen
A saloon car

A fanciful story they told
"Daddy says ....
"Give us the children..."
"Plaiting their hair..."
Braids ... he instructed
"Quick...Quick...
We need to go...

Discernment was needed
Wisdom was required
Favour is what we call it
For in the nick of time
The househelps challenges
The traffickers


"What is his name?..."
"What car does he drive?..."
"What does he look like?..."
"He didnt tell us anything!"

Tempers flared
Cross words exchanged
The traffickers failed
To appeal to the househelp's minds

And thus
Our babies were saved!

No child is safe!!

28.07.2023

Thursday, February 09, 2023

The ANTHONY I Knew

 

I first met Anthony Wameli Yeboah in Busoga College Mwiri. I was his Junior Prefect in the Great Wako House and it is there that I first sensed his stubborn yet resilient nature. 


Anthony represented us in Sports and Games and I still recall him flying our light blue colours high. By the time I left Mwiri, Anthony was not yet the dedicated follower of our Lord Jesus Christ that we know today. Mwiri has this effect on you. One can never leave the same.


I believe Anthony joined us at Law School in Makerere as I was about to finish my course. He would then graduate, join the Judiciary and then leave it to become the passionate defence  counsel and human rights lawyer we have grown to know him to be. 


As President of Uganda Christian Lawyers Fraternity, I had tasked Anthony to lead the UCLF Sports Day activities because of his passion and love for soccer. (I  do recall that he had a football league for his church too). Whereas he was willing to lead the Sports activities, Anthony's defence work with the indigent and often shunned clients, his political engagements with NUP, and his pastoral Ministry at his church made it difficult to do. 


Like a true Mwirian, his big heart for service would later lead him to throw in his hat for the Presidency of the Uganda Law Society (ULS) as well as the Member of Parliament seat for Namisindwa Constituency. I do recall having a "good problem" of trying to do a "Camp David meet" so as to form a consensus with the other UCLF candidates Pheona Wall and Bernard Oundo who were also interested in the seat. The rest is now history. Good history too. 


I have known Anthony as a selfless and passionate lawyer. He has depicted the true Christian values   of _doing justice, loving mercy and walking humbly before the Lord._ Anthony also exemplified the truth in the Busoga College Mwiri logo of _Kulwa Katonda Negwangga lyaffe_ (For God and our country)


He has loved his wife and children and has fought the cancer with all he could. I recall watching him lead prayers via Zoom whilst based in the USA where he was receiving his treatment. He lost his fight but his spirit lives on. We remain victors in Christ. 


Today we mourn the passing on to Glory of our brother Anthony but my encouragement to his wife, the children, his law partner Turyamusiima Geoffrey and all those constituencies he cherished, is from *1 Thess 4:13-14*


_Brothers, we do not want you to be ignorant about those who fall asleep, or to grieve like the rest of men, who have no hope. 14We believe that Jesus died and rose again and so we believe that God will bring with Jesus those who have fallen asleep in him_ (1 Thess 4: 13-18)


May Anthony rest in Abraham's bosom until we meet again


_Daniel R Ruhweza PhD_

President MOBA

President Emeritus UCLF

Monday, January 30, 2023

Letter to a Friend

My dear Friend

May 2023 be a great year for you

May you be fruitful in all areas of your life

My prayer is that you will enjoy good health, an influential and purpose laden  life and that you will not lack. 

May the Lord be the wind beneath your wings and the rod upon which you lean when you go weary

May your broken relationships be healed, and your good relationships be taken a level higher

May your children and disciples be blessed

May your spouse excel in all she does and may this New Year bring you untold joy and may the Lord continue to expand your territory 

I pray for wisdom for you but also for provision

Amen

The Cactus

I love this cactus plant. 


Sometimes when tending to it, I get pricked. However I cannot allow to cut it down and burn it. 

I look for means to keep lovingly tending to it. I cannot explain the joy of seeing it blossom neither can I even explain what I mean when I say "I love it".

Juxstapose👆🏾

Saturday, April 30, 2022

 

AGREED

 

A short story by D. R. Ruhweza

 




'He has agreed to forgive!' Maimuna screamed. Her voice was followed by the sound of small feet tumbling over each other. Heaving and panting heavily, she burst into the smoke filled kitchen, 'they..' she caught her breath before continuing '… they have agreed' she reported. 'He has said he is sorry.'

 

'What? really?' Mukaka asked while jumping off her three-legged worn out stool. She picked up her nkoni, a walking stick and slowly yet steadily willed old bones out of the kitchen. In her time, no child or woman was allowed to be seen or heard near the rukurato meeting of elders. 'Yes' Maimuna continued, 'Mugwisa said he was sorry and agreed to pay compensation.' Tears of joy filled Mukaka's eyes as from a distance, she could see her middle-aged son kneeling before his grey haired balding father in a strong embrace.

 

Seated upon a bulging root of the old Mvule tree, Matama sat wiping her tears away in time to accept the strong squeeze on her shoulder from Mukaka her mother in law. Matama had been at the centre of a long and terrible feud between her husband and his father. Mugwisa had just returned from self-imposed exile from the nearby Humura village. He had done the dastardly deed of impregnating his father's concubine. As was required by the custom of the village, Mugurusi had disowned his son and disinherited him. The Village elders had concurred with the old man and forbidden his son from ever returning to the village. Matama had spent the last two years struggling to make peace between her fugitive husband and his ailing father.  The old man's heart bled for his only son and yet at the same time burnt with anger at the way he had been betrayed. Mukaka had become to old to warm Mugurusi's bed. A young woman had therefore been sought to tend to his diminishing body.

 

Matama was not a beautiful girl but she had the voice of an angel. She was also blessed with green fingers because all that she planted flourished. Unable to produce any more children due to a problematic pregnancy that left her womb-less. She had resigned to the fact that her husband would seek other women in order to sire a son.  Mugwisa had found the body of his father's concubine irresistible. However, an ectopic pregnancy with fatal results to mother and child had led to the old man's renewed life of solitude. Unable to forgive his son, Mugu, as his granddaughter Maimuna called him, had become a bitter and solitary figure.

 

In her husband's absence, the cunning work of Matama had began. She weaved her way into the old man's heart in spite of her own pain, suffered at having been betrayed by her childhood love. For months, Matama had borne the brunt of venomous abuse her father-in-law harboured for his son. Encouraged by Mukaka, she had appealed on her husband's behalf. 'You need him here to keep your bloodline running Mugurusi' she cajoled. 'Punish him but call him back', she had pleaded. ‘Without him I am nothing, you are nothing, Maimuna is nothing.' she had cried.

 

The old man had over the weeks softened his stance. The kindly voice of his daughter in law had cracked away at his ill temper and pain. He had raised his tired hands at last and sent for his son. 'You are a good woman, Mugurusi had said before meeting his son in the presence of the elders. 'A good woman' he had muttered again.

 

 

The Hon. Justice Mr. Mike James W’duallo Chibita

 

The Hon. Justice Mr. Mike James W’duallo Chibita



 





Happy Birthday to a Great Man of God.

Happy birthday to a Leader, friend and Father

Happy birthday to a son, mentor and Comrade

Happy birthday to a child of God and Husband to One

 

This whole morning and since yesterday,

I have been thinking of appropriate words to say

or an action to take to celebrate the birth of this Gentle Giant.

 

At a time when we lack fathers,

You have been our father.

At a time when we need genuine friends,

You have been there.

At a moment when we desperately need people

to believe in us and validate what we do,

you have been that.

At the moment when we seek counsel

You have been a Counsellor

 

Thank you for looking out for me

Thank you for loving us

Thank you for involving us in your life

For mentoring us

For the jokes, the wisdom

And the tough love

 

Happy birthday indeed

The Hon. Justice Mr. Mike James W’duallo Chibita

We honor you

 

D. R. Ruhweza (A Son) 

April 30, 2022