Homily at the NUP Convention in Chicago on August 11, 2024
Dear brothers and sisters,
Some years ago, a song with the title “Ekitooke kifa nsalira” became famous on Uganda’s airwaves. For those who do not understand Luganda, “ekitooke” is a banana plant. “Ekitooke kifa nsalira” literally means “a banana plant dies because it is not well pruned.” However, the song is not about banana plants. It is a call to a man to take care of his woman, to nurture her, instead of looking at other women.
To put it differently, the author of the song is saying that instead of daydreaming that the grass is greener on the other side, water your lawn. It can be green and beautiful if you water it. You must water it.
Friends: You have come to this convention because you care about and for our country, Uganda. Unlike those who think the grass is simply greener in other countries, you recognize that the change we desire for Uganda must start with each of us, Ugandans, “buli omu okweberaramu.”
But if we are to go beyond slogans, we must pay attention not only to the change that all Ugandans want but also to the means of arriving at that change.
The saying ekitooke kifa insalira contains some truth, but it fundamentally falls short. Why? You can prune your banana plant as meticulously as you want, but if its roots have been compromised, you will never achieve the desired results. On the other hand, if you ensure that your banana plant is well-established at its roots in good soil, you are surer of the results.
Similarly, the change that we want for Uganda must start with focusing attention on the soil and roots on which our country and our communities stand: the spiritual, moral, and cultural foundations.
Abonoona amawanga namuginga bamusiga mu mirandira! Those who destroy societies put the poison in the soil, at the roots. They compromise the spiritual, moral, and cultural foundations of those societies. Similarly, those who aim to rebuild societies must start at their roots i.e., their spiritual, moral, and cultural foundations.
For illustrative purposes, let us consider three stories:
First, at home, there is a gentleman who was one of our builders at the Junior School. I do not know his name because most people call him by his nickname – “Twebereremu.” I wondered why people called him Twebereremu. Eventually, I learned the reason. One day, he stopped showing up to work. I wondered and inquired. The response, I got was “ka Twebereremu kamusinzizza amaanyi.” That is when I learned that there is a type of waragi called Twebereremu.
Tweberemu! Kituufu. Naye tutya? Rebuilding the spiritual, moral, and cultural foundations of Uganda is the first challenge of all those who want a new Uganda, “Uganda empya.” First, we must return to the sources of our hope and strength as a people, as a society, as communities, and as individuals.
A second story happened in a school where I taught. A student stole an iron box, and his father was called to the school. When the father arrived, the issue was presented to him. He just laughed it off and said, “I will buy ten iron boxes to be given to the student complaining.” As to what his boy had done, he seemed not to be bothered. That is where we have come as a society.
To return to ekitooke kifa nsalira, the new Uganda must start with husbands and wives. Husband, water your lawn. Take care of your wife, love her, and nurture her. Wife, water your lawn. Love your husband, respect him, and build a home and a family together.
From great husbands and wives will come that new generation of wise and dedicated young men and women who will shape the new nation we long for. A nation where truth and justice will be valued, where human life will be respected, and where all Ugandans will feel at home.
A final story - In our village, there was a gentleman who some here might know. He taught for many years. He rode his bicycle or walked to his job for decades. He used to wear a cap most of the time as he rode his bicycle or walked to his job. He passed away some years back. Interestingly, today his surviving sons wear a cap like he did. Like father, like son.
The new Uganda can’t come without fathers and mothers whose consciences are alive, and shaped by our spiritual, moral, and cultural foundations. This is the first task that our leaders must embrace: To cultivate a people with living rather than dead consciences. Therefore, we pray to God to strengthen our leaders to keep their consciences alive and to embrace the task of helping us to keep our consciences alive. Eyo ye Uganda empya! So may it be it! For God and Our Country! Amen