My father and the story we share

Peninah-beinomugisha and her father Perez Jambo. Courtesy photo

What you need to know:

  • If I got bad grades, visitation day would be spent doing revision with him. Orderly notes and a good performance were rewarded and praised. As I grew older, I appreciated these effort. Had it not been for his persistence, I now would probably be on a career path I loathe if at all.
  • Father always told me that the only valuable thing he can give me is a good education and he was successful. He also went out of his way to teach me life skills and prepare me for the future.

Although they are less celebrated, fathers contribute a great deal to their children’s lives with either their presence or absence. You have probably heard the saying; “sometimes the poorest man leaves his children the richest inheritance.” In one way or the other, we inherit a lot more from our fathers than we are aware of. As Uganda celebrates Father’s Day, our readers share their most memorable moments with their fathers. By Isaac Ssejjombwe and Carolyne B. Atangaza

Dr Peninah Beinomugisha, politician

He gets out of his comfort zone for us
My father, Mr Perez Jambo, started from zero. To make ends meet, he brewed waragi and would ferry matooke to Ntungamo Town on a bicycle. Today, he is a renowned businessman in Ntungamo and a man who sacrificed his comfort for his children to have it all.
Together with our mother, they made sure our schools fees was paid on the first day of each term and we would report with all the basics. He used to say, “omugabo gwawe ngugu” loosely translated “your share is here”. We never attended the best schools, but we went to the best universities.
Although our beloved mother passed on in May 2016, our father has now taken on both roles and even when we worry that its weighing him down, he shows us strength and tells us there is no need to worry. My siblings and I always feel empty if we do not travel to the village to spend the weekend with him.

Brenda Banura-Ssekalo, communications specialist

He emphasised the importance of education
Some of my earliest memories of my father, Edward M. Mutekanga, are of him unknowingly ruining my attempts to be considered cool by my peers at school. On visitation days, I had to show up with my books for inspection. If I got bad grades, visitation day would be spent doing revision with him. Orderly notes and a good performance were rewarded and praised. As I grew older, I appreciated these effort. Had it not been for his persistence, I now would probably be on a career path I loathe if at all.
Father always told me that the only valuable thing he can give me is a good education and he was successful. He also went out of his way to teach me life skills and prepare me for the future.
From my father, I know friendships are worth the inconvenience. I know how to manage my time and finances thanks to the accountabilities of the pocket money I was given.
He is both my father and friend. For this and more, I am grateful.

Evelyn kukunda

Dear Daddy,
It is now five years since the Lord welcomed you to glory but the laughter and joy you gave us still overflows. The highlight of our day would be the jokes you shared at the dinner table. It is no wonder each of us has been blessed with your sense of humour.
The end of school term family meetings in which you both disciplined and congratulated us on achievements taught us to work smart, take risks and face any challenge courageously. The greatest lesson you taught us was to love and be kind to all people expecting nothing in return. Mr Amos Mugisha you are forever celebrated and loved. Your legacy lives on in us.
Happy Father’s Day from your children, grandchildren and most of all your loving wife Margaret Mugisha.

Leila Kayondo, Musician

He has taught me to pray
I love my father Yahaya Kayondo because he is calm, honest and religious. But more importantly, he has taught me to be humble and respect everyone, never to give up and to always keep my family close no matter the situation.
I have also learned to love and follow Allah because my father is a very prayerful man.

Sophia ssozzi, businesswoman

Dear Daddy,
Thank you for always being there for me. You have not let me go a day without a father in my life. You have and continue to teach me how to be loved. You have always loved me with your whole heart. You are not selfish but humble and kind. You lift me up when I am down.
In my childhood, I remember you working tirelessly to take me to the best schools. I never went a day without food on my plate or clothes on my back and when it comes to medical bills, I cannot help but fall on my knees and thank you.
I thank God for you and I am super blessed that God chose you for me. You are my first love and best friend. I love you endlessly Mr Stephen Ssozzi.

Victoria Kirunda, lawyer

I love his sense of humour
My father Dr Christopher Kirunda(PhD) has a great sense of humour. When we were young, he would tell us to line up according to age and sing hymns for guests. To date, he still makes us sing these hymns.
He taught us to love and accommodate everyone who comes to us. His love and pride in his wife is evident by the way he talks about her and in turn we learnt how to treat our spouses.
He has also taught us and his grandchildren the value of education and hard work because we have all watched him study and upgrade from a graduate teacher to a PhD. He taught us to be courageous and to always stand for what we believe. To him, his wife and children always come first. We are not rich or have the pleasure of luxury but he has made us believe we have everything.

Ronnie Mcvex, comedian

He taught me to play musical instruments

Every minute I spend with my father Medard Mugabi is precious. Despite the fact that I am not a recording artiste, my father was my first piano instructor when I was six years old.
He is calm and even when situations are hard, he does not falter. He always tells me to look up to God for everything. He has also taught me to do good to everyone around me and to make useful friends. Because of what my father has taught me, I am striving to do whatever it takes to be a good father to my son.
For those who have marveled at my musical touch, especially with playing several instruments, it is because my father plays a number of instruments and taught me to play them as well.
I love my father’s saying; “A friend who is near is better than a relative who lives in Mbarara when you live in Kampala.”

John Ssenkeezi

He never fought with my mother
Growing up, my father made sure that we had a comfortable childhood inspite of his modest income. It was an adventurous childhood; we went fishing, hiking, cycled, and “sold” our teeth to the tooth fairy and had a lot of toys.
He made sure that we went to fairly good schools, ate good meals, and attended church, a staunch Catholic, he made sure that we all studied and completed the relevant sacraments. My father commanded a lot of respect mixed with subtle fear from all of us - the mere threat of reporting an incident to him sent chills down my spine. Personally, I would be forced to apologise, or threatened into surrendering half of my big piece of chicken to buy the silence of my ‘prosecutors’.
Mzee John Ssekweyama was a very hardworking man, he feared the Lord, taught us to be respectful and kind to all people around us especially those less privileged. He also loved our mother. I do not remember seeing them fight over anything. The fact that I shared the name John with him was a big plus to my confidence at school, I felt loved and so did all my peers at the time, no wonder I carried the name forward to my son.

Sam J. Ssemaganda, Author, Poet

To the father I have never met…
For so long I have wanted to ask you; why did you have to go just before I was born? Mom used to speak of you as a very caring, patient husband. In your absence, she did it all; took me to school, taught me that hard work never hurts a man. She played her part but never forgot yours.
I say thank you for madly falling in love with mom and marrying her. Thank you for accepting to be my father and choosing a woman who became the best father I could ever ask for. Please tell her I am thinking of getting married and I will make the best father and dad, I promise. May both of you keep resting in peace.

Ykee Benda

He is my biggest fan
Although Ykee Benda born Wycliffe Tugume graduated with a first class degree in Chemical Engineering at Annaba University in Algeria, the now famous musician studied the course to please his father. Despite the disagreements they had previously, Ykee Benda says his father, Alex Mpakanyi, is now one of his biggest fans.
“My father and I are good friends and like so many people in my life, he started supporting my career after he noticed everyone saying that his son had a future in the music industry,” he says.
The fondest memories I have is how excited he was when I scored good grades while in Senior Two. While we walked, he held my hand and took me to a nice restaurant and bought me whatever I wanted. He even promised to buy me some shares in Stanbic Bank. Through him, I have learnt to know my worth and to always put family first.