Talented Ugandan rewarded in Norway for inspiring youth

Dancing has helped him make it in life despite a challenging upbringing he went through as an orphan. Due to his exemplary character and ability to inspire Norwegian youths, he was awarded the prize of the year model.

As the saying goes...life is what you make it, Herbie Skarbie Kawuma, 27, who studied in Uganda, has tried so hard to succeed. He is married to a young and beautiful lady, Shaine Kawuma, a fashion designer in Uganda. Kawuma lost his mother at a tender age of nine and his father at age of 14 has tried so much to handle life at its worst and best.

Having been the oldest among his other four siblings, he has tried so hard to be the father they once had in the early days. Kawuma lost two brothers; one was stabbed around Nakulabye. Having grown up and raised in a Kampala suburb, Kasubi-Kawala. However, he says his life became distorted when he decided to take up music and dancing at an early age of 17.

“Life became unfair to me and my siblings, I decided to take-up music, writing and dancing since I had the talent from childhood, I began dancing and singing in church around Kasubi”, he says.

He adds that, “From church, I instantly, tried break-dancing and singing among other things like acting and rapping in town as a way of survival.

With God’s help, I worked so hard and this helped me a lot.”

He met different kinds of people around town like Amarula Family, Silvestre and Abrahams among others. These people not only became an inspiration to him, but also became close friends.

Dance, music and poetry have been his passion since he was a young boy in Uganda. He learned to dance on his own, and had Michael Jackson as his role model.

As they say, however, blessings shone upon him when a colleague of his invited him to Norway in 2009, to perform. This prompted him to remain there and chase his dream and desire.

“I was humbly and substantially welcomed by the people in Norway, when I showed them how good I was at dancing. God sided with me all the time I spent there, He gave me acquaintances and power to teach and inspire a lot of children and the youth in the community.”

Kawuma joined the art and cultural community school in Norway; this is where he imparted his talent and skills to the once idle youth.

Today, he works at SFO in Asker, Norway. Kawuma also runs an orphanage in Kasanga where 18 children are accomodated. Kawuma managed to empower young people with confidence; he has also been described by Inga Marte Thorkildsen, the children’s minister in Norway as a vaccine against bullying because he manages to see who needs extra attention, and include them in the community. He has helped to stimulate all the idle and hidden talented children and youth in country by collectively gathering them in one place to train and motivate them in different kinds of activities but mostly dancing.

Rewarded
Due to his exemplary character and ability to stabilise the Norwegian youths, he was awarded the prize of the year model (Top role model of the youth).

“The award goes to an adult with immigrant background who is a role model for children and adolescents. With the Price, the Ministry appreciates people who give off their own free time and support others,” said the leader from the Ministry of Gender Balance from the children and youth departments.

The Price Net Model Award has been awarded to several exemplary personalities from different countries and from the early age and among them is the late President of Indonesia, Mahatma Gandi, Nelson Mandela, and Barrack Obama among others.

“Role model of the year award is awarded to a person with an immigrant background that makes a particular effort for children and adolescents. It is a pleasure to give the award to Kawuma, who has shown his potential to helping 18 children in Uganda,” said the leader. She added that Kawuma has a unique ability to see youth, get them focused, motivated and engaged. Although, he has forth inspired a lot of youth in the country, he however says the dilemma he got by then was the indigenous language spoken.