Faith will take Uganda Cranes to Brazil in 2014

I don't know who came up with the "We believe" slogan, but it was great to hear the whole nation sing it resoundingly as an inspired Ugandan Cranes came from a goal down to demolish Angola 2:1 last Saturday. This is what has been missing in the psyche of the nation; self-belief. There is nothing as powerful in the formulae of success as believing. Even Jesus himself said if you believe without doubting, you can order a mountain to be uprooted from its foundations and it would obey.

Emmanuel Okwir scored a splendorous goal against Angola

If the national team can retain that self-assurance, that never-say-die attitude, there is nothing that can stop us from humiliating Senegal on their own turf on our unstoppable journey to Brazil. When doubting Ben heard me say this, he laughed cynically and said, "If the Cranes go to the World Cup in Brazil, I will be president of Uganda 20 years from now!"

But optimists like Bake and Hebert believe it is possible we can go to Brazil and even win the World Cup. "Yes we can and we will," assures Bake, a man of inspiration who sees endless possibilities where others see only impossibilities. This is the kind of optimism we need as a country and as individuals; the conviction that all things are possible; that our past failures should and cannot stop those who believe from reaching for a better now and a golden tomorrow.

When Barack Obama first contested the US presidency, the doubters laughed at the lanky lad's guts. He had seemingly come from nowhere; didn’t have the financial muscle and the Vietnam pedigree of his main opponent. He was also judged by the colour of his skin instead of the content of his character. But nothing was going to stop the Democrat with Kenyan blood coursing through his veins. His unstoppable faith won over the majority that voted him the first African-American president of the most powerful nation on earth.

This is why those who think Uganda cannot go all the way to Brazil or even become the first African soccer side to lift the World Cup in 2014 deserve to be rebuked with this four-word rebuke: "ye of little faith!" The sheer beauty of Emmanuel Okwir's goal; how he curved the ball, catching the goalkeeper right off the palm, shows we have the magic that can upset even the best in world football. The timing is perfect, the belief is feverish and the talent is glistening. Only believe.

Celebrating the man that is my father

Thanks to Fathers' Day today (yesterday), I have the opportunity of reflecting on my own father and share the things I learned from him whilst celebrating the man he is. 

FROM LEFT: Julio, Allen, Alice (on Dad's laps), Alex, Christine and myself

As children, he gave us memories I will never forget. I have eaten all types of cakes but none surpasses the deliciousness of those small round cakes my father used to bring us from town every Friday. And on our birthdays he would buy us bell-bottom "kaunda" suits (for the boys), kill the fattened cock and have us devour a sumptuous meal together.  A photographer would then arrive and we would pose for pictures with our father. In the evening, new batteries would be inserted in his Phillips radio-cassette player and father would dance the waltz with mother, then invite us to the dance floor and the best dancer would be rewarded with some money for sweets. That is how my father managed to maintain harmony among his 12 'crazy' children from two mothers who are all today responsible citizens. 

My father believes in education like no other and has educated all 12 of us to university. From as early as I can remember, he could not stand mediocrity. There was no excuse for not coming on top of your class. He supervised homework and didn’t hesitate to apply the dreaded cane to quicken our minds. He used to boast that in his home even hens speak perfect English, and often told villagers that if they didn't educate their children, they would become our slaves! This impelled most of them to stop blowing their money on booze and invest it in educating their children. 

My father was no joking health inspector! His mantra was "hygiene hygiene hygiene!" To catch you with overgrown nails meant a severe lashing. Drinking several glasses of boiled water several times a day and bathing before going to sleep was mandatory. For that, we never fell sick growing up. My father could not and cannot tolerate smoking and alcoholism. It is no coincidence that 11 of his 12 children abhor smoking and don't touch alcohol. 

Even today, my father is still a good provider. I remember how at the at the close of every term we would give him our bankslips so that he could start looking for our tuition. He detested lethargy and worked us like donkeys during holidays; weeding and mulching the banana grove, working in the farm because it is through this hard work that he was able to provide for us. As a result, we always had plenty to eat and to share with the needy. 

Sad I don't have enough space to share more. But learning from my father the value of integrity, making and keeping friends, respecting the authorities and putting God first (he used to lead us on the knees for evening and early morning prayers) is what has sustained me to date. He lived true to the Biblical counsel that train up a child in the way he should walk and when he is old he will not depart from it. 

For this and for far more, I appreciate you, Dad, with all my heart. Happy Fathers Day. 

The game of soccer is as of life

Manchester United are the English Premier League Champions and the man who got them the glory has retired. Though never a fan of Sir Alex Ferguson, I give him the props for the hunger he inspired in his players. Hunger for success is in itself genius. And in the game of soccer as is of life, it's not often the smartest but the go-getter that wins greatly. Ferguson is one action-man who knew how to push his boys to deliver. 

Sixtus relaxes by playing ball

But there is more to life than just crowns. I support Arsenal FC because Arsene Wenger is all for the aesthetics; he has trained his boys to play with beautiful elegance. I suspect he finds the ends-and-means theory vulgar and highly contemptible. Employing a boringly defensive approach just because it wins trophies is for me to squeeze beauty out of life.

And let’s face it; beauty is everything. Even God created the world and everything therein for his pleasure. Women love tall, muscled men and men love curvy, gorgeous women - that's beauty. Television stations have beautiful news anchors because they will keep you glued to the screen. Of course it’s never about beauty alone. Beauty must be matched with substance. 

And substance is a combination of things: tenacity, adventure, drama, organisation, fitness, skill, fairness, partnership, intensity, self-belief, patience, responsibility, knowledge and the maturity of character to help you deal with upsets and great successes. Without maturity and discipline, it's easy to win the most sought-after crown but end up as a disgraced clown as we have examples of superstars whose careers have been cut down by cocaine.

The way I see it, it’s all about giving it your best while relishing every moment of it. If you are lucky, you will work with marvelous people whose genius will inspire the best and propel you to greater heights as those who played alongside Pele, Maradona or Messi can testify. Other times you end up on the same team with mediocres who will pull you down. Basically you win and lose some. 

This unpredictability in the game of life is what could have been at the back of King Solomon’s mind when he observed that the race is not to the swift nor the battle to the strong nor riches to the wise nor favour to men of skill but that time and chance happen to them all.

To the heroes in the noble profession

This Heroes Day, my heroes are colleagues in the journalism fraternity; those brave, curious and creative souls that step out every day to dig deep and keep you informed, entertained and educated about everything that matter under the sun. 

They are the unsung heroes who dare to tread where ordinary mortals cannot. They will even confront a hungry lion in its jungle if that is what it takes to get to the truth. Thus they are the bone fide generals who fight with the pen which has since been proved to be mightier than the gun. 

In essence, journalism is the joyous dawn that chases darkness. Imagine the sheer magnitude of dirt that would accumulate in government closets if there was no active press to expose the excesses, thereby forcing the bad boys to tread carefully. 

No wonder they come after us with guns and batons. They love darkness and abhor those who bring light. So we are knocked down at every opportunity, but being down is not being out. That is why we are back with a bang from the 11-day draconian siege by the police after we committed the 'crime' of publishing the general’s letter that shook the establishment. 

It proves that truth is bitter to merchants of deceit. But as knowing the truth is what sets people free, we shall continue to adhere to nothing but the truth. Because it is our mandate to inoculate the masses against ignorance. Then they can make informed decisions and demand accountability from the authorities as is the case in developed democracies. 

So powerful is the press that it is called the Fourth Estate, and according to British statesman and orator Edmund Burke, far more important than the other three: the executive, legislature and judiciary. It is also what Thomas Jefferson meant when he declared that "our liberty depends on the freedom of the press, and that cannot be limited without being lost."

The earlier our leaders cleaned out their closets and built stronger institutions, the better. Otherwise we shall continue to play our role of exposing and poking the consciences of the powers that be, providing unbiased commentary on the dynamics that shape our society and furnishing our consumers with the ultimate scoop courageously and ethically. 

In all, true journalists are friends; indefatigable advocates for a better society, always spewing sense with the mighty pen. That is why they are my heroes today.

The thin line between success and failure

Some things are difficult to crack. A young man woke up recently and said he was no longer interested in his course at Makerere University. He was in his final year; this was his last semester and he would become the first in his family and among the enviable few in his village to attain a university degree.

My cousin sister Phionah didn't give up.

But no amount of cajoling would make him reconsider. And he is not the son of a tycoon so that he can fall back to his father’s riches. He was being sponsored by one of his cousin brothers. The young man’s father and close relatives are understandably devastated. They feel betrayed by this young man who they had high hopes in to do better, set an inspirational precedent for his young siblings and probably help others as he was being helped.

Perhaps the great expectations exerted overwhelming pressure on the young man and precipitated his decision. Perhaps he genuinely feels Makerere is the wrong place for him. He won’t say why he quit, won’t reveal his Plan B either. He chose the course himself, why then wait for three years before dropping the bombshell? Why blow a chance many would have fought to maximize? Why forget all the money spent on you and quit on the cusp of becoming a graduate?

I’m not judging the young man. I’m, just like others, confounded by his decision. If he had been into the fast-lane life of drugs, prostitutes and clubbing, it would have been easy to argue that the demons of retrogression associated with that lifestyle had inflexibly influenced him. But he is a sober, honest, humble, bright, admirable character.

Turns out his father had as well abandoned high school saying he was tired of not having enough pocket money. He had been a very bright child who always topped his class but dreams of a bright future ended when he returned to the village and married. Now history is repeating itself through his son, who rather than learn from his father’s past blunder, is contributing to the vicious circle.

It’s true not everyone who quits lives with regrets. This young man might get successful in other enterprises, but more quitters are never winners. As Thomas Edison said, many of life’s failures are people who did not realise how close they were to success when they gave up.