e was a man who blended perfectionism with humility and
loyalty in what he did and believed in so well that I never could cease
wondering how he managed to pull it off. I first met the genius through his
cartoons and we connected immediately even before we met physically. I felt
honoured that he was the one chosen to draw complimentary cartoons for my Daily
Monitor series, "Banjo's adventures." Writing these fictional
accounts on a weekly basis is sweat and blood as I often run out of ideas and
resort to merely filling my allotted space. But Moses Balagadde always had a
way of gilding my boring accounts with humorous cartoons. Thus any popularity
Banjo's adventures have enjoyed for ten years has little to do with my writing
ability and more to do with his drawing ingenuity.
King Solomon once said that a man who excels at what he does
will not stand before obscure men but will stand before kings. This much became
true of Mozeh, as we fondly called him, for he served the biggest independent
newspaper in Uganda, Daily Monitor, as its senior cartoonist for 15 years,
distinguishing himself for the realism, golden humour and incisive commentary
in his cartoons.
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| One of the Banjo series illustrated by Mozeh |
Imagine my shock on Sunday morning when I got the
heartbreaking news about the sudden death of the master artist. The first
thought that hit me was whether Daily Monitor will ever be the same again
without his witty cartoons. I also wept for the Banjo series, because they had
become a part of him as much as they are a part of me. Plans were underway for
an animated television adaptation, but how will this be executed without Mozeh?
Uganda has lost such a genius but as we cannot continue to
cry over spilt milk, we can only continue to thrive on the best Mozeh inspired
in those he encountered. He was a true motivational figure who heeded the words
of Paul the apostle that whatever you find to do, do it heartily as though you
were working for God rather than for people.
Rest in everlasting peace Mozeh, we shall always be inspired
by the light you so radiantly shone.
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