Where we started

I was lost in the crowd. I was soaking in my own perspiration. I was groping in a shroud of dust. The adrenaline super-charged crowd was wild with mad disjointed chanting. I was deaf to all else. The burden of my own body weight on my spine had quadrupled. I was in panic but I was glad to be there. I was excited to be part of the crowd, part of the action. I was glad to be in the arena. I was part of the history that was being made. From my standing point, I could hear the announcer make the remarks that preceded the announcement of the winners. For an instant, he said something and the electric crowd went nuts! I was prodded forward by my friend Douglas and I plodded onward. I stumbled over the steps on my way up the podium. Once on top, I felt like a man emerging from a thicket. I felt like Kugonza Solomon Businge after that speech in UTC Kichwamba.

Finally I now knew where I was! I was back to where we started. I was back to the tiny, dusty town of Kasese. That small town that once beamed with life and activity. The mines in Kilembe attracted an influx of workers from all over the globe. Kilembe with its unique weather and ecstatic scenery was once my home when my late Dad ran the show for Shell Uganda in Western Uganda. The Queen Elizabeth National park was the backbone of Kasese’s beauty and global attraction. From anywhere in Kasese, you would never miss the mighty Rwenzoris that hovered over Kasese like the gigantic Kimera would over its little ones. We were the stars of the township. That was long before the Kasese Cobalt Company was closed down. Long before the growing population had encroached on Park land creating the now shanty residential area called Kidodo. We were the boys that got the youth in our little township screaming encore at the end of our shows. We were the boys that made history at Umoja Pub in Kilembe every Xmas holiday. Kalisya Nelson was the dude that always got the ladies sucking lollies on stage….Baluku Conrad was the elaborate eye candy and them ladies always brought him flowers and choco’s on stage. Katya Robert was the reincarnation of Iddi Amin at our shows’ entrance points. He took care of our financials. Tumusiime Mumin and Kudra, Emma Usher and Brian MJ, Dora Litia and Annete Kiitha….The crowds were still screaming loud and waving hankies and scarfs in the air when my boys and girls finally joined me on stage. We got the standing ovation as multi colored confetti rained down on us. We were back were we started. We had travelled back in time and we had finally gotten the recognition we almost missed. We were honored and rewarded for our hard work, achievements and contribution towards the good our little community of youth in Kasese during our days. Each one of us now stands on their own walk of fame star underneath our feet. Yes, we made it. Yes we did!