Blog

On 24th May, 1966, Prime Minister Milton Obote having already arrested five of his rebellious cabinet ministers who had sided with those moving a vote of no confidence in his government, prompting the Buganda Lukiko ( parliament) in retaliation to issue an ultimatum for him to vacate his government from Buganda, his forces, led by a one Idi Amin attacked. They run up to the Mengo palace where President Mutesa, also the Baganda King, calmly, lay waiting. A trained military officer, Mutesa and Idi Amin’s forces wasted no time in engaging fire after fire for the next 12 hours.

Among average Baganda an attack on the Kabaka is personal. Once they heard the thunder of bombs and staccato of shots fired at the palace, thousands rushed out to defend their Kabaka. They were poorly armed though and the superior forces of Amin easily overpowered them. Losing edge, Mutesa who was determined not to surrender like his grandfather, Kabaka Mwanga 11, who had been taken captive by the British aided by their collaborators, against overwhelming fire, scaled up a high palace wall. He fell down with a thud, and in pain. But with his back hurting, holding on to a rifle, he disappeared.

Mutesa’s nemesis, Obote, wanted him dead or alive. At Mutesa’s heels, accompanying him, was one of his most loyal men, Augustine Musoke. Musoke suggested they take cover in the trusted home of his sister, Eva Nsibambi. Mutesa knew she was the wife of a religious man, Simeone, described to some as “Omulokole”! And there they went.

A son in that home has left us an account of what happened. Once he arrived, panting, “my parents prayed for him,” later wrote Apolo, “and gave him lunch. Later on, some people whom we greatly suspected to be Obote’s spies visited our home.” But the Nsibambi artfully lured them away. “It was decided we take the Kabaka to Canon Kigozi’s home across the road,” Apolo adds. This was none other than Peter Kigozi who in 1941 had caused great controversy throughout Buganda when he consented to marry the Namasole ( Queen Mother), the deceased wife of Sssekabaka Chwa, something considered by many as a taboo. But Kigozi had now become a Mulokole ( Born Again Christian) and was under the discipleship of Simeone Nsibambi. From there Mutesa would walk down to Burundi, and make his escape to Britain.

Who was this Simeone Nsibambi? Born in 1897, to Sezi Walusimbi Kimanje, a Saza chief, he started his education at Mengo school. But when World War 1 broke out in 1914 he went to war and served in the African Native medical corps. For his service he was promoted as a sergeant. The war over Simeone joined King’s College Budo, to continue with his education. At Budo his teachers quickly recognized him for his leadership qualities and made him Head Prefect.

After he left school he joined the Buganda government as a Chief Health officer. It is said that following a disappointment of being turned down for an overseas scholarship Simeone committed his life to Jesus. In the late 1920s, after a deep and personal religious experience, he teamed up with a British missionary, Joe Church, who was based in Rwanda where a movement calling on the Anglican church members to repent and embrace salvation had started. The pair now stormed the church, considered cold, with a revival message of “repent and get saved”!

This was the birth of obulokole ( Born Again) movement in Uganda. Their revival message soon fanned across the borders, extending to the rest East Africa and eventually all over the world. In Uganda it was headquartered in the home of Simeone and Eva. Back on August 25 1925, Simeone had married Eva Bakalubo, the eldest daughter of Elasto Bakaluba, a magistrate in the Buganda government.

Eva and Simeone’s first child was a girl born on July 5th 1926, whom they baptized as Janet Nakku. She was followed by a boy they baptized Phillip. Then came John.

Those who knew something of Simeone’s leadership capacities could imagine him ending up as a Kattikro, ( Buganda Prime Minister). However, once he committed his life to Christ, he gave up his government career, even after being offered to become a Deputy County Chief. He was now a fulltime preacher. But as an educated Christian he knew the value of being schooled. In 1938, his third born, was sent to his alma mater, King’s College Budo where he would remain up to 1949.

Among those in John’s class year were two brilliant boys going by the names of Mayanja. One was Mayanja Nkangi, later to become Buganda’s Prime Minister and a Central government minister. There other was Abu Mayanja, later to become a founding father of the nationalist movement in Uganda, Buganda government minister and once Prime Minister of Uganda.

John carried some of his father’s leadership qualities and, at Budo, was appointed a Prefect. When the eighth born child of Eve and Simeone, joined the school, called Apolo, everyone could notice a lot of his father in him. He was highly organized, a strict time keeper, and very forthright. Like his father he was appointed Head prefect.

John left Budo to study medicine at the London University, which had an extension at Makerere University. After graduating as one of the early African medical doctors in East Africa, following his specialist studies in UK, he returned and joined Mulago hospital. These early African Mulago doctors were highly exceptional individuals who all excelled in their specialties. For example, to cite a few, there was Jovan Kiryabwire, who had studied in Britain to return home and become the first African neurosurgeon in East and Central Africa. There was Sebasatian Kyalwaazi, who would became the first African surgeon in the region too. For John he was a dermatologist, certainly one of the first in the region, just as well.

A young doctor fresh from Britain was easily an eligible bachelor. Unlike some of his brothers, like Ezekiel Kimanje the fifth born who had become a famous journalist, or the vivacious Pilkington Sengendo, ninth born, who became a professor of art, John was much quieter. According to a story told to me by my Aunt, Lillian Binaisa Mukwaya, after noticing he was single and seeking, “I decided to connect John to Solome!”

Solome Nabulya was the beautiful daughter of Taata muto (Uncle) Bulasio Mukasa Kavuma, a leading Buganda government official, Omuwanika ( Chief of the Treasury). A little while back Solome had returned from her studies in Britain. She had something in common with John. She was a nurse. The arrangement hit off. In 1961, John and Solome, were joined hands in marriage at Namirembe, their parents on both side witnessing the event.

The couple were soon blessed with three children: daughters Rose Nanteza and Gertrude Zawedde; and a son, who was named after his grandfather, Simeone. In the 1970s following the breakdown of Uganda’s medical infrastructure the family was forced out into exile. They moved to Kenya and Ethiopia but their heart was ever in Uganda. After the fall of Amin, in the 1980s, John returned home, with the family, but this time decided to set up a private clinic, that specialized in skin care.

Osler Clinic, based at Namirembe, became renowned for treating skin disease. Many children taken there suffering from seemingly incurable ailments, like eczima, where amazed, at how through Dr Nsibambi’s skillful hands the pain of their skin was relieved. He normally sat behind a desk and calmly kept receiving patients through the day. In an adjacent room sat Solome, eager to assist. The two were inseparable.

Early one morning in 2018 Solome, called me with the sad news that Zawedde had passed on while in UK. In the evening I went to attend prayers in the very home where Simeone and Eve had once sheltered Kabaka Mutesa. At that meeting the brethren gathered could not help but express some of their joy at a rather difficult moment. In attendance was also Apolo, who after a long exciting academic career culminating as a Professor of political science, had just retired as Prime Minister of Uganda, and lived across the road.

“John and Solome we are all grieved at the death of your beloved daughter,” Zebuloni Kabazi the leader of the fellowship said. “But there is something I want to say here.” Although he had as a little boy confessed salvation in Christ, somewhere, John had backslid. Apolo, too, who had also confessed salvation in Christ, as a little boy, somewhere, had also backslid. But then over time John had recommitted his life to Christ. A few years back Apolo had returned to the fold. “For a long time the Balokole fellowship used to pray for both of you John and Apolo to know Jesus personally as Lord and Savior. We could not imagine that the fellowship your father founded could be true to itself without you being there. In fact our hearts were always heavy without seeing any of you. Always we had seats reserved for you. But we are now gratified that you the heir of Simeone and the former Prime Minister of Uganda are all members of the Balokole. How we praise God!”

The service broke into the old revival song, “Tukutendereza Yesu!”

Although devastated by the loss of their daughter, John and Solome, now in their eighties continued to work side by side, at their Osler Clinic. But early one morning of 3rd December, 2019, Solome awoke feeling chest pains. John rushed her to Nsambya hospital and she was admitted. But then, suddenly, she passed on.

At Solome’s funeral service at Namirembe, John, shaken, wondered aloud, how he was going to cope without his wife of 58 years. He lost the energy to continue on with his clinic and, at 89, the calm skin doctor who was still in high demand closed shop, and quietly retired to his home in Bulange. With his son Simeone far away in the US, Rose, who was based in UK, decided to relocate, to attend to her ailing father. His health weak, in September, 2020, John received a blow when his eldest sister Janet, passed on in the US, where she had since relocated to be near her son, the famous musician Samite Mulondo.

Out of the 12 children of Eve and Simeone, John was now the only one living.

On Saturday, June 26th, 2021, at about 3 pm, John, slipped way, in the very house where Simeone and Eve would once gladly receive the brethren from all over Uganda and the world to strengthen them in their faith journey. It was an end of a great chapter. And knowing the faith of all those who passed through that house, who had gone ahead, there is no doubt there are all now singing praise, “Tukudereze Yesu!”

Early this year I received a whatsap message from a man known to many as Eng Bugaba of Uganda Communications Commision ( UCC). But for his classmates he was known as Quick feet. Our King’s College Budo class year (1977-83) had in appreciation of the education we received there long decided to sponsor at least one needy student every year. The man spearheading this class project was none other than Simon.

“Just contacted the Deputy,” he wrote. “He says he will give us a shortlist next week.” In the midst of a busy schedule as a top official at UCC, Simon had gone at great lengths to gather details of needy students at Budo.

A four person select committee he headed had decided that our next sponsor should this time be a girl. Simon came up with four names. When we met on April 7th, 2021 he had already done investigative work breaking down the students home environment, performance and needs. It did not take us long to agree on one girl. Once we presented her to the rest of classmates, there was immediate agreement to support her.

Job well done. That is why we called Simon, Quick feet.

I first met Smon in 1981 as a new A’level student (njuka) at Budo. Perhaps because of his soft spoken nature, and unassuming ways, he didn’t make a fast impression on me. For him he had joined Budo in 1977 coming from up country Primary schools- based at Sempa, Bulindo, Bamusuuta and one in Kiboga. Having excelled and being needy he was admitted on a Bursary scholarship, something he would never forget.

Besides enjoying his academics, Simon took on a past game at Budo, cricket, where he tortured opponents as a wicked batsman. Volleyball was another of his passion and he loved spurring on the opposite side of the net with his classmate, now Dr George Mutema. However, another even more consuming interest was that Simon was a very committed Christian.

In his first year at Budo, together with his house mate, Tim Sentongo, and Isaac Kronde, during one “contact” fellowship the trio committed their life to Jesus Christ as Lord and personal savior. “One of our earliest joint encounters was when Douglas Kisaka was heading Contact choir in 1977,” remised Isaac, years later. “Simon and I tried to join but were turned down..”

The young enthusiastic converts were not deterred. Simon, together with Tim and Isaac studied closely together, and returned for A’level, with him taking on the demanding PCM combination. On meeting him in Canada House, spite of my then indifference to his faith, we developed a healthy respect for each other, largely due to his genial character. Indeed, when in our final year he was appointed House prefect there was unanimous support for him, especially for those of us often at the wrong side of the law. I could count on him for bailing me out whenever I got into trouble, which was not that rare, to be conservative.

As prefect Simon took it upon himself to welcome and mentor those who joined Canada House. One S1 student, now Enoch Sebuyongo, would later recall how he was not only warmly received, but was encouraged by him to commit his life to Christ, just as he had done in SI. “One day he gave us a word of encouragement,” now Dr Enoch Sebuyongo would later recall, “from Psalms 34:8- Oh taste and see that the Lord is good; Blessed is the man who trusts in Him!”

Simon was affected by the NRM led 1980- 5 guerrilla war which was perched in his home area of Luwero. Unable to return home the family of his friend Tim Sentongo took him in where he became an adopted son. After passing A’level both joined Makerere university in the 1981 class year, with Simon taking a B.Science degree; Tim going for medicine; while Isaac was admitted for a Bsc Agric. Admitted into Lumumba hall, he and Tim, who would later became Chair of the Christian Student Fellowship, were also roommates.

Around that time one of the most thriving evangelical church in Kampala was the Redeemed Church, just outside Makerere university main gate. Built of reeds ( kiwempe) the church preached fervently for any who cared to listen to accept Jesus as a personal saviour. Simon, along with Isaac, not only joined this church but soon bandied up with a number of university students, including Alen Kakuyo Kagina, later to head the UNRA and Jennifer Lubwama Musisi, later to head KCCA, to form the Restoration Band. “Simon played drums,” recalled Isaac, sometimes bass, but also sung. A famous song he led was written by Ben Kayizi, called “Bind man”!

Soon after graduating, in 1988, Simon took up employment with then Uganda Post and Telecommunications Limited ( UPTL). These days it is quite rare to find someone who works for virtually one organization for all his entire life, which was to be his case. He started out at the bottom in the regulatory department, along with one of his Budo classmates, Eng Miriam Wambuzi Kawuma.

In mid 1990s after the liberalization of Uganda’s economy, UPTL was broken up into Uganda Telecommunications Limited (UTL), Uganda Postal Limited (UPL) and UCC. Of the three splinter organizations, UCC, was certainly much smaller and perhaps with less prospects. In hindsight it must have been providence that led Simon to move to the unknown new entity, UCC, in 1998 as one of the first staff there. As Uganda’s telecommunication industry grew, Simon would grow with it, eventually making him as one of the leading telecommunications expert in the country.

In 1998 as a result of liberalization policy the radio industry had opened up to new private stations. I happened to be involved in starting one new FM station, Power FM, and often found myself dropping by his office, based at Communications house, which was responsible for regulating license.

It is there that I came to discover how Simon’s life had progressed since we had left university. In 1990 while at UPTL Simon had met a girl called Agnes whom he started courting. The two got married on 1st March 1992. Though many had since moved on I found Simon was still attending Redeemed church, where he was now one of the elders. In brief, there was little change about the unassuming person I had first met back at school.

As UCC grew to oversee the rapidly growing telecom industry, Simon also grew with it. He rose to be appointed in charge of Telecom Licensing and Service development as well as Service Quality compliance. Later he was promoted Head of Regional Operations at UCC..Finally he became Head of Estates Administration.

In October 2008 the World Telecommunication Standardization Assembly ( WTSA) which is held every four years and sets Global Standards elected Simon to serve as the Vice-Chairman of Study Group 13 responsible for Future networks, including mobile telephony. In addition, he was also elected to serve as the Group Rapporteur. Later, the Telecommunication Standardization Sector (ITU-T) which coordinates standards for telecommunications and Information Communication Technology around the world such as cyber security, elected him to be the first Chairman of the Regional Group for Africa.

Two things about Simon’s working life. In all this time his career was never bloated with a single scandal. Once when he was unfairly made redundant he went to his church and shared how he had lost his job. But his Pastor assured him that the God who gave him that job would redeem him. Indeed, later found blameless, he was recalled. He would end up as one of the longest serving staff at UCC, by the time of his death.

And then, while he was a top official at UCC, Simon shunned the perks that many long for and become so attached to while in big positions. For him he preferred to drive his pick up to work, shunning the official SUV, and normally walked back from office to home, as part of his exercise regime.

Simon also remained a down to earth “simple dude”, as he once described himself. Simon’s friends would come to rely on him for a fast hand whenever in need. “When my university in UK required accreditation of my first degrew” recalled his old friend Isaac, who had since settled in UK as an engineer, “and I didn’t know where turn, once I mentioned it to Simon, despite his busy schedule, he made time and effort to retrieve my transcript. In 2014 Cathy my wife and I needed to process some new personal documents and he just said, “leave it” and in 3 weeks he had it dome.” A hard working man here in Uganda it was common for friends who had issues with their upcoutry land to turn to Simon to help sort out the mind boggling mess of squatters or how to start sustainable farming.

Yet if there were anything that defined Simon was his service to his church, support for his former school and commitment to his family. He never left the church he joined as a young university student. Pastor Robert Kasaija , noted that when he received his first salary he quickly brought his tithe to see the Lord’s work prosper. This is a habit he continued to the end of his life. At King’s College Budo, where his eldest son Aaron Kibirige later joined, the headmaster, Bakka Male found him to be one of the most supportive parents. “Selfless service on house committees,” the Headmaster recalls, “and until his death fees sponsor to the needy.” Once on scholarship, Simon was always looking for students like him, to extend a helping hand.

When he married Agnes, she was still studying her ICSA. Agnes parents had cautioned him, before releasing her, that he commits to let her finish her studies. He never abandoned that promise. “Aside from being a good husband,” she would later testify, “he made sure that I completed my studies. He would drive me to school and wait to pick me up. After passing he accompanied me to UK for the award of my ICSA Certification.” Agnes now works in the Internal Audit Department of KCCA.

Early this year while chatting on the Budo 77-83 class forum Simon shared with pride, how their first born, Aaron Kibirige had graduated as a mechanical engineer. Sarah Namuggga, who follows, as an ICT specialist. Meanwhile Solome Nankumbi had just finished S6 at Gayaza High School, while the last born Samantha Nakubulwa, was in her P7 vacation.

At the start of last week Simon started feeling unwell. He took some medication to stem a serous bout of cough and flu. Describing himself as a “bad patient” he prayed for complete healing. After recovering from one long sleepless night, on June 14th he sent a message of praise to his friends on his church forum. With his energy returned he reported back to work. On our class forum that day he sent a message of condolence to Dr Frank Lule, who had just lost his father.

Simon had a full day at work up to Wednesday. However, on Thursday, he woke up weak and decided to stay home for rest. Later in the day, Agnes noticed him struggling with his breathing, and decided to rush him to Kampala hospital. By the time the car got to the hospital he had slipped away quietly to meet the Lord Jesus whom he had accepted as his Savior as a small boy, back in 1977.

Simon was a man whom you met and made you feel like a giant. He carried himself so simply and many would miss him as he walked back home from work, yet he was a global telecoms industry icon. He was looking eagerly for retirement, but the Lord had better plans.

“Quick feet” is now forever with his Lord and saviour.

BERRY NANSIMBI JAGWE ( 1937- 2021).

For those who passed through mixed schools, it was common to find high school sweethearts. For the laggards, like this writer, dating couples were a curious sight. Actually certain mixed schools are known to forbid dating, seeing such as an unnecessary “puppy- love” distraction. But in any case as many know, the moment high school sweet hearts walk out of the gates of their school enclosure, the once fiery relationship soon cools off, opening way to other determined and more sober suitors.

Now, there are those amazing relationships that survive, against odds, and go on to bloom long  outside school campus gates, living behind a colorful legacy. Like Berry who met her beau, Jack, while students at King’s College, Budo, back in 1956.

When Kattikkiro Apollo Kaggwa visited England in 1902 as guests of Her Majesty’s government to attend the coronation of King Edward V11, along with his secretary, Hamu Mukasa, what struck him most was a visit to Eton, a school dedicated to train British nobility for future leadership. Upon return in 1906 Kaggwa conceived the idea of founding a school to cater for Buganda aristocracy- King’s College Budo. Indeed, initially the school that rises atop a hill where for 500 years Baganda kings are crowned, only catered for children of Baganda nobility.

For her administration, the school relied on imaginative missionary headmasters largely from England. But these missionaries once they met the Kaggwa quota of catering to children of the Baganda aristocracy, sneakily went out to recruit talented children from all over Uganda, many of humble background, but with much promise. Indeed, it is to the credit of these missionaries, most of whom too came fame from British nobility, graduates of Oxon- Cambridge universities, that the school blossomed to attract not just Ugandans but Africans who went on to distinguish themselves in their different callings around the world.

Budo had already recruited from Kako Secondary School, a talented young man called Joash Mayanja- Nkangi, later to ably serve as a Prime Minister of Buganda and be a long serving cabinet Minister in the Central Uganda government. One day headmaster, Timothy H Cobb, heard of another promise- a bright chap called Jack Jagwe who had skipped two classes and topped the district in Junior secondary exams. Upon getting an idea of this academic star, Cobb, immediately awarded him  the King’s George IV Scholarship to join the famed school.

Unlike many of the children he was later to meet at Budo Jack was coming from a humble family. His father, Ganafa, was a carpenter and modest coffee farmer based in Masaka area, while his mother Asinasi, was a housewife. When Jack Jagwe joined Budo in 1954 he was not aware that the class that  Cobb had assembled was to be a gathering of some illustrious lads who would go on to leave an indelible footprint on the nation of Uganda and the globe. They took the name  “Jubilantes,” as it is in their year when the school marked her fiftieth anniversary.

First, in the class was a young man from Butambala district called Laban Bombo, who after marrying this writer’s eldest sister, Alice Nakyejwe would later return and replicate his life’s Christian values, serving for over three decades as the School chaplain and mathematics teacher, inspiring a generation of Budonians now spread around the world serving humanity. There was Fred Kayanja, who in a long and fitting academic career would win France’s highest academic award Odre de Palmes, and serve for over two decades as founding Vice Chancellor of Mbarara University of Science & Technology. Jack’s best friend, Phares Mutibwa, who in his year topped the whole of East Africa in the final exams would go on to become an accomplished professor of history of Uganda and Malagasy. John Nagenda, became a star cricketer and writer of note, along with luminaries like the Nobel laureate Wole Soyinka. Several classmates would go on to serve as cabinet ministers in a number of governments: Edward Kakonge and Al Haji Jamada Luzinda. There was Charles Nyonyintono Kikonyogo, later Governor of Central Bank, the outspoken parliamentarian and lawyer Al Haji Nsubuga- Nsambu. A number in this class would join the medical profession: Dr David Serwada, Dr Edward Kizito, Dr William Mugerwa, and of course Dr Jack Jagwe.

Others distinguished Jubilantes include Fred Ssemazzi, Michael Mulyanti, James Senabulya, Perez Kamunanuyire and a three girls namely; Beatrice Bajenja (Mrs. Rwanyarare), Christine Kisiriko and Jane Kentembwe (Mrs. Rwakitarate).

Two years after joining, a beautiful girl called Berry joined the school coming from Kyebambe Junior School, in Mbarara district. Her family was one of many Baganda families that had migrated and settled in Ankole after the later 19th century wars. They were requested to serve in Baganda- British collaboration administrative posts. Berry’s father, Nasanairi Balimukubo, was a World War 1 veteran, who after the war was rewarded as Deputy County chief in Kiabatsi, South West Ankole, where he settled to start a family of eventually 18 children.  After one of his daughters, Berry, had excelled at her studies she too earned a scholarship to the school, with Budo again courting the best and brightest kids from all over Uganda.

By then headmaster Cobb after being impressed with Jack’s leadership qualities had appointed him as Head prefect, to be deputized by Fred Kayanja and Laban Bombo. In 1933 Budo had opened her gates to admitting girls but the population had remained minimal. For instance, in Berry’s class year, there were only three girls perched in between a class of gangling boys. They would take the name of “Trojans”, and like Jack’s class year, would go on as well to distinguish themselves.

From the Trojans came the school’s first African Head master, Dr Dan Kyanda; two  Prime Ministers of Uganda, Kintu- Musoke and Prof Apollo Nsibambi; once minister of Justice, Steven Ariko; an Inspector General of Police, David Barlow; a Mayor of Kampala Fred Ssemaganda; medics- Drs John Ottiti, an optician and Christopher Ndugwa, a pediatrician. One star athlete in this class, Moses Nsereko, would rise to become Under Secretary in Ministry of Internal Affairs, only for his life to be crudely cut short when he was charged with espionage by the Idi Amin regime and executed by firing squad in 1976, a blow which all his classmates would never get over.

Budo boys can apologize to some faults but one which it would be hard to catch any sympathy is lack of self-confidence, bordering on the extreme. Surrounded by these alpha males, one can imagine the attention the gorgeous Berry was lavished along with her friend, Elvania Namukwaya, who in later life would become a famous play writer. Boys would swoon and chaperon over these few girls with proposals, or as it was then called “applications.” The competition could be stiff.

It is here that Jack too ventured his luck and submitted an “application” to Berry just four months after admission.

Perhaps because he was the Head prefect, or that he was a star academic performer and would later top his class as the best science student in East Africa, or just because he was so good looking, out of a bee hive of frantic suitors her heart opened to the boy from Masaka. Once it was clear that Jack and Berry had something going, and, were steady, it scattered off the furious competition.

The heat of high school relations tend to simmer off once love birds walk out of school gates. This one was to be different. Jack was admitted to Makerere University medical school while Berry would go to Buloba and Kyambogo Teacher Training College where she qualified as a teacher. The dentist, Dr Martin Aliker, who had left Budo in 1947, in his memoirs, “The Bell is Ringing,” writes that it was common for Makerere University boys to go out scouting for girls in surrounding night clubs like Suzzana in Nakulabye or nurses hostel. But Jack only concentrated on his books while holding steadfastly on to his proposal to Berry. Since those were the days of postal letters, the distance must have been bridged with prolific correspondence.

A year after graduating in 1964, Dr Jack Jagwe, exchanged vows of holy matrimony at St Paul’s Cathederal, Namirembe with Berry, blessed by  the long serving Canon Benon Lwanga. The best man was Phares Mutibwa, Jack’s old Budo friend, who had seen it all start. The couple hosted their guests at the Queen’s courts at Makerere University, and thereafter fled for a honeymoon at Tropical Inn in Masaka, The hotel was being managed by a Budonian, Nathan Bakyaita, who would later give the Jagwe’s, a son in law, Dr Nathan Bakyaita ( Jr).

Having settled into family life the young Jagwes did not waste time. A year after marriage Berry gave birth to Anne Nanziri Nabankeme, who would be followed in quick succession with their daughters, Julian Nasseje Namyalo, Elizabeth Nabwami,  a son, John Nakalubo, and  finally rounding off with another girl, Slyvia Nansimbi Namagga.

While Dr Jagwe pursued his medical profession, going in 1967 to England, where he graduated with a Membership of the Royal College of Physicians award in 1970, for Berry it was pursuing her teaching profession. She was appointed a teacher at Nabisunsa Girls School, where she would meet this writers’ future mother in law, and later to play an important part in her life, by connecting her to a  searching bachelor, Edward Kasolo- Kimuli, later a long serving Headmaster of Makerere College School and Chief Inspector of Education.

In 1970 Berry was appointed the first African Headmistress of Gayaza Junior School. Meanwhile Dr Jagwe was appointed as Consultant at Mulago hospital, a job which came with the perk of having residence in upscale Kololo. They lived simply as shared by their son, John, in his book “The story of a Ugandan Physician.”

Because of the distance from Gayaza, Berry eventually decided to retire from teaching, making a career switch to banking by joining Uganda Commercial Bank. There she was tasked with coordinating staff trainings at the Manpower Development Centre. Concurrently, she continued with her voluntary work of mentoring young women and eventually she was elected President of YWCA. In that role, she had an opportunity of representing Ugandan women in several international fora and meetings which included the unforgettable Beijing conference in 1995. Prior to that, she had the opportunity to deliver a speech in an audience graced by Queen Elizabeth II at Westminster Abbey in another grand women emancipation meeting.

In 1990 the Jagwe’s celebrated their 25th wedding anniversary. At that function, one of Berry’s former teachers at Budo who saw their friendship start, Professor Senteza- Kajubi, twice Vice Chancellor of Makerere University, remarked that he had never seen one of them not in the company of the other, a testament that none of the warmth that began on Budo hill had phased. .

After being promoted as Medical Superintendent of Mulago Hospital and later a Director of Medical Services, the Jagwes, ageing retired to a quiet life in their residence at Bunga. There they teamed up with several couples to form a cell as members of St John Kawuki church. They continued to engage in community activities with Berry returning to King’s College Budo as a Member of Board of Governors and signatory to the school account for a decade.  Meanwhile Jack, now a Fellow of the Royal College of Physicians (FRCP); was appointed to serve as the founding Chair of National Drug Authority and serve on the Boards of several public and private boards, chairing for many years the Board of Mengo hospital.

At the couple’s 50th anniversary, Prof Mutibwa, the couple’s best man shared, “Berry discovered something special in Jack …she opted for Jack and she never looked back. I admire her for her rare insight and I commend her for the choice she made. It is such memories that give such pleasures in life, to see two starting to love each other and in their teens, to keep that love burning despite many odds and in the end get married and start together for a period of 50 years which we celebrate now.”

Over the years Berry developed a debilitating condition of diabetes, which started restricting her movements. On April 12th 2020, her son, Dr John Nkalubo Jagwe, happened to call her. Though in apparent pain she stoically only inquired about his welfare and the grandchildren. Almost half an hour later after hanging up, John, received a call that his mother’s condition had worsened and was being rushed to Mengo hospital. He rushed to the hospital to meet her there. But upon arrival she was pronounced dead.

Jack and Berry had been together for 65 years since they met on the bright Budo hill, bringing to a quiet close a beautiful love story with a colorful legacy.

The writer is an Old Budonian and Associate Professor of Management, Uganda Christian University, Mukono