Monday 19 June 2023

The Nathan & Christine Were Foundation donate 200 mosquito nets, scholarship to Tororo

The Were Foundation President Nathan and Vice President Christine
hand one of the 200 mosquito nets to Kwar Adhola Moses Owor


KAMPALA, UGANDA | The Nathan & Christine Were Foundation has donated 200 mosquito nets to  help at risk mothers and children struggling against the spread of malaria in Tororo district. They have also offered 1 A Level scholarship to a needy but bright girl from the same district.

"As a foundation, we cherish education of the girl child and in this regard, we would like to establish the Mama Cecilia Owor Memorial Scholarship. This scholarship will be given to one girl who excels at O level under very difficult circumstances, from a humble family who will be joining Senior 5 to pursue a science related combination," said Nathan Were, the foundation's President.

He handed over the 200 mosquito nets and the scholarship to His Highness Kwar Adhola, Moses Owor, the king of the Jopadhola on Sunday. This was after a memorial held in Namugongo for Adha Adhola (Queen) Cecila Owor, who passed on in June 2012.

The nets will be distributed by the Tieng Adhola Cultural Institution (TACI). They will also nominate the child for the scholarship award.

The scholarship will be awarded every two years for the next 10 years starting 2023. It will cover - two years of A level, full tution fees and a sh250,000 stipend to cater for scholastic materials.

The Nathan and Christine Were foundation was established in 2018 to support causes in education, health and livelihood for disadvantaged families in Uganda.

The foundation currently supports several financially challenged, but extremely brilliant children from around the country, to access education.

"This year, in line with our programs in health, we have mobilized mosquito nets to help at risk mothers and children struggling with Malaria in Tororo district. Please accept our small donation of 200 mosquito nets to help mothers and children," Were said.

Were promised that, "As a foundation, we commit to continue exploring ways through which we can support the kingdom activities especially those that align with our mission on education, health, and livelihoods."



Sunday 29 January 2023

PRIMARY SCHOOL IN OUR DAYS



✳️ By Julius Mucunguzi | TWITTER THREAD via @j_mucunguzi

🐝🐝🐝  πŸ‡ΊπŸ‡¬ 

One day after class at Ryabirengye Primary School in the 1980s, a few friends and I were stung by bees and went home with swollen faces, after trying to harvest honey from a cave in a rock in a once forested part of Mashure Hill where we used to graze goats in Kigezi.

Our class teacher Jolly Kasikano, a tough lady, had just taught us about the role of bees in the pollination of crops by carrying pollen from one plant to another as they looked for nectar. She told us it was the nectar, a sweet syrup found in flowers that eventually made honey.

She told us that the male bees are sent out by their commander, the Queen, to collect nectar as its food. This collected nectar is what eventually would turn into layers and layers --ebisaasi--combs-- either in a beehive or wherever the bees collected.

The story, teaching& learning was so entertaining that we immediately felt we should go and practically witness the making of honey and collect some to eat. In our village, there were three known men that kept bees: Kabuzi, Nzaarwa& Kakiriro.

The first idea was that we should attack the beehives of the trio, but they were known as fierce men in the village who  could instruct bees to follow you and sting you even when you just attempted to come close to their beehives. Instead, we decided to go to caves in Mashure

Bees, milk and honey were very popular expressions to describe nice places and posh life. For instance, in folk songs at weddings, a woman would be welcomed with dance and told that she had come to a place where she would only feed on milk and honey--amate no'bwookyi.

So on this fateful day, armed with classroom knowledge about bees and how they behave, we climbed Mashure Hill to the cave. We had been told that we had to use smoke to chase the bees in order to get to the honey combs. With our glowing pieces of fire wrapped in grass, we set off.

On arrival at the cave, we divided roles:I would carry the smoking grass into the cave, my friend would hit the combs to fall and the third would pick the combs and ran with it outside. When I put in smoke, the bees refused to leave,but we still said we would not abort the mission.

The second guy made the attack by hitting the combs--they fell down, and the  ugly party started: the bees went on rampage and started stinging us and as we scattered into the forest. Bees can be deadly. They can kill. We survived them, but with swollen faces and hard lessons learnt.

As I end this story of my life, I should mention that today is the International Day of Balanced and Inclusive Education #BIEday --an education that is rooted, nurtured& informed by the context of the people within which it is applied. Visit oec-oce.org to learn more.

https://www.oec-oce.org/

Finally, do you have any bees and honey & bees story? What is the use of honey in your community?

******

SOURCE: TWITTER 

Friday 18 November 2022

FOCUS ON TORORO: The amazing story of 'Beat' Omalla

 





 πŸ”΄ As we prepare to launch Rock City Radio, I will be highlighting the efforts of individual sons and daughters of Tororo of all ethnic backgrounds resident in this our town

Tororo, Uganda | JACKSON OBOTH | Our country celebrates heroes every year for varied heroic acts in different spheres of life. But there are many unsung Ugandan heroes in our midst. They may be your next door neighbour, a widow who is single handedly raising a family if six, or a selfless civil servant going out of his or her way to provide jobs for their people.

True heroism is certainly about having that sacrificial attitude, deep seated love and desire to impact positively, the lives of the community you live in. Heroism is not about having deep pockets, or being well known in political or social circles.

In our new series of “Rediscovering Tororo”  I will be telling the story of those selfless individuals in Tororo district, who are doing everything within their powers to help salvage Tororo from the desolation, neglect  and economic backwardness it has suffered over the years. 

As we prepare to launch Rock City Radio, I will be highlighting the efforts of individual sons and daughters of Tororo of all ethnic backgrounds resident in this our town. We shall be looking at key efforts especially in the areas of investment for job creation, leadership, promotion of our cultural identity, education and others.

Let me start this series with a woman! 

Beatrice Omalla, fondly called ‘Beat Omalla’ by her friends is by all means a woman of valour in her own right.

I have known Beat for just under two years now. I first met her via zoom in late 2020 when His Royal Highness Kwar Adhola Moses Owor named individuals both within Uganda and in the diaspora to form a committee that will steer the fundraising campaigns to set up a community radio station.

The Tieng Adhola Jago (Prime Minister) released a list of persons that would guide and provide a  vision expected to be the springboard for Development in Tororo.  Beat Omalla's name featured among five other great women, and fifteen men. I was also on the list.



Each one of the members have demonstrated the love for Tororo in their own unique way but Beat has outdone  herself especially during the fundraising events organized at the King's residence. 

 Beat went out of her comfort zone even with the challenges that COVID 19 presented, to ensure these events happen. This story is not about Beat's sacrifices and love for our Cultural values but what she is doing to contribute to the building blocks that will lift Tororo off the shackles of poverty.

WHO IS BEAT OMALLA?

Beatrice Omalla hails from Osia Magoro Zone, Osia Sub-County. She possess a Diploma in  Business Studies, Degree in Business Studies and Masters of Business Administration and juggles her duties as an Accountant at Busitema University, with her family and  business.  

Being a practical person, Beat set out to put in practice what she studied. Changing the lives of other people through job creation.  "With these qualifications,  I had to put what I studied into practice by starting businesses." she says.

Beat quickly realized that by venturing into business, she would make a difference in the lives of others. Even with a day time job as an Accountant at the University, Beat still followed her vision for Business with the aim of creating jobs for others.

"It has always been my desire to see Tororo develop like the rest of other parts of Uganda. Our youth should get employment after their education,” she says.

This discussion was held over roasted ribs at her Brand MasterLounge, located along Tororo- Jinja High way. She employs 8 staff.

“We need to see Tororo develop its tourism sites to start generating some Revenue to eradicate poverty in most families in Tororo" Beat told me. 

Her Brand MasterLounge offers Corporate Bar and Restaurant with the Best Nyama - Choma- Pork, Chicken, Roasted and Grilled Fish, Pan Fried Pork and Chicken served with Matooke, Irish, Kalo and Posho. It also has Best Gardens for Parties, Car Washing Services, Pool Table for the Games Lovers

Brand Masters has plans of Expansion to have hotel Services in Future.

In addition to the above mentioned hospitality services, Beat has  set up other Businesses to create employment. These include Agent banking and Mobile money services. These provides employment for 12. 

 "As a mother of 3 children and other dependants, I have the self drive to work hard for their well being and also the urge to practice what I learnt from school.  I also have several responsibilities to handle in the family," Beat adds.

During her free time, Beat likes to play pool and other table games as she interacts with her customers at Brand Masters Launge. Beat deserves our support. Making a difference in the lives of our people. Rock City Radio celebrates you Beat Omalla.

*******

Jackson Oboth is a Development Communications Specialist, Journalist and a Public Relations Practitioner.

LINK TO THE RADIO ONLINE

Tuesday 25 October 2022

Full draw: Uganda Golf Open Absa Prom-Am championship

 


Louis Jadwong and Phillip Corry in Kigo

Ten qualifying players from the Absa Prom-Am event today at Lake Victoria Serena Golf Resort & Spa course will be sponsored to participate in the 2023 Magical Kenya Open.

Absa Bank Uganda are sponsors of the event, that is a warm up for the Uganda Open pro event that starts tomorrow. 

Great Rift Valley Golf Club’s Jastas Madoya, the defending champion, will skip the Pro-Am, but is expected to be the man to watch in the Pro event. Draws for the Professional Open will be ready by midday today.

FULL DRAW

CLICK TO READ




Sunday 18 September 2022

Tororo Girls launch alumni association Sept 23, Kadaga chief guest

 

Hon. Kadaga will be Chief Guest

Tororo, Uganda | LOUIS JADWONG | The 1st Deputy Prime Minister of Uganda and Minister for East African Community Affairs Hon. Rebecca Alitwala Kadaga will be Chief Guest as Old Girls of Tororo Girls School, led by Ms. Violet Nandudu, on Friday September 23 launch the Tororo Girls’ School Alumni Association (TGSAA). 

The launch, that will also have a fund-raising component, will be held at Golf Course Hotel, in Kampala from 3pm. NTV Uganda and Nile Breweries are some of the launch sponsors. Tickets to the launch, that were going for Shs.110,000, are already sold out.

According to TGSAA inaugural chairperson Ms. Nandudu, old girls have always been actively involved in improving conditions at their Tororo based school, but have been doing it informally.

"In a bid to promote development of the school, the TGS former student’s fraternity in the past actively participated in and operated alongside the school’s administration on several education and development projects," Ms. Nandudu explained. Tororo Girls School remains one of the top 10 girls' schools in the country, according to UNEB performance.

To streamline its operations, the former students formally registered an association under the name “Tororo Girls’ School Alumni Association (TGSAA) on 8th November 2021.   The Association embraces a diverse network of former students and operates as a social enterprise combining economic and social goals.  Its mission is, “a dedicated and vibrant association that empowers and mentors girls and women of Uganda.  And the Vision –“Collaboration within the Tororo Girls’ School Alumni and mentoring of Learners.” 

She said they value facilitating the future generation of Alumni to have the same opportunities and positive experiences like they did decades ago.

One of the exhibition stalls at the TGSAA 2022 Careers
Day at TGS. The pictured Police Officer is an OG

 "We envisage recognition of excellence awards, endowments, volunteer opportunities and an Annual Sponsorship Fund for deserving Learners as a means of ensuring that future generations of Learners have the opportunity to pursue quality education," she revealed.

The school has had 10 head teachers, including now former minister Hon. Geraldine Namirembe Bitamazire,  since it started in 1965, and four of them will attend the TGSAA launch on September 23. The school's Current head teacher is Ms. Beatrice Akware Lumonya, an Old Girl of the school.

VIDEO

 

Areas for improvement

Since its establishment and with the growing enrolment of learners, the school’s infrastructure has progressively depreciated. The school’s original structures were built to accommodate 400 learners.

In light of the pressure on facilities, the Board of Governors and Parents’ Teachers’ Association recently commenced the construction of an additional 700 capacity mega dormitory estimated to cost Shs. 5billion.

According to a statement from the alumni association, Tororo Girls has been one of those that has benefitted in the past from development grants and has recently received a grant from the Government of Uganda to refurbish its infrastructure. The school continues to appeal for additional contributions to restore it glorious infrastructure. There is also need to enhance decent living facilities for the School’s Teaching Staff.

The new dormitory project underway at TGS

The School’s transport facility comprises of a 59-capacity bus that was purchased in 2005 and is in urgent need of replacement, according to the alumni. With the near 2,000 learners, there is need for a bigger capacity bus to transport Learners and teachers for study and recreational events with dignity, in addition to 1-2 modern coasters - funds permitting.

The high increase of number of student enrolment over the y ears has not been coupled with expansion of infrastructure and related facilities in the school leading to lack of space in the dormitories, inadequate water supply, constrained toilet facilities and limited space in the sick bay.

History

Tororo Girls School (TGS) was founded by the United States Government in 1965 as a gift to the Government of Uganda to promote the education of the girl child.

The school was established to develop skilled women leaders in Uganda and the region post the country’s independence era. Among the very few girls’ secondary schools at the time in Uganda, TGS possessed state of the art infrastructure for Home Economics, Agriculture, Languages, Type Writing and Office Practice (Secretarial Skills) to provide practical skills to young women. The school is currently ranked one of the top 10 girls’ schools in Uganda.

TORORO GIRLS SCHOOL: Girls bidding farewell to
Mrs. Wataba on 17th September 2022

The School’s vision is: To set and maintain high discipline and academic standard of students and turnout an all-round developed Ugandan female.

The School’s Mission is: To be a centre of excellence for skilled dignified women of substance.

Current head teacher Ms. Akware Lumonya says "the school offers a transitional experience for the girl child to explore their academic and co-curricular potential. While at Tororo Girls’ School, the child has the advantage of focusing on five (5) strong education pillars; competence, confidence, positive character, creativity and above all knowledge."

LATEST RESULTS FROM THE SCHOOL

Uganda Certificate of Education (O’ Level) 

Year Division 1 Division 2 Division 3 Division 4 Total
2018 126 [55.6%]97 [42.7%]04 [1.8%]00227
2019 168 [70.3%]69 [28.9%]02 [0.8%]00239
2020 215 [74.9%]71 [24.7%]01 [0.3%]00287

Uganda Advanced Certificate of Education [A’ Level, Arts]

 Grade
Year A B C D E
2018 0825655322
2019 0616746547
2020 0231656031

*The grades above represent a Learner’s scores in one or more subjects. Table 3:  Uganda Advanced Certificate of Education [A’ Level, Sciences

 Grade
Year A B C D E
2018 0408111825
2019 0512162417
2020 04181422

22

 

*The grades above represents a Learner’s scores in one or more subjects.


HISTORY of Tororo Girls’ School Head Teachers

1.    Ms Marian R. Baibon [1965 to 1967]

2.    Ms Phyllis J. Roop [1967 to 1969]

3.    Mr. Doubleday Elwyn J. [1969 to 1971]

4.    Honorable Geraldine Namirembe Bitamazire [1972-1973]

5.    Mr. Bwire Abisai  [1974-1977] 

6.   Canon Mrs. Joyce Bernice Nima, Headteacher [1977-1991]  

7.   Mrs. Pande Sarah, Headteacher [1992 to 2002] 

8.   Mrs. Tarinyeba K. Ida, Headteacher [2003 to 2012] 

9.      Mrs. Helen K. Wataba, Headteacher [2013-2022]:

10.  Mrs. Beatrice Akware Lumonya, current Headteacher [May 2022 to date]


Interim Committee Tororo Girls’ School Alumni Association

  1. Chairperson - Ms. Violet Nandudu  
  2. Vice - Mrs. Josephine Etima


 

Thursday 1 September 2022

St Nicholas- Patron St of Repentant Thieves!


COMPILED BY Davis Ndyomugabe




*****

 πŸ”΅ St Nicholas is the patron Saint of repentant thieves! 


 ➡️Saint Nicholas is the patron saint of sailors, merchants, archers, repentant thieves, children, brewers, pawnbrokers, and students in various cities and countries around Europe.


*****

Oh you redeemed and redeeming saint

You of various others that your eye of mercy consoled and encouraged

Can the archer with his aiming arrow forget your pin point accurate wink

That by your nod the trophy he bruised in the bull’s eye!

The merchants and sailors he led profitably to valuable fortunes 

To Africa they hurried and scrambled with the cross

The African they lured in prayer and repentance 

His land and resources they carried away smiling 

And their churches and cities they built to shine and glow!

The brewers he teased with the agreeing palates to the tastes 

Today the straw is ever the throat irrigating!

To you our agitated and fearful children 

Hasn’t he lulled with lullabies lured to peaceful sleep

That your dear mothers may sweetly repose and rest after all the day’s chores!

You pawnbrokers where would you be without the Nicholas trust

To all your clients they have come and returned with broken smiles

Isn’t high interest and usury  theft!

The students, you browsing on the pages of knowledge 

Oh Niko, continue to strengthen and fill them with discernment 

The future is arid and dull without the milk of the book!


And yo our thieves, what can we say if it’s not for Nicholas 

All have sinned and come short of the glory:

Any thief or fraud who seeks forgiveness or clemency 

May, with a broken and contrite heart, 

On a bended knee approach St Nicholas in prayer 

It is never too late, it never is…

This may come as a huge relief to  all:

Lying politicians and most errant lawyers who have taken what is not rightly theirs, 

Of course to all robbers, pickpockets, burglars, land and property grabbers, 

Election riggers and all manner of pilferers and thievings 

And without exception, all thieves, including those who pilfer tithes and render wrong weights and measures!

The doctors and their allied colleagues who steal drugs, or benefit from wrong prescriptions are no exception!

The tax collectors who ascribe assess and recover illegal or excessive taxes is included!

The carpenters who steal nails, most times as a habit of hiding the nails in their hair!

The contractor who illegally allow wrong and mismatching measurements volumes and weights can seek mercy

The small thieves who steel the lips of bananas 

The butcher man who hides the meats and offals in their gum boots

The repairman and tailor who have left their customers wailing 

The surveyors who have stolen acres in inches and yards

Is there a category exempted from St Nicholas’s intervention?

Tell me of one and I will lead him to the saints with flutes and trumpets 

To find one on earth so sinless is celebration in heaven!

All humanity, whatever their calling, may seek St Nicholas’s intervention!

Even you reading this, you are not beyond forgiveness and recovery !

The elasticity of God’s mercy through His Saints looks favorably on you,

Only if you can say sorry and seek forgiveness and repentance 

On the cross He said it was over for the sinners!


********

Davis Ndyomugabe of Qacheqis on forgiveness, especially frauds and thieves…

Wednesday 31 August 2022

St Augustine quotes

 


πŸ”΅ AUGUST 31


⏮️ A month-end recap of St Augustine quotes ⏮️


✳️ No eulogy is due to him who simply does his duty and nothing more

— ST AUGUSTINE


✳️ He who falls, falls by his own will; and he who stands, stands by God's will.

— ST AUGUSTINE


✳️ Bad times, hard times, this is what people keep saying; but let us live well, and times shall be good. We are the times: Such as we are, such are the times

— ST AUGUSTINE


✳️ Since God is the highest good, he would not allow any evil to exist in his works unless his omnipotence and goodness were such as to bring good even out of evil

— ST AUGUSTINE


✳️ It is not that we keep His commandments first and that then He loves but that He loves us and then we keep His commandments. This is that grace which is revealed to the humble but hidden from the proud

— ST AUGUSTINE


✳️ Though defensive violence will always be 'a sad necessity' in the eyes of men of principle, it would be still more unfortunate if wrongdoers should dominate just men 

— ST AUGUSTINE


✳️ The measure of love is to love without measure

— ST AUGUSTINE


✳️ To fall in love with God is the greatest romance; to seek him the greatest adventure; to find him, the greatest human achievement

— ST AUGUSTINE


✳️ What grace is meant to do is to help good people, not to escape their sufferings, but to bear them with a stout heart, with a fortitude that finds its strength in faith

— ST AUGUSTINE


✳️ Charity is no substitute for justice withheld

— ST AUGUSTINE


✳️ This joy in God is not like any pleasure found in physical or intellectual satisfaction. Nor is it such as a friend experiences in the presence of a friend. But, if we are to use any such analogy, it is more like the eye rejoicing in light.

— ST AUGUSTINE


✳️ Since you cannot do good to all, you are to pay special attention to those who, by accidents of time, or place, or circumstance, are brought into closer connection with you

— SAINT AUGUSTINE


✳️ The mind commands the body and is instantly obeyed. The mind commands itself and meets resistance

— ST AUGUSTINE


✳️ When it happens that I am more moved by the song than the thing which is sung, I confess that I sin in a manner deserving punishment

— ST AUGUSTINE


✳ Right is right even if no one is doing it; wrong is wrong even if everyone is doing it.

— ST AUGUSTINE


✳️ HOPE has two beautiful daughters. Their names are ANGER and COURAGE; anger at the way things are, and courage to see that they do not remain the way they are

— ST AUGUSTINE


✳️ People travel to wonder

at the height of the mountains,

at the huge waves of the seas,

at the long course of the rivers,

at the vast compass of the ocean,

at the circular motion of the stars,

and yet they pass by themselves

without wondering

— ST AUGUSTINE


✳️ The truth is like a lion; you don’t have to defend it. Let it loose; it will defend itself.

— ST AUGUSTINE


✳️ What does love look like? It has the hands to help others. It has the feet to hasten to the poor and needy. It has eyes to see misery and want. It has the ears to hear the sighs and sorrows of men. That is what love looks like

— ST AUGUSTINE


✳️ Miracles are not contrary to nature but only contrary to what we know about nature

— ST AUGUSTINE


✳️ Since you cannot do good to all, you are to pay special attention to those who, by accidents of time, or place, or circumstance, are brought into closer connection with you

— ST AUGUSTINE


✳️ The world is a book and those who do not travel read only one page

— ST AUGUSTINE


✳️ There is no saint without a past, no sinner without a future

— ST AUGUSTINE


✳️ God provides the wind, Man must raise the sail

— ST AUGUSTINE


✳️ HOPE has two beautiful daughters. Their names are ANGER and COURAGE; anger at the way things are, and courage to see that they do not remain the way they are

— ST AUGUSTINE


✳️ Some people, in order to discover God, read a book. But there is a great book: the very appearance of created things. Look above and below, note, read... he put in front of your eyes the very things that he made. Can you ask for a louder voice than that?

— ST AUGUSTINE


*****


#GoodMorning πŸ‡ΊπŸ‡¬  πŸŒ„  COMPILED BY Louis Jadwong - ST Angela, Bugema sub-parish | LWEZA PARISH|