Name: Moses TalyoweStatus: Former Namasagali StudentResidence: Boston,USA
Dearest Saggies,
We waited for the reunion; it came and went but the memories created will last a life time for some of us. It was four days of ecstasy. There was this joyous feeling like that of a family wedding and many more things that explain a real good feeling. Like; the palpitations of ones heart when you first fall in real love or something beyond explanation that puts a smile in your voice. In my case quite often the anticipation of something good turns out to be the most exhilarating feeling that makes my heart skip a bit and transports me back to being a little giggling boy again. But I have to confess that the NOSA reunion in Boston surpassed every good feeling I have ever experienced in my life and this is why.
The idea of an International NOSAs reunion resurrected moments of laughter generated by all those lines of contagious communication. I guess after almost a quarter of a century; there was enough history to make all Saggies members of the same tribe or family. “Just the children of Ogumpe” And or boy I am proud to be one of those chosen few who saw Namasagali College at its height. This line may be obsolete because I have repeated it so many times but that is exactly how I feel about all Saggies; one big tribe divided into clans; Panthers, Lions, Cranes, Kobs, Leopards and Eagles. Regardless of generation this kind of identity has remained. At the reunion there were about four generations; the 1970s, 1980s, 1990s and the 2000 millennium (or the Sagali sun-set generation) and each one of them was smashing.
How could have I guessed that I would see old schoolmates as family. It was so touching I hated to doze off; there was this fear that I will wake up and it has all been a dream. Everybody was selfless in enthusiasm and effort invested. Of course some Jombas exceeded all expectations, but what else could you expect from a Saggie?
Some moments were so touching that one had to have iced tear ducts not to cry. There was that sweet and sour memoriam lane “the LORD will watch over your coming and going both now and forevermore”. The line of names of Jombas we will never ever see again until we meet them at the inevitable reunion. For any Saggie reading this, take a moment and think about it; whether you saw it for the first time on the screen at the Mariette Hotel in Cambridge or looked at it on the website; who among all the three generations represented at the reunion never shade a tear? It was shocking at times and yet it was the best funeral, wake what you want to call it that I have ever attended. There was the Sagali spirit flowing as I imagined all the fallen comrades matching to heaven.
And the old man evoked such empathy at his self criticism. “I was hot tempered, imperfect, impatient etc” That was disbarment beyond belief; the iron man of Sagali looking in the mirror. But even then he was an educator per excellence who believed in spare the rod and spoil the child and he bread us well. Can you imagine how time has mellowed him? He has become more patient than I can ever remember, an entertainer looking for the appropriate joke at every opportunity. Times change, don’t they? Anyway I can not help now but love the man ever more for creating the Sagali nation or tribe. Something to reflect on as we Saggies travel the road of age; middle age I guess we are now. The way Father Grimes evokes empathy and love reminds me of the transformation that befalls all parents. They always go through stages, the loving, the disciplinarian, friend and finally dependant or followers of their own children late in life. We owe him more than we will ever be able to repay. This brings me to the real question of reflection. What are we looking for? What is left of Namasagali College and how can we make the legacy live on?
I have some wild thoughts and I would love every constructive and honest criticism about my ideas. I hope that we will gather again sooner. As Judy said “The time is now” to do what ever you think you must do, because tomorrow may be a little late. Among the feedback I have had in the US ; word spread across that States and everybody has given good reviews about the International NOSA reunion in Boston . I met a fellow in Washington DC who said “The best convention ever held by Ugandans in the US was the Namasagali College reunion in Boston ”
It would be nice to build on the goodwill created in Boston to resurrect the Sagali legacy in the following ways.
· Of course the scholarship fund has been started and it is very noble but I have some questions.
· Will all beneficiallies be students of Namasagali College as it exists or will they include students from other schools in Uganda ?
· At what level will the individuals qualify to benefit from the NOSA scholarship fund?
· How do we sustain this fund or do we have to stage NOSA events regularly?
· What will happen if Jombas tire from attending reunions because of other commitments like family, work or lack of motivation if they do not see anything tangible out of such effort?
I would also like to propose another way to sustain the Sagali legacy.
Suppose we invest in a private school to replicate Namasagali College . Definitely not all NOSAs may be interested to participate in such a project but it would be good to give it moral supporter. Also suppose that we have about five motivated individuals with some business acumen to follow through with this project as a pure investment.
As creator of this idea; I will donate 15-20 acres of prime land on which the school can be built for starters. I am willing to put down some other resources if there are other prospective investors interested in discussing the project.
Beyond the old man and NOSA all the things that have bound us for the past decades a fading away fast so we have to run to capture some of that past glory before the sun sets. Come to think about residents of Lumumba Hall at MUK; these fellow past and present are united by their “Gongom” and they will fight to death to protect Gongom. What can we Saggies fight to protect? The sweet memories of Namasagali College at its height are the only thing left of our youth so we must endeavor to keep it going. If the Namasagali College the geographic place is beyond reach; it is time to create one that has no third party claimants. It is just a business dream, but all big things start somewhere.
Strive regardless
Moses
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