By Ndawula Ronald
I enjoy telling stories of my life because I believe in this crazy world there’s a situation that touches and teaches those coming after us.
I have seen the highs and lows of life in circumstances very unique to me but many can find themselves at the same crossroads.
I left school after finishing s4 at Ndejje s.s. and entered life face to face prematurely.
My first job was a taxi conductor ploughing the Luwero- Kampala route.
I have done virtually all odd jobs you can think of, from charcoal burning, farming, masonry, carpenter , baking , kyeyo, politics, administration business, and name it.
I have encountered all sorts of people and circumstances which can be story for another day.
I have made wise and stupid decisions alike but in truth, it has been a life worth living and a telling experience.
In 2020 I was adjudged bankrupt by a business creditor who connived with my political opponent to stop me from participating in the 2021 elections.
I had invested to much in this election and I thought it was mine by all means. I had not thought that politics can go this bad as it was nearly a month to election day.
This situation antagonised me so much that I eventually lost the election, money, business and property and lost all what I had invested for 5years.
As a man who thinks has seen it all, it doesn’t take long to decide to look ahead and refocus, and this is what I did immediately.
I started looking around my self for a new opening because God had closed the outlet I was planning to go through for 5 years, and my experience tells me , when God closes one door he opens another and this has been true to me every time.
On a fateful day, I boarded a taxi from Luwero and seated on the front seat with the driver. Experience taught me to go first class when you can.
I really had no transport fee for the journey but decided to use faith and hope which have been my only assets left to get to Kampala.
Next behind me on the seat were two white ladies who had also boarded travelling to Kampala. It didn’t take long for the taxi to fill because they required 8 passengers in covid-19 lockdown.
When we reached Bwaise, the conductor told the passengers to send their money.
The white ladies didn’t know what was going on and the conductor told the driver to tell the white ladies to send their money because he didn’t know how to go about asking for money in English.
The driver who was very abusive and rude told the conductor that he has a toothache and can’t speak english at that time.
Then there was a stalemate as the conductor who seemed very fresh from the village was scared to start asking for money from the ladies not even tapping them on the shoulder.
The the driver announced, get a passenger who can speak to the ladies and waive his transport!
You can’t imagine how fast I volunteered to carry on the orders.
I talked to the ladies on behalf of the conductor and driver.
The ladies had a shs50000= note, I had told 15000 per head but negotiated with the conductor to reduce to 10 000= per head and they told me to take the 10,000= which was reduced and on top of that I didn’t have to pay for the journey because of the waiver of translating for the conductor and in the transaction I managed to have money to take me back to Luwero without begging.
Trust the power of faith and hope plus determination, God works in all situations for those who trust in him even at the last hour.
I pray those who can’t speak English at the floor of the 11th parliament to pay, a salary, hire or share with debators/translators to enable their constituents to gain from the national cake.
It’s a matter of swallowing the pride and no one will accuse you for being truthful when you deliver on your mandate.
change the rules of debate and allow for translators just as in courts because you’re many and it will pass.
Pay for my advice.
Ndawula Ronald, the author is the former Chairperson of Luwero district
