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A Celebration of Love, Commitment and Friendship

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This weekend I was honoured and privileged to be among the audience as our great friends Albert and Elizabeth marked their 25th wedding anniversary! Surrounded by family and friends, from all over the world, the celebration started with a short and nice service at the Kings Church in Epsom followed by a reception at the Langley Vale Village Hall. It was a reunion of sorts as some of us in the audience were seeing each other for the first time in over 20 years! We reflected on this beautiful couple’s journey of love, resilience, and commitment to each other, some of the major aspects that have sustained their marriage through life’s challenges. The celebration was a nostalgic tribute to their quarter-century together. Decorations in silver and white adorned the venue, accompanied by stories of how Albert found Liz and the speed at which things unfolded much to the surprise of friends and relatives then. The Kitamirikes, both former congregants at Kampala Pentecostal Church (now Watoto) ...
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What a Joy Beyond all Measure

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I am deeply honored and humbled to receive recognition for my contributions to the field of architecture. This acknowledgment from my alma mater holds profound meaning, as it was within the rooms at Makerere College School that my passion for design, diligence, and creative problem-solving first took root. My journey in architecture has been profoundly shaped by the exceptional education, mentorship, and opportunities provided by Macos! The guidance of dedicated teachers, the collaborative spirit of peers, and the school’s unwavering commitment to excellence instilled in me the values and skills that continue to drive my work today. To be celebrated by an institution that has played such a pivotal role in my growth is both inspiring and deeply moving. This recognition serves as a powerful reminder of the importance of giving back to the communities that nurture us. I remain committed to upholding the principles I learned at Macos and hope to inspire future students as we continue to be...
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Celebrating Charles' Running Milestones

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For many years since I took up running in 2003 I was running with friends and our common bond was running.  On some occasions it was a solo run - a fabulous way of fantasizing about all the things you wanted to be but never really became.   The runs that give you a chance to dream about things that you dreamt about as a 16 year old.  I have a feeling that alone winds the age clock back.   Then you came.  Although it had never really crossed my mind, your arrival ended any dim thoughts about hanging up my running shoes.  I may have been diligent but I wasn’t as plucky as you are.  In the last 15 years since you took up running you have taught me to be courageous and take on races that are long and in places that I never thought I would go to.  From running in a park among wild animals to running in places where we are the only Ugandans showing up, we have laced up next to each other and headed to places unkno...
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The African Decor Edit

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I have this unnecessary habit of worrying about things that other people don’t even care about.  For almost 10 years now, I have worried about is the erosion of our culture (mainly as Baganda but generally as Africans).  Our cultures, as Africans have been progressively eroded ever since the white man touched down.  Some claim it was a deliberate plan by our colonisers to make it easier to subjugate us. May be.   For instance, the white man managed to convince us that our ways of believing in a higher being were demonic.  Waving the bible we were sold the fact that only their way of belief is appropriate.  In Buganda, our traditional architecture, the style of houses that was used by our ancestors for decades was relegated to being shrines, often associated with witchcraft and human sacrifices.  Most people in Buganda now who see a round grass thatched house will most probably conclude that it is a shrine. Our unique tradi...
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Overcoming Adversity with Hope

It is often said that “what does not kill you makes you stronger”. This dictum is attributed to a German philosopher Friedrich Neitzszhe. It is generally used to encourage resilience. Borrowing from a famous girl’s school motto it is meant to inspire us to ‘never give up’ (that easily). Some people claim that it is a simplistic statement and that it depends on circumstances. Some bad experiences leave you in a worse state than you were, they argue. I tend to disagree. I am generally of the view that, it is through experiencing pain or serious difficulties that we become better and stronger.  When you rise above a struggle, you start looking at most problems differently. Throughout life, we all face adversity at some point. Whether it's a personal struggle, a professional setback, or a difficult situation, we possibly have all experienced something that has pushed our resolve and limits. But it is how we respond to adversity that defines us and eventually shapes us in one way or the...
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Tribute to Ernest Gaster Mukasa Mukulu

Today, I write this tribute to celebrate a great man and legend.   Ernest Gaster Mukasa aka Mukulu is my former teacher at Kamuli Primary School.   A former mayor of Namugongo Division, Mukulu is one of my heroes.  And I write this tribute in honour of his 60 th  Birthday. Dear Mukulu,  At Kamuli Primary School, you helped to nurture and mentor many young people who went on to become some of the best at the secondary schools they attended.   You demonstrated that one does not have to be extremely wealthy to help those in need. Your hunger for success in education spurred many of us to do our best.  It was purely your passion and belief that every human being deserves a decent shot at life, that made me and many others. You inspired me so much in my formative years.  You came into my life at the time when my mother’s financial situation was at its worst.  I have never asked you, but I beli...
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20 Years of Arch Forum - Where and How it all Started

It is like yesterday.     In December 2000, I received news from my boss then at Construction Services Ltd, that effective January 2001 we will be paid for the work done per project, basically what you would call a “pay as you go”     contract.     This meant that unlike before, when I took a salary home every month, in this coming year if a month ended without me doing anything, I would be taking nothing home.     Everything about this was wrong, I thought.     The fact that there would be months I would     go home empty handed was inconceivable.     The timing was wrong because I had just gotten married.       So I sat down with my boss, Stephen Luswata and said to him, how about me setting up my office and do your work as and when required but from my own offices.  That will allow me to do other assignments and increase my income in case there is not a lot coming from you.  He di...
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