EkiraboKyampaire

My housemate got married. My pastor's wife gave birth to a lovely baby girl. I continue with my travels all over the country. God is Good. I got a temporary desire to re-grow my hair, then, the boyfriend and I had a discussion that changed that plan. God is Good. Liza, Mom and I did a visa interview as we look forward to going for Laura's graduation and the angel of the Lord prevailed despite a number of hurdles. God is Good. I am one month away from making the big 3-0 and on most days, lately, I feel like I am taken through a crash course on life to prepare me for the tasks ahead. God is Good. I was given a gift of a phone a week ago. First time ever, unexpected, unmerited. God is Good.

Regina, Hope, Lynn (carrying Hope's nephew) The pictures are fairly self explanatory. That's the visit. Edgar Bampata had his first opportunity to visit the parents of Hope Lorna Nakhayenze Kusolo, to ask for her hand in marriage and report of his intention to walk her down the aisle come July 2013. It rained cats and dogs for a bit but when it finally subsided, things went grandly. Mukama Asiimwe. Regina, Me, Sandra and Paula On the 22nd of March, 2013, two important men, in their own right, went to eternal rest. The two farewells. Chinua Achebe , needs no introduction and a lot has already been said about him on many fora. His passing leaves a void where African writing/ literature is concerned. However, unlike many African leaders in whatever field, he seems to have passed on his genius to a good number of writers; Chimamanda Adichie, Binyavanga Wainaina, Aminatta Forna - fairly young people who weave stories so perfectly together just like he did. He will be ...

I have been thinking about starting a series of posts profiling my family of friends , for a while... Do not be fooled by the contents of the glass :) Well, this Friday, I begin the series with a lovely woman named Regina . Her name is of Latin origin. It means, Queen. A meaning that befits this woman I have known since 1997 but have only closely interacted with since 2003. I always knew vegetarians were the paranoid ones of the human species :) She is a strict vegetarian. Her smile could light up a room. She is one of the most brilliant women I know. PLE, UCE, UACE?...that stuff was piece of cake for her :) Everyone is her friend. I do not know anyone who can referred to as her enemy. She is ethical...honours her ideals. She is focused. No dwelling in the past for her, an occasional visit to events gone by to perhaps analyze why it happened and then, let's bury it. Smily Regina :) She is a teetotaler. She is single and ready to mingle :) (heads up t...

Two days ago, I got back to Kampala from a two weeks long training in Accra, Ghana. I have never had the privilege of interacting with that many awesome people in one place. This fact has me missing GIMPA (Ghana Institute of Management & Public Administration) like one would miss their home. From left: Lucy, Me, Rumbi & Susan I miss Lucy & Susan with whom I got up to some mild mischief :)...the three of us were so joined to the hip that the rest of the participants were calling us, 'The Three Musketeers' or 'Charlie's Angels' :) I miss Rumbi. She is such an inspiring woman. Young, strong, ambitious and blessed with a heart of compassion for people. Me, Mustapha, Samuel I miss Mustapha who, despite his age and experience is such a down-to-earth, humourous man. He is such a great dancer too! :) I miss Samuel, who was silent for most of the time but when he began to talk, cracked some rib-breaking jokes. The legendary Max shoulder :) ...

Dear Friend, Banange, nga you can make a girl laugh! I have hahad! Yesterday, I had a first good laugh with you in a very long time. Thank you :-)... I know how much you hate your picture being out there on the world wide web naye I am gonna post it here. Allow me.  A toast to you!

You've been on my mind... I listen to Cassandra Wilson's 'Redemption Song' rendition and I remember the early days, I watch 'Game of Thrones' and late, cozy nights and falling asleep infront of the television come to mind, I drink Gilbey's Gin and I am reminded of my first-ever drunken, emoted phone call, I go by 'Cassablanca' and I resolve once again never to go in there as I remember you appropriately calling it my designated devil's lair in Kampala city, I wear my black, peep-toe pumps and the excitement I had to show them off to you the day I bought them, washes over me again, There is this 'swishy' black skirt that reminds me of the afternoon you 'proved yourself' :-) Looking at Seven Seas MultiVitamin syrup on supermarket shelves brings tears to my eyes, a tug at my heart :-( Zone 7 's chicken wings with mashed potatoes transport me to times of satisfaction after serious hunger pangs, I read newspaper a...

Mom didn't make the aforementioned dinner. She was called to an assignment out of town so she had to travel late 14th February evening. Power to the Hardworking, providing moms! woot! woot! On that note, I love you Mama. For all the selflessness you have exhibited over the years. For the resilience. For being such an exemplary parent. For being strong. For defending your brood. For keeping us together these odd nine years...You are something else! I am so proud to associate myself with you- to be your daughter. Okay, the above had to be done :-)...My mom, really, is the apple of my eye. So, dinner was at Faze II. Laura, Jeremiah and I. Laura and I were there longer. We talked mostly about men, and love. We didn't bitch :-) We had some laughs. Some 'cheek- holding' moments. And I decided that I would get back to, this, my blog and salute (in keeping with the Awards Season), the men who I can sincerely admit, have graced my life so far. Firstly to 53779. You have ...

A LETTER TO MY TWO YEAR OLD September 2, 2011 at 9:12 am by Pumla Nabachwa Every year, during the week of my children’s birthdays, i shall write them a letter and keep them in separate boxes and present them with these boxes the day they graduate. (& graduate they will) Today, I write a 2nd letter to my first born son…..now Trey Gateja……My pride…….My joy! My sunshine, It’s been 730 days & we’re both still alive………let alone sane. I’m not sure how I haven’t strangled you to death yet or left you out at night hoping that a hawk will grab you & take you far away from me. I’m quite perplexed that am not in a mental hospital, let alone 6 feet under. The doctors promised me that the pain stops immediately after the baby is delivered but nooooooooo…….we’re here today & I’m still pulling my hair out. Somebody once said; “it takes about six weeks to get back to normal after you’ve had a baby”…… that somebody doesn’t know that once you’re a mother, ‘normal’ is his...

This afternoon I was foraging for food on my second attempt to step into a straight up Thai restaurant. One with no visible sign of English translations, in other words, one other than a handful of the western restaurants that screamed “Thailand: I am hungry, I am western, AND I am not even gonna try…” I had edged close to one, dipping my toe in to test the waters but jerked back in response to the blank stares that shot my way. As my stomach grumbled, I punked myself into going into one and not backing down (again).   So I wandered down an alley and settled on one with a few women at the front. To my surprise a simple menu with English translations (or perhaps I saw this from far away in a state of disillusion) was propped up on the table. I sat feeling simultaneously triumphant and a failure. My hunger would be satiated, and yet, I was still a wimp! I perused the menu wanting to flip it over and ask for the full menu. I see two things I want: fried noodles and vegetabl...

It is not everyday that you meet a person with two names that are both rare :-)...(at least this is what I thought when I first met this young Sir :-) )...Am not great with numbers, so I do not remember date or year...all I know is I was in Makerere Law school at the time. I thought he was funny, his accent made him stand out, he reminded me of my little brother Jeremiah. For me, these were reasons enough to get me interested in him. We began to talk. We shared confidences. We had some good laughs. We studied together. I asked him to my Bible studies. We became friends; not chums, buddies, gangos or tights...FRIENDS... Today he is a year older and I have only just found out that his name (Bryant) is of Gaelic origin and these three words are used to 'define' it; NOBLE, STRONG, VIRTUOUS... I am in agreement with that definition where my friend Bryant is concerned...Since time immemorial, debates have been had about names and their role in 'defining' the character of s...