The challenges we are handling are at one instant turning us into language professors with the proverbs
to intending brand ambassadors down to story tellers and by the end of June, we’ll have turned into
movie directors I guess but before I spoil it for you, here I am about today’s challenge.
As a student who studied, by force, history in O-Level and then took on African history in my A-Level at high school, I am spoilt for choice of all the events that we studied about that led to the Africa that we are in today. We covered stories about Shaka Zulu, the Egyptian revolution, the East African rebellions, plantations in West Africa and a whole lot more. However, most of them happened outside my country Uganda, I have little reference I can make of them so I’ll stick to my now. Our very own independence
day and just about now, I am amidst the bellowing horns and vibrant chants of songs and dances, the African drums vibrating through the packed stands of the Kololo Airstrip. Sweat, laugher and color all present a spectacle to be marveled at. The crowd is ecstatic. The atmosphere is vibrating.
I check my watch and it is 11:55 p.m. The Duke and Duchess of Kent, representing Queen Elizabeth who isn’t here because of her other engagements are seated with the Ugandan Prime Minister, Dr. Apollo Milton Obote, the kabaka of Buganda Sir Edward Muteesa II and other dignitaries. Despite the queen’s absence, it is still a great deal because word was that it’s the Duke’s 27th birthday so what other better way to celebrate a birthday than on the day you’re ushering a young nation into independence? Such a young boy with such honors.
The Uganda brass band is playing patriotic songs. A musical competition of sort with the traditional troupes. The Union Flag swings peacefully, unaware that stashed peacefully nearby, the bright black, yellow, red with a crested crane circled in the middle flag of the new nation is going to take its place. The Uganda flag. As the seconds draw closer to midnight, our behavior is euphoric. We wait for the stroke of midnight for the Uganda flag to be raised up high as the Union Jack descends below like as the Israelites waited for manna from heaven.
The day is October 9th, 1962 as the stroke of midnight, the Uganda flag sways gracefully in the lights, dance and music all around us, Uganda has gained her independence.
We are now a free state.
Random Thoughts of Shadray 