Music filled the air and it was just about the perfect atmosphere one could have on a Saturday. Young men and women trotted about neatly clad in their school uniforms as they made their way to a nearby large shelter. The Mcee is was evidently having a good time. What followed was a fest if you like....everyone was soon on their feet dancing happily to some sweet melodies. Memorable.Unforgettable.
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The year is 1999 and we are at Ntare School. Its the annual Scripture Union Conference. For many of us, the event of the year, no doubt. At that time i was in Mbarara High School, just a few Kilometers from Ntare. You can call the two neighbors. And in those years not really "good" neighbors i must say. Flashback to those infamous fights during football games and you suddenly get to know what im talking about.But still we always managed to find our way to each other's campus. I was 14 then and in my Senior Two. I had friends at Ntare i reckon.Good friends. The enmity and rivalry between our schools just didn't mean a thing.Talk of people like Edgar (Kangere), Enoch ("Kagame"), Clever, the Sande's (I and II) and of course Paul. I connected with all these fellas because we all had a passion for music. It really brought us together. Paul was a genius. Even before i knew what Key F was, this guy did. He played Piano like a virtuoso and i really admired him. No doubt he in a way inspired me a great deal to go ahead and learn Piano the following year. Clad in his khaki shorts and white shirt, Paul looked so young..so innocent. He always had a smile for everyone. Peharps i should also mention he loved his God. In those days, RADICAL for Christ was the "inthing" and Paul was its true embodiment.
In the subsequent years, we got to meet more often...in conferences both at school and regional level. Actually in the 1990's regional conferences used to take place quite alot at Mbarara High School(MHS) and these always (as they still do i believe) lasted 4 -5 days. That would always be just enough to spend more time with my friends, including Paul; free from the confines and limitations that come with being in school. I have never forgotten one conference evening in July 2000 when Paul walked on stage and together with the other two gentlemen (Evans and Sande II) did Lenny Le Blanc's 'As We Draw Near To You' a beautiful song with a beautiful melody. I was immeasurably blessed. Here was this guy, with guitar in hand doing his thing like a pro but so graciously and with conviction. I considered him multi faceted. He seemed to know and do all things!
The fact that he excelled at his UCE im sure didn't come as a surprise. He always told me how he wished to be a doctor one day. And maybe his dream was just well on the course of fulfillment because he opted for the sciences in A' level majoring in the area i personally dreaded most- Physics, chemistry, Biology and Maths. But still the heavy schedule and extra hard work that comes with A level didn't faze this soul. He kept his confident self, always willing to take on important unacademic responsibilities. Just like me, he was the Music director for the Scripture Union choir. Over the holiday, as i used to keep around Ruharo Mbarara quite alot, i also got to know his family which also stayed in the same area. One would have described me then as liberal and then gone on to label Paul a "conservative" but this disparity i should say made us much better friends. For example while he loved to have himself dressed all gentle, i on the other hand preferred my jeans and tees. He would dress so neatly and could pass for clergy.I must confess at times he looked older than his age because he carried himself like an "oldie"...with that aura and air of authority about him. That was Paul for you. The "In-Your-Face" type who didnt mince words in telling you how wrong you were if that is what he believed. My friends Apollo (Karugaba) and Patience (Karazarwe) can testify on this.
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The year is 1999 and we are at Ntare School. Its the annual Scripture Union Conference. For many of us, the event of the year, no doubt. At that time i was in Mbarara High School, just a few Kilometers from Ntare. You can call the two neighbors. And in those years not really "good" neighbors i must say. Flashback to those infamous fights during football games and you suddenly get to know what im talking about.But still we always managed to find our way to each other's campus. I was 14 then and in my Senior Two. I had friends at Ntare i reckon.Good friends. The enmity and rivalry between our schools just didn't mean a thing.Talk of people like Edgar (Kangere), Enoch ("Kagame"), Clever, the Sande's (I and II) and of course Paul. I connected with all these fellas because we all had a passion for music. It really brought us together. Paul was a genius. Even before i knew what Key F was, this guy did. He played Piano like a virtuoso and i really admired him. No doubt he in a way inspired me a great deal to go ahead and learn Piano the following year. Clad in his khaki shorts and white shirt, Paul looked so young..so innocent. He always had a smile for everyone. Peharps i should also mention he loved his God. In those days, RADICAL for Christ was the "inthing" and Paul was its true embodiment.
In the subsequent years, we got to meet more often...in conferences both at school and regional level. Actually in the 1990's regional conferences used to take place quite alot at Mbarara High School(MHS) and these always (as they still do i believe) lasted 4 -5 days. That would always be just enough to spend more time with my friends, including Paul; free from the confines and limitations that come with being in school. I have never forgotten one conference evening in July 2000 when Paul walked on stage and together with the other two gentlemen (Evans and Sande II) did Lenny Le Blanc's 'As We Draw Near To You' a beautiful song with a beautiful melody. I was immeasurably blessed. Here was this guy, with guitar in hand doing his thing like a pro but so graciously and with conviction. I considered him multi faceted. He seemed to know and do all things!
The fact that he excelled at his UCE im sure didn't come as a surprise. He always told me how he wished to be a doctor one day. And maybe his dream was just well on the course of fulfillment because he opted for the sciences in A' level majoring in the area i personally dreaded most- Physics, chemistry, Biology and Maths. But still the heavy schedule and extra hard work that comes with A level didn't faze this soul. He kept his confident self, always willing to take on important unacademic responsibilities. Just like me, he was the Music director for the Scripture Union choir. Over the holiday, as i used to keep around Ruharo Mbarara quite alot, i also got to know his family which also stayed in the same area. One would have described me then as liberal and then gone on to label Paul a "conservative" but this disparity i should say made us much better friends. For example while he loved to have himself dressed all gentle, i on the other hand preferred my jeans and tees. He would dress so neatly and could pass for clergy.I must confess at times he looked older than his age because he carried himself like an "oldie"...with that aura and air of authority about him. That was Paul for you. The "In-Your-Face" type who didnt mince words in telling you how wrong you were if that is what he believed. My friends Apollo (Karugaba) and Patience (Karazarwe) can testify on this.
where is patience Karazarwe now?
ReplyDeleteI worked with Youth Alive and i loved your zeal you guys. Nice memory.
Alex Birungi.
am on FB