By Aggrey Baba
As he steps away from active duty, Ofwono Opondo, the seasoned media professional, reflects on the reality of life after retirement. A year into his peaceful life in Mulanda, Kapelebyong district, in the northernmost part of Teso, Opondo shares that, like the proverb says, “When the tree falls, the birds fly away,” people in Kampala quickly forget about you once you are no longer in the spotlight.
After retiring from active service, Opondo continues to serve on political secondment by President Museveni at the Uganda Media Centre, a role he’s held for the past 12 years. Yet, he finds himself increasingly disconnected from the bustling life in Kampala. “I haven’t had time to even know the new KCCA executive director or resident city commissioner,” he admits, highlighting how quickly people move on once you step out of the limelight.
Opondo reflects on the importance of having a plan for retirement, even when your appointing authority still places trust in you. While politics has no fixed retirement age, he emphasizes that time does not wait for anyone. He draws on the example of James Magode Ikuya, who, despite visibly struggling to walk, took his oath of office as state minister in May 2021. Yet, even in retirement, Opondo stays connected, keeping in touch with old comrades like Maj. Roland Kakooza-Mutale and Robert Kabushenga.
But even with these connections, Opondo admits the realities of life in retirement are humbling. He no longer receives the overflow of gifts and invitations he once did. “Over the last year, these things have thinned out for me,” he says. With the distance from Kampala, he often finds it difficult to attend events, and sometimes he has to send his apologies. It’s a reminder that retirement can be a lonely journey, even if others don’t acknowledge it.
At his age, Opondo believes that energy levels decrease and the focus shifts toward tying up life’s loose ends. But despite his reflections, he notes that with the political landscape always shifting, retirement may not be an option just yet.
In a world where the old adage “the more things change, the more they stay the same” rings true, Opondo’s reflections on life after a long political career serve as a reminder that retirement is not always what one expects, and that time waits for no one. (For comments on this story, get back to us on 0705579994 [WhatsApp line], 0779411734 & 041 4674611 or email us at mulengeranews@gmail.com).
