By Mulengera Reporters
Deputy Speaker Thomas Tayebwa was one of the lucky few leaders who got the opportunity to speak at the glamorous weekend thanksgiving ceremony at Nakasongola’s Migera UWESO Secondary School grounds where First Lady (also Education Minister) Janet K Museveni’s 77th birthday anniversary was celebrated.
And in his brief speech, Tayebwa (whose highly consequential working relationship with Kataha blossomed a lot at Makerere where he served as Governing Council member and alumni association leader) stated that he was humbled upon landing this once in a life time opportunity to be among those chosen to speak at the big lady’s birthday.
He started by demonstrating how he and his dear wife (who flanked him) were eternally indebted to the President’s wife because, as he stated, he wouldn’t have scaled heights in such a short time to become who he is today without the mentorship and support he received from her.
Tayebwa said there are many things over which he admires Janet but the most outstanding one is the fact that she always privately prays for the sustainability of project Uganda and for the success and prosperity of its individual citizens. Tayebwa said, unlike many Ugandans who promise to pray but actually never, Janet actually prays and this strictly remains between her and her God, without ever going anywhere to brag or show off for always engaging in intercession prayers for the collective success of our country Uganda.
He also registered his and his family’s gratitude to God for enabling Janet be such a vitreous woman (depicted in Proverbs 31) who has faithfully and dutifully looked after the President (he called him our Mzee) “and giving him time to effectively run the country” for all these years.
He implied that there is no way Gen Museveni would have governed so effectively for all this long if he wasn’t having spousal peace at home where Janet Kataha evidently takes very good care of him. Tayebwa also celebrated Janet for being contemporary Uganda’s most effective role model on how to successfully raise a family and children who grow up to become effective citizens of Uganda.
The Deputy Speaker recalled the extent to which his life changed the day Janet permanently uplifted his status in the eyes of his fellow Mitooma natives when she travelled in a chopper ad landed at his ancestral village of Kiyanga. That this was the first time such a ‘bird’ was landing into that village since creation and that this is something that made local residents realize how powerful and connected their son was. Unknown to Janet, Tayebwa said that incident changed his fortunes as a son of Kiyanga village forever.
The residents began realizing the extent to which God was determined to abundantly bless their village through him. “Many children, who got born after that happy day, have ended up being named Janet Museveni just because of the way our Mama blessed Kiyanga that day,” Tayebwa told an attentive audience that comprised of carefully selected guests.
“At a personal level, you have mentored me Mama and I have made many mistakes over the years but you have always [given second chance and] mentored me all the same. Being human, it’s possible I might make more mistakes in future and my humble request is that please be prepared to pardon and forgive me always. As a country and a generation, we still need your mentorship which is why we beseech God to give you many more years.”
Tayebwa implored fellow leaders to always be exemplary and compassionate towards all God’s people as a way of ensuring that the endless prayers privately Janet engages in asking God to guide them into productive leadership, don’t go in vain. “She prays so much and very deliberately to the extent that those of us holding public offices have no reason to fail in our respective mandates.”
Towards the end of his short speech, after which the day’s MC Irene Kawuma signalled him to invite the birthday girl to deliver her message, Tayebwa also thanked God for Gen Museveni who he said had been a great leader, of unprecedented credentials, for the last more than 40 years.
He described Gen Museveni, who sat with Janet in the tent designated for first family members, as the “greatest gift” God has ever given the Ugandan youths to learn the best leadership and governance practices from. (For comments on this story, get back to us on 0705579994 [WhatsApp line], 0779411734 & 041 4674611 or email us at mulengeranews@gmail.com).
