THE GATE WAY TO WEALTH. It`s a cool Kabale morning and being a Christmas holiday, I must utilize it to the maximum. For the rest of the year, I have been in the city, working in a bank from Monday to Saturday, morning to evening and therefore this is the only week I have to hook up with old friends in the whole year. Although Iam entitled to annual leave, I wasn’t able to go for it given that I was broke and decided to “EAT” the days i.e there was/is a provision in the bank where an employee can decide not to go for leave and he or she is paid an amount of money equivalent to the accumulated number of days. Iam done with cleaning up and breakfast and now it is time to hit the road. Walking along Kigongi road where I was raised, I meet a number of people and I must stop and greet them. I don’t know if they all agreed on what to tell me because almost every one is saying, “YESI BOYI… KUWAKUZIRE? HATI OYINE NEBIREJU?” (Hi Boy. You have really grown. You even have beards). By the way, I grew up being referred to as BOY in the Village and although Iam now a MAN, there is no way I can separate the nick name from me. Well, I don’t like the name but I don’t have anything to do about it. I must swallow the sour pill and reply whenever Iam called a boy. Before long, Iam walking past Jasi`s corner shop and bar. Although it is still morning, a number of men are already seated taking local gin commonly known as WANDAZAGYE (you make me sleep well). One of the men commonly referred to as SHOTI spots me and screams, “YOU ARE WELCOME MWENE MUZEYI…” (You are welcome son of the old man). These are my people and although they are already drunk, I can’t just walk past by them. I have to go and greet them too. In no minute, Iam already done with shaking hands with them. Now, they are asking me how Kampala City is and Iam telling them that it is good. Their questions are endless and the only way to silence them is to buy a bottle (AKASODA) of gin. Instead of keeping quiet, they all clap their hands, scream and hug me in celebration. Ohm… I sense danger here and must run away. I continue my trek along Kigongi road which is being interrupted by the different stops for me to greet people. To the people that are not that close, Iam waving my hands to them and generally Iam like a politician. After over an hour, Iam finally at the central market. It is 2010 Christmas Eve and almost everyone is shopping goodies for the season. Iam here not to shop but to check on my mum who runs a shop inside the market. Iam now struggling to stride through the endless bicycles, people, trucks etc. Somebody is tapping my back but I Ignore and don’t even look being because I think it is one of the Irish potato vendors who thinks that Iam here to buy. He or she continues to tap me and this time, I turn around and find it that it is one of my long lost Old boys (OB) doing so. We are all excited to see each other, walk out of the crowd and stand together by the less crowded road side. We hug each other and straight away get lost in old school memories. After close to ten (10) minutes of talking, he tells me that he works with one of the top NGOs (Non Governmental organizations) in the district and asks me where Iam working now. I reply that I work in a commercial bank in Kampala. “ORAKORA MU BANKA? RERO IWE TOYINE SENTE.” (You work in a bank? Then you don’t have money).” He says. It is the first time Iam hearing somebody calling a broke banker and so I ask, “HABWENKYI?” (Why?). He responds, “MANYA WASHANGA OYINE OMURIMU KONKA OTARABASA KUYIYA KAMPUNI EZAHARUBAJU, OMANYE NGU TIWOGIGAHARA.” (If you have a job where you can`t steal secret money from the company, don’t think of becoming wealthy). What he is basically meaning is that no one can earn salary only without stealing his or her company and expect to be rich. He then tells me how they make money and how well he is doing. He convinces me to start looking for jobs in Non Governmental organizations and stop wasting time. After a number of minutes of the convincing talk, we exchange contacts and wish one another a merry Christmas. “Truly there is no way one can beat the banking system and that could be the reason Iam still broke.” I think to myself after parting with him but is it the truth? Well, the majority of people subscribe to such belief and generally, the journey to prosperity can never walk be in a straight line. An employee must first steal money from his boss to become rich, a business man must try his or her level best to evade taxes, the employer must exploit and manipulate his staff, a builder must steal cement from the site, a carpenter must carry nails in his pocket, an electrician must take away cables, the public servant must embezzle some funds, the church leader must pocket some offertory etc. It may not sound good but luckily, it is the quickest way to prosperity. Nonetheless, there is the minority group that still believes in being patient and taking a step at a time. It is obvious that these people experience snail-pace prosperity but the advantage they have on the opposite group is that they can SLEEP when it comes to night time. They have their peace unlike the group mentioned above. They may look local, dull, slow etc but they are not worried about the outcomes. It depends on how you look at it but to me, it is better to eat little and be able to gather sleep when I get back home than eating much and being uncertain about the future when the deal bursts!
Posted on: Mon, 13 Oct 2014 09:06:38 +0000
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