Nyamukana is Godwin's home area. Bemanya Godwin is a very close friend and brother to me and one of the best things that came out of my year as a volunteer teacher in Uganda in 2001-2002. I stayed in the home of Dorcas, his aunt, and my "Mummy". Godwin also stayed with Dorcas and we taught together at Mother Care Nursery and Primary School - a project started by Dorcas and 3 other local women who saw a need for quality education for the town's orphaned and disadvantaged children.
The whole point of me coming to Uganda at this time was to attend Godwin's graduation ceremony from Makarere University where he attained a hard-earned Bachelor of Education degree. However, as is often the case, Makarere was short on cash (despite the ridiculous fees collected from all graduating students) and the ceremony was postponed until late September. Of course it was too late for me; I'd already booked my ticket. Eh, it happens.
Godwin picked me up at the airport in Entebbe with a huge smile and wave - it's surreal every time I see him.... I went back in 2004 for a month-long visit with one of my bestest buds Ben Riche, and it was the same way - as if it's Godwin standing in front of me! He doesn't seem to get any older; actually, he seems to be getting younger.
Godwin's wife Immaculate, and their son Baron and daughter Treasure. Godwin was always good with kids and it transfers well to his role as father.... he is a great Dad. With Baron, who isn't talking yet, he plays this game where Baron grabs different parts of Godwin's face and Godwin says, "Have you got my ear?" "Have you got my eyes?" "Have you got my nose?" and Baron "mmm"s the affirmative.
Immaculate: a lovely, gentle young woman. We really hit it off; one time, in one of the highlights of the entire trip, she was asking Baron "Who's this?" pointing at me... and she said, for him, "It's 'uncle'. Uncle Kenny!". I felt so great.
Godwin and Treasure.
Baron crawling over me. Seconds before this pic, he had hobbled over to me (he had a nasty gouge on his right heel from a biking mishap) and lay down beside me with his arms behind his head, just like me. So awesome.
The girl laughing is Anita, one of the orphans Godwin and Immaculate take care of. In the the foreground is Kevin, the only child from Immaculate's first marriage.
Anita and Deke. Anita is a great kid - she has this face which is always at the point of breaking into a brilliant smile, but she shies away and you only catch glimpses of it here and there. She's a real tease.
The wee one is Rita, another orphan under the care of Godwin and Immaculate. I originally wanted to take a picture of the pot cooking over a woodfire, but when the kids saw the camera, they quickly scurried into the scene.
Me playing pool very badly. You can see how many balls are still left; this was after 20 minutes of play. I was playing with Yu, a Japanese dude who we met on the bus ride to Godwin's place. We invited him to stay with us for a few days, and he did.
Yu, with Deke, Keven and Rita. They were all quite comfortable with us foreigners...
My last morning in Uganda.
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