By Eddie Balaba Mugarura
As I walked through the hallowed gates of Makerere University, 26 long years after I had joined to pursue a Bachelor of Business Administration degree, a torrent of memories engulfed me. It was a place where I had forged friendships, pursued knowledge, and did a lot of extra-curricular activities beyond building for my future. With my two daughters, Megan and Valerie, by my side, I was about to embark on a journey through time, one that would reveal a piece of my history to them.
We began our nostalgic adventure by visiting the familiar ancient palm trees near the closed Lumumba Hall. It was here that I recalled countless evenings of laughter, consuming cheap snacks and the beloved colored-water drink, the world-famous Supapine, and playing pool in the evenings with the likes of now honorable Odonga Otto, former member of parliament for Aruu County.
Eddie Balaba Mugarura swears in as finance secretary at Lumumba hall in 1998
As we strolled past the always vibrant courtyard of Mary Stuart Hall aka Box, where my wife, Lydia and I first met, I couldn't help but smile at the thought of how far life had taken us since those stress-free campus days!
Memories of good food and campaigns
It was the Forestry department however, that held a particular allure for me. Not because I had any connection to the field of forestry, but because of the all-you-can-eat buffet restaurant where we could satisfy our hunger (and maybe pose a little) for the then princely sum of Shs5,000. I recounted the lunch feasts we enjoyed there, and my daughters marveled at the notion of such an affordable, all-you-can-eat option!
Megan and Valerie, born well after my university days, were fascinated by the age of the place, over a century old. They were like wide-eyed explorers, taking in the historic features that surrounded them, from Freedom Square to the Main Library, all the way down to Livingstone and Africa Halls, and back towards the swimming pool and the Guild Canteen. It was a stark contrast to the modern world they were accustomed to, and I could see their curiosity growing with each step we took.
Eddie Mugarura at a Lumbox Dinner with friends
I couldn't help but share the amusing story of my campaign to be finance secretary of Lumumba Hall during my second year, a campaign that saw me donning formal coats every day. The memory of my now-wife's amused smiles and giggles whenever she saw me in that unlikely attire brought laughter to all of us. In the end, the campaign was successful and it was me smiling like a Cheshire cat whenever I met my later-to-be-girlfriend!
It was a reminder that life's twists and turns could lead to the most unexpected and beautiful places. The dots can only connect looking back and not forward in the paraphrased sage words of Steve Jobs.
Eddie Mugarura with a close friend, Moses Kamoga at his graduation party.
My expectations for this visit were to inspire my daughters and instill in them a sense of awe for a place that held so much personal and national history. However, the day turned out to be damp and drizzly, casting a shadow over some of the university's buildings that need renovation or refurbishment. It was a stark reminder that Makerere University, and our alumni stories, both needed careful preservation to maintain its rich legacy.
Eddie Mugarura together with his wife and daughters
As we left the campus that day, I realized that the beauty of this visit lay not only in the pristine moments but in the authenticity of the experience. It was a reminder that history is made by ordinary people and needs to be carefully conserved for future generations.
Makerere University, with its tens of thousands of alumni, is a testament to standing the test of time, and it is my hope that our visit to the Ivory Tower did enough to plant the seeds of understanding and respect for history, in Megan and Valerie.
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