Reflections on the passing of Dr. Samuel Kajubi By Michael Muganga Dr. Kajubi (1935-2014), was raid to rest in New Rochelle, a suburb of New York City on Saturday, July 19, 2014 after a remarkable funeral service attended by about 300 people. The presiding priest, who did not know Dr. Kajubi personally, was moved by all the tributes. In his homily he encouraged all present to reflect on the life of Dr. Kajubi and tell stories about who he was as a man in order to facilitate the period of healing. Following is my reflection on Dr. Kajubi. I got to know Dr. Kajubi when he first arrived in New York, in the early 1980s. He immediately became interested in the Uganda community affairs at the time. Most Ugandans are not aware how far the Uganda Diaspora Community in the US has come from in the last 30 years that Dr Kajubi lived in the US. They are not fully aware of the changes the community has gone through, how those changes came about, and the various players behind them. The passing of Dr Kajubi made me reflect on these changes and the role he played, especially given the fact that he never led even a single Ugandan organization. He shaped the community in a very fundamental way, which is not easily explainable. At the time Dr. Kajubi arrived in New York, the Ugandan community in the US could be summarized as: 1. Mostly made up of first generation Ugandans who were here temporarily as students, or on political asylum waiting to go back home as soon as Amins regime was no longer in power. Basically, they were not here to stay, and had no intention of seeking long term employment or buying properties. 2. It numbered no more than 5,000 living mostly in Boston, Washington DC, New York, Minneapolis, and Los Angeles. 3. It tended to be fearful of each other because of the murderous political situation in Uganda at the time. 4. As a result, it had very few organizations. The few it had all tended to deal with political and human right issues in Uganda, with only a few people involved. On arrival, Dr. Kajubi joined forces with the late Dr. Kazigo, Prof. Francis Tenywa, Mr. Green Katongole; Mr. Perez Kamunanwire, Mr. Ntanda Nsereko, and Dr. Edward Kannyo, to name but a few, and formed the first NRM chapter in the US. Its main objectives were: 1. Lobby the US Congress and Reagan administration about the political conditions in Uganda. 2. Produce a monthly publication about the political situation in Uganda to be distributed to the media, various government, and non-government agencies. 3. Raise funds for NRM. 4. Engage Ugandans in the political struggles back home. On the first three objectives, they were relatively successful since they did not involve mass participation of Ugandans. They were able to arrange Congressional hearings on Uganda in congress, with the help of Mr. Kaloli Lwanga and Mr. Remigius Kintu, who were based in Washington, D.C. at the time. They published a monthly newsletter edited by Mr. Katongole, and were able to send money and clothing to NRM thru the late Dr. Kisekka, who was then the head of the NRM political wing, based in Nairobi. However, on the fourth objective, they failed miserably. It was at this point that Dr. Kajubi came up with the concept, in order to bring people together, emphasize what they have in common first. All along, the emphasis was on politics, which tended to divide Ugandans most. He argued that we should organize our events purely on a cultural/social level first before engaging the masses in politics. The likes of Dr. Kazigo and Mr. Kaloli Lwanga objected vigorously at the time, because they viewed this as entertainment, while people were being slaughtered at home. However, he slowly brought the political wing of the organization to his side. The first cultural/social event was held in the summer of 1983. Over 70 people, including children participated in organizing it. Over 400 people from all walks of life attended. At the time, this was the biggest gathering of Ugandans in the US ever. Bigger than even weddings and death rituals at the time, two events most celebrated by most tribes in Uganda. The show was a tremendous success. All Ugandans, irrespective of their ethnicity, religious affiliations, and social backgrounds attended. It was heartening to see Acholis furiously dancing to Dr. Kigongos rendition of Bi bi Tubebbere, especially given our recent history. It was amazing to see all in attendance taking part in Chief Nangolis enactment of the Kigisu circumcision ceremony, to enjoy the first truly Uganda fashion show, nowadays a must at all Uganda gatherings, being presented by Ms. Mary Weeks Kironde and Ms. Sylvia Luswata, the current Nnaabagereka of Buganda. It was delicious to taste all the various Ugandan dishes in these foreign lands prepared by our women under the guidance of Ms. Anita Katiti and Mrs. Anne Lule. Dr. Kajubi had made his point, and the rest of the Ugandan society started changing irreversibly from this point onwards, although at that time it was not obvious. For instance, 1. In 1984, New York formed the first unifying organization of Ugandans in the US, The Uganda Cultural Society, (UCS), with Ms. Mary Weeks as its chairperson. UCS organized yearly cultural extravaganzas, as well as publish a quarterly newsletter, distributed nationally. 2. Within 2 years, four (4) other cities, Washington DC, Boston, LA, and Toronto were doing the same thing. 3. After seeing what was going on in these cities, the likes of Mr. Sam Kiggwe, Mr. Ssali Luwemba, and Dr. Matovu in Atlanta came up with the concept of a unifying Uganda national organization, The Uganda North American Association, UNAA, in 1987, based on cultural/social lines. 4. Once UNAA was formed, it became easier in the 1990s to create the various ethnic organizations like Ggwanga Mujje in Boston led by Mr. John Buwembo and Mr. Sam Lugudde, Ggwanga Mujje in New York, led by Dr. Kazigo, after undergoing some transformation, and Basoga Twegaite, initiated by Mrs. Betty Zikusoka. Now there are about six such organizations, all well represented. 5. All these organizations emphasize cultural/social issues first, then developmental/political ones next. It is not surprising to see that UNAA still emphasizes this point as can be seen in its theme for this years convention, Unity through Cultural Awareness. Prior to the establishment of these organizations, it was difficult to engagement people in political/ developmental issues. 6. Purely political organizations, which have come up over the years, have not had much following as the cultural/social based ones. 7. Uganda is the only African country in the US with a truly unifying organization, UNAA. 8. Up to now, no Ugandans in other countries have succeeded in creating unifying organizations as UNAA. 9. Ugandans are now going on to their third generation, numbering more than 70,000 in the US, and a lot fully vested in the American system. Many of them are here to stay. 10. Ugandans are now freer with each other in the US than ever before regardless of political and religious affiliations, as well as ethnic background. The legacy of Dr. Kajubi is momentous indeed. If it was not for that insight, I do not think we would be where we are now as a people. May his soul rest in peace. The Jews have a saying, A man dies twice. The physical death, and when he is buried without a headstone. I hope Dr. Kajubi does not suffer the second one. If I were to write the epitaph on his headstone, it would simply read, Ugandans in the Diaspora say, YOU SERVED THEM WELL.
Posted on: Sun, 27 Jul 2014 14:39:11 +0000