AKAMPA – THE SON OF MY YOUTH: Memoirs of a mentorship journey well- travelled

‘Junior, your mom is here for you.’ the teacher called out to my son.

I had gone to school to pick my son who was in middle class then.

‘Excuse me Teacher Priscilla, am here for Akampa.’ I clarified to the teacher.

With a surprised look, the teacher audibly wondered whether it mattered by which name she called my son – both were his names. On engaging the teacher further on the subject, she informed me that my son referred to himself as Junior, going ahead to clarify to his classmates that his father was Senior. As if to confirm her assertion, she brought for me my son’s book and indeed it had all his names scribbled on the cover with an additional name or title reading Junior.

My mind ran back to two incidents that probably explained my son’s self-naming. The most likely was the countless times someone called out the name Dickson and poor boy had to ask ‘which one’ before answering. I guess bearing two of his old man’s names came with its own price.

‘No worries young man, I am calling your father.’ is the response the young man is hitherto getting accustomed to.

He cheekily smiles and scampers off to call the ‘right Dickson’ in such instances.

Known to him also is another incident that explains the genesis of the name Junior in his life. Behind the name Akampa is a profound story of the son of my youth, long before I officially fell in love. Immediately after graduation, I was among the very few Ugandans that walked from the lecture room to an office. It is in the marketplace that I birthed Akampa Junior. Akampa was a fine representation of a humble, well nurtured handsome young man. Akampa’s words seemed to be always calculated each time one engaged him in a conversation. He was in Form Four when I met him. Together with six other youths that were in the same grade at the time of my appointment, I saw a mentorship opportunity. I called it my seven-fold ministry. I loved each one of them equally yet uniquely. As I walked to work, many a morning I found Akampa cutting fodder for his guardian’s cows. For the days I visited his home, I was never surprised to find him sweaty and dirty from tilling the garden or grazing livestock. Did I ever get concerned that this fine young man in high school was being asked to do too much by his guardians? Never did such a thought even cross my mind! Unknown to Akampa, each time I met his aging guardian Mzee Rukuna (may he continue to rest in peace), I would task him to keep the young man with as much work as he could if he was not at school. It is a risky venture keeping a young man idle.

Today I look back at the journey embarked on twelve years ago and what sweet memories it evokes. Memoirs of a young man with a blurred perspective of what the future held for him majorly accruing from the uncertainty that comes with growing up amidst resource limitations. Akampa was not the A student but I could bet my hand that his fine character could secure him a safe future! I pushed him to think beyond his limitations at the time, dream big and aim high. I did not spare the rod even when it was risky to engage a young man from Makobore High School with such a disciplinary approach. Now that I am older, I realize there are better ways I could have done this. Months turned into years, we purposed to live a day at a time and like they say the rest is history. Akampa went to university, completed his Information Technology degree course in record time and found himself work to do. For years after his graduation his life sheet remained empty of major entries. I can’t tell the joy that just days from now, another major achievement (if not the biggest of them all) will be tagged to his name. Akampa found what the Bible calls ‘a good thing.’

In 2012 when I got my first biological child, I named him Akampa in memory of a life that I had literally seen metamorphosize from one level of glory to another. When this little lad was of age, I told him of my journey with the Senior Akampa Junior and the bigger seven-fold ministry. Whether it was out of inspiration or mere love for the name Junior, he decided to also call himself Junior.

Akampa Junior, I am glad our paths crossed in Kyamakanda. I wish you the best on your new journey. Continue to watch how you live remembering that Akampa Junior Jnr is following the trails of your footprints.

 

The Tumuramye crew wish you a blissful marriage.

 

©Prim K. Tumuramye

22^nd August 2019

Prim is a Christian, wife, mother and Communications Specialist at Compassion International. She is passionate about reading, writing, youth mentorship and intentional parenting.