EDITOR—I wish to testify how my brother turned my life around. I was supposed to have begun school in 1989, but unfortunately at the beginning of the year, I went down with typhoid and my treatment went on for three months.

When I eventually started school, little did I know that a walk from rural Kanyandahi to Rutoma Primary School would open the gateway to Makerere University for me! By the time I started school, my father had already retired from work and the only means of survival for the family at the time was selling bananas.

My toughest job at the time was fetching water from the well in the morning where the risk of stepping on a snake on the bushy path was very high.

My father died in March 1997 without leaving behind any investment to earn the family a living. It is at this time that my brother Sam Murangi Akiiki who had just been ordained an Anglican priest, took up the challenge and became more than a brother. Sam was only earning a paltry sh7,000 a month, but he said: “One need not have a lot in order to help.”

That same year he left for the United States but promised that even though he was going to school himself, he would ensure I did not drop out of school. However, when he left, I became a doubting Thomas.

This is because many Ugandans had left the country never to be heard of again since they would forget everybody they had left behind. But Sam proved otherwise. He kept sending money and I went to Maddox S.S. where I completed my ‘O’ levels.

I left Maddox and went to Ruyonza School for A’levels. Everything was as smooth as clockwork because school fees were paid on time and I was given enough money for up-keep. Unfortunately, I did not do well enough to be admitted to Makerere University and Rev Sam suggested that I re-sit the exams.

With his encouragement, I transferred to Nyakasura School to repeat ‘A’ level. At the end of the year I passed with 17 points and was the sixth best student in Kabarole district and was admitted to Makerere on Government sponsorship.

Sam contributed everything I needed and as a Government student I was entitled to a few more privileges. I am most grateful for the three years I attended Makerere. One can lose a parent but there are people in this world whom God has given a heart of gold.

Thank you, my brother Sam and God bless you and your organisation High Hope.
God bless Uganda and the people of the United States.

James Musana
Fort Portal