What was your first job? Where and when was it? How much did you earn?

MY first job was teaching at Lubaale Primary School in Kabulasoke, Gomba, in the then Mpigi district. I earned sh187 per month.

The school had an outstanding disciplinarian for a headmaster, Apollo Iga, who had a whole wardrobe of white shirts! He was unusually neat, shaved his beard daily and loved to sing church hymns.

He never arrived late at the school whatever the climate.

What is the most enduring memory of your first job?

I was asked to take charge of P.7 candidates, and challenged that if I got five first grade pupils, I would be promoted. In a class of 42 pupils, we got 14 first grades! I became a village hero overnight.

They were the first lot of first grades. I have met many of my former students in Kampala, and whenever I see them, I feel young again.
What did you learn from it that makes you a better boss?

Nothing stands out in my first job as the fact that Iga spoke with respect to all staff, even cooks!

He would share his desk with any teacher, who needed a place to mark pupils’ books. I have since learnt to respect all workers at any level, see potential in others and learnt to be disciplined.

Did the first job change your career path or perspective of life?

I came to Kampala for the first time in life and bought my first radio set, a 9-volt 2-speaker Grundig, from my first salary at Lubaale. I loved listening to BBC news on their shortwave radio based in Seychelles.

I ended up studying Journalism, and later naming my first-born son David Martin after a BBC presenter that I admired immensely for clarity of speech and deep voiced Southern England accent! I still teach albeit differently, and use communication skills for doing what I do today, evangelism.

Interview by Darious Magara