Publication date: Wednesday, 7th February, 2007
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‘FATHER’: Bill Clinton carrys the child who was named after him, FAMILY: Maureen Nafuna, Clinton and Mariam Mutesi at their home in Wanyange, Jinja district |
By George Bita
Clinton did not get his third term report last year because he had a sh250,000 debt
THE bare-foot young boy plays with his friends in Wanyange trading centre in Jinja district. When he sees me approaching, he stops, taking interest in my camera. Then one of his playmates impatiently calls out: “Clinto! Let us continue. Stop staring at strangers like that.”
This is when I realise I am in the company of the infamous toddler who made headlines in March 1998, when then US President Bill Clinton and his wife Hillary visited Uganda.
The boy was delivered during Clinton’s visit to Wanyange village and Hillary named him after her husband.
As I try to establish which is their door amongst the numerous on an old building, Clinton swiftly directs me and briefly explains the whereabouts of his parents.
“My dad is in America and I have never seen him. He left when I was very young. My mum, Betty Namugosa, got problems and has been in prison since last year,” he says.
Mariam Mutesi, 18, Clinton’s sister, steps out of the house and invites me, to the disappointment of Clinton, whose narration has to stop.
Mutesi says she is in S6 at Precious College, Nakawa.
“Our mum was a treasurer with United Network for Action on Self Sustainable Aids (unassa). Then some money went missing and all fingers pointed at her.
“She is on remand at Kirinya Prison in Jinja since September last year. We check on her only when we have money,” Mutesi laments.
According to Mutesi, remanding their mother meant desperation for a family where she was the sole breadwinner.
Surprisingly, references to their biological father seem a taboo. The family is tight-lipped over the matter.
They prefer to leave it the way the young boy knows — his father is in America and once resided in the White House.
Mutesi says although her brother, Zaidi Sajjabi, 24, operates a salon, he does not make enough money to support the family.
“My sister, Maureen Nafuna and I go to our garden in the morning, while Sajjabi goes to the salon. Clinton sometimes escorts us or stays behind to play,” she says.
Sajjabi says the financial constraints facing the family made Clinton leave his end of year report for P3 at school. He has not reported back to school this term.
“There was no way we could pay sh250,000 demanded from us by St. Nicholas Preparatory School, where Clinton studies. So the report was withheld,” Sajjabi explains.
The family says unlike now, they corresponded with Clinton during the time he was still in the White House.
“Presently we are not in touch because the Clintons’ address changed. I cherish the moments we used to exchange letters for I would have already told them about Mum’s predicament,” Mutesi adds.
Clinton reportedly said at the time: “This baby is my namesake. People should not be written off because they were born or grew up in a poor area.”
“All those memorable photographs with the Clintons and Museveni are in the family album. Once in a while, we get them out to remind ourselves of the good old days,” Mutesi says.
“There is no school fees and Clinton must have about sh2,000 everyday for transport to and from school,” she explains.
Muteesi says the school van used to pick Clinton from home as well as other children in the neighbourhood, but stopped as a result of the long distance.
“He has to go by boda boda to the Bugembe Stage at a cost of Sh500. Then he boards an omnibus at sh500 to school,” Mutesi says.
The daily tedious journey for young Clinton must have influenced his ambitions. He wants to have his own car.
“I want to grow up and have my own car, which I will drive around with my American father,” Clinton says.
Sajjabi says some non governmental organisations are reaping from where they never sowed by using Clinton’s name.
“There are times when some people come here and order us to clean and dress up Clinton. They parade him before their foreign visitors without our permission,” he explains.
According to Mutesi, such people look at them as children running a home without parents.
Irrespective of the fact that they are young, they seem to be managing without their parents.
This article can be found on-line at: http://www.newvision.co.ug/D/9/233/547629
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