Let the girl child shine

By Emilian Kayima

On March 6, 2013, Ugandan celebrated writer, Robert Bake Tumuhaise, the Managing Director of World of Inspirations and founder of authors’ Forum launched one of the best home written books, “Tears of My Mother; The Success Story of Nyamishana, The First Female President of Uganda” at National Theater. In this book, Nyamishana, the main character struggles against all odds and finally rises to the occasion as the first citizen, the fountain of honor. Do I hear someone say, “obugalo”!!!

This is a book worth your time and money; very inspirational and captivating to read, especially in this era where many people unfortunately associate success with wealth and lavish living! Nyamishana chose the hard but right route and finally realized her long held dreams, stemming from her mother’s caring hands.

It is high time we as a country and individuals at family level evaluated the virtues and values that define the girl child and put in place a healthy environment for them to realise their full potential. Women all over the world have largely registered success on all fronts. On the political ladder, we had Senator Hillary Clinton, former US secretary of State, a powerful position for a powerful woman in a powerful country.

The Managing Director of International Monetary Fund (IMF), Christine Lagarde is rated at position eight among the most powerful women in the world. On the African continent, there is the Liberian president Ellen John Sirleaf and Ms Joyce Banda in Malawi are all beacons to reckon with.

Who said that success comes and ends with political life? Many women in Uganda have the brains, the business acumen and expertise to spring higher in life. Indeed many have done so and have thrived in the corporate world, the academia, the military, business enterprises and political arena.