A hero's family in need

Oct 12, 2000

* John Wagaba a tour guide in Bwindi died while saving wealthy tourists, but left his family in poverty

* John Wagaba a tour guide in Bwindi died while saving wealthy tourists, but left his family in poverty By Anthony Mugeere February 14, 1999 remains the worst day in Margaret Tebawera Wagaba's life. It was the day her husband last visited the family at their home in Namungoona, six kilometres along Kampala-Hoima Road. While many couples where cuddling and smooching in the aura of candle lit dinners, tears were rolling down her face. "It is the black day for me. It arouses sad memories in my life," says Tebawera, a secretary at Nsambya St. Peter's secondary school. Her husband, John Ross Wagaba left the family on February 17, to return to Bwindi National Park where he worked as the law enforcement officer. He bade farewell to the family and promised to return soon, to check on his aunt who had been admitted to Rubaga Hospital. On March 1, a group of suspected Interahamwe militia raided Bwindi National Park and killed eight foreign tourists. They then asked to be led to the officer in charge of the park and were taken to Wagaba's residence which was a few metres away from the park entrance. Wagaba shot at the Interahamwe, killing two of them and wounding several others. He was however, overpowered and tied on a tree. His arms and head were cut off before he was killed. His body was burnt beyond recognition. "The upper part of his body was entirely burnt and it was difficult to recognise him," says Tebawera, holding back tears. "I only recognised him from the legs which were not as burnt as the other parts." Tebawera learnt of the Bwindi attack the following morning on radio as she went to work. But she did not know of her husband's tragic death until she reached office. "I found nobody in the office. There was just a message that I should call the information office in Kabale. When I called, I consoled them over the horrifying news of rebels having killed tourists in Bwindi. It was then that I was told that my husband had also been killed. I dropped the phone," she says, wiping a tear with her palm. For sometime, the interview did not continue. It is total silence in the sitting room. I hold my chin as I stare at the 29-year-old widow. She tries to compose herself again. But she is torn by grief. Their eight-year-old marriage had been blessed with three children, all of them boys. Ben Kasirye, 6, is the eldest son. He knows that his father was killed in Bwindi, though he seems to be more interested in having his photograph taken than our interview. "Dad died. I heard it on radio and he was buried," interjects the primary one pupil rather innocently. But Matthias Musiitwa, his younger brother insists that their father is still alive. "He says his father is still in Butogota where we spent the 1998 Christmas holiday," says Tebawerwa, while the three year-old boy runs out of the house to join his playmates. Rosi Wagaba Junior, was born in October last year - six months after the death of his father. He is too innocent to know what we are talking about. No wonder he spends most of the time smiling at me and attempting to grab my notebook. Tebawera who is just coming out of mourning says, "It is very difficult looking after them. I need to feed them and think about medical care which is very expensive. Yet, I also have to think about rent, since my husband died before he built a house," she says. The family was living in a two-room house in Namungoona before Wagaba was killed. Tebawera was forced to move to her mother's house in Ganda, three kilometres from Nansana trading centre last February. "I could not pay the sh30,000 per month for rent. It is a lot of money since I earn sh60, 000 per month as salary and I have to pay Ben's school fees," she adds. Tebawera's mother is also widowed. Her two bedroom house is still incomplete and she has no hope of raising money to finish it. The windows have no shutters and are only covered with pieces of iron sheet at night. There is no furniture in the house and the two children have to share one bed. "The most important thing to us is how to get food. We cannot talk of any luxury," says the 48-year-old Benadette Namawu. Namawu compliments her daughter's income by selling banana juice at the nearby Banda road junction. But she often finds it difficult to get bananas. "Even the customers are not there. People have no money," she laments. It is a real struggle for survival. Tebawera has to wake up as early as 5.00 a.m to prepare for work. She is on the road by 6.15 a.m. and spends not less than sh2,500 on transport to and from work everyday. Born in Buloba, Mpigi district, Wagaba attended Jinja Karoli primary school, Old Kampala secondary school and Kampala High School. He joined the Uganda Wildlife Authority (UWA) in 1995 as a game warden at the Katonga Game Reserve. He was later moved to Bwindi where he met his death. His death not only robbed the UWA of a dedicated law enforcement officer but also claimed the only surviving child of a family of 12. His father was killed during the NRM/NRA liberation war in 1896 while his mother died in February last year. It was in recognition of Wagaba's efforts to save the group of tourists that he was awarded the 1999 Guiness Power of Goodness Award. The award, comprising a certificate and a mounted Guiness tankard was handed over to the widow in April last year. "It is just something to look at. I would have loved to have received financial support, although I'm grateful for the award," says Tebawerwa, holding the tankard. Her appeal is echoed by Rev. Fr. John Mary Waliggo, chairman of the Guiness Power of Goodness Award panel that chose the late Wagaba for special recognition. "He was very brave. He saved many other people who would have been killed. We need to come to the rescue of the widow and the orphans by offering whatever we can," said Waliggo, also a Human Rights Commissioner. Bank account number 11-08999-7 has been opened at the Uganda Commercial Bank, Jinja Road branch for those willing to support the family.

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