Kasozi personified professional ethics, family values

CELEBRATING LIFE 

Christopher Fredrick Kasozi Kaya, the veteran engineer who lived at Kanyanya, in Kawempe Division, was a man of great accomplishments.

He was the first native Ugandan Engineer Manager of the Kampala District Water Board (which became National Water and Sewerage Corporation).

He was a Fellow of the Uganda Institution of Professional Engineers and, a Fellow of Economic Development Institute of International Bank for Reconstruction and Development.

He was also the first Chairman of Uganda Institute of Professional Engineers.

Kasozi's achievements nonetheless never came from vacuum. They were a consequence of his struggle to uplift himself and his family.

In his auto-biography, 90 Years of Noble Character (written in commemoration of his 90^th birth-day), Kasozi exposes his modest family back-ground, which he opted to elevate through honest work.

Kasozi was the last born of Yonasani Namutayika Kaya and Bulanina Nankya, who lived at Katoogo (Kyaggwe County).

He was brought to Kampala at the age of 6 and lived at Wakaliga with a relative called Nakanwagi, a single mother who sold local alcohol.

When he was schooling at Mackay P S Nateete, he used to roast groundnuts and sell them during break time, to get pocket money.

Despite his poverty-tinted situation, Kasozi was richly talented. He used to sing in the church choir as a soloist, whenever Bishop Stuart of Namirembe diocese visited.

In 1945, he joined Aggrey Memorial Secondary School.

Kasozi's musical talent, which became more evident when he joined Namirembe Cathedral Choir, caught the attention of Bishop Stuart, who took him to King's College Budo (on his scholarship).

"After Budo, in 1951, I went back to Aggrey Memorial Secondary School as a teacher of Maths. I then applied for Indian Scholarship for Engineering.

I was admitted and in 1954 I left for India; Kampala to Mombasa by train. Mombasa to Bombay, I took a ship on Indian Ocean on a third-class ticket, for nine days.

I also took a train from Bombay to Keral State, South India, where Trivandrum University was. All along the journey I had a chair known as Mwami-akooye, because I had no seat," he recalled.

At Trivandrum, Kasozi Kaya met other Ugandans who were taking other courses.

They included first Ugandan Central Bank Governor Joseph Mubiru, Counsel Godfrey Lule, Ali Kirunda Kivejinja, Charles Semwogerere, Lameck Lubowa, Adoko Nekyon, Saul Musoke, Paul Mpungu, Wilson Kityo and Sekabembe.

"Keral was a Christian state. So, no alcohol was allowed at the University. It was only rice served in different forms; breakfast was rice, lunch rice, supper rice with piripiri, all served on banana leaves not plates!"

"During my six years in India, I observed the style of the Indian families. I admired their simple life. Every Sunday they had outings, in the park, taking a walk, driving around, doing site seeing.

Even during the week after work you could see them moving around in families. I admired that kind of life and purposed to take it to Uganda.

"Upon return to Uganda, I worked with Shell Limited as an Engineering Supervisor. After two months, I went to Nairobi and bought a BDK car. I then started renovating my parents' home in Katonga.

I used to bring my parents to Kampala, had meals in the restaurants with them and drove them back whenever I had time. I enjoyed life with my parents to the end.

"When I had just returned, I stayed with my brother Charles. I was too shy and quiet then. After work I would go home and listen to my radio.

Charles was dealing in tobacco and was an agent to BAT Uganda. His many friends used to tease me that it would take me ages to get a girl because  I was not outgoing. But in my heart I knew God would get me a girl suitable for me.

"One day, while they were arguing about me in Charles' office, Michael Nsubuga broke into a teasing laughter about the issue.  He told us he knew a girl at Nalinya Lwantare High School Ndejje, where his children were.

The girl, Grace Mary Namukasa, was a teacher of his children, humble and very hardworking. So, he convinced two of us and led us to pay a brief visit to the school.

"The following Saturday I paid a brief visit to Maryand asked her to accompany me to Kampala, Michael had already convinced her about me. I drove her to Kololo Air Strip, current Independence Grounds.

We were both quiet all the way. We took a walk casually and at the end of it I broke the silence and asked her to marry me. Her answer was queer as she said: "Oba mbereka naawe?"

"Anyway, we became very serious and we agreed to marry. I did all the traditional process and Namukasa's family organised a simple introduction ceremony at her brother, Efulayimu Nsubuga's home at Bunamwaya.

Dan Nkata helped me a lot to go through the All Saints procedures for weddings.

"We wedded on December 16, 1961. The service was conducted by Bishop Dunstan Nsubuga. Mrs Victoria Nkata was Mary's matron and Mr. Lamek Lubowa, my colleague in India, was my best man.

Mary has proved to be a suitable companion throughout the 58 years we have been together. She has given me children, a number of our choice. I have lived a simple successful life as I wanted."

Kasozi's disposition of professionalism, sobriety, marital faithfulness, responsible parenting, social and national commitment, is very explicit in his autobiography.

But probably his messages would not have that added value without the marital testimony of his wife, the English language virtuoso Mary Namukasa Kasozi.

 "By the time I became of marital age, in the 1950s, all the boys that I could marry were drunkards or chain smokers. So, I prayed to God to give me a morally balanced man who doesn't smoke, drink alcohol or play mischief; a man who fears God, who loves his parents as I love my parents. I also prayed that I get a young person with whom I would work to create family wealth."

 "Kasozi has proved to be the ideal man that I asked God to give me. He has really loved and empowered me.

When we met I was a primary school teacher. I had a nice English accent from Gayaaza High School though. To uplift me, he immediately took me to Makerere University Department of Education and Extra-Mural Studies, where I spent a full year perfecting my English Language Skills.

"Subsequently I was identified by the Young Women's Christian Association. Because of the Queen's accent with which I was speaking, they made me the organisation's President, in 1971.

The position gave me international exposure. I travelled on scholarship, for a whole year, to countries such as Lebanon, Greece, Britain, Wales, Scotland and Geneva.

"Kasozi has never made me suffer. He has never abused me. He has never beaten me, shouted at me or made me shed any tear in any way. He gave me the freedom to go anywhere I want; to do anything I want. He has never peeped into my accounts, or pestered me to make a contribution to the family's bills. He has never defaulted on his promises."

The veteran Engineer Christopher Fredrick Kasozi Kaya succumbed to diabetes and high-blood pressure related complications on August 26.

He was buried at his marital home (Sierra Leon Villas) at Kanyanya (Kawempe Division) on August 29.

The function was dignified with the presence of two retired Anglican Prelates of Mityana Diocese, Wilson Mutebi and Dr. Dunstan Copliano Bukenya, who both spoke highly of Kasozi's disposition of hard-work, professionalism, integrity and Anglican ecclesial devotion.

Kasozi's son Paul Ssebirumbi Kasozi described his dad as a very friendly, caring and loving father.

"He always looked out for our interests. He would check on us, everywhere we would be, to ensure that we are well. If we had a problem, he would give us due advice and encouragement.

He was a real pillar to us. He was keen on the unity of the family. He always encouraged us to live in friendship, unity and harmony."

Sebirumbi spoke on behalf of his siblings namely, Peter Sseguya (living in California), Eva Nabawanda (Trump Towers, USA), Patrick Kasozi (Indiana, USA), Engineer Phillip Sseruwagi (Qatar) and Auditor Phares Ssekalaala (Toronto, Canada).

Counsel Godfrey Lule, a contemporary of Engineer Kasozi called him a genuinely saved Christian, a loyal friend with steadfast virtues.

"He has lived an independent life, free from alcohol, adultery, smoking, corruption, debts and any other killing habit."

Engineer Kasozi's farewell function was sealed in a romantic style by his wife Namukasa, who took the mourners by surprise with a song of gratitude.

Placing her hands on her husband's coffin, Namukasa lifted up her eyes to the heavens and voiced a song in a clear soprano.

"Who am I my Lord to give me such a man?! Who am I my Lord to give me such a man?! Praise your name for ever, Praise your name for ever and ever."

Namukasa celebrated her marriage even more practically by donning the very dress that she wore on her 50^th marriage anniversary in 2011.

The body of her husband was also dressed in the attires he wore on the same occasion.