I am living my dream

By Agnes E. Nantaba

Fred Muwema is a partner in Muwema and Company Advocates and Solicitors. He spoke to The Independent’s Agnes E. Nantaba

Any three things we don’t know about you?

I am an advocate who is highly disciplined; you need discipline to get the highest standard of output. You can be an advocate in qualifications but how you do it also matters. I have the same passion for big and smaller cases. I am living my dream. Although there is a perception that lawyers don’t make good marriage partners, I am happily married.

What is your idea of perfect happiness?

Everybody has his or her state of happiness but it gets perfect with a balance of work and leisure.

What is your greatest fear?

I think I fear only God. I believe that fear is not a virtue but a vice and so I am not instructed by fear because it is the work of the devil.

What is the trait you most deplore in yourself?

Many times I am too aggressive and yet certain times I am laid back. This may lead to sustained periods of success or failure.

What is the trait you most deplore in others?

Among Ugandans, it is laziness; failure to handle tasks effectively for all kinds of excuses. Small countries like Singapore have not developed because of resources but due to hard work.

Which living person do you most admire?

I don’t have to crave for the big names to be inspired. There is a man called Ocen who has been bed ridden for 10 years. Only his neck moves but he can afford to smile. Every time I am sad, I am inspired by him to work harder.

What is your greatest extravagance?

There is no short cut for me to look good. It may be embarrassing to say but I have too many clothes some of which I forget exist.

What is your current state of mind?

I keep a positive state of mind at all times and it is my greatest possession.

What do you consider the most overrated virtue?

There is a lot of self importance by so many people in Uganda and yet one may be important only within Uganda but not outside.

On what occasion do you lie?

It depends on what you term as a lie. All the same in most cases, I am relieved to say it as it is and face the consequences.

What do you most dislike about your appearance?

I have grown to like myself believing that this is the best I can be.

What is the quality you most like in a man?

Caring and one who takes full responsibility of his family

What is the quality you most like in a woman?

She should posses the virtues of a woman; loving, respectful, supportive and hardworking and not a gossiper.

What or who is the greatest love of your life?

My wife goes number one.

When and where were you happiest?

Going to university in our days was a big thing. I was happy going to law school and attaining an upper second class degree.

Which talent would you most like to have?

Singing

If you could change one thing about yourself, what would it be?

To some extent, I think I was born in a wrong country.

What do you consider your greatest achievement?

Being able to reach this age having made such a substantial contribution for my country.

If you were to die and come back as a person or a thing, what would it be?

Fred Muwema an advocate part two but do a lot more.

What is your most treasured possession?

My brain and for that reason I like to keep it clear and avoid any form of contamination.

What do you regard as the lowest depth of misery?

Loss of ability to communicate because communication is a key ingredient of success.

What is your favorite occupation?

Being an advocate is the only thing I like although I can also do marketing.

What is your most marked characteristic?

If it’s appearance it’s my grey hair but character wise, I am a very intent person.

What do you most value in your friends?

Their ability to tolerate me because I am quite opinionated and emotive.

Who are your favorite writers?

Gladwell Malcolm the writer of `Outliers’.

Which historical figure do you most identify with?

Mahatma Gandhi; for his non-violent approach; Sometimes, silence is actually very loud.

Who are your heroes in real life?

Nelson Mandela is worth being my hero. It is not every day that someone goes to jail to struggle against what appears to be an insurmountable challenge.

What are your favorite names?

It is said that a word is known by the company it keeps so I think a name might signify what will happen to you. Although I like introducing myself with the surname- Muwema

What is your greatest regret?

I would not be honest to say that it has been a smooth ride. But there are few personal things that have occurred and felt like if I had known they would not have occurred although they are not good enough to fail me.

How would you like to die?

Ultimately you would be dead and you don’t have a choice in how you die. Death is the only statistic that has no buts or ifs. So I don’t mind how I die.

What is your motto?

Impossible is nothing.