Tororo sends off Maayi Akoth, some lessons for Mbale

COMMENT | John K Wasikye |  Early this week, the matriarch of my friend’s family passed on and we gathered in hundreds to lay her to rest in Kisoko –  Tororo district. Maayi (mother in Lumasaaba) Akoth Yerusa was one of the first mid-wives at the famous Busolwe government hospital in Eastern Uganda.

Her story inspires many to face life’s challenges head on. I learnt that her husband died when her children were very young, and the responsibility to bring them up, was solely bestowed on her shoulders. She did a tremendous job. Thank you.

The focus of my comment today is however on a different but related subject. It is on how those living send off the departed in Eastern Uganda.

Since her death, I have reflected on the goings on in Kisoko.

Like in most African societies, the community gathers when a family loses a person.

The Ujama system kicks in immediately. It is a system, where community members gather and begin to fundraise to see to it that they give a befitting send off to a member.

What struck me in Tororo however, was unlike in Bugisu where the burial is given solemn status, here it turned into a market day of sorts.

The home where the funeral is is invaded by traders. During the night, people operate shops, some have butchers, others operate bars.

A son of the soil from neigbouring Bugisu-land was to say the least, shocked.

Business aside, there was a celebration mood also for the mourners that baffled me.

The amount of meat served to every mourner, left me wondering if everyone at the home had come only to mourn.

At most funerals in Bugisu, meat is always reserved and served only to mourners “from Kampala” and a few prominent people. The rest of the mourners, are fed on beans, and are content to get a little soup to spice it.

Bugisu’s poverty and wealth figures interest me as a businessman, and the latest figures indeed show a distinction between Tororo and her neighbours Mbale.

While Eastern Region is generally doing badly, the figures for Mbale in the past years have been encouraging. They are mainly spurred by income from growing coffee.

Despite this, a funeral in Bugisu pales in comparison with those from other areas.

The people of Bukedi might after all not be as poor as the national indicators show. Indeed one needs to congratulate HRH Kwar Adhola Moses Owor and people of Tororo for maintaining African tradition by sparing something always to celebrate a life.

Well, “if some died and others didn’t, death would be a terrible affliction”.

Thank you Maayi Akoth, for bringing forth good children, and for being an amiable community member.

My condolences go out to my good old friend and mentor, Osinde Aggrey Steven and Yabin Owor,who are personally known to me,and lastly,to everyone.

Chunyi oyowmere es’siemi Maayi Akoth