Humanist

Amazing how this post in answer to the daily writing prompt question, “Is your life today what you pictured a year ago,” that I first authored a year ago, on 17th December 2024, remains valid. So, today, I decided to simply update it.

My financial cash flow remains strained and not where I pictured it would be.

Yes, among the hardest decisions I have ever had to make is to withdraw my savings, my money, my rainy day funds, my retirement funds, prior saved via the National Social Security Fund, millions of shillings, and re-direct them towards mounting on-going protracted legal battles. Yes, fighting back the legal and ethical way, and this year we had a break through. All is set for the High Court to begin trying my civil suit. CLICK HERE and read on.

I am happy to update that I am in a better place. The situation of my financial cash flow remains strained, but is certainly less so when compared to a year ago. And for that I am thankful.

The support from my mum and my sister Pam remains unwavering still. An amazing set of women I am privileged to have in my corner. And for that I am thankful. Without their support I do not know where I would be. They have supported me and given me the opportunity and space to heal.

I am not all there, but in a better place I am, looking on forward for even a better life to come in the New year. I am thankful.

Here is the original post from last year:

It had been my intention to write this post on the Thanksgiving Day of the United States of America, 28th November, but life got in the way. With all the challenges life has thrown my way in the past one year.

Nevertheless, I breathe still and I am thankful.

I did not picture being in strained financial cash flow, because of the legal battles I am engaged in, spiritedly fighting to preserve the wishes and legacy of my late father. Legal justice in our neck of the woods is truly slow and expensive!

But fight on I am resolved.

My resolve would not hold if it was not for my mum and big sister Pam, the latter also like a mother to me.

Studio photo in celebration of big sister Pam’s birthday, me holding on to her hand and with our mum.

At times when am crushed and don’t know where the next shilling is going to come from to put me through, for the legal battle and also just to live, mum and sister Pam have stepped in and stepped up!

Honestly, I never pictured mum being in this situation at all. At 79 years old, though, she is still going strong.

At 80 years of age, my mum, Mrs. Betty Anne Apio Owaraga, still does her own financial records.

Why? She has strong unwavering support from her family.

After the crap that the same crew that I am taking on put her through, without the solid support of her birth family, I don’t know how mum would have been today. Her younger sister, retired Prisons Officer, aunt Phoebe (or in Ateso, toto Phoebe) has been and still is mum’s rock.

Toto Phoebe recently reminded me of how she babysat me, when at the time she was living with her older sister, my mum, in Entebbe. Toto Phoebe is a true woman of substance who has had and well executed the responsibility of raising sons and daughters of significance.

Like her, her sons hold distinguished services in Uganda Prisons Service.

Retired Uganda Prisons Service Officer, toto Phoebe with mum during the former’s 74th birthday celebrations.

Last month, toto Phoebe celebrated her 74th birthday, and her children (my cousins) honored her with a significant birthday do, over a two-days period I am told. I never pictured photos and videos of a birthday bash for my toto Phoebe would make me happy, they did more than I can describe.

Seeing toto Phoebe and my mum happy makes me happy. They deserve a lot more happiness. When their full stories are told they will be of triumph over significant adversity.

Sister Pam, my guardian angel here on earth.

For now, I am thankful that I have my mum. Toto Phoebe, as well as my sister Pam in my corner. They have my back 100 percent.

I am truly thankful.