Humanist

Among us Iteso, affirmation of the way in which you live or lived your life is indicated by naming children after you. Learn more in “I am Alinga”.

And so, I was delighted, for the first time, to meet one of my namesakes in Lango, who was named my name Alinga, a name I was given, named after my tata (paternal grandmother).

When her mum told me that your namesake is stubborn, I corrected her that my namesake is simply brilliant, inquisitive and so no one should deem her light.

Her mum also told me that my namesake prefers to answer to “MD”, after all she is named after a Managing Director. A powerful way of claiming a legacy.

As I claimed my tata’s light, may my namesakes countrywide also claim and be propelled by mine.

Mini MD is the daughter of our Housekeeper for our CPAR Uganda Dr. Paul Hargrave Memorial Center where the anniversary of my birth finds me.

I am here as Team Leader to prepare the Center to host a 16-months Human Development Project made possible through a legacy grant from the kin of the late Dr. Paul David Hargrave via the Canadian Physicians for Aid and Relief.

It delights me that in implementing this project I will also be continuing the legacy of my ‘professional father’, my mentor, Stan Burkey, who rested last month.

Yes, on this 57th anniversary of my birth, I am filled with satisfaction and I am comfortable that, on the whole, building of my legacy is taking the right trajectory.

I am grateful to you my village, for “it takes a village to raise a child,” and you all have raised me. “I am because we are,” in the African philosophy of Ubuntu.

Your encouragement through follows, likes and comments on my blog, means a lot to me and it inspires me.

So, the 30 things that make me happy today are among many, many more that have contributed to setting the trajectory of my legacy on the right path.

With your support, I am living a good Aristotelian life, I think. And that is what makes me happy.