Sure Wins

*"Stand Upright: Break the Mountain Into a Path"*
_By Comrade Ngudde Baker of Hi One Village_

My people, gather close. Let the night carry this.

There was a man in Hi One Village called Kasule. He had a home, a wife, and children. But the house was leaning. When the rains came the roof wept. The garden was tired. The needs of the home kept piling, and every time neighbors came to help him he would stand for a moment, then lean again.

They would say, "Kasule, let us hold you up."
And they held. But a hand that always holds will never teach a man how to stand.

One evening under the mango tree I sat with him and said, "Brother, *a man should be upright, not kept upright.*"

He looked at me and asked, "Then how, Comrade Ngudde?"
I told him, "Because *all things can be broken down.*"
You are looking at your trouble as one big wall. But every wall is raised brick by brick.
That roof is sheets and nails. Mend a part today.
That garden is rows. Clear a row today.
That worry is many thoughts. Put one thought down today.

*"Everything difficult, confront it into small particles."*
Do not try to drink the whole river. Take a cup.
Do not try to carry the whole harvest. Carry a basket.
Do not fight the whole season. Fight this morning.

So Kasule began. He woke with the sun. He fixed a part of the roof. That corner became dry.
He cleared a part of the garden. Seed went into the soil.
He went and spoke, and made a plan, and took the next step, and then the next.
He stopped waiting for the crowd. He walked on his own feet.

With time, the house stopped leaning. The garden began to feed the home. The children walked with pride.

Later I found him outside, calm.
I asked, "Kasule, who is holding you up now?"
He smiled and said, "No one, Comrade. I am upright. Because I learned to break the mountain until it became a path."

Then I reminded him of what the elders taught:
*"He who cannot live in society, who has no need of others because he is suffic

*“THE ROAD BACK TO THE VILLAGE”*
*By Comrade Ngudde Baker*

From the foot of my home mountain, I made a quiet decision.
I would travel far south, to the village of my grandparents.

It was meant to be a surprise.
I always call to say hello. I always send rice so they can cook and eat well. But money and phone calls are not the same as presence. This time I wanted to sit on their mat. To drink tea from their cups. To hear the stories only old people know how to tell.

When I reached the village, I felt like a stranger.
The paths were quiet. The trading center that used to be full of youth was calm. The faces I grew up seeing were gone. For a moment I stood there, a bit lost, wondering if I still belonged.

Then my grandparents saw me.
“You look just like us,” they said, and pulled me into a hug. In that one moment, the whole village felt alive again. The mountains remembered me. The soil remembered me.

But joy came with a question that sat heavy in my chest.
Where is everyone?
All the people who used to help my grandparents — the neighbors, the cousins, the young men who would fetch water and dig — they have left. They went to Kampala and other towns to look for a better life.

And that is when I asked myself the hard question we all avoid: *Whom do we blame?*

For many years we have blamed the young people left behind.
“They are lazy. They drink. They don’t want to develop the village.”
We say it easily from town.

But what about us?
What about those of us who left the village 10, 15 years ago?
We are the ones who succeeded. We are the ones who now have salaries, businesses, and connections. We are the ones with the capacity to go back and build schools, clinics, roads — but we don’t. We send rice instead.

It is easy to give advice from Kampala.
But behind the words “the youth left behind” is a real story.
He is a worker. He wakes up at 5am. He has children to pay school fees for. He has grandparents to look after — the same grandparent

*(Comrade Ngudde Baker)*

*The Fish and the Puddle*
_A story from Mulago, told at the Wandegeya boda stage_

*Dr. Kato* was tired. Not from work. From being unseen.

For years he worked at *Mulago Hospital*. 24-hour shifts. No gloves some days. Limited medicine. Patients lining the floors. His salary came late, if it came at all. 1.8 million shillings. After rent, after transport, after his sisters’ school fees, 200k was left.

His in-laws called him “the poor doctor.” His landlord raised the rent and said, “Doctor, you should be rich by now. What’s wrong with you?”
At the hospital, the big men drove Land Cruisers. *Dr. Kato* took a taxi. When he asked for better equipment, the administrator said, “If you’re not happy, 500 doctors want your job.”

*Dr. Kato* started to doubt himself. “Maybe I’m not good. Maybe I’m lazy. Maybe my degree means nothing.”

One evening he sat at *Maama Jane’s* kikomando stall in *Wandegeya*. He told his friend *Simon*, a boda man, “I don’t understand. I save lives. But I can’t save myself.”

*Simon* peeled a boiled egg. “*Doctor*, let me tell you about my fish.”

“What fish?” *Dr. Kato* asked.

“Last month I bought a small tilapia from *Ggaba*. I put it in a basin at home. I fed it. I changed the water. But it didn’t grow. It stayed small, dull, dying. I thought, ‘Maybe this is a bad fish.’”

*Simon* smiled. “Then my cousin from *Entebbe* visited. He saw the fish and laughed. ‘*Simon*, this is a lake fish. It cannot grow in a basin. Take it to the lake.’ So I took it to *Lake Victoria*. One month later, the same fish was big. Strong. Fighting. Same fish. Different water.”

He looked at *Dr. Kato*. “*Don’t question the people who undervalue you. Question the environment you’re surrounded with.* A fish doesn’t blame itself for not growing in a puddle. It looks for the lake.”

*Dr. Kato* went quiet.

*Simon* continued. “*Smart people don't stay in places where they’re undervalued. They go where their value is recognized.* You are .....

*(Comrade Ngudde Baker)*

*Wonders of the Wild: Lessons in Wisdom and Friendship*

Under the shade of his Mutuba tree, Mzee Kakande sippd his steaming milk tea, enjoying the rich flavors. He bit into a sandwich made with crispy chicken, roast beef, and fresh bread, the juices dripping down his face. The sweet songs of birds filled the air, a beautiful mix of chirps and tweets that seemed to match the rustling leaves.

As he sat, surrounded by the beauty of nature, Mzee Kakande began to tell a tale of inspiration and wisdom. Aisha, Juma, and Alice, the young ones of Bugoye Butambala village, gathered around him, their eyes wide with excitement. They had heard about Mzee Kakande's delicious foods and were eager to they taste them for themselves.

"Come, young ones, join me," Mzee Kakande said, winking and pointing to the food. "Let's share a meal and a story together." He handed out sandwiches, and the children dug in, their faces lighting up with delight.

As they ate, Mzee Kakande began to tell his tale. "Listen, young ones, the forest is full of wisdom. The birds that sing so sweetly are teaching us to live in harmony with nature. The trees that stand tall are reminding us to stand strong in our values."

Aisha asked, "Mzee, why do girls in our village kneel before men? Is it because they're less important?"

Mzee Kakande's eyes shone with wisdom, "Ah, Aisha, it's a sign of respect, not inferiority. We must understand that respect is a two-way street. We respect each other, regardless of gender or age. But, my young friend, it's essential to remember that you are worthy of respect, too. Don't let anyone make you feel otherwise."

As they finished their sandwiches, Mzee Kakande handed out juicy pieces of fried plantain, crispy on the outside and soft on the inside. The children oohed and ahhed, enjoying the sweet flavors.

Juma jumped in, "Mzee, what's the secret to being strong and capable?"

Mzee Kakande smiled, "Every challenge you face is helping you become stro

( Comrade Ngudde Baker)

*Community First: Working Together for a Better Tomorrow*

"To the people of our communities,

We all know that people can change, just like the weather. Sometimes, friends and neighbors may move away, or people's opinions and attitudes may shift. But despite these changes, our communities' values and love for each other should stay the same.

We believe that every person in our communities deserves to live a happy and fulfilling life. We deserve clean water, good roads, and access to healthcare and education. We deserve to feel safe and secure in our homes and on our streets.

However, we also know that creating positive change in our communities can be challenging. It requires effort, patience, and determination. We may face obstacles, setbacks, and disappointments along the way.

But here's the thing: all things we do are difficult before they are easy. When we first start something new, it can feel overwhelming. But as we work at it, we gain experience, confidence, and momentum. We learn to navigate challenges and overcome obstacles.

That's why it's so important for us to work together, support each other, and stay committed to our goals. When we do, we can achieve great things and create a brighter future for ourselves and for our communities.

So let's make a pact to work together, to lift each other up, and to never give up on our dreams. Let's show the world that we are strong and determined communities, and that we will not be defeated by challenges.

Join us, and let's build a brighter future for our communities.

By Comrade Ngudde Ngudde Baker

*A Heartfelt Tale of Gratitude: Uganda, the Pearl of Africa*

By Ngudde Baker

As I stood on the banks of the mighty Nile, the longest river in continental Africa, I felt a deep sense of gratitude growing within me. Uganda, my homeland, is a treasure of natural beauty, a place where the earth's gifts overflow with kindness.

I looked out at the shining waters of the Nile, feeling the gentle breeze carrying whispers of the thick forests and green hills. Our country, blessed with the Rwenzori Mountains, big and beautiful, stands like giants guarding nature's secrets. Lakes Albert, Victoria, and Kyoga sparkle like jewels spread across the land, each a home for life and people.

Uganda, a farming heart of Africa, beats with greenery. Our soils give us matooke, cassava, sweet potatoes, and lots of vegetables that feed us. Waters have plenty of tilapia and Nile perch, fish is a treasure from our lakes and rivers. Markets are full of colorful foods, yams, maize, fruits like mangoes and pineapples, showing how fertile our land is.

I walked through a village where women were making a meal with fresh greens like sukuma wiki and tasty groundnuts. Smells mixed with the earthy smell of soils after rain. Life here is balanced - not too hard, not too easy, helping people live well with nature.

In Uganda's lands, beauty is everywhere - papyrus edges, savannas with animals roaming. Bwindi's forests tell us about caring for nature, home to mountain gorillas, special to us. Drums echo our culture, showing our people's warmth and strength.

Gratitude fills me for this land of plenty. Nature's Gifts include lots of food, waters, forests. Our culture is rich with warm traditions and people. Beauty is everywhere in our lands, animals, lakes, and rivers.

I feel lucky to call Uganda home, the Pearl of Africa, where life connects with nature's green, water, and sun. We face challenges together; we celebrate happy times with music and dance like Kabaka's big celebrations or village get-tog

*A Heartfelt Tale of Gratitude: Uganda, the Pearl of Africa*

By Ngudde Baker

As I stood on the banks of the mighty Nile, the longest river in continental Africa, I felt a deep sense of gratitude growing within me. Uganda, my homeland, is a treasure of natural beauty, a place where the earth's gifts overflow with kindness.

I looked out at the shining waters of the Nile, feeling the gentle breeze carrying whispers of the thick forests and green hills. Our country, blessed with the Rwenzori Mountains, big and beautiful, stands like giants guarding nature's secrets. Lakes Albert, Victoria, and Kyoga sparkle like jewels spread across the land, each a home for life and people.

Uganda, a farming heart of Africa, beats with greenery. Our soils give us matooke, cassava, sweet potatoes, and lots of vegetables that feed us. Waters have plenty of tilapia and Nile perch, fish is a treasure from our lakes and rivers. Markets are full of colorful foods, yams, maize, fruits like mangoes and pineapples, showing how fertile our land is.

I walked through a village where women were making a meal with fresh greens like sukuma wiki and tasty groundnuts. Smells mixed with the earthy smell of soils after rain. Life here is balanced - not too hard, not too easy, helping people live well with nature.

In Uganda's lands, beauty is everywhere - papyrus edges, savannas with animals roaming. Bwindi's forests tell us about caring for nature, home to mountain gorillas, special to us. Drums echo our culture, showing our people's warmth and strength.

Gratitude fills me for this land of plenty. Nature's Gifts include lots of food, waters, forests. Our culture is rich with warm traditions and people. Beauty is everywhere in our lands, animals, lakes, and rivers.

I feel lucky to call Uganda home, the Pearl of Africa, where life connects with nature's green, water, and sun. We face challenges together; we celebrate happy times with music and dance like Kabaka's big celebrations or village .......

( Ngudde Baker)

*Rise Above: Turning Setbacks into Success*

Starting a business takes courage, determination, and hard work. You'll face challenges, setbacks, and maybe even failures. But don't let that discourage you. Every successful entrepreneur has experienced their share of falls, yet they've learned to rise again, stronger and wiser. Why not you? Why not now? Every failure is an opportunity to learn, grow, and come back better. Keep moving forward, even in tough times. Remember, every great success story started with a single step, a single risk, and a willingness to learn from mistakes. Don't let fear hold you back, let it fuel your drive. You have a unique idea, a unique voice. Share it with the world. So, don't give up, rise again, and again, and again. With every fall, you'll rise stronger, with every mistake, you'll learn more, and with every challenge, you'll grow more confident. You got this. Believe in yourself, trust yourself, and keep pushing forward.

By Ngudde Baker.

(Ngudde Baker)

*"Letting Go: When to Close the Window"*

Hey, let's talk about something important. Close the window that hurts you, no matter how beautiful the view is.' Sometimes, we need to let go of things that cause pain or harm, even if they have some good aspects.
Imagine standing by a window with an amazing view, but it's stuck, letting in cold air or noise. The view's beauty fades away, replaced by discomfort.
It's the same in life. We might be in a toxic relationship with strong feelings or a stressful job with a good paycheck. If something's causing more harm than good, it's time to 'close the window' and move on. Let's focus on our own needs and well-being. We deserve better.

Ngudde Baker