What does GOD want, why does HE take away some People before they reach 90? King Hezekiah cheated Death for an extra 15 Years; I wish we could all live for over 120 Years, inaccessible to the Passover Destroyer that took away the Egyptian Firstborns. Save us, Blood of JESUS! Long Life should be normal! When Alfred Munguleni, my Mum's Cousin died of Liver Failure on Friday the 13th December 2019, an unlucky Day, I started wondering why GOD wanted it that Way. As a Kid in the 90s, I used to pray with Eyes closed for my own early Death maybe because I adored Michael Jackson's dangerous Music but nowadays I pray for Long Life plus give Thanks for all these Decades on Earth. Before P6, Munguleni taught me about Food Nutrients and helped me match their Deficiencies. By the Time I was learning them in School, they were very easy to grasp. I did not scratch my Head revising that Topic. During my S6 Vacation, he asked me to replace him at his Highfield College (Secondary School that later turned into a Nursery and P1 by the Time he departed the Earth) and teach Biology to S1s and 4s; he was going to KLA for about a Week. I had no Problem teaching the S1s but when it came to the Candidates, he gave me a Topic that I skipped revising during my own UCEs at SMACK over two Years behind: Cell Division, Mitosis and Stuff. I used to ride my Dad's Bicycle to the College in Awindiri (Arua Suburb) but gave up the unpaid Trial because of constant Headaches (Maybe I needed to reduce my Sugar Intake) plus I did not want to fail the S4s. I was there half Day about twice and the Brunch was sweet Tea as black as Coca Cola escorted with sumptuous Anyoya [boiled Beans and Maize]. He died 16 Years later at a Branch of Mulago Hospital on Entebbe Road. His Corpse was driven to St. Philip's Church (Arua) [For Contributions to build new Sanctuary of Prayer, deposit at Equity Bank, Arua Branch: 1023201018632 or call 0772-333217] on Sunday 15th December 2019 by Rhino Funeral Services. His Vigil was attended by mainly women who praised him as a very generous Giver. I stepped there at 8PM and stayed silent for very long as Congregants told testimonial Stories, sang and danced; Crying is discouraged in Lugbara Culture because the Overnight is a Celebration of the Deceased's Life. Momentarily, some Ladies danced up and down while facing each other and shaking Hands; they could also raise their locked Handshakes above the Chin. Others shook Hands then released and left their flattened Hands in mid-Air for a short while. They greeted a second Time rhythmically and repeated the mid-Air Suspension plus Handshake again and again till Music stopped. During the Vigil's Final Prayer, my Cousin Juliet Drijaru asked Mourners not to question GOD why HE took Munguleni away. Monday Morning, his Corpse would be transported to Maracha for the Tuesday Burial. Munguleni was diagnosed with nine different Diseases; one of his Government Service Workmates confessed that it was the Result of Bad Hearts in Maracha and begged People to love. After 6AM, I walked towards the Post Office and found some Men exercising, one was doing Pushups before moving to the other Side of the Road to walk while others jogged, a Man and Woman actually bypassed me on Avenue Road. Inter-City Coaches are arriving in Arua with multiple Lights near the Roofline. A Cloth Banner hanging on a Fence to my left advertises that Fille Muthoni will be performing during the Fashion Runway at Heritage Courts on Saturday 21st December. The Total Petrol Station Bonjour Supermarket and Cafe at the End of the Golf Course look glam in the Night. The Market on the Opposite Side is made of Iron Sheets and so is the Perimeter Fence for the Arua Hill Stadium Construction. Work began in the 2nd Quarter of the Year and more than Half of the Ground Floor seems to be started on. I walk up towards Arua Hill and find a new storeyed Building next to Electoral Commission. National Water has also put up three blue Signposts (one West, the other near the Reservoir and also South) warning Tresspassers about their Land or face Prosecution. When I point at the topmost Signpost, one of the Workers at the Hill encourages me, "Do not fear!" Sometimes when I want to reset my Mind or refill my Hope, Arua Hill is the Place I visit; watching the reddish orange Sunrise is quite refreshing: No matter how dark the Night, the Sun always rises again! This is where I was praying when my beloved Cousin Godia (a Security Guard) - who taught me how to knot a Tie around 1996 - departed in Nebbi in September 2018. He also had an unforgettable Part in my Childhood: he would fetch my grey Coat once a Month for Drycleaning when I was the P7 Headboy at Kalinabiri Primary School (Ntinda 1996). Right now, am clad in a grey Lowe Alpine Jacket covering a cream yellow longsleeved Shirt gifted to me by Leta Group from KLA, brown Office Trousers and brown Sandals, my usual Fashion though I fancy T-Shirts too (Bajjo-Style). Weaverbirds sing in the Forest while others perch on a Tree behind me plus a few Crows fly about. I notice a Snail attached to its Shell crawling on the Hill, Geckos are awake and moving too. The three storeyed House at the Eastern Foot of the Hill looks massive though seemingly less occupied. Near the Arua Hill Residences on the South Top are Ironsheets set up majestically for trapping Grasshoppers. There is a new Mast on the Awindiri Hill plus Scholars Hostel under construction near Muni University. The highrise Building, perhaps a Hotel being set up on Circular Road is visible from behind the Nile FM/ BTN Studios. I wish I could spot the magnificent Albert Nile River using a Binoculars plus know the Names of all the Hills on the Eastern Horizon. LORD, have Mercy...
