I am the chief-engineer of my success

By Agather Atuhaire

Fagil Mandy is a passionate educationist consultant. He spoke to Agnes E. Nantaba about how he crafted his way to the top through tough times.

Any three things we don’t know about you?

I grew up in the hands of two women; my mother and grandmother who never studied beyond Primary one. My mother worked as a housemaid my father never accepted me as a child. The little I heard about him is he was an Indian named Amil Afzal Khan who worked as a postmaster.

I started working for money at as early as age seven; doing casual work like digging latrine pits. This taught me to be a decent and focused worker to engineer my future. I narrowly escaped death from sicknesses and witchcraft. I became a headmaster of Old Kampala Primary School at age 24.

What is your idea of perfect happiness?

It’s attached to positive thinking and the way you look at life. I believe in myself and when I do a good job, I am happier.

What is your greatest fear?

I fear being buried and eaten up by maggots. I therefore want my body to be cremated.

What is the trait you most deplore in yourself?

I tend to trust people too much most of whom have let me down.

What is the trait you most deplore in others?

I am intolerant of lazy people.

Which living person do you most admire?

Although he has some shortfalls, I admire Yoweri Kaguta Museveni for his care and calmness. He also understands issues of the economy.

What is your greatest extravagance?

I am very careful about extravagant expenditure because I started working for money at an early age.

What is your current state of mind?

Stable and orchestrated; I work hard to see a Uganda with skilled people who think differently.

What do you consider the most overrated virtue?

Politics and soccer are overrated to the extent that they have become useless in some areas.

On what occasion do you lie?

I would lie if the intention is to save a situation although generally I am not a liar.

What do you most dislike about your appearance?

Of late, I look a bit stressed which is indicated by my skin colour but hopefully, it will get better.

Which living person do you most despise?

Dr. Kizza Besigye

What is the quality you most like in a man?

He must be a doer of his word.

What is the quality you most like in a woman?

Sweet, soft, and tough.

What or who is the greatest love of your life?

My second wife Florence Mandy because over time she has understood my politics and known when I am down.

When and where were you happiest?

When I went to Busiika to attend the rally in memory of Paddy Blick; as a supporter of motorsport.

Which talent would you most like to have?

Being a rally driver is something I would want.

If you could change one thing about yourself, what would it be?

When I was younger, I hated the size of my legs which forced me to engage in physical fitness classes.

What do you consider your greatest achievement?

I am happy to have raised my children the way I wanted and that what I imparted in them is what they are practicing.

If you were to die and come back as a person or a thing, what would it be?

Fagil Many, the president of Uganda.

Where would you most like to live?

Anywhere in Uganda or any other African country.

What is your most treasured possession?

My written and recorded works.

What do you regard as the lowest depth of misery?

Falling sick to the extent of being crippled and failing to take care of your physical needs.

What is your favorite occupation?

I planned to be a teacher and I don’t regret being one because it has tailored me to be a multi-talented person and opened many doors for me.

What is your most marked characteristic?

I am a hard working person .

What do you most value in your friends?

Having a creative mind because it also sparkles on me.

Who are your favorite writers?

Arthur Miller who wrote the ‘Death of the savior’; from his writing, I learnt to plan for retirement and do it early.

Who is your hero of fiction?

Juliano Gemma and James Hugo is the reason why I keep my hair white.

Which historical figure do you most identify with?

Mahatma Ghandi for his simplicity and love for humanity; Nelson Mandela also lived a selfless life.

Who are your heroes in real life?

My mother and father; although I never met my father, it was an inspiration to work harder and sustain my self.

What are your favorite names?

I was the only Fagil in the world because my name is a combination of my father and some other thing until recently when other parents started naming their children. I also like Mandy because it depicts that I was born on a Monday.

What is your greatest regret?

When my mother fell sick, I took longer to look at the bigger picture. If may be I had considered another option, I would have saved her.

How would you like to die?

I don’t want to fall sick for a long time; I want it to be short.

What is your motto?

I am my best lover .