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Top promoter of African literature speaks of `boosting soft power’

What is your greatest extravagance?
I can spend my last note on my education or those beloved to me

What is your current state of mind?
I am at a peace although with pressures that come with organising a big event.

What do you consider most overrated?
Pride is overrated.

On what occasion do you lie?
I don’t want to lie but when I must help someone out of a tricky situation, I would.

What do you most dislike about your appearance?
I believe I was perfectly made.

Which living person do you most despise?
Selfish politicians.

What is the quality you most like in a man?
A man should be steadfast in the decisions they make. They should be firm in their way of decision making.

What is the quality you most like in a woman?
Intelligence attracts me.

Which words or phrases do you most overuse?
People say I keep saying ‘You know’, ‘You Know’.

What or who is the greatest love of your life?
Books. Currently I am reading ‘There was a country’ written by one of my favorite writers Chinua Achebe.

When and where were you happiest?
I was happiest when this organisation started operating. It wasn’t an easy ride at the beginning.

Which talent would you most like to have?
I would want to play the flute so well but I don’t have a musical talent.

If you could change one thing about yourself, what would it be?
My impatience has had a negative impact on me. I am trying hard to change.

What do you consider your greatest achievement?
Being able in my humble way to be of service to society.

If you were to die and come back as a person or a thing, what would it be?
As myself doing what am doing now.

Where would you most like to live?
Home is best.

What is your most treasured possession?
My small library at home. It has a collection of most books I’ve read.

What do you regard as the lowest depth of misery?
When someone is not in position to help those dear to him.

What is your favorite occupation?
I’ve always admired lawyers.

What is your most marked characteristic?
I fear confrontation.

What do you most value in your friends?
The ability to be there when I need them.

Who are your favorite writers?
African writers like Chinua Achebe, Ngugi w’a thiongo, Okot p’ Bitek and Basil Davidson. He was British historian and Africanist.

Who is your hero of fiction?
Obi Okonkwo a character in the book ‘No longer at Ease’ for I draw a number of lessons from him. He had withstood the temptations but the one day he chose to give in to pressures of society that’s when he got in trouble. It teaches us that one should always be firm in their beliefs and oblivious to societal pressures.

Which historical figure do you most identify with?
Patrice Lumumba. He chose to die honorably than live under servitude.

Who are your heroes in real life?
Everyone who goes out of their way to improve society

What are your favorite names?
African names that are light hearted. African names speak a story for instance the circumstances under which the child was born.

What is it that you most dislike?
Not being humble. No one has ever suffered indigestion from swallowing their pride.

What is your greatest regret?
Not being closer to some person when I should have been closer. Later I missed out on them because I didn’t appreciate their good will.

How would you like to die?
I can’t say because I don’t want to die.

What is your motto?
Be humble, live life to its fullest.

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editor@independent.co.ug

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