It's spring and something new is blossoming

It's spring, and something new is blossoming. 

What a September to Remember. It was in 2020 when I kept refraining September to Remember, and the reason was because 2020 was a year of such reawakening like never before in my life. I remain grateful for the season of restoration.

It's 2025 and the season has re-emerged and this time in an even more profound way. Not only am I experiencing a spiritual revival but it is showing in every physical way. 

Bold steps. Bold rewards. We do not act in faith because we are sure of every step. We act in faith because we are uncertain of each step and yet certain of the one in whom we have faith.

The everlasting Jehovah restores our faith and hope beyond our imagination and we keep holding on to that truth.

That is what enables us to live incomparable to who wer were before. It enables us to live in ways that confound the bystander who looks at us in awe. It enables us to seek deeper and further, thus ignoring the distractions and demolishing the traps of the enemy.

We are too busy being replenished and replenishing others, to mind about mindlessness.

Becoming productive amngst the busy-bodies is how we stand out.

Remaining authentic and outliving the darkness on the outside.

I am here for all of it. The boldness. The faith. The rewards. The leadership to change the globe. I am here fo ti. I was born for this.

Bless!

Bev

This Leap of Faith Is Faithing

I am excellent. I should be the one chairung board meetings. I should be the one flying all over the world to address policies and negotiate international business decisions.

I have heard this so many times from different people. For some of them, they are acquaintances, most I have either worked with, studied with, or met within informal circles. From neighbours, to friends at church, to some extended family, I am told constantly that I should be leading from the top and not the bottom.

This is a fact. It has been ages since I felt I was in the right place in my career. My last two children took their toll, because I breastfed both at the same time, being one year apart, and I sold my car. Since then, while I may have worked, it has never been sufficient to achieve even a tenth of my goals or dreams, or to support the family.

The last decade has been a struggle that has taken various forms of anguish and at the same time gratitude that I am able to stay home and raise the children.

What does i tmean though, to raise children with no income? Is theer any hope in that?  The answer is a definite NO. It is a decption that women are led to believe, and I fell victim to it. Now that I am victorious, any woman that decides to stay home to be with the children, must have a source of income. This may come from a business, the father of the children, family investment or savings. Whatever it may be, multiply that source of income and live well.

There is a huge deception that when you stay at home to look after the children, the angels from heaven will become so pleased with your sacrifice and 'gender role,' that they will pour down wads of money neatly folded by your pillow.

I believed that lie. I suffered for it. Now that I'm victorious and the youngest two are in school and are 8 and 7 respectively, I decided to behave like the excellent person I know I am. I decided to behave like the indefatigable and brilliant person I have always been told that I am.

In September, after waiting in vain for payment for some work, and what meagre payment it was, I decided to take control. Instead of my finances to be dictated by others, I just started thinking.

Together with like-minded friends, I knew that it was high time for me to start group coaching in public speaking. While the one-on-one training was rewarding, often times, the participants would postpone and would spend weeks or months before they returned or even paid up.

This time, I sent out a call for a virtual group training. With only four days from the time of the call to the session, the class filled by the third day. 

When people value a service, they will pay for it readily. That is what happened. And it provided the international feel that I always desire. There are Ugandans from Havana, Dubai, Ottawa, Nairobi and Kampala.

They are not doing me a favour. I am an outstanding trainer. I am changing the world. I am training global leaders. The world needs me at my best.

Taking my seat and wearing my 'Become Unreasonable' hat, I sent out a call for another public speaking class. This filled as well. As I type this, there is now a call for the third cohort. I haven't enjoyed work like this in a long time. It is enabling me to focus my strength and intellect inward, instead of outward from people who do not care or love me as much as I love myself and care for mine and my family's needs.

Setting the terms to suit myself and not to suit an organisation that does not value my skill and is only bent on stealing my ideas and taking credit for them, is one of the greatest gifts to myself in 2025.

How about you? Take that leap of faith. Do not wait to become so vicimised by people and systems that destroy brilliant and creative people. Take charge.

Read Psalm 40 and Isaiah 60 for a refresher course on life.

Bless you.

Beverley N Nsengiyunva

Team Building Is Everything

The first time that Rich Diction conducted a Team Building exercise, we honestly had no idea what we were doing. That was in 2021.

It was a small group of seven IT professionals who needed to break away from their stress and refocus on the vision and mission of their organisation. The planning was intense and fun, with a lineup of mind-filling games, outdoor energisers and interactive discussions.

It went so well, that we received several other referrals. The biggest group to-date has been the DFCU Bank team. Outdoors at Nyange Resort on Entebbe Road, we choreographed dances, raced in sacks, played football and handball and had a raving time.

Since then, the requests have taken different shapes. Sometimes it's to organise a conflict resolution session, or to speak on digital security, leadership in crisis and so much more.

As a public speaking training company, facilitating various sessions is not that difficult if you make it as simple and palatable as possible, with plenty of interaction and fun. Through stories, dance and genuine connection, there is so much that can be achieved.

Diane Ackerman said that 'Play is our favourite way of learning.'

 

 

It may be easier for an extroverted and fun-loving person to conduct Team building and yet nothing could be further from the truth. Team building requires meticulous attention to details, reading the room, taking note of those who are not as outgoing and making sure they are engaged and switching the activities once fatigue sets in, or even allowing time to rest.

The planning requires a fastidious person. It does not matter whether you are a shy individual or outspoken one, once you are able to plan with a keen sense of awareness, then the activity has already landed itself guaranteed success.

   

The Kla Lit Writes Festival-second edition, 2025

 It was my distinct pleasure to host the opening reception of the second edition of the Kampala Writes Lit Fest. The evening reception was held at the British High Commissioner's residence, on 14 August.

This awesome evening was lit with curators, artists of such magnificent talent, arts managers, writers of unspeakably gifted creativity, publishers and our very own book sellers, Tubaze Books.

    

Curated by Goretti Kyomuhendo, and sponsored by African Writers Trust, British Council Uganda, German Cultural Center and Makerere University, this second edition is so lit.

    

       

You should have seen our BN Poetry Award winner Rashida Namulondo, with her spoken word mastery on the mic and MC female rapper, Tushi Nabakyala. What a night! Meeting Dr. Jennifer Makumbi again, and award-winning poets Nii- Parkes and Dr Nick Makoha.

This festival is free of charge. You want to be amongst those that say they attended.

       

Dash over to the Yusuf Lule Auditorium at Makerere University for a feast of the very best in literature. It ends on Sunday ,17 August.

I am satiated with literary bliss.

Photo credit: Jonathan Nasasira

The Launch of 'Feeling' Was Glorious

    The Launch of 'Feeling,' on 31 July 2025, the Babishai poetry anthology celebrating iconic Ugandan women, was nothing short of glorious. What an exceptional way to spend Pan-African Women's Day, which falls on my birthday.

From the preparations, the executive committee thrust themselves into fully ensuring that the event was a huge success. When you serve with a committee that takes ownership, their enthusiam brightens every step of the plannng. My gratitude is boundless.

The weather forecast predicted light showers but it was as sunny as a yellow crispy omelette. We couldn't have asked for a better venue than British Council in Kampala. Centrally located with sufficient space and artistic ambience, our caterers and guests had plenty of room to manoeuvre.

Effervescence filled the room. Bright energy, creative lightness and a cheerful crowd. From Ambassador Bernadette Olowo-Uganda's first female Ambassador to the Vatican, tpo Prof. Rev. Sr. Dipio and my own mother and children, this was a day for a celebration for all ages; those who truly respect women.

The committee worked to the nines and the entire programme was executed far better than I could have expected. With an electrifying MC and poetry performers who made their words dance through the air to our hearts, it was festive, life-changing and warm.

Whether one chooses to read their poetry, perform it or recite it, poetry is a double-edged sword whose words will never be contained in just rhetoric or speculation. We even auctioned a glass-framed poem, and that was just the start of uncountable milestones.

Winning the auction-Mt. St. Mary's Namagunga girls.

To every poet who contributed to he anthology and performed, you added so much flavour to the day.

Launching the anthology

The British Council Country Director officially launched the poetry book and with the energy in the room, there is enough moentum for many more publications to be shared all across the world.

With huge thanks to the team of poets, those who shared testimonials, committee, sponsors, guests and well-wishers. Let's keep making poetry glow.

Zoey the Storyteller                                             Millicent Mugabi- British Council Uganda

           

Standing with Alice Karugaba, founder of                      Delivering my speech

Nina Interiors leading interior design house 

in Uganda.

   Photos by Painters Media, +256 756 235392.

For copies of 'Feeling,' contact Tina, +256 781 685596.

In honour of Hon. Canon Rhoda Kalema

 This poem was written in the 'Feeling' poetry anthology in honour of Hon. Canon Rhoda Kalema

Hon. Canon Rhoda Kalema

Every black and white photo is regal

The ones that came before the burden of selfies 

Where hair was parted with a line in the middle

And the afros sprouted on the great deeds of those decades

Black and white photos remind us of those

Who were able to outlive internal and external dangers.

They remind us of how colour was a luxury,

And living was a necessity

The people in those black and white photos

That wore loafers and sometimes white gloves

Whose families posed with the protectors at the back

And the guardians in the front

Those people in the black and white photos

Were the inventors of socialising without media.

They met for tea wearing floral dresses and bowling hats 

Talking about their unfiltered victories over polished silverware.

Hon. Rhoda Kalema created a passage for the oppressed

Where all women under misogyny and hurt

Found safety as they tunneled their way using their own light

They left cake crumbs and clues for those behind them.

The Mother of Uganda’s Parliament invented the first reality show

It was a black and white show where women and girls became.

It was a film where the real life heroes started trending

Uganda’s first hashtags were #RhodaKalema #RealLifeHero

Without any artificial lighting or eyelashes,

She waded through and drenched herself in the forbidden waters

Threw a lifeline for the thousands of Ugandans on the other side

Who had no thought of how to make it viral

They created their first black and white film

A reality show from a real life hero

Every black and white photo is regal

They are unfiltered images of  great deeds. 

                                            Poem by Beverley Nambozo Nsengiyunva

Feeling-The Poetry Anthology Celebrating Iconic Ugandan Women