We Are Meant To Swim (Ezekiel 47:5)

 “Again he measured one thousand, and it was a river that I could not cross; for the water was too deep, water in which one must swim, a river that could not be crossed” (Ezekiel 47:5). 

There Is a 'Madness' Called Swimming

 There Is a 'Madness' called Swimming and it is the only madness you'll ever need.

Nobody goes with a laptop to the pool.

There are no zoom meetings.

You are safe.

There is no rush to prove you are worthy. 

The water is not a respecter of persons.

...This is part of the performance piece that I delivered at the National Identification and Registration Authority (NIRA) offices, during their corporate wellness retreat organised by Gem Zavanna.

Swimming is a sport where there is no judgement, because it is not about strength, body size, social status or family name. The water does not care about any of that. You need to identify what you need and then be honest with yourself as you get into the water.

With swimming, every dream is possible. Whatever you want to achieve, is achieveable. There is always space to learn a new stroke, master it, overcome fear and improve. Always.

And in Uganda, many 25 m pools (half the Olympic length) are vacant during off peak hours. It's just you and the life guard. You can spend a lovely 2 hours without interruption. Imagine how much you can do with 2 hours to yourself in the swimming pool, several times a week.

It's a templace for success.

You can also swim at any age. I plan on swimming up to the age of 104, because if I'm swimming like this, then why not?

Bless!

Bev

...

Esteri Tebandeke

 In 2021, I moderated the panel discussion for the 'Tropical Fish' play, based on the award-winning short story by Doreen Baingana. This story transformed into a play and was directed by Sarah Nansubuga and the lead role was played alternately by Esteri Tebandeke and Lulu Jemimah.

Still observing Covid protocol, in a small theatre room hosted at Ndere Centre, the play, coordinated under Tebere Arts, unfolded. As the moderator, I watched Esteri in the advance moments before she took to the stage. 

The protagonist, Christine Mugisha, depicts the life of a city girl who relies on the perceived power of foreign men to lead her out of her current dismal situation, and yet it is not as simple as that. There are complexities of identity woes, family troubles, patriarchal strongholds, betrayal and friendship. Situations are never based on just one thing.

In this role, Esteri expertly unraveled the mindset and relentless of a young aspiring woman who not only wanted to survive but like any ambitious person, desired to make a mark and along the way, she met individuals and encounters situations that were beyond her scope of understanding. 

Esteri, during the panel discussion, explained that after her roles, she retreats quietly away so that she can remove the alter persona she has been taking on, to return to her self. Before any set, she also removes herself from crowds, she explained to us, to fully embody the role.

Lasy year 2025, Esteri launched the Binti women's film festival, which I could not attend because I was away. I was impressed by the way she immersed herself in the preparations. If I was in charge of Arts funds distributions, I would have given towards that inaugural women's film festival, which I am sure  shall continue in her honour.

Dear Esteri, you lived large. You kept going.

Dear Sam Tebandeke, this is a huge loss. I met you as a dancer and I hope that you will find strength to continue dancing.

Much love, people.

Beverley.

Diving Chess Players

One of the most brilliant things I have seen in my entire life. Diving chess players.

Diving chess players  

It's ingenious. Not only do you have to b masterful at chess, you also have to control your breathing and have good swimming ability and high level of confidence. I love it. You also need to trust one another and be quite  quick witted.

Today, as I swam, I was searching for something more riveting and exciting in the water, something that would require a high level of intellect, global companionship and more. And then I come across videos of diving chess players.

For everyone looking for inspiration to swim, surely this is it.

Swimming is Who I am

For the first time, I spoke to a live audience and performed a poem about swimming. I have written about swimming before and this time, celebrating women's day, I spoke about it.

In a room brightened by poets, writers, business men and business women, I spoke. It was the evening of Thursday 5 March, during a session organised by Ladu Poetry Slam at the cosy coffee shop called Ishaazi, in Bukoto Kampala.

Swimming.

I needed to recognise two women in my life who changed my swimming story. Pamela Namutebi, my classmate at Makerere University who amped my swimming until I became competent in every stroke. From a below average swimmer, I started to compete for Mary Stuart Hall at Makerere.

I also recognised Coach Bridget, who in January of 2026, taught me how to blow bubbles. When you learn to blow bubbles in the water, you are able to swim beyond your wildest dreams. You will no longer look for inspiration elsewhere. You are covered.

I told them that even though I learned how to swim as a child, because it was compulsory in my school, I never really understood the purpose. I shared another revelation which even I still cannot comprehend.

It's this.

"I have more strength and energy for swimming, than I did in my twenties. I do not understand it, except that swimming must be a spiritual experience."

A few days ago, I prayed with a small group of friends. As we shared, I told them that my swimming has to mean something more than feeling refreshed and vitalised. It has to mean more than receiving compliments from coaches. 

I have received all those things before. I have been recognised. I have been awarded. I have stood before audiences that clapped. That is not the goal. There's always something higher.

I have seen other brilliant and celebrated people steal creative ideas from others, because their insecurities outweigh their self worth. Their brilliance is not enough for them. They are searching for something higher.

My swimming has to be for a higher purpose. I asked the women in my prayer group to pray that God would show me His purpose. May my swimming be to his glory. I want to swim and help people in mental distress. I want to swim and let people recognise how important their physical health is. I want to swim and show people how to let go of the temporary glory, for something richer.

As I recited my poem and speech that night, there must have been something impactful.

Several participants told me that the only reason they didn't swim was because they were conscious of their bodies and that now they would start it again.

Someone else came for counselling, because she wanted to know how I was able to do it all.

"How do you do it? I am confused about my life. I am facing emotional abuse at home. I need help."

truthfully, there is nothing like doing it all. 

When things seem effortless for me, it is because I am doing less and not more. If I appear to be confident, enriched and secure, it is because I am doing less and not more. It is because I prioritise purpose over power. I prioritise victory over validation. I prioritise glowing over shining. Shining with glitter is temporary but glowing is eternal. 

I used to be that person. The one who wanted the glitter and shine, and I got it. It was never enough. I always wanted more.

When I let go of the excess and purpose preceded my journey, so much shifted. 

I see people who will claw at their own guts, at their own people and at their own shadow, if they felt threatened by them. They serve on committees and remove certain people from opportunities. It is futile.

They bleed internally when the very people they thwarted are popping up like daffodils in spring. These people are evergreen like spruce trees in winter and they sway in every storm, swaying, smiling and soaring.

I want to swim and change lives. I want to swim and make sure that God's name resounds in the darkest chamber of someone's heart. I want those who are lost, at what ever age, to find new meaning in their lives.

If I'm going to swim the way I do, then it must be for a higher purpose and not just for myself.

I am not reinventing myself. This is whom I've always been.

Bless!

Beverley N Nsengiyunva

'Memories of Love Returned,' film by Ugandan Ntare Mwine

I first saw him in the series, 'The Lincoln Lawyer,' and then I met him on that chilly Kampala Friday evening at the premiere of his film, 'Memories of Love Returned.'

I asked him, 'What do you need?'

'More support,' he said.

Ntare Mwine, Ugandan award-winning film maker, producer and actor based in the US has struck a deep chord running across two millennia. 

Captured in his film, 'Memories of Love Returned,' photographs, stories, and memories from the second half of the 20th century to the 21st century, Ntare has rekindled more than a journey. 

     Ntare Mwine with Beverley, at the Kampala premiere of 'Memories of Love Returned.'

Kibaate, the protagonist, is a photographer who had a chance encounter with Ntare in 2002, when the latter's car broke down in Mbirizi, a small town in Western Uganda.

This chance encounter led to Mwine discovering a treasure trove through Kibaate, a local photographer, who had captured decades of  photographs of couples in the most memorable, bizarre, romantic and noteworthy poses. All the photos in black and white had women in mini skirts and afros, men in flared trousers and tight shirts, women with naturally glowing skin looking adorably towards the camera and men posing in protection mode over their partners.

Other photos depicted deep friendships amongst girls and amongst boys, and even more of weddings taken through various fashions over the decades.

As the film progresses, Kibaate's extended family, including his 3 wives, close to 50 children and dozens of nephews, nieces and grandchildren are portrayed in this must-watch documenary film.

Ntare Mwine takes over 20 years through Kibaate's journey, visiting family, important sites and developing over 5,000 analog photos into contemporary visuals.

It takes copious amounts of time, dedication and perseverance.

From 2002, this journey began. 24 years later, the world is treated to this instrinsic journey of Kibaate, to the mind-boggling space of Mbirizi's culture, the socio-politics of extended families and the warmth of friendship and romance.

The film shows again on Saturday 14 March, due to popular demand.

Ronnie Mayanja, who runs the Uganda Diaspora Network and other major players have been instrumental in bringing this to life.

If you haven't yet and are in Kampala, reserve your ticket now.

Bless.

Bev

35 years later and we are still in touch

35 years later and we're still in touch. When you're a young teenager, 30 seems old and far away. Even 20 seems old and far away. The next year seems far away.

That is how we each felt on 18 February, 1991, when we joined senior one at Gayaza High School, which by that time was considered one of the best secondary schools for girls in Uganda. Many believe that it still is. It is revered. It is adored. The girls who graduate from there are held in the highest esteem.

When I was completing my primary seven and filling in choices for secondary school, because of my excellent grades, there were only two options for me, Mt. St. Mary's Namagunga and Gayaza High School. Deep down, I wanted to join Namagunga, as did my father. 

Photography by Dennis Mikolo

Because of my religion at the time, I went to Gayaza High School. I remember that day, 18 February 1991. I was in a long red skirt and striped crop top. Having served as the headgirl in my previous school, Kampala Parents, it felt odd being treated like a young child. 

I made new friends, by compulsion, by osmosis, by natural selection.

Over a decade ago, a WhatsApp group was formed. It kept us in touch with one another. After giving birth to my third born, a good number came to visit me. They brought so many gifts and even though I studied at Makerere College School for my A level, I felt good in a tingling sort of way. It felt like the friendship with Gayaza was a worthwhile one.

I began connecting the dots with man of them. Some I have encountered in work spaces, others at social events and some in other mutually shared spaces.

On of my favourite Gayaza moments was the 1994 World Cup final match between Brazil and Italy. We were allowed to watch it in the dining room. As a huge supporter of everthing South America at the time, I was rooting for Brazil.

That night was wild. We screamed ourselves hoarse, held onto each other like our lives depended on it and it really took the edge off as we prepared for our final O level examinations.

All the great moments were outside the classroom. On the sports' field, dancing during entertainment time and kiromo feasting.

You canimagine how it felt for many of us when a core committee began organising our reunion, celebrating 35 years from the time we met. And they scheduled it around the exact date, mid-February. Gayaza girls are truly exceptional.

My Sherborne housemates.

The event was nothing short of  astounding. The colour code, green, was the best choice, blending in with the perfect natural backdrop at the home of one of our very own, Sophie Kibirige Kajubi. The elegance of the ladies exceeded expectations and so many of them could actually fit into their secondary school uniforms.

It was a blessing, nothing but a huge blessing. The abundance of memories, hugs, genuine catch-ups and enthusiasm as gasps of surprise, glee, and astonishment rolled into one. It was the perfect cacophony. It was the perfect moment. It was monumental. It was wrapped in charm.

Every single service provider put their best foot forward. The food was such a treat. The dancing, testing our fitness. The dessert and most of all.

Barbara Nyanzi Wakholi's cake. One of us bakes the most delicious cakes this side of the world. What a cake it was. It softly landed on our tongues, teasing its way like fine sweet wine intoour tummies. Barbara has extremely gifted hands.

Ending the spectacular evening with story time, muchomo and karaoke, this is a day that will never leave us. This is an occasion that will form how we recognise and define friendship. This is a day that will refine our years ahead.

May you find the people you want to celebrate long lasting friendships with.

Bless.

Bev.