One Poem Took Me To The Queen

One Poem Took Me To The Queen

Sixty-five poems took us to the Queen: Feeling, The Poetry Anthology Celebrating Iconic Ugandan Women.

On 21 October, a mildly humid day with the occasional pleasant pedestrians and drivers, dressed in our gomesis and kanzus, we embarked on a historic journey to visit Mama Nnabegereka, Lady Sylvia Naginda Luswata.

Feeling, is a poetry anthology that celebrates iconic Ugandan women, published by the Babishai Niwe Poetry Foundation. Launched on 31 July, Pan-African Women's Day, a celebratory event, which Mama Nnabagereka was unable to attend, we requested a later visit. That visit arrived and it surpassed our civilian expectations.

The week should begin on Tuesdays because that day was as historic as they come. 

Visiting the Queen with Poetry

Photo credit: The Office of The Nnabagereka

Bulange Mengo in Uganda is vast, meticulous and serene. The staff at the reception are calm and well-mannered. I even left my phone on one of the benches at the entrance and they kept it aside for me. That rarely happens. I felt at home in this royal place.

On entering the office of the Nnabagereka, it was easy to tell that we were in higher places. The efficiency, professionalism and composed collectedness of the Queen's staff as we breathed deeply before entering the sacred office.

Mama Nnabagereka is highly dignified, resplendent and poised. We knelt to greet her and then after exchanging pleasantries, I read her the poem in her honour. It's on Page 72 in case you have already bought the book and haven't read the poem. Hehehehe

A day extremely well spent. I am grateful to every person who has supported Babishai over the years. I am highly appreciative of those who supported us when we were the Beverley Nambozo Poetry Award.

Each of us has a poem that will take us to the Queen. Find that poem. Each of us has a poetic gift that will bring us to serve before royalty. Find that poetic gift. Each of us has people destined to help us find our very best. Don't settle for the wrong people. 

Gratitude. Blessings. Thank you.

Beverley Nambozo Nsengiyunva

The poem

Many people think that the crown is worn on the head

There are only a few who understand that it is worn on the heart

The gold and precious stones are not an ornament for the head

They are tailor-made and custom created

and fit to pulsate along a worthy conscience

........

The poem continues. 

To read the poem, buy a copy of the 'Feeling' poetry book, only at 50,000 UGX.

Contact Tina, +256 781 685596.

The Accidental Leader by Paul Mugarura-A Book Review

Paulo really knocked this one out of the park. If you are like myself and filled with mild agitation every time the term leadership seminar comes up, then this book is for you. 

If you have become increasingly aware that titles and formal education do not necessarily reflect contentment, mannerisms or integrity, then this book is for you.

If you were raised in a bible believing church, then you may add a Halllelujah to that as well. It is very easy to know about the bible and yet bear no outward or inward reflection of Christ, because knowing about Him is not the same as knowing Him.

Paulo Mugarura, author of 'The Accidental Leader,' published by Inaka Books, slices into the very core of the deception behind many leadership systems that are built like pyramid schemes. 

They emphasise activity over productivity and insist on churning out individuals like factory products, which should all be duplicates. It is no surprise therefore that when individualsof original thought, integrity and genuine desire to make impact interact with these systems, they feel demoralised and find they are unable to fit in.

Many of these systems abhor actual change and deep mindset shift. The status quo suits them and they thrive from blind obedience, because it fills them with artificial importance.

This book is a discussion on what has gone wrong. It is a conversation that calls out the deception and requests for real accountability. Almost every institution that yoiu have been a part of, if you seek far into your life, has been built to brainwash you and turn you into a puppet of sorts, with vague intellectual benefits and emotional reward. It is a cycle of mind poverty.

Great leadership is often silent and does not come with great applause. It is those who manage crises with dignity.

Paul mentions that most leadership does not always reward integrity or insight which can be disorienting for those who walk the path of truth. Instead, so many who lack courage and character are rewarded, only because they know how to bend the rules.

This is an insightful book. Actually, it is a deep conversation. Get your copy. 

Contact Paul at pmugarura@gmail.com for more on this vital book. 

Review by Beverley N Nsengiyunva

   

So much fun with public speaking

I have had so much fun these past few weeks of Sepember and October 2025, training public speaking virtual sessions. Tigether with Terry, who supports the branding, we are seeing lives changed.

Use your gift and make that difference.

It has always been my desire to be part of global change and Rich Diction has provided that opportunity. We are able to reach out to individuals from all over the world. And that is how it should be.

As a young child, I knew had a gift aand yet it took until my late 30s to professionally harness sit when I joined Toastmasters, a non-profit educational platform that trains in public speaking and leadership and from then on, it went uphill from there.

Rich Diction's group trainings also cater to younger groups like teenagers ir preteens and those are conducted physically. We use teambuilding, storytelling, role play, peer review and so much more, in order to get to the core of our communication ability.

Authenticity against Vulnerability.

For the adults, the are able to internalise the neglibible differences between authenticity and vulnderability and apply those in their speeches. It is also pertinent to realise that communication is more than public speaking and involves listening, body language, expressions, micro movements and adept responses.

Join us in November for our next cohort of public speaking.

See you then.

Email richdiction@gmail.com

Bless!

Bev

Restitution/Loaning/Donations This is something...what just happened?

 I dressed in orange on that chilly Friday evening of 3 October, because when I host outdoor events in the evenings, I should be able to show my presence with aplomb.

Introducing Aliddeki Brian, a multi-talented musician and lyricist at the welcoming gardens of Nommo Gallery, bordering the home of Uganda's head of state, was worth all the security checks and mild traffic jam.

And then Ebrahim Soul'O and Muwanguzi; the talent in our region just keeps growing and getting better.

Whenever I am in the throes of public speaking training, I receive invitations to host events. It gives me a chance to reveal the practicality of the sessions, under Rich Diction Enterprises Ltd.

Friday evening.

The launch of the Ethics of Loaning: Strengthening the Discourse on Restitution in Uganda. Venue-Nommo Gallery, Nakasero, Kampala.

There's a simple explanation. I'm also new to this term.

This is what I read and heard from the discussions on that historically symbolic evening.

In the 1900s, during the peak of colonialism, certain artifacts of immense value were donated to the University of Cambridge's museum of Archaeology and Anthropology. In the late 1950s, the Buganda Minister of Education, Abubaker Mayanja, while a student at the university, saw some of these items and wrote a letter to the university head(s) to request their return. Some of the items were returned, and were part of the Independence celebrations in 1962.

In June of 2024, according to the curators of the exhibition, 39 other items were returned on loan. The event on Friday at Nommo Gallery, was the introduction of a long discourse on loaning and restitution.

Do you still have questions?

If you're in Kampala, please visit the Nommo Gallery in Nakasero. There is a month long exhibition which ends on 24 October. The staff there will guide you through.

When the Uganda Museum re-opens in 2026, you will be able to view many of the returned artifacts and revisit a celebratory cultural time of the 1900s and before, of Uganda and the larger Great Lakes region.

hashtag#History hashtag#Uganda hashtag#Independence