I woke up to my usual routine but with a different feeling in my heart. I reflected on the events of the last 3 months, with apprehension and excitement I marveled at the goodness of my God. What an awesome day this would be! It was a bright new morning, the sky was calm, the air was fresh, and the buzz of activity evident with the honking of hones and the noise of traffic. As I entered the gate for the second time, the first being for interviews, I felt some sense of accomplishment.
This day would usher me into a new life, a new system a new environment. A new everything. Everything was new to me. As Heather Ash Amara says, “Change is inevitable, but transformation is by conscious choice.” Change was evident, and transformation was eminent. It was a new dawn. This was on 3rd October 2016. Handed with new credentials as a leadership officer and charged with implementing leadership development in 19 districts and Civil Society organizations in Western, South Western and Central Uganda, I was ready to move on a journey of transformation.
Taking on such a role; called for self-discovery. For to transform the world, one must transform self. I got to know about Institute of National Transformation (INT) from my supervisor in early 2017. Reviewing the leadership roll program that had been developed, she shared with me about this course that had changed her life completely. “The success I have registered in implementing projects for the last 8 years has been as a result of the Oak seed course. I learnt to multi- task, to keep time, to pay attention to detail. Look at Sharon se said, pointing to the program officer, “I hired her on to the team because she was an Oak seed. Have you noticed how she does her work? She is efficient, effective and vocal.” She then told me about the INT alumni and the great role they have plaed in transforming Uganda. Prominent among these were the 2 Iron ladies of our time: Jennifer Musisi Semakula, the Executive Director of Kampala Capital City Authority, Allen Kagina the Executive Director of Uganda National Roads Authority. These two ladies’ names resonated with success. They had proved their critics wrong and had showed the world that women, once given the opportunity to manage can perform, and perform beyond exception. And these two ladies were born again, belonged to intercessors for Uganda and prayed at Deliverance Church. Such a revelation!
Armed with such life changing information, I got to the internet and searched about INT- OSELC because I wanted to be part of this course that produced leaders with a difference. I prepared to enroll in August 2018, but an urgent program that needed my full attention came up, so I had to postpone. However, I promised myself that 2019 would be the defining year to get enrolled. In December 2018, I took a decision and enrolled for the January- June 2019 intake.
“Nothing happens until the pain of remaining the same outweighs the pain of change.” Arthur Burt. My expectations then were to push myself out of the comfort zone I had become so accustomed to and improve my reading culture, network, learn and challenge myself to be better. It is said that experience is the best teacher. Over the last 5 months, I have had to endure sleepless nights, long days of reading, reflecting meeting, discussing, exploring, questioning, and stringent deadlines to keep up with the demands of INT. The History Makers Training crowned it all. I never knew I could sleep for one and a half hours in three days, but I did. And that was a first for me. INT has been an experience! Facilitated by the very best, this course that is so rooted on Christian principles and values, has made me realize that you can be what you want to be and do what you want to do with God’s guidance, if you put your mind to it. It has made to know who I am and what I stand for, and what my purpose in God’s universe is. INT has been one of the best things that has happened to me. It’s like discovering yourself. It’s looking at yourself in the mirror and saying this is you. You have so much on the inside of you to give to the world and to change humanity.
I now have my hand on the door knob, ready to push and open what lies ahead. The barriers are insurmountable, but the future is bright. Armed with the word of God and the ideals of self-discovery, I will take it step by step and build blocks that will usher me to highest mountain; the mountain of transforming the world. It has been a journey worth taking. But I will keep on this road because it has a lot to offer.
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