Sometimes, sharing your failures and victories with the world is not vanity, but bravery… Fagil Mandy launched his autobiography entitled “Self Engineering: My Success Story” at the Uganda National Cultural Centre (Commonly referred to as National Theatre) on the second Super Tuesday of November. As the new Commissioner of the Inspectorate [according to October 2008 News] he said, “It’s not easy to blow your own trumpet but I know how I made it.” This launch was honouring a Ugandan who has been aggressive in the affairs of his country. Mr. Sempeke Jr, son of Mandy’s old friend also called Sempeke played a stringed instrument to accompany a greeting song. The Emcee added, “There is no past without tradition…” After that, video evidence (probably courtesy of NTV Profiles) of why Fagil is a man worth being with was shown. In it, he revealed that they were seven siblings and grew up in Kyebando Central near Mulago. He is now married to Florence Nyakana, his second wife. His youngest kid among six was born in 1973. His first wife died but Mandy is wishing for more grandchildren. He started his school career at Kyebando Primary School and attended Kalinabiri Secondary in Junior 1 plus 2.
“I have never felt that a teacher is under paid. I don’t like negative feelings in me. Yes the salary is low but I never crave for more money than I need. I know my style. Work against what everybody believes, that is the mainstream thinking… Education is not an office business; it’s out there with the teachers, parents and other people.” Mandy once told a politician that he spends less time in office because he follows the policies they wrote as government. The audience clapped after watching this part. He was an honest man who did not think (bribery) money could buy his integrity. He uses his office teams to originate or initiate ideas rather than waiting for donors. He is an Education consultant. Personally, he grabbed my attention around 1996 when he briefed us at Kalinabiri Primary School during P.7 just before we did P.L.E.
Fagil was once a headmaster at Kitante Primary School in the 1960s and 70s. “My mother taught me that since I had no brothers and sisters, my books should become my brother and sister.” He set the candle burning in education. “After accumulating knowledge from books, evaluate your positive attitudes plus strengths and build on these. The world will not teach you.” Mama Edisa features greatly in his book and she is the one who taught him in P.1 and 2. He has a whole chapter on education. While in P.2, Mama Edisa would shift him to P.4 to learn more since he was bright in English. Meanwhile, Mr. Mabirizi influenced him in Kyebando to love sports.
“The essence of parenthood is to produce generations that are better than you.” He allowed people including his friends and grandchildren to write what they thought about him and what they learnt from him. These were published in their own handwriting. Mandy knows that he succeeded at work, as a parent, growing up, making impact and as a political mobiliser. “I prefer to think of my book as a handbook for the growing population I have dealt with, parents I’m addressing workers, politicians (Management of Society), teachers and my fraternities (Groups of teachers and performing artistes I’ve worked with, Technocrats, Mass Media, Politicians)… I have jumped the level of simply talking. I’ve reached the level of producing ideas for the world…I know this book will become very influential.”
The book will be on sale at Aristoc, Uganda Bookshop and Mukono Bookshop…2000 copies were printed and will cost 25,000 UgX each. The bigger launch where the Media and many other groups of people would be invited to attend would be held on a later date at Grand Imperial Hotel. “We should blow this up, this is a war of ideas guiding and directing a country. Next year, I plan to produce two books, one on management of schools, second will be the challenges of parenting in the world today (A chapter in his first book). I don’t think there is a civil servant who dealt with the mass media more than me. Together we can change the world…For the first time, let African children have a black idol (in for eample Barack Obama). One of Fagil’s grandsons also called Mandy performed a soulful track accompanied with a guitar singing, “So Close I believe, you’re holding me now in your hands I belong. You’ll never let me down.” Fagil Mandy and the daughter Mirembe who works as a health practitioner in Entebbe had a moment of entertaining the audience (in honour of his mother and the august house by performing a ball dance).
Professor Mugerwa, the Guest of Honour who was also the Chairman of the National Planning Authority launched and auctioned the book. It was a real collaboration of Ugandans. He was asked to streamline culture in the national planning policy. Artistes struggle hard to emphasize that. It should be cross-cutting. Environmentalist Ken Lukyamuzi among other honourables was also present. Fagil’s birthday was actually on the same day 11th November 2008 when he launched his book and his programme organisers served each one of his guests with sodas, cakes, biscuits and cookies…Happy Birthday!
“Success is never an accident; it’s deliberate…” Fagil only knew his father from a single photograph but it inspired him…Since his father looked strong, he tried to be like him. His core values include: integrity, discipline and fortitude. Corruption is like fetching water in a basket…Our country may be relegated to poverty. We can only fight it (corruption) with our conscience (or inner voice).” Profesor Mazrui once said that ‘A country incapable of feeling ashamed is finished.’ Fagil has been in the media, security agencies, plus writing and all these were achieved through time…
Fagil didn’t study to get education but to achieve a goal or purpose…His work ethic is: Ask yourself what you have done and what you will do tomorrow…Education which is becoming a business leaves some faculties of the brain undeveloped. Mandy retired 7 years before retirement age. Fagil Mandy wrote in his book that he resisted the temptation to compete for a Parliamentary position in 2006 because the electorate when caught up in poverty could hardly vote an honest person. The Mayor of Mukono bidded 100,000 after two bids: 10,000 and 30,000. The other bids were 150,000; 152,000; 160,000; 200,000 all who got their books.
