There is a secret behind the metallic box that Henry Ssuubi Kiyimba was carrying on the day social media mocked him. The famous box was serving generations after his mother’s National Teachers College (NTC) days.
Hidden within the metallic box that drew social media mockery on the day Henry Ssuubi Kiyimba was ridiculed lies a secret with roots tracing back to his mother’s National Teachers College (NTC) days. This famed box, a silent witness to generations, once served Rose Nalwanga during her tenure at Nkozi National Teacher’s College from 1994 to 1996.
Rose Nalwanga, a mother of eight children, currently juggles her responsibilities as a teacher at St. Mary’s Sana Primary School. Beyond the classroom, she supplements her income tenaciously by collecting firewood and selling avocados in the city center. Her determined efforts are aimed at providing for her family, and she faces the challenges with unwavering determination.
As Ssuubi embarked on his journey to Makerere University, navigating the landscape of an innocent freshman, the metallic box carried more than its external appearance suggested. It became a symbol of continuity, bridging the gap between the past and present. In addition to the challenges of securing necessities like bedsheets and clothes, Ssuubi also found himself without a suitable carrier for these essential items.
The metallic box, once an object of online ridicule, now reveals itself as a vessel of familial legacy—a connection to his mother’s educational pursuits and a tangible representation of the resilience ingrained in their family history. Through the challenges faced by both mother and son, the box remains an emblem of perseverance and the unbreakable ties that bind generations together.
“Ssuubi had feared that at the university, his placement was not secure. He told me, Mom, I would go to the university first to clear up my place. It was Monday, and they were supposed to report on the 5th of that month. He insisted on going to at least pick the admission,” she recalled
Nalwanga adds that I had borrowed some money, about sh300,000, and he didn’t know that I had the money, so I gave him sh200,000. I told him that when you reach there, keep that money; don’t give it away.
However, she says, when Ssuubi checked at the university, he gave away all the money, paid for his admission, and also paid for other requirements she had no idea about.
Nalwanga narrates that she had, however, cautioned his son not to use all the money. She had only saved Sh100,000, and she was already thinking of acquiring another loan from Letshego, a microfinance institution that gives out loans.
She survives on an avalanche of loans from banks, microfinance institutions, local SACCOs, and individuals who can bear with her while surviving at her home in Kiswa Village, Kammengo, in Mpigi district, Mawokota North Constituency.
“I told him ok, I am only remaining with one week to clear my outstanding balance and acquire another loan; he was not still. He entered one of the sleeping rooms and picked up the metallic box; it was used by his elder sister, and I also used it in my days at teaching school, when I was still studying. Ssuubi got it out. He said this is what I am going to take with me; his siblings laughed at him, joking, Where will you pass with that old crap?” she narrates
Nalwanga observed that Ssuubi remained unfazed by the jest, calmly stating, “Let them laugh. When Mom sends me money, I store my purchases in this worn-out box.” This box, though scorned on Twitter by a fellow student during their first day at university in 2019, held sentimental value—a metallic container reminiscent of boarding school days.
In a quiet corner, this aged and timeworn box lay inconspicuously, enveloped in a layer of dust and overshadowed by neglected belongings. Its worn edges and weathered exterior bore witness to the passage of time, yet within its shabby confines, a treasure trove of cherished memories awaited discovery.
This box had transformed into a time machine for Ssuubi, guiding them through the corridors of their shared past with his mother. Each item held a story, vividly illustrating a life well lived. Despite the physical decay of the box, the memories it cradled retained their vibrant essence.
Today, Henry Ssuubi Kiyimba stands as an engineer, holding a first-class degree from the prestigious Makerere University. His mind carries the weight of empowering words spoken by his single mother, Rose Nalwanga, who instilled hope into his life. The journey from Mpigi District, though challenging, has led him to a secure and comforting destination.
In the face of adversity, Ssuubi’s story reflects resilience, guided by the words of hope from his mother, encapsulated in the very box that once faced mockery. The once-dilapidated box now stands as a testament to the enduring strength of hope and the transformative power of perseverance.