18/04/2026
*(Comrade Ngudde Baker)*
*Build Your House Brick by Brick*
Mzee Kakande sat under his Mutuba tree in Bugoye. The evening was cool. In his hand was a calabash of coffee milk tea. At his feet sat Aisha, Juma, and Alice, their eyes full of questions after a long day.
He took a slow sip, wiped his mouth, and smiled. Ask, my children. What is troubling your hearts today.
Aisha spoke first. Jajja, I failed my work at the market today. I feel so ashamed. What if I am just a failure.
Mzee Kakande nodded slowly. Listen well, Aisha. You might be disappointed if you fail. But you are doomed if you do not try. Failure is a teacher with a loud voice. It is only useless if you refuse to listen. So tell me, did you learn something today.
Aisha thought. Yes. I should have counted the change twice.
Then you did not fail, Mzee said. You paid school fees. Tomorrow, you go again. One small positive thought can change the direction of the whole day. You woke up thinking I am a failure. Try waking up thinking Today I will count twice. See how the day bends.
Juma raised his hand. But Jajja, my uncle makes mistakes and always blames others. Why do people do that.
Because pride is heavy, my son, Mzee said. More people would learn from their mistakes if they were not so busy denying them. To say I was wrong feels like falling. But falling is how a child learns to walk. The man who denies his mistake stays crawling his whole life. The one who admits it stands up stronger.
Alice was quiet for a moment. Then she asked, Jajja, when you were young, what kind of people did you want to be like.
Mzee Kakande chuckled. When I was younger, I admired intelligent people. The ones with big words and quick answers. But as I grow older, I admire kind people. The ones who share their tea. The ones who help you carry your load without being asked. Intelligence can build a machine. Kindness builds a village. And I like my life now more than before, because I learned that.
He looked at all three...