In this book, Col Edith Nakalema recounts and puts into proper perspective her father’s life of selfless service to God and humanity, first as a Lay Reader (Omuburizi) and later as an ordained Reverend in the Anglican Church of Uganda. It is a thrilling testimony of how one of the least educated church ministers in Ankole, Rev Eliasaph Sserwadda, became an influential community leader, leaving an indelible mark on his children, the church and all the communities where he served with dedication. By earthly standards Rev Sserwadda was a Prince, being a grandson of Yayiro Mitalekooya, a Saza Chief in Ankole and one of the sons of King Kamuswaga of Kooki. Rev Sserwadda had every right to claim his rights as the Prince of Kooki. Instead, he chose a lowly life of Omuburizi in the church, working with his hands as a metal fabricator and preacher of the word of God. He understood that his mission and destiny in life was different from that of his father and grandfather and optimally utilized his season of service as a community and spiritual leader. Mission- oriented leaders understand their calling early in life. They are good stewards of the resources entrusted to them, and the lives and destinies of those they lead. They are not “position-focused” leaders; instead, they look at their positions as vehicles for service delivery to the people. Omuburizi Sserwadda was such a leader. For Col Nakalema, experiences of nurture and mentorship by her father helped her to understand leadership “not merely as authority, but as stewardship rooted in responsibility, compassion, and a deep commitment to the next generation” (p. xvi). Beyond his community leadership, Rev Sserwadda was also a devoted father to his children and a loving husband to his wife, Midresi Ndungi, with whom he was happily married for 54 years until his death. Through her father’s family devotion, which Col Nakalema calls “intentional fatherhood,” she stresses the importance of true fatherhood as they experienced it in their father’s love and their family. Fathers and daughters always have a special bond, just like boys do with their mothers. Psychologists call the former the “Electra complex” and the latter the “Oedipal complex” – terms derived from Greek mythology to explain these special filial child-parent attachments. Rev Sserwadda’s intentional fatherhood was seen in the way he demonstrated practical love and protection to his wife, his time and presence with the children, teaching them faith in practice, and demonstrating marital love and harmony to them through his love and affection for Midresi. He taught his children values and life skills and celebrated every small achievement they made in life and education. These values and skills prepared them for their future careers and marital life. His approach to intentional fatherhood was contrary to some parents’ beliefs today: that giving children education and leaving them with lots of material wealth is a sine qua non for their success and happiness in life. Many men and women are now “absentee parents” who choose to spend more time amassing wealth and other possessions, but in the process their “lose” their children to many evils they are exposed to in the world. For Col Nakalema and her siblings, intentional parenting is not necessarily found in such material possessions, but rather in giving children a safe space at home from which they can learn values, life skills, and then they fly and pursue their dreams in life. This was Sserwadda’s parenting signature and his enduring gift to his children. Rev Sserwadda’s was always the ever-present counsellor is his children’s lives, teaching them the values of prayer, humility, hard work, living within their means, and treating all people equally and with respect. Even when his children started their families, he always called and prayed with them and offered fatherly counsel. When his daughter became close to the President of Uganda as his Special Assistant, Omuburizi Sserwadda was always her sounding board and “special advisor” in her challenging and sensitive assignments. Col Nakalema tells her father’s story with a creative narrative style filled with humorous episodes. She uses several anecdotes and many photos to reinforce her message, and she infuses the stories with perspectives of other narrators – her siblings, family members and community leaders – who all give other dimensions of Rev Sserwadda’s life. This is partly because she acknowledges that no single person can fully tell Rev Sserwadda’s story since his life and ministry touched so many people. One such humorous anecdote is Omuburizi Sserwadda’s famous bicycle which served all his errands: delivering his children to school, serving as a free “community taxi”, ferrying materials for use in his metal and carpentry workshop, and doing evangelistic work. Ironically, while he got good projects to fabricate metal products and desks for schools at a good deal, Sserwadda would also use his products to pay in kind school tuition for his and other needy children. Thus, the poor Muburizi was also the “wealthy donor” of tuition for many children’s education. The other interesting anecdote is the negative reaction her suitor (Jimmy Asizua) faced from Nakalema when he presented his marriage proposal using some gifts. She admonished him and sent him away with his gifts. In anger, Nakalema called her father for counselling but to her surprise, Omuburizi Sserwadda instead became Jimmy’s ally in the marriage proposal. It wasn’t long before Nakalama accepted Jimmy’s hand in marriage because of her father’s counsel. When his other daughter brough home a Muslim man for a marriage partner, she could not believe the special welcome and treatment he received from the church minister. That was Omuburizi Sserwadda’s non-discrimination approach to all human beings. The book is thus a fascinating story of a simple, enigmatic, visionary church minister who lived larger than life and saw things beyond the usual cares of life. Rev Sserwadda lived life in the fast lane, and he never wasted every opportunity. For him every day and every moment mattered. Despite his low education, lack of earthly wealth and property, Rev Sserwadda has left an enduring legacy in his family and the entire communities where he served selflessly and with distinction. His story is well summed up in Proverbs 14:13 (NLT): “Blessed are those who die in the Lord from now on… Yes, says the Spirit, they are blessed indeed, for they will rest from their hard work; for their good deeds follow them!” The book will be launched on July 7 at Protea hotel, Kampala.The post My Father and I: Col Nakalema extols the power of fatherhood appeared first on The Observer Media Ltd.