By Henry Mutebe

Finally. Today (Sunday 12th) at 7 am, Uganda Airlines plane flight No UR202 left Entebbe en route Nairobi, onboard, someone special- a 74-year-old man called Wilson Dhabangi. This is why you should know about him.

In 1996, I lost my father. As such, my mother had to work double to sustain us. Sometimes she spent weeks away from home. To be sure that I was getting a good education, she decided to take me to Namalemba Boarding Primary school- then a very powerful school along Tirinyi-Mbale road in Eastern Uganda. Unfortunately, many times, she never had the opportunity to come to visit me.

In 1997, in our village, there was an old man called Wilson Dhabangi who used to ride a bicycle boda boda (bicycle that carries passengers for pay- it’s now long gone as motorbikes have taken over that space). He was about 50 years old. He looked frail and beaten by the thorns of village life. But to earn a living, he had clung to riding a bicycle for a living. He was visibly weak but spiritually strong.

He could neither read nor write. Many people used to send him for different errands and pay him because he was trustworthy. His job was riding the bike to ferry passengers for a little fee. Sometimes he worked for free. He was simply a good man.

One day this man learnt that my mother had been away for too long…and yet I was at school. He decided to come and visit me. We were not related…but he was and is a good man. The first Sunday, he visited me became the beginning of many more visits that stretched over three years.

He was old, wore worn-out slippers, had no shoes, and wore the same shirt. All the children at school knew him as my father. Some children would bully me that ‘your father is old and rides a bicycle.’ When someone wanted to pick on me, that was the line. I was that kid from a poor family who is visited by an old man wearing tired slippers, an old torn shirt, and an old bicycle.

This man visited me every Sunday for as long as school was open. That’s roughly over 100 Sundays over between 1997-1999. I do not remember any Sunday he did not come to visit me. It did not matter whether it rained or not…whether he was sick or well. He would ride his bicycle and come visit me.

Sometimes he carried a half kilo of ground nuts prepared by his wife, other days he simply came to talk to me. One day he brought a tin-filled black tea.

The distance between our home and our school was about 3 hours by bicycle. It was a rough road with many broken culverts/bridges. When it rained a lot, sometimes the raging running water would overrun the culvert, carry away the stones and soil…and cross. Still, Dhabangi would find a way to cross that water and come visit me. One time water almost took him. He was saved by some boys who were fishing.

Wilson did not get a formal education- He got a better education- Life education. Every time he came to school, he would always advise me to ‘read hard’ and not ‘eat the seed.’ I remember in 1997, he told me that if I don’t read hard, I would end up like him and suffer.

He told me that if I worked hard and listened to teachers, I would fly in planes and travel to different places. He said if I succeeded, then even people like him who never got an education would perhaps have an opportunity to fly. For whatever reason, he always emphasized the issue of flying.

Fast forward, I completed primary seven in 1999. Unfortunately, he lost his sight. I felt so bad. Fortunately, some good Samaritans (doctors) conducted a medical procedure that restored his sight.
For years, I have always felt a debt in my heart for the love this man gave me. I wanted to give him a surprise. For the last one year, I have been saving money to make this happen.

This week, I managed to get an air ticket for him and another special woman who helped us when our mother was away- her name is Rebecca. She literally would mother us…and has remained my mother’s best and most loyal friend.

Wilson had never even been to the airport before. He told me that the only plane he has ever seen was that of the former president Iddi Amin which came to a village near his home in 1974. So, a plane is something that always fascinated him. I knew this would be something that he would love.

So…I have been secretly planning a trip for these two people- Wilson and Rebecca to thank them. Yesterday, every piece fell into place and I managed to get them from the village without them knowing where we are going. I had succeeded in keeping my surprise until I realized there was no way a PCR test was going to be done without them asking. So, I finally broke the news. Wilson cried. My heart sunk.

At his age, he had retired…lives a quiet life, and did not have much hope about anything. So, this came as a surprise.
Today at 8 am, in what felt like a movie, we lifted off to Nairobi aboard Uganda airlines.

Three days ago, I had written to the airline about my story with Wilson. A very good lady called Doreen Nambatya had replied and said she appreciates that we chose to travel with Uganda airlines and she would ensure it’s a ‘memorable trip’ for us.

So…after all the passengers were seated and we are ready for takeoff, someone makes a special announcement. Uganda airlines said they want to celebrate Wilson and Rebecca for the good they have done. They tell us that Wilson, Rebecca, and I have been upgraded to Business Class and we should therefore shift and join the Business Class. I could not hide my excitement. I was so humbled. I helped my man Dhabangi Wilson get up, and led him to the Business class where we comfortably sat.

The pilot came over…thanked them…and said he had been inspired by their story. We set off for Nairobi. After we hit the skies, the Pilot again narrates my story with Wilson and Rebecca…and dedicates the flight to them. I can’t explain to you how overjoyed I was that Uganda airlines made this a special experience for me, Wilson and Rebecca.

Along the way, Wilson asked me a thousand questions…amazed at the technology and feeling of being in a plane. He cried at some moment…while also laughing. The reaction of the passengers was also humbling. When we landed at Jomo Kenyatta airport, many passengers were so very kind…they came and thanked the old man and Rebecca. They also commended me for not forgetting this man…I felt so humbled. How could I?

I have been on planes for some time…but I have not felt so happy as I was today. I remembered this man picking me from school on a bicycle…and children laughing at me because I was being taken back home by an old man riding a bicycle.

As I looked over the horizon, memories raced of this man…riding his old bicycle…visiting me…every Sunday…for three years. I remembered his old man’s shirt…his torn slippers and a tear slowly dropped down my cheek. More importantly, I saw the value of doing good…because you can never tell what may come back to you.

I have looked to this day for years…the day I would put this man and Rebecca (I call her Aunt Becca) in the sky…and fulfil my promise to them which I made when I was young. I told them that one day, we shall fly together in an airplane. I am glad that life has given me the blessing to achieve this dream.

We are spending the night in Nairobi- Kenya. Today he has been around parts of Nairobi, visited the giraffe center, Nairobi animal orphanage, and seen the environs of Nairobi. I would like to thank Uganda Airlines for making that flight special and sharing the story of the man with a big heart. That was service beyond all expectations. I am very proud of you.

To all the Wilsons and Rebecca’s of this world, thank you for giving us a hand…believing in us…and showing us unconditional love. God bless you.