Let’s start by introducing yourself, Brother Aganyira…
My name is Brother Aganyira Deodati. I was born in December 1962 in Kibale county, Kabarole district, which later became Kamwenge district.
My parents are both deceased; my father was Tadeo Kimuli and my mother Bernadette Muhindura. My father’s origin was Masaka and my mother, of course, is a Mutooro by tribe. How did my father come this way? They came four of them with their father who was trading at Lake George and that’s how they got married [in Tooro] and acquired land in the early 1930s.
Was it your childhood dream to be ‘a man of the cloth’?
When you’re young the mood keeps changing; at first I wanted to become a police officer that and [then] I saw police officers were [wearing] shorts and I had put on shorts right from primary one to primary seven. I said this one I cannot join.
Later, I felt like becoming a veterinary doctor. I failed becoming one and later on when I joined the brother school, I saw how brothers were handling us; it was different from other teachers. I said why can’t I join those people? I think one day I can be in charge of the children and love them as these men are loving us; so, that thought surpassed the rest and I became a religious brother.
I [sat for] senior four from Ibanda Secondary School and then joined the Brothers of Christian Instruction. I joined the brothers in 1983.
Have you influenced any friends to be like you?
I think I have converted quite several people, especially my old students; a big percentage of my old students are loving people and know me as a no-nonsense man, a clean person, and a person who loves a clean environment. When you go to the homes of these old students of mine, you get excited.
Growing up, were your parents welcoming of your dream?
My parents were more welcoming than even me, perhaps; I am the last born in my family, and when this thought came into my head and I shared it with my parents, they said they had no problem. A year after I graduated as a brother, my father passed on.
But before he passed on, he told me, “I want you to put on that uniform that they have given you as a brother. Put it on and sit in front of me”. I sat and my father told me this and I have never forgotten: “My child, I am going to die very soon but I will die a happy person. I am leaving you as an angel; look at that white dress and never leave that family”.
My mother lived 25 years after the death of my father, but she was very happy to see me as a religious brother. Whenever I would come to her, she would ask about my fellow brothers, and then about my children. Meaning my students. I was raised a humble person, but very strict and critical.
Is it your personality now?
Up to now, if you don’t do something right and I’m your supervisor, I will sack you. I will first warn you three times, the fourth time is just sacking you. I am very strict. A successful person must be strict. If you are not successful, you may live a laissez faire life, but if you are aiming for success you must be strict.
How do you spend your free time?
I spend my leisure time getting new information to be updated. I have spare time to [research about] successful people like Jack Ma of Alibaba… I google people who are successful in this country like Charles Mbiire, Patrick Bitature, and other people like our lovely late Archbishop Dr Cyprian Kizito Lwanga… our president [Yoweri] Museveni… I associate myself with people who matter, who are successful.
What about sports?
I love football; when Uganda is playing, when there is an Africa Cup, I love when there is the World Cup. I don’t support any European team, but in Uganda, I support Vipers. Another hobby is I go to the farm; I do a bit of cultivation, a bit of supervision, and also love visiting different places.
You taught the first son; what was the Muhoozi Kainerugaba you taught like?
One of the things that struck me was the humility of that boy. I call him a boy, because he is my kid. I could not believe as a son of a head of state, how humble he was, and he was a friendly student.
I think he used to come with his food, but he ended up giving it all to his friends. He was sharing and a committed person; very few people with such kind of dignity and status can sit down and concentrate. I describe him as a gentleman, in summary.
Do you think he can be president of Uganda?
Of course! Why not, if he feels like it? I don’t know whether he wants it, but in case he wants, why not? It depends on what you want, what you have in your head. I told you much earlier, you can’t give what you don’t have; you first conceive that and then after that, you serve the public.
Quality begins inside; if Muhoozi feels that he is able, then we shall support him but it has to come from him. I think he has enough experience as far as security and management is concerned.
Talking about government; which position do you think you can fill, given a chance?
I am blessed; I have so many things I can do. I can still work in the education sector as a supervisor. I feel that there is still a gap in a supervisory role, especially in
monitoring some of these schools; that’s why they are limping. I can also go to agriculture projects and sensitize the people on how to use limited resources, limited land to produce high-value crops… That, I can do, and other positions…
…Like RDC of Kitagwenda?
No! That one is too low for me.
So, if Muhoozi were president, which position would you appreciate?
I can be an ambassador; if I went to the USA, Canada and some of our brothers are there, we can sell our country positively.
Moving to music, who are your favourite musicians?
I have two people I admire; Pastor [Wilson] Bugembe and Judith Babirye. But Judith went into politics and it disorganized her, but Bugembe why I admire him, he went through fire, very hard times and he recovered from that terrible situation by himself.
He is a hero, because partly I went through almost the same…even his songs are inspiring. In the secular world… I am less interested in those.
What is your best dish?
The one that takes lead is roasted meat and millet bread. The meat must be roasted for at least two days and that is good for me.
Do you have a favourite comedian?
There is this girl [Anne] Kansiime. I love her tone of English [she speaks with a heavy Runyakitara accent]; she is nice.
Haha, I can see why. And TV personality?
I used to admire Bbaale Francis [newscaster on UBC] but he is gone. Now I love Romeo Busiku of NTV; the way he talks and many people don’t understand him. And Josephine Karungi was good, but I think now she got another job [she is now a communications consultant at the World Bank, Uganda].
Which TV shows do you enjoy?
The most important program I watch first is news. Another one, the interviews they give on politics. I want to see the mindset of different people; some people are naive, they don’t go there to educate the public, but just to use it as a platform of abusing their fellow politicians.
I try to listen and then afterwards I go to pray for them. I also love Vatican TV [… duh!]. I don’t sleep without watching it for about 30 minutes.
What do you want to be remembered for at SMACK?
I have to be remembered for one, academic excellence – keeping the school in its position is not easy; secondly, the infrastructure I have put in place; thirdly, the morals of the children… the discipline of the boys.
mwanjedavid3@gmail.com