Franco's Story

This story is like a miracle to me because I do not know how it came to be and I thank God for my life despite the challenges that have come my way. This all started with a lady called Rae in Bunazoomi village in Eastern Uganda. It was a Monday morning I remember between 10:00 to 11:00 AM, we were cleaning the compound with my friends whom I used to live with in the orphanage. While doing that work we saw a group of white people coming towards us, we welcomed the women and men and the warden joined us. They introduced themselves to us and tell that they have come to Uganda, they said that they are doing research about many topics but I do remember HIV/AIDS and Culture as two of them. Rae and her partner Kari picked me and I had to answer their questions and I replied very well and they gave me a lot of sweets, colour pencils and many gifts, that was a Monday in September 2001.

 

The following day of Tuesday those people came back with a lot of food and they cooked for us their Swedish food and we also cooked for them our local foods. After the enjoyment we again helped to answer some questions. Rae asked me Franco, “What did you like most in your life and what did you hate most in your life”. And I replied that I like to get a good education, because I want to succeed and have a good family. And I said I hate very much the HIV/AIDS and coffins because too many of my loved ones have been dying from this. After giving my likes and dislike Kari and Rae said thank you for your time sir.

 

Then the next day on Wednesday our friends came back to say good-bye to us. Rae gave me a package saying Franco this is your first school fees and I will pay your fees for learning. I said I will continue to do my best and thank you Rae so much. I wish you well and I love you. That is how I came to know Rae Perkins. I will never forget you Kari Maliniemi and Rea Perkins because you started my new journey of life.

 

In the year 2006 January I received a letter from Rae informing me that she is moving to another country called New Zealand, in that period my life became hard because Rae did not have much to support me at that time. In April 2006 I received a letter from Sean Thomas, the letter was wonderful. He told me Rae is my friend she told me all about you so do not worry I am here for you, me and my wife Sue have agreed to support you and we will give you food, accommodation, and education and all basic needs of your life. I did not understand what Sean was saying because I could not believe I was so lucky. I had to send a email to Rae and she confirmed about Sean Thomas and his help. Sean paid for my high school fees from 2006 and also University at Nkumba University where I got a degree in Development Studies.

 

After finishing Education I had to look for a job but getting a job in Uganda have many twists and turns and much corruption so I could not get one in my field of study so I tried many opportunities and I ended up in brick laying and making furniture to make money. When my brother is passing away I am looking after his children and Sean is helping to send them to school like he did for me. There are many other children in need in Uganda too and I am taking some of these from my village into our family so there are now 10 childrens all together. We are living together in the house that Sean built. We are making the bricks and Sean is paying for the roof and for the cement. We are safe and healthy through Sean’s kindnesses and we thank the Thomas family for sharing Seans love with us and for allowing him to support us for over 15 years so we may have good life here. Through this love all the children are in training and education. At 2022 three are at tertiary four are at secondary and three are at primary.

 

During Sean’s time he used to tell me about his friends and among them was Matt Robinson and Jamie the two people were very common in his messages to me. During the time when Sean was struggling for his life and had become very sick he told me I will stop talking and writing to you when I become too sick and after you will communicate Matt. Sean told me that unfortunately God did not allow me to meet you but I promise you one day one of my family members will visit you.

 

We are still hurting from the loss of our friend and father Sean after his brave battle with cancer and we send our condolences to the Thomas family. With this loss I was sure we would lose our hopes for an education for the children but God has sent Matt Robinson who is now helping to keep our children in school and healthy. Before Sean is sick Matt has been helping to connect children in New Zealand with our children here and has been sharing letters. It is because of this that Sean is asking Matt to help us when he is gone.

 

Our troubles have been many at this time of Sean passing. Our village has been evicted from our land in the same week of Seans passing when the landlord is increased our rent too much and we had to leave and loose our place of growing our food and making bricks and bricks are so important for us. The land in Uganda is very bad, it is called the Mailo system and our rights to land are none and we have small chance to rent good land. This is also taking away our chance to grow food and this is why we are so blessed by God to have the house Sean is building for us where we can live and to met Matts and his coming at this time of great need is such a surprize. Matts support has meant we are eating and we still connot believing that all the children have going back to school this year of 2022 for this was too big a hope and the joy of the children is too great. To have education in Uganda is the greatest gifts and the children they are rejoicing at school and New Zealands care for them and the help of Rotary, we are loving Rotary. With the loss of Sean we thought their education has finished but Matt has been finding people who want to be continuing in Seans way. Now the children may continue to get a education and we pray for all of the kind people in New Zealand who have showing us such kindnesses and we thank you all and bring Gods blessings to you in thought and prayer.

 

Me and my wife Myimuna celebrate the life of Sean by naming our firt son Sean Thomas Sempagala and we hope baby Sean will become like our Big-Sean and to be kind and generous when he is growing up. He is strong and healthy for the support Big-Sean has given us.