By Malik Kiberu
Here at this final hour in this quiet place, Uganda has come to bid farewell to one of its brightest hope extinguished now and gone from us forever.
It is not in the memory of man that this beleaguered, unfortunate, but nonetheless proud community has found a braver, more gallant young champion than this Acholi man who lies before us – unconquered still.
The Jacob we knew despite his success and countrywide fame still wondered am I good enough, am I pretty enough, will they like me? It was a burden that made him great and the part that caused him to stumble in the end.
Jacob if you could hear us now, we would tell you, you weren’t just good enough, you were great, you weren’t just pretty you were as handsome as a man could be. People didn’t just like you Jacob “they loved you”! And now You’re gone too soon leaving us with memories, memories of the little man who came out in the 90s in front of the ones that loved you first, in front of the ones that loved you best, and loved you the longest. What you did is the rarest of achievements. You set the bars so high that professional lawyers and politicians will now only want to be like you! Dreaming of being you someday!All those young men who are dreaming that dream; maybe think they aren’t good enough!
I think Jacob would tell you to guard your bodies and guard the precious miracle of your own life. And be the best of yourself and make God wonder how He created something so perfect.
Jacob was our manhood, our living, black manhood! This was his meaning to his people. And, in honoring him, we honor the best in ourselves.
Jacob, we will know him then for what he was and is – a Prince – our own black shining Prince! – who couldn’t hesitate to die, because he loved us so.” So Off You Go, Jacob. Off You Go.Rest In Peace*
©Kiberu Malik**Legal Advisor TCAU*