Darius Mugisha
5 September 2008
Children from different walks of life gathered at Uganda Wild Life Education Centre (UWEC) for a four day activity-packed camp last week. The Elizabeth Glazer Paediatric Aids Foundation (EGPAF), an NGO that takes care of several HIV infected children across the country was behind this camp.
Run under the theme "Living a meaningful life," and dedicated to Aerial Glazer, departed daughter of the EGPAF founder, the annual third edition of the camp, was characterised by activities ranging from forest walks, environment lessons particularly on animal rights, quizes, medical garden study, as well as games.
The children had a chance to meet and rub shoulders with two of Uganda's best musicians; Silver Kyagulanyi and Jose Chameleone.
Both musicians visited the camp on different days but they offered almost the same services that included singing as well as giving inspirational speeches to uplift the moods and spirits of these children.
Jose Chameleone had the chance to close the camp with the children. He met and interacted with them at UWEC before they mimed his songs and this time round he was the one cheering.
He told the children about how he grew up in the slums of Kawempe as well as the trouble he went through on the streets of Nairobi while trying to launch his career.
Chameleone urged the children to underlook all situations and stay focussed until they achieve their dreams. He asked the children to tell him what songs they wanted him to perfom and he obliged, singing Dorotia, Befuula, Katupakase, Nekolera Mali and Ekinuma.
He later joined the children for dinner at Imperial Botanical Beach Hotel. During the dinner, the children asked Chameleone about his music, life and family. But a question from one of the children, Peter who hails from Kabale, changed Chameloene's mood.
Peter asked Chameleone what he thinks about HIV/Aids infected children like them and requested him to compose a song for them and to advise the public against isolating them.
Chameleone could not hold back his tears as he took to the stage and declared his joy for having spent an evening with the children.
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