Joseph Ochieno
2 November 2008
opinion
Earlier this week, at a rather busy moment of the day, I got a telephone call from a very close friend. So close, that I would pick up their calls, however busy I am, if only to say that I would call them later.
With the usual salutations briefly over, my friend in a calm and unusually low voice broke the news that Major Richard Carr Gomm, OBE, had passed.
I was distraught. Not only did I know my friend as having been very close to the now departed but, I had also come to know just a little bit of Carr Gomm the man. I came to know of the name when I first worked with a YMCA housing society, shortly after my forced exile from NRM's Uganda nearly 20 years ago.
The Carr Gomm Society which he founded was among the many renowned charities which were involved in helping the needy particularly in the field of single homelessness. Never did I know that Carr Gomm was a name of a person, a man, a living man and, one who had such a contact and association with Uganda.
As it turned out, Major Carr Gomm had been a close friend of Sir Edward Mutesa from their early days in the British military.
He remained true to his friendship by keeping a close relationship with the Kabaka's family. He was a keen observer of Uganda and one of those Bazungu who did not believe in milking the republic at every opportunity instead, praying, supporting, giving counsel and, above all, encouraging foundations for the future.
A few years ago, I was privileged to know the man himself even better. The last telephone conversation I had with him was full of electric energy, a stream of hope and nobility. Although brief, it was apostolic. He had views about Uganda of yester year and yearned for the best for our future. Which reminds me. Once in Lusaka, Zambia, I had reason to be next to the late Dr Obote in his private room.
As the phone was passed to him, I could reasonably hear the energy the other side: "How are you Milton?" asked a cheery voice the other side. "I am fine thank you Richard!" responded an equally cheery Dr Obote.
Now I told myself, here were two men in the late afternoon of their lives, clever and seemingly more energetic than my own generation but two men who were ready to exhaust the past, reclaim their realities and help make their final putsch for a better posterity.
The two old foxes exchanged pleasantries and discussed business.
They were looking forward to meeting one another soon but, it was never to be. Within months, Milton had passed on. That was in 2005. Only last year, Major Carr Gomm's wife, Susan passed away. It was too devastating for his fighting spirit, at 86. The loneliness which he fought against, seemingly caught up with him as a result.
Together with a few friends, I was looking forward to visiting Mzee Carr Gomm at his Bath home, one of these days, but it was not to be. Harsh? No, God cannot be. Considering the lack of national consensus in Uganda today, the acrimonious nature of our politics and our inability to take a pause in humility, I just wonder when we shall ever clone their likes.
Major Carr Gomm, like Milton and, like your friend, Sir Edward before, were only human but, thank you for your life. Salute them and pray for Uganda. You are worthy our memory, rest in peace.
Mr Ochieno is UPC's special presidential envoy to the UK & Ireland
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