Once upon a time, in central Uganda, there lived a man named Jjajja Muwala. Jjajja Muwala was renowned throughout the community for his enchanting garden, where the soil was so rich that everything within it grew larger and more splendid than anywhere else in the neighborhood. His home was nestled in the village of Kiwangala, not far from the bustling markets of Masaka.
However, Jjajja Muwala wasn’t much of a gardener himself. He had a team of diligent women from nearby villages like Nkoni and Kyazanga who worked tirelessly, cultivating the land, planting seeds, and nurturing the bounty that flourished in his magical garden. Jjajja Muwala, on the other hand, delighted in strolling through his garden, proudly showcasing the magnificent fruits of their labor to anyone who happened to pass by.
Now, Jjajja Muwala had a little quirk – he wasn’t just proud of his garden; he also possessed a fiery temper. Whenever visitors praised his garden, his chest swelled with pride. His friends, fearing his quick temper, would shower him with flattery to keep him in good spirits. One day, his arrogance reached new heights.
Gathering his friends beneath the towering plum tree in the heart of his garden, Jjajja Muwala declared, “When Kyambadde, the first man, planted a garden, he made some big mistakes. If I had been there, I would have advised him so well! Look at this large pumpkin growing on a small creeping plant, and those small plums on that great plum tree. I would have put the pumpkin on the plum tree and the plums on a small plant.”
His friends, eager to please, nodded in agreement, telling him how wise he was. Jjajja Muwala, fueled by their flattery, became even prouder and more arrogant.
The very next day, as Jjajja Muwala sat beneath the plum tree, fate had a lesson in store for him. A ripe plum, perhaps annoyed by his arrogance, decided to take matters into its own hands, or rather, branches. With a swift motion, the plum broke free from its branch and plummeted directly onto Jjajja Muwala’s eye, causing him much pain and discomfort.
He had to have his eye patched up at a nearby clinic in, and for days, he couldn’t bear the light. In the darkness, Jjajja Muwala had time to reflect. “What a foolish man I was to think I knew more than Kyambadde! How foolish you all are to flatter me!” he exclaimed to his friends.
Realizing the gravity of his arrogance, he confessed, “Had a pumpkin fallen from the plum tree, I might have been killed!” The incident was a turning point for Jjajja Muwala. The once proud and boastful man became wiser and more humble.
As he emerged from the darkness, his friends, now understanding the consequences of insincere flattery, stopped flattering him. From that day forward, Jjajja Muwala tended to his garden with newfound humility, appreciating the magic of nature and the wisdom that came with it.
And so, children, the story of Jjajja Muwala teaches us the importance of humility, the dangers of arrogance, and the valuable lessons that nature can teach us if we’re willing to listen. Remember, it’s okay not to know everything, and sometimes, even a humble plum can be a powerful teacher!
