Akmal Nasir

During my time studying in the states, like many others I had spent most of my holidays on travelling. Killing two birds with one stone, such occasions also allowed me to meet and catch up with my best buddy who went to different university and then together we would explore various parts of America.

New York City wasn’t an exception for us. It has various attractions that anyone can find reasons to visit the city that never goes to sleep. As usual, my buddy and I would study our destination before we actually went there. For this trip to the Big Apple, we were rejuvenated to witness how far the human civilization has accomplished though deep in our mind, we thought about the idea to look into how the social strata works in this metropolitan area (like Obama once experienced in his youth), in particular to see the division within a society that suppose to be well developed compared to any other parts of the world (We braced ourselves to go down to Harlem in which we did against advices given to us. We went there only for half day but it left a huge impression on us about the interpretation of their life).

Recognizing their hardships and struggles, there are few men and women who had fought or are still fighting for them and for others with similar fates.  One of the platforms for the purpose is the United Nations. So, we went to the UN Headquarters in New York to instill the feeling to fight against corrupted and injustice system that forever constraint humanity from achieving the fullest potential.

Now, I’m back in a country that confuses about her identity and I feel like such hope was far in the past. But it seemed dear to me last week when I encountered an extraordinary woman who has an extraordinary life.

Such spirit was lifted up again. Mrs Winnie Byanyima was in Malaysia for a short trip to attend various events held in conjunction with Women International Day. Yet, not many of us took a time to reflect her endeavors in different spectrum as she has been recognized one of the most influential women in African continent.

An aeronautical engineer with a masters degree in mechanical engineering, she was three terms Ugandan MP. Tired with old political and cultural norms, one of her efforts was to advocate the new budgeting process amended the system inherited from British colonization to promote greater transparency and good governance. She described about her non-conventional techniques to send her message across the policy makers about the need to grow up from colonized thinking. Listen to her story, it did and didn’t surprise me how advance Ugandan Parliamentary system is compared to our country.

Politics is always tiring especially when you are in for change. There is no exception including Mrs Byanyima. She is currently taking a break from political arena and instead focusing on her international efforts to promote gender equity as well as right for women, children and disables. But, the people of Uganda have cried out for her to come back to Uganda and when she does, I have no doubt she will become the great and inspiring President for her nation.