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Eritwamo
Decision
Ursula Nafula
Vusi Malindi
Amos Mubunga Kambere
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Omwakyalo kyayi mwabya ebitsibu binene. Thukimana okwa mulhondo muli thukayatheha amaghetse okwa museke.
My village had many problems.
We made a long line to fetch water from one tap.
Tukalindirira ebyalia ebikathuheribawa nabandi.
We waited for food donated by others.
Thukakyinga emighi yethu ya lhuba thukasagha abibi.
We locked our houses early because of thieves.
Abana banene bakalemawa erisoma neryo ibalhwa omw’ithendekero.
Many children dropped out of school.
Abambesa bakayakolhera omwabyalo ebindi ngabalemberi.
Young girls worked as maids in other villages.
Abalhwana bakaghangaghanga omwa kyalo, n’abindi ibayakolha amakatara okwamalima w’abandi bandu.
Young boys roamed around the village while others worked on people’s farms.
Omuyangha akabya ahitha, neryo ebipapura bikaleretha okwamiti nokwa syanguthu.
When the wind blew, waste paper hung on trees and fences.
Abandu bakahuthalibawa nesya tsupa esitulhangikire.
People were cut by broken glass that was thrown carelessly.
Neryo kiro kighuma omuseke wamaghetse mw’uma neryo ebisya byethu byamabya buyira.
Then one day, the tap dried up and our containers were empty.
Thatha waghi mw’aghenda okobuli muyi akabwira abandu athi base omwa lhuhindano.
My father walked from house to house asking people to attend a village meeting.
Abandu mubasongasongania ahisi y’omuthi munene nerihulikirira.
People gathered under a big tree and listened.
Thatha wayi mwahangana inyanimubugha ati, “thutholere erikolera haghuma thwangaghunza ebitsibu byethu.”
My father stood up and said, “We need to work together to solve our problems.”
Juma, ow’emiaka munani, inyanikere omwa muthi mwabirikira, “naghe nanganawathikya okwibirya”.
Eight-year-old Juma, sitting on a tree trunk shouted, “I can help with cleaning up.”
Omughole mughuma nayo athi, “abaghole mwangana yiyunga okwingye thwangahera ebyalia”.
One woman said, “The women can join me to grow food.”
Omulhume owundi mwahangana nayo athi, “Abalhume bakendithakulha ekidiba ky’amaghetse.”
Another man stood up and said, “The men will dig a well.”
Ithwabosi thwama birikira omwa mulenge mughuma, “Twanzire eriwania obuyingo bwethu”. Neryo erilhwa ekiro ekyo muthwakolera haima erighunza ebitsibu byethu.
We all shouted with one voice, “We must change our lives.”
From that day we worked together to solve our problems.
Written by: Ursula Nafula
Illustrated by: Vusi Malindi
Translated by: Amos Mubunga Kambere
