Maama Watali

Historical Background (What Motivated the Formation of Maama Watali Foundation?)

“Maama Watali” is a phrase from the Luganda language which directly translates into: “In the Absence of a Mother”. The idea to form Maama Watali Foundation is the brainchild of Ms Susan Namulindwa and it arose out of an intense personal tragedy that occurred during December 2007. While in Ottawa Canada, Ms Namulidwa received the tragic news that her mother, Ms Manjeri Nakitende, had passed away in Mulago Hospital located in Kampala Uganda in East Africa. Logistical industry complications meant that although she hastened to travel to Uganda from Ottawa Canada, Ms Namulindwa arrived at Entebbe airport on December 21st 2007. Travelling from Entebbe to the family home in Luwero was one of the most difficult journeys Ms Namulindwa had to make and was further distraught to learn that she had missed the actual burial ceremony of her dear mother by a few hours! On her arrival at home the huge amounts of people who had gathered for the burial ceremony were still in the front and back courtyard and inside all the rooms of the home. By walking through the house, checking all the rooms, courtyards and back, she was in a trance with actions that seemed to want to confirm that her mother was really was not there and will not be coming back to the house and their lives. To make matters worse Ms Namulindwa could not help but contrast the genuine reception she received on her arrival home to the one she would definitely have received had her mother been there. Nothing appeared or felt the same and there is a VOID where her mother was always present and engaged without any reservations! . Ms Namulindwa’s immense sorrow and void was made even deeper during on the following days as a result of trivial questions from well-meaning people who seemed to under-appreciate the intensity of her grief. While she registered that the house atmosphere was no longer the same, she found herself thinking of things as they are and accepting these sudden changes because in the absence of one’s mother (i.e. “Maama Watali”) you had to settle for what little resources the community could muster and make available to you. For the first time in her life, Ms Namulindwa clearly understood what it feels like to be without a mother. Her heart went out to those who have never felt a mother’s love and she contemplated the emotional challenges such an absence causes and how this was further compounded by a drastic or total reduction in resources available for a respectable survival for orphaned children. She was starkly reminded that now without a mother in one’s life you could not expect the best that you once had and that is how the phrase “Maama Watali” came to her mind.