Who is Katwesige Peter Amooti?
I am Munyoro, Born in 1988, In Masindi district, to Mr. Christopher Mugisa Makoro and Mrs. Christine Nyakake Mugisa. I am the second last born five siblings.
Is that where you grew up?
I grew up in two areas; Kahaara Village, Bigando Parish, Mirya Subcounty, Buruli County, in Masindi district. My village was called and is still called “Half London”.
I started schooling in from Kahaara Primary school which is a government-aided school in the village and it was a few meters away from home.
What is your fondest childhood memory?
On my first day to school, Mum packed for me sweet potatoes with ground nuts mixed with greens, as soon as I moved towards the school; I sat beside the road, opened the dish and ate everything, and then started playing in the road.
One of the passersby going to the garden met me playing with stones in a school uniform, during school time, the old man stopped, parked the bicycle, held my hand and gave me a thorough beating, then he told me to run ahead of him until we reached school.
What was your dream growing up?
While in Nansana COU, I could hear my peers talking about the USA, London and to fit in the group I would introduce myself as one coming from “Half London” little did they realise what I meant. At this point, I started seeing helicopters and airplanes flying across the school and started wishing for the day I will ever fly in one.
I wanted to become an engineer because my best friend’s father was an engineer and used to fly to the USA to visit relatives, so my friend would always update me whenever the dad went abroad.
Did you study engineering?
No. Things didn’t work out as planned. When I left Nansana, I joined Mengo Primary school for my Primary 5 and 6 respectively from where I went to Kitara Primary school (Masindi) for my Primary 7. I passed with 11 points and joined Masindi Academy, during that time, it was among the top schools in Bunyoro region, after Kabalega Senior Secondary School.
I was a bright student. In fact, while in my vacation, I sought to teach in a nearby secondary school and the head teacher appointed me to be the class teacher for the S.4 class.
At that time, I taught them Geography, Commerce, and History and sometimes Mathematics. I joined UCU for my undergraduate studies and did a Bachelor’s in Public Administration and Management and graduated with a first-class., and in the class of 160 students, I was among the two who managed to get the first-class.
The Head of Department, Dr. Mesarch Katusiimeh, one of my best mentors told me to apply to teach at the University. I was recruited as a part-time teaching assistant in 2011, a position that I held till 2013 when I finished my first master’s degree. I was promoted to the level of a part-time lecturer.
How then did you end up in Europe and all over the place?
In 2015, I wrote a paper on Governance of Urban transport and it won me a scholarship with the Belgian Vlirous program. I spent a year in Belgium, studying an advanced Master of Science in Development Evaluation and Management, which I obtained a degree in 2016.
I started rigorous applications to multinational companies and United Nations agencies. The dream to work as a diplomat kept on although the response never came through.
It was never in my dream to work for the AU, it even never crossed my mind, and neither did I have an idea that AU exists. But going by the scriptures in Ecclesiastes 3:1, I believe there is an appointed time for everything.
Then how did you even get there?
I still will use Galatians 6:9 which reads that “So let us not give up in doing what is fine, for in the due time we will reap if we do not tire out.”
Having the right qualifications at the right time made it or makes it easy to penetrate any merit opportunity at my disposal. Social media is such a strong power the youth in Africa have especially if used in the right way. I got this job through a group on WhatsApp.
When I checked it out, the application deadline was at 5 pm that day. I had to forego breakfast, lunch to complete the hectic application process. I learnt that everything comes out of patience and sacrifice.
What can fellow youth do to get where you’re?
The youth need to be patient. Everything comes out of patience and sacrifice. I was the youngest staff at the time, actually in the entire University, I was extremely dedicated to my work and would always take on responsibilities voluntarily without the motive of reaping money, but in the long run, I ended up being recommended by my head of department to many workshops, skills development seminars that introduced to people that inspired me to the current point.
My advice would be, at whatever point that you are, you have the capacity to sell yourself, motivate others and lead an exemplary life. Integrity and high ethical standards are key tools that youth need in a highly competitive labor market that is largely characterized by indecency, dishonesty and wishful thinking.
Now that you’re way up there, what can we expect from you?
I look forward to joining philanthropic activities in my capacity. I look forward to using my experience and background to meet and interact with the youth across borders, but more specific in Uganda. The youth need to hear from the fellow youth; they need to see how patience, sacrifice, and endurance can make things work.
Now that you’re at the African Union, where next are you going next?
The sky is not the limit, am willing to serve in any capacity where Jehovah directs me.