Reading the honest writeup by my elder Mr. Ofwono Opondo has simply re-inforced the validity of my thoughts on Life after Formal Employment. What he is going through is what I regard as transition / rebirth pains that my childhood neighbor Mr. Robert Kabushenga went through a few years back.
This experience is inevitable for as long as you have been through formal employment and more-so risen high up in the ranks. When one joins the job environment, the admiration for starters is to have a growth in income followed by growth in the ranks.
The lust for growth in rank is driven by: the competitiveness that society rams into us from childhood; search for credibility (here you find one priding in being regarded as a Manager, Director etc); association (wanting to be seen within certain circles for validation purposes); society approval (accomplishing the list of society expectations); Respect (Many believe in the respect that their job titles accord them); amassing wealth (the biggest lie humanity has faced of money being regarded as everything) to mention but a few.
In all this, we fight so hard to live the brand of our employer while relegating the need to brand our individual selves. If anyone asked you to tell them who Ofwono Opondo is, the first thing that comes to mind is The Media Center. Beyond that, nothing more should be expected save for a few of us who have the chance to see him in our Mukono neighborhood that can share a little more about his haggard personal side of life. This reminds me of a one Sekamate who was a Marketing Executive with MTN Uganda during its nascent years. The guy was known as Mr MTN everywhere he went. He even dressed up in MTN branded clothes, drove an MTN car etc etc. The day he was unceremoniously retired upon return from annual leave, he vanished and went extinct like a dinosaur.
When you fail to first of all identify who you are, you spend numerous years living a lie or in a bubble. The day the bubble bursts, you are as naked as Adam in the garden of Eden. This is one of the causes of early death to retirees. As Opondo truly observed, the relations you have within the workplace are usually flimsy. Most people around you smile, laugh and drink with you simply because they are naturally beneficiaries of the role you are playing. The day you move on, their allegiance is quickly transferred to the next office holder.
Whatever goes up comes down. Opondo, it is during times like this that you should retreat and link up with your buddies whom you worked with in Tororo while at a certain radio station. You rose and forgot them but I am sure they are ready to welcome you home and rub shoulders with a national celeb.
At this point in time, there are things you can do that do not really require you having to earn money but instead enable you to have peace of mind and as well increase on your longevity. You can help your village community in various ways, from being a Pastor in a Holy Spirit filled church to teaching in the UPE / USE schools as well as standing for LC1 Chairman for your village in Mulanda.
Believe you me, the writing is on the wall. The high flying life you have been leading is over. Accept that even the best dancers leave the stage. Re-invent yourself and you shall come back with a new vibe. Take a look at elders Fagil Mandy and Francis Babu. They were fire spitting notable personalities during the late 80s and 90s but despite going off the radar, there is alot they are doing behind the scenes and I am sure all this will come to our attention the day the Lord sends them an air ticket to Heaven.
So, take a chill pill my elder, go visit Mr. Robert Kabushenga, Mr. Byarugaba (NSSF), Afande Kale Kayihura, relate more with those at the bottom of the pyramid and you will thank God that you retired early. Those guys I just mentioned have all chosen to refire.
The way the world of employment works, it sucks all the juices out of you as you climb up the ladders akin to a wet sponge being pressed until the water is finished only for it to remain weightless. Take it from me, you are a spent force in the world that you once ruled. Make yourself valuable in the new world you now find yourself.
From Butaleja with Love
James Wire
Aspirant – LCV Chairman 2026-31
Butaleja District
X – @wirejames
The Wire Perspective 