Naalya Motel

26/04/2026

*When natives turned baptismal names into their own*
My people, the are a people steeped in creativity. The third inland native Catholic church was first planted in our land at in 1909 after Villa Maria in Masaka (1892) and Bukalasa/Bikira before other churches were established elsewhere.
The early converts studied what was called; or Omugiigi, which took months for one to be given a new name (given name) through baptism. Rugazi Parish archives, is the settler of disputes on; when individuals were born.
I grudgingly accepted that one of my grandmothers, Munika Bakasaagya (Katwere) was only born in 1928 when she recently passed on at the ripe age of 93. Rugazi Parish indicated she was 12 years when she was baptised in 1940. Dispute settled. But she had told me she was born shortly after the end of World War 1 (orutaro rw'ensi yoona). But this was not recorded.
The natives creatively adopted and nativised their baptismal names as below;
1. Munika = Monica
2. Sepiranza = Esperance
3. Deulanta= Deborah
4. Rakeeri = Racheal
5. Yuniya/Guniya = Eunice
6. Arigatonika = Agatha
7. Dariya = Dalia
8. Keremensiya = Clemence
9. Geturiida = Gertrude
10. Hayireeti = Harriet
11. /Nyensi = Agnes
12. Konsolaata = Consolate/Conny
13. Cositansiya = Costance
14. Gusitiino/Gusite = Augustus
15. Mikayiri = Michael
16. Arikaadi/Rikaadi = Richard
17. Yusito = Justus
18. Denis = Dononzio
19. Ntoniyo = Anthony
20. Girisoni/Girisomu = Gershom
21. /Maritazaare = Balthazar
22. Karoori = Charles (There is no connection whatsoever)
23. Sizaariyo = Ceasor
24. Juliyo = Julius
25. Kirimenti = Clement
26. Ventiino = Valentine
27. Erinesiti = Ernest
28. Keresensiyo = Crescent
29. Firigisi = Felix
30. Girigoori = Gregory

*You may share a baptismal name that was nativised by your community*

Aggrey is a retired Writer and Editor with New Vision/Orumuri. He is involved in Runyankore-Rukiga/Runyaruguru translation. He is a Communications and Grants Business Development Professional and team leader at ; WhatsApp: +256775414596 (www.kyamburasafaris.com)
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Tours and Travel

20/04/2026

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Kampala
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hosts the Katikkiro of Buganda.
, which sits at Naalya Motel, was blessed by the Katikkiro of Buganda, Katikkiro Charles Peter Mayiga, who held very candid and intimate discussions on *Work and Prosperity*, which was derived from his latest book, *Work and Prosper*, a biographical expose of his work journey from the lungs of Kampala and Uganda's trade trade hub; *Kikuubo* to running a taxi business, a telecom franchise in Mpigi, to establishing an upscale eatery *Ekitoobero Restaurant*, a law firm and finally serving his King; *Ronald Muwenda Mutebi, the Kabaka of Buganda* since 1991; as his Private Secretary to now the highest civil office in the Kingdom; that of the Katikkiro.
Ow'Ekitiibwa Charles Peter Mayiga is an avid reader and author with six (6) books to his name.
An encourager of hard work, Ow'Ekitiibwa is not just a blessing to those who listen and read his works but a true and strategic leader that is result-oriented.
"There is nothing wrong with making genuine money and enjoying it. Only those who have money can afford to say 'money is nothing. You cannot be struggling with basic needs and claim money is nothing. There is no shortcut to wealth. Hard work works;" He said.
"All powerful nations have a specific work ethic, which is hardwork. They have citizens who money and pay their taxes. These nations have developed by crafting their game around what the majority of their citizens do best. You cannot go wrong on food, agriculture and tourism;" He added.
Anyway, I will not be able for now to summarise what he shared with us in a 3 hour discussion. Maybe his tweet; https://lnkd.in/dyWVB25s, thereafter may capture well the soulfulness of his discussion.
Club member and author, Commissioner Benmak Savior was on asked on behalf of the club to gift the Katikkiro his latest book; "The Monologue of a Covid19 Walker" that chronicles life in Naalya during the times of COVID19 LOCKDOWN.
The occasion was also blessed by the in-coming Mayor of Kira Municipality, Mr. Allan Dentine Bulamu, who is also a member of the Naalya Book Club.
Did you know that Naalya Motel was founded and established during Covid19 lockdown and opened its doors on the 1st of June, 2020. We are 'lucky' that its doors are still open up to today.
Now, let the pictures of the occasion speak.
Aggrey is a retired journalist and team leader at Naalya Motel; WhatsApp; 0775 414596
Aembrozia Byaruhanga and grandson of Buganda, you missed.
Allan Kwame Kalangi Benmak Savior
AsiimweJudith Establishments Asiimwe
Asiimwe Judith

16/04/2026

Yega Orunyankore-Rukiga/Runyaruguru.
Our ways of knowing and indigenising foreign names
I come from a society (Bunyaruguru now Rubirizi District) that it took one a great deal of thinking, later in life that the names of our relatives were creatively localised either from their Italian, Greek, French or English origins.
My parent's names were more bizarre. I wondered if they even had Christian or baptismal or given names. They were more localised and adapted. I ask you to share some of the names you knew or know now that are not actually indigenous but have been indignised. Prof. Petero Kanyandago, who, with my late dad, share a godparent, has been at the helm of and teaching indigeneity.
Here below are some of the names from my village/community and their local rendering and what they were or are;

For women:
1. Nzera Meresi - Angela Mercy (my mum)
2. Deziranta - Daisy
3. Yisitiina - Christine
4. Karaara - Claire
5. Katalina - Catherine
6. Mukairiina - Michelle (My grandmother)
7. Dorotiya - Dorothy
8. Giripiina - Agripina
9. Zuliyana - Julian
10. Yowaniina - Joan
11. Yuniya - Eunice
12. Yozefiina - Josephine
13. Buladina - Brenda
14. Birigita - Bridget
15. Yudeesi - Judith (Mine)
16. Maragariita/Mangarita - Margherita/Margaret
(You can add yours)

For men:
1. Faransisiko Zaveriyo - Francis Xavier (My dad)
2. Nyansio - Ignatius
3. Neriko - Henry
4. Yakobo - James
5. Karooli - Charles
6. Girivaazi - Gervase
7. Benefansi - Boniface/Bonny
8. Karabudiyo - Claudius
9. Tofeeri - Christopher
10. Lawurenti - Lawrence
11. Marisiyeeri - Martial
12. Kirimenti - Clement
13. Barunaba/Balaba - Barnabas
14. Pasikaari - Pascal
15. Yowaana - John
16. Ntoniyo - Anthony
(You may add yours).

Aggrey is former Editor at Orumuri/New Vision. He is the team leader at Naalya Motel and Kyambura Safaris Ltd; WhatsApp +256775 414 596
(www.kyamburasafaris.com)
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Tours and Travel

04/04/2026

What an honour, what a blessing that Naalya Motel was in the week chosen to host a fabulous intimate !!!
Feel like hosting an intimate function of between 10-60 people such as a graduation, christening, baby shower or business meeting? Look no further. is your plug. Choose us. We will be so honoured to serve you. We do not claim to be the best but our clients say so.

01/04/2026

And then it happened; A few Ugandans showed up.

The Man with the Key showed up and showed us the way.

I had warned , the host of not to expect a sizeable number of Ugandans to show up for the book reading of; "The Man With The Key Has Gone" by Dr Ian Clarke. I was vindicated. Only a handful showed up.
Still, I was pleased that those who showed up and a few that didn't show up had read, were happy to read and are going to read the book. We sold some copies prior and on the day of the reading.
What stood out for me was not about a few Ugandans showing up. Maybe Ugandans and books do not mix well. Maybe, book reading is a new thing. Anything can pass including poor marketing of the event.
What y'all missed. Dr. Ian is a very impassioned social entrepreneur. We can happily describe him as such. He is in the business of solving social challenges. In all he has achieved and yet to achieve, Robbie, his wife has always been and she is still by his side. She is a mountain woman! Even on this day, Saturday, 28th March, 2026, she was by him.
I was more inclined to hear her story. "I was lonely! I didn't have any friends and didn't many! It was difficult teaching my own children through the homeschooling programme. There were no options for their education except their mother, who is a teacher" Robbie says.
The homeschooling programme opened her mind more. No wonder, she is making her mark, though silently, in our Uganda's school system, having established a school.
She also took up counselling as a course to be able to provide the much needed service especially to the HIV/AIDs patients they were interfacing with at Kiwoko. My takeaway; every man needs such a support system as Robbie. But also a Robbie needs an Ian to let her be.
Today, Robbie is into education while Ian has pivoted into farming and the hospitality world. He is growing coffee and has established a lodge in Tooro and soon, there will be a coffee outlet in Bugolobi.

My final lap of honour to Dr. Ian and Robbie Clarke; passion, commitment and systems move the wheels of change. You are very good at sensing and seizing social opportunities. You are total social transformers! Uganda is proud of you. You are my bunch of heroes.
Aggrey is a former Editor/Translator at New Vision. He is a Grants Business Professional and team Leader at ; Email: [email protected], WhatsApp; +256775414596