By Brenda Asiimwe
The much anticipated for speech Contest on 13th
July lived up to the hype and could be reflected by the thunderous applauses
that echoed through walls of Protea Hotel Kampala. This was despite the
Toastmaster’s unheeded pleas not to clap until all the speeches were done. The
idea was to avoid influencing the judges’ decisions.
Each of the six contestants delivered monologues Oscar
worthy leaving the packed room of people yearning for more. This is not a biased report because I am
Toastmaster myself (it was good) but also from the sentiments of a couple of
friends I dragged to the event.
The contest opened with a brief speech by the club President
Irene Naikaali highlighting what Toastmasters advocates for and how it
contributes to individual growth of members. This was followed by the Toastmaster of the
evening’s introduction of the role takers who in this case were; contestants,
Judges, timekeepers, ballot counters among others.
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| The Toastmaster of the Evening Mrs. Norah Matovu Winyi sharing rules of the contest |
First on stage was Ronnie Habasa with his speech titled
“Black is beautiful”. He alluded to the myths that have floated around over the
centuries that people of lighter skin complexion are considered more appealing
compared to the darker toned. This he emphasized with a tale of how some women
have taken the myth literally that they have had to bleach their skin. Ronnie
narrated of how he met a former high school classmate who formerly was of dark
skin but has since turned a
lighter save for high lights of the knuckles that resisted the heat of the
bleaching cream. He concluded with a call to embrace the darkness (of the skin)
after all “Black don’t crack.”
Jesse Ainebyoona took the audience back to High School with
his attire as he donned grey khaki shorts in which he tucked a short sleeved
white shirt with a green stripped tie draped on top. His speech was titled “socialize but do not specialize”
narrating a tale of how being a relationship in high school almost cost him his
education. His message was not to awaken love that one is not ready for or the
consequences will not be pleasant.
Richard Ssebagala drew curious looks as he took the stage
with a flower tucked under his left ear and rang off with “I am promiscuous”.
That line had every one inch closer as we waited for the next line to get where
the story was going. The passion, humour and energy with which he described
plants and gardening was infectious. Personification of each of the flowers
made the speech edgy, different and interesting. Who knew that plants and flowers can be a fun
topic of discussion !!!!!. You only find this at Toastmasters.
Gilbert Rutebemberwa (former Kampala Toastmasters President)
had props. He spent the first minute arranging a baby doll, feeding bottle and
a beer bottle on a table. His speech was about the contradictions of life,
Titled “the negation of the negation”.
He cited an example of how as a child, parents celebrate a baby’s steps and
movement but when one grows older say at teenage level they are not allowed to
“move” without seeking permission and often it is denied. Whatever happened to
celebrating movement. Gilbert’s speech made us look at life from a different
lenses and how it’s so contradictory.
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| Gilbert Rutebemberwa one of the contestants during his speech titled" the negation of the negation" |
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| Audience during one of the speeches
Then came Paul Kavuma with the Ugandan boda boda (motorcycle)
tales. This was such a hit because everyone who lives in this country has had
share of the cyclists’ unconventional ways of doing business. Kavuma’s speech
was titled “They petrify me”. He
straight delved into how the cyclists seem to have their own set of rules while
on the road which makes them a danger to other travelers using other means. Say
walking or driving cars. He cited three things; they have no safety principles,
zero curtesy for passengers and always seem to know more than they should which
is scary if you are the person in question.
The last person to grace the stage was also a special guest and reigning East Africa Toastmasters champion Bob Othiende from Kenya. The 8-foot
gentleman towered the room and it wasn’t a surprise that his speech was about
challenges faced by people of a certain height. His speech was titled “tall
order”. Bob narrated his ordeal from his high school days when he would be the center of heckling because of his
height and how hotel bath tubs don’t cater for people of his kind. This was
coupled with jokes about how tall people have the same digestion process as other human beings. “When we drink milk it doesn’t go bad before it reaches the
stomach.”
Speech after another left the audience in awe of the
speakers’ talents and courage. I bet no one envied the judges’ chair
because it was a tough call. Bob Othiende emerged winner followed by Paul Kavuma and then Richard Ssebagala.
If you attended the event, what were your thoughts!!!!
It will be great to hear your feedback
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