User:Kaktopalov

I was born and raised in a small village in western Uganda where electricity was just a word. I only got to learn about electricity as I grew older. I experienced electricity for the first time when I joined a school in Kampala, the capital city. I was fascinated by the whole concept of electricity flowing from one house to another through the endless cables that run from one pole to another. This often kept me wondering why these lines never got to my village and we had to use the “tadooba” (a small locally fabricated tin with a wick in paraffin that produces an open flame) for lighting. In the evenings, we had to sit around the fire and listen to stories told by the elders. Since my first experience with electricity, I have had the urge to explore ways and means to let my village access electricity. My dream is to discover a new and cheaper method of generating electricity to my home. Only then will it be possible to work with my community to bring it closer to the village. I believe that if this is made possible, it would make a difference in so many people’s lives. Not only would our village services be enhanced both socially and economically, but also extend to the less privileged areas that need development. As part of my plan, I collected and put together a few old car batteries and connected some wires to a bulb which eventually provided light in our sitting room. At least my family can now enjoy the only light in the house that does not emit soot or need any form of fuel to light. For those who have grown up using electricity, this might seem like a small thing to talk. The lighting bulb was the only thing that was talked about in the village. I felt so good that I could draw about the likes of the great Albert Einstein. Everyone was talking about the “son of the village”. Some of my village friends have since tried to set up the same “invention” in their homes. Unfortunately, because of the rarity of the materials involved in the making of the lighting bulb, which include the batteries and bulbs, it has been a great challenge for them. When I leave the city to go back to the village, I will carry a few old batteries and some energy saving bulbs which I intend to sell and build a bigger lighting project. My excellent academic performance has opened doors for me and I intend to make the best out of every opportunity that comes my way. I have been privileged to study in one of the best secondary schools in the country and still manage to excel despite my humble background. I know that in order to achieve my goals, I must work hard and diligently.

GEORGE BAMUTURAKI KAKURU