Uganda’s internet sphere has been in awe of Paddy’s courage, showing up for an interview at the Hima Offices in a grader, and that’s just half the story.
The COVID19 pandemic has hit the entire world from different angles, and the pinch is as well felt differently. Uganda has been no alien to the effects of the virus.
The world went to work from home after lockdowns were announced to curb the spread of the virus. Paddy was not lucky enough to keep his job as he suffered retrenchment with his company trying to downscale and survive the pandemic. Interview after interview, he has been turned down.
The people at home paid next to a deaf ear to these struggles as they looked to him for food on the table, and before long, Paddy found work at a construction site. Things started to look up from there-on.
While pushing bricks and turning mortar, Paddy got a call from the HR Desk at Hima Cement that his application had been successful and needed to come in for an interview. He decided against going home to collect his “Sunday-best” but instead sent his Boda guy to collect the suit.
His mates at the constructions applauded him and gave him the day off, so he could make the best out of this chance. They went as far as allowing him to use the grader for transport.
Kampala is a hard city to navigate in traffic, and how he made it to Hima Cement offices for the interview as a sane person is a perseverance story for another day.
On trying to disembark the heavy machine, an elated Paddy lost his footing and is seen to stumble before collecting himself and his papers.
Does he get the job?
Hima Cement will surely put into consideration the readiness with which Paddy has approached this whole interview. He not only came for the interview, but he came ready to start working. He went with the tools he would need.
In the hit single “Obudde,” Mowzey Radio (RIP) reiterates the importance of time and taking an opportunity as soon as it avails itself.
“Bwosumagila, owedde” which can be translated as, “You snooze, you lose.”