Paul Erongott – In remembrance of a Brother

The evening of March 2^nd, 2017 – retired on a note of tragic sorrow for the Ugandan Taekwondo and martial-arts fraternity.

The news of the untimely and sad death of a very gifted, talented and yet exceedingly humble son, brother and friend – Paul Erongott, shattered many a heart.

Erongott, who had only freshly finished his IT Bachelor’s at Makerere University, succumbed to complications resulting from what started out as a seemingly mild episode of malaria, but later graduated into a cerebral and irreversible phase.

At his requiem mass, which took place at an Anglican parish church in the Luzira suburb of Kampala this morning – the gravity of loss which poured forth in fathomless sobbing and wailing from friend and kin alike; told of the feeling of deprivation to the world, Paul’s death represents for us.

I first became acquainted with the brother in 2011, when my initial interest in the sport was ignited, and I took an instant liking to him.

We since trained under the same Masters, Kato Isaac and Ronald Mwanje – snatching moments between sessions to share a joke or a laugh; and in the late evening as we took the homeward stroll to the bus stop, we’d talk at fair length about our aspirations and dreams as young men in a troubled continent and uneasy world.

Brother Erongott’s generosity and willingness to share all he knew was astonishing.

Since I was (and am) a rather short and plump fellow, my ability to kick well was further hampered by a very inflexible musculature, which accorded me more the look of a stunted wrestler, than the lithe martial-artist’s frame to which I aspired.

However, all hope was never lost. 

For Paul, who was my diametric opposite – tall, athletic, lean and almost perfect in his kicking technique – always took time off before and after sessions to guide and show not just me, but every other novice how best to improve and better their skill.

As the months and years passed, these carings and givings, these mutual peeks into aspects of our lives deepened and widened our collective and separate existences in innumerable ways.

Brother Erongott’s laughter came easily to him.

This was perhaps the inescapable thing one noticed in a first encounter with him.

It was as if nature, [or God], had endowed him with more than his fair share of joy; and the associated responsibility of cheering up the world in its more somber moments.

This he did, and remarkably.

I remember him telling me, half jokingly, how he’d take time-off someday and let me teach him to swim.

Of course I said I would.

It would be an honor, this sharing of some kind of  knowledge with somebody I hugely admired, and hoped to emulate one day.

I regret, that that day never came to pass.

The last time we spoke was at a chance meeting in the Wandegeya township abutting Makerere – over a year ago.

After exchanging some quick pleasantries, I remember asking whether he’d been able to train Taekwondo in the recent past.

‘‘No brother, I’ve been a bit busy trying to make a little money upcountry and all over the place. I’m leaving school soon, so I need to cut back on the sport and focus more on making ends meet, as a man.’’

Paul’s mortal remains will be consigned to the earth, our common mother, upon the morrow in his ancestral Bukedia – a district in Uganda’s Eastern province.

Erongott lives on in the rivers and trees and wind, and his energy now makes the universe a richer and stronger unity.

May all who knew and now miss him, find this strength – his strength, in all the unlikeliest of places.

Paul, standing right in Daebok with a fan after a fight on 10th, December, 2012; at Mitchell Hall, Makerere University

Paul in blue, lunging during a fight on 10th, December, 2012; at Mitchell Hall, Makerere University

Always the sportsman of honor, Paul hugs an opponent after a fight at Mitchell Hall, Makerere University on 10th, December, 2012

With unspeakable sorrow, 

Surumani.