Adam Kwebiiha
"Adam Kewbiiha: An Excellent Ox Trainer" by Dick Roosenberg, Nigh Ox September 2008
On July 1, 2008, our good friend and partner in animal power training in Uganda, Adam Kwebiiha, died in a traffic accident on his way from Kampala to his hometown of Hoima. Adam helped us train trainers in Gulu in February, ox farmers in Lokung, and donkey farmers in Madi Opei in March. Adam was a great role model for our new Acholi trainers. He was both sympathetic to oxen and fearless in working with difficult animals. He had a deep well of training tactics through which he could communicate with animals. Everyone will remember the effectiveness of his "long walk" training strategy for new oxen.
In 1995, Adam was one of the youngest of about 30 ag educators in the "Training of Trainers" class that Tillers taught with ATRADO outside Tororo, Uganda. In that session, he studied for five weeks under Herb Nehring, Dave Kramer, Drew Conroy, and me. Last spring he recited some of those experiences.
Adam once so impressed the President of Uganda with the training of hix oxen that he was invited to train the President's personal donkeys. In gratitude, the President sent Adam to a workshop in Kenya on adult education. That workshop was reflected in many of his approaches to farmer training. His long walk improved animal training in Uganda.
We will miss Adam and his help. He was truly committed to making his community a better place. He gave much of his time and resources to helping educate the children orphaned when two of his brothers died as soldiers for Uganda. He mentored many of our recent trainees.
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