Talking with Walter by Karen Ruhl

Publishers Introduction by Karen Ruhl

I wanted to introduce you to a man who has a heart of gold. His name is Tumwesigye K. Godfrey. I know him as Walter. We began our friendship through our mutual love of photography. We are in a Christian Photographers Group and starting chatting. As I learned more about Walter (Tumwesigye), it was apparent that he had a love for the children in the ghetto who lived around him. He and his wife are building a modest home so they can care for more children. They have 3 beautiful children of their own.

It is so hard for many of us to even fathom the way others live in impoverished countries. And yet, that is where we find some of the most faithful believers. Walter is one of those believers. He lives his life the way that Christ would like all of us to live. He loves his neighbors.

His Facebook page has this at the top “To me ghetto kids are also essentials. I love children.” The photos on the in this article show his interactions and the love shines through. Thank you, Walter, for being a light in a sometimes-dark world.

Talking with Walter:

Where do you live, Walter? I live in Uganda, Africa. We have three children, two girls and a boy.

You mentioned you want to teach children photography. Why do you want to do this?

The reason as to why I want the kids to become Photographers. First of all, these kids don’t go to school because they have no parents and they are hopeless in life. Some of them are beggars on the streets, some were thieves before I started supporting them with the little I have. So because of the reasons above, people distance themselves from them and take them to be a bad influence in the society and some are killed. I believe no one deserves to die because they don’t choose to become what they are, but we’re forced by circumstances. I want those children to feel loved because right now, they believe God created them by mistake. I want the kids to become good citizens so that people around them can learn to trust them and learn that everyone can change given an opportunity.

What would funding help you do?

Inside me, the notion of photography started as a faint drop of water, and very much little did I know it will be part of life’s transformational story today. Here, now 15 years down the road of camera and photography, I have just discovered a mystery of how the then “faint drop of water” has turned around the lives of so many low-esteemed people.

With funding, I would like to build for them a filming school and a hostel to look after them, to make it easy to affect Christian values to them because I believe that they can change for the better.

I would like to hire professional counselors and find parents for them. I want to get them more teachers of skills because if they get a skill in photography, videography, and dancing they will become independent in the future and be able to support others like their wives, kids, (families) and also teach other disadvantaged children. This, sincerely speaking, is my gospel to the world through skills. And to become good people in society by becoming living testimonies.

Is photography your profession?

Photography is no longer just a job in which I was trained; it’s a ministry now that extracts happiness from peoples’ lives and installs joy into their hearts. I have seen this working in the many disadvantaged children and families in Kakiri, Hoima Road, and the Wakiso District.

My passion today is creating impact through transformational life stories.

Why do you do this?

To me, ghetto kids are also essential. I love children.

Tumwesigye K. Godfrey (Walter) with his wife Dorothy, his children are below. The photo with the house in the background is the home that Walter is building for his family.

To reach Walter, you can find him on Facebook, or email him at Walter Godfrey tumwegody@gmail.com or Dorothy at Morenajoyf@ gmail.com

Phone: Walter +256 782553443 Dorothy. +256 771816387

We hope you let him know you have read his story.

From Walter: I enjoyed this village. This village is called Kyakatebe in Mityana district, it’s where I found this grandma. She told me she is 96-years-old and she was a great decorator from the 40s and she has flowers in her compound. I was really challenged.

A look at Walter’s world through his camera lens.

Walter is helping build his own home:

You know I’m working with the builders. I want to shift the kids from where we are now to Kakiri village because my neighbors are complaining that kids are playing with theirs and are going to their houses to get something to eat; it’s a real war!!

If you would like to help Walter with his goals, you can find him on Facebook, or email him at Walter Godfrey tumwegody@gmail.com or Dorothy at Morenajoyf@gmail.com