13-year-old Joshua Kirungi Mugisha’s talent is undeniably outstanding. Like many kids, growing up, he liked to play with toys. Except for him, he was the sole ‘architect’ of his own toys. From model cars, planes, crafted animals, movie superheroes, etc, he could make a whole world of his own with just cardboard boxes, cork (occasionally), glue, paint, paintbrush, and a black or blue permanent marker. This has kept him busy away from other distractions from the tender age of five. Now at the age of 13, he has also started painting, adding to his craft talent. Mugisha recently graduated from primary school, something he said he is proud of, seeing how her single mother struggled with obtaining school fees. “Despite the hardships, Joshua has not disappointed me as far as his studies are concerned. I really stress a lot to make sure he doesn’t lose focus at school since the only thing I can offer him and his sister is education,” said Edith Bucurezi, Mugisha’s mother. Buying him the necessary materials for his craft then comes as a reward for good performance at school, according to his mother. “Sometimes, I don’t have money to buy him what he needs to paint or make his toys, which he understands. Other times, I ask and good-hearted people help out,” she said. Mugisha has one sister, with whom he enjoys spending time with and teaches her about his craft sometimes. “She is my best friend. And when she wants I show her how to make some toys with me,” Mugisha said. Mugisha dreams of becoming a pilot, which is why his most treasured craft is a Rwandair plane that he made. He also made himself a pilot uniform, a pair of trousers, a shirt with paper shoulder epaulets, a tie, and a fabricated cap painted in Rwandair colours. In August this year, following his first interview with a local journalist, the youngster got a chance to visit Rwandair and was given a tour of one of the planes, where he described the experience as breath-taking. “I’m now more than motivated to do everything to reach my dreams,” he said. Following the same interview, a family decided to house them and assist them with basic necessities going forward. This, his mother, who recently lost her job, refers to as ‘God’s perfect timing.’ “We had just been kicked out of our house due to lack of rent. And then these people decide to help us out after hearing our story in Joshua’s first interview, it must have been God,” she said. Among many other paintings, Mugisha has also painted the image of President Paul Kagame, Ron Adams, Ambassador of Israel to Rwanda, Divine Nshuti Muheto, Miss Rwanda 2022. He says he would want to meet them one day and hand them their gifts. His recent painting is of a retirement home and gorillas with a Visit Rwanda stand. Mugisha said he gets his inspiration from television and movies, though most of the time it comes from his imagination.
