Tag Archive: Uganda Culture

16 Days of Activism

Author: December 3, 2017

As part of the 16 Days of Activism CARE awarded a goat to the winning team of a soccer game between two areas of Rhino Camp Settlement. CARE also provided the balls and uniforms.

We are in the middle of “16 Days of Activism Against Gender Based Violence” with plenty of activities in the settlements to promote awareness. “16 Days” is observed around the world every year, but like other International holidays and observances, not so much in the United States. A great deal of focus is about Sexual Gender Based Violence (SGBV) including forced early child marriage, rape, and sexual harassment. Other forms of GBV include economic and psychological violence. From what I have observed going on state-side, maybe this International observance should get more publicity.

I have gone to a few trainings of “Role Model Men and Boys”. The participants are selected by their local communities and usually chosen because they already have volunteered in various capacities and have good reputations. I talk a little bit about harassment and parenting.  One of my favorite and most effective exercises from the trainings begins by dividing into two groups. The first group makes a list of all the activities of the wife in a normal day, while the second group documents the typical day of the husband. 

Ronald of CARE compares the Men’s list on the right to the Women’s list on the left

Man’s list:

Wake at 6:30 a.m.

Brush teeth and bathe (water prepared by wife)

Eat porridge (cooked by wife)

Slash compound (often done by wife)

Go to the field and dig

Move animals to pasture (often delegated to children)

Take shower

Wait for Lunch

Perhaps more field or animal work (rarely)

Spend afternoon at the market center (often drinking alcohol)

Come home for supper

Shower

Sleep

Woman’s list:

Wake at 6 a.m. while man sleeps

Fetch water (or done at night)

Sweep compound

Set fire

Boil water for man’s bath, tea, and washing utensils

Prepare tea and porridge for family breakfast

Most of them end up using some sort of treatment buy cialis professional also. Opioid abuse, an all pervasive malady Opioid misuse and abuse has cialis prescription pushed the United States into such a crisis that it has ultimately taken the form of an epidemic. Injections of insulin are administered either levitra for women via subcutaneous injection or insulin pump. icks.org viagra generico cialis Your physician can help you in managing your sugar levels effectively. Wash children’s feet and legs and prepare them for school

Send children or accompany them to school

Clean house and mattresses

Work in the garden/field

Wash clothes (not daily)

Come back from the field, gathering greens and firewood

Prepare lunch

Wash dishes and utensils

Bathe

Go to market or take children to health center

Prepare supper

Prepare water for bathing children and (sometimes again) husband’s bath

Provide time for “family discussion” or sex with husband

After their training the men will try to undertake changes within their own households such as taking on more of their wife’s chores, letting her share in decision making, or spending quality time with the children.  After a few months, CARE will assist these men as they reach out and engage ten other men targeted in their community. It is not unusual for the neighbors to speculate their local Role Model Man has been “bewitched” but theoretically they should notice a happier family.

A local official launches “16 Days of Activism Against Gender Based Violence”

Women’s group performs traditional dance during launch of “16 Days of Activism”

Kenneth from CARE participates in a ceremony turning over musical instruments and games for a Youth Center in Rhino Camp

The eventual winning team in the soccer match posing with their new uniforms.

Entertainment following the game. We didn’t leave the settlement until night on this particular day. There is some solar lighting but otherwise it gets pretty dark there.

Sometimes planned programs get disorganized when there is a food distribution, attracting hundreds if not thousands. We try to learn the schedules ahead of time but they don’t always adhere to them. I am reluctant to openly take photos here.

Ration cards are used and now we are implementing cash transfers, which are recognized in the humanitarian community as efficient and secure. Gender Based Violence often happens when the husband in charge of the family’s ration card sells food for cash so he can buy liquor.In their reports, CARE staff frequently write “ratio” cards.

EVI’s are Extremely Vulnerable Individuals

Sign at Help Desk during food distribution

Nearby, local community members sell firewood and charcoal for cooking

Dry season is settling in

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Adams got Married.

Author: October 12, 2016

imag0191Adams really wanted me to return in time to attend his Introduction Ceremony and wedding. On Friday a Bugiri delegation set off on a day long journey to Mbarara in the west, a very large town. The festivities on Saturday were another two hours to the southwest. The Introduction Ceremony was similar to what I described when I attended one for Matthews’ daughter. Tents are set up. The families and friends of the bride “host” the groom’s family and friends, sitting in their reserved section, with food, music and dances, facilitated by two wise-cracking MCs. The patter would be in the local language, not always understood by the Lusoga-speaking visitors. Not that it mattered to me. I heard the word “Muzungu” a couple of times followed by laughter and everyone looking at me. I just laughed like a good sport. I was told later he called me out because I appeared to be bored. Sorry.imag0187imag0168

imag0169At the end of the Introduction Adams disappeared into the house for a few minutes and then emerged a married man with his bride a few minutes later. I guess that is often the Muslim way, unlike the church wedding held a week later for Matthews‘ daughter. I understand further that some Muslim men use a mosque, but in any case, the bride is never an active participant. She’s either waiting in the back or in an entirely different room.

While the concept of the Introduction Ceremony is to allow the families to become acquainted, there was never an opportunity to actually socialize and intermix. I never got the chance to meet the bride. I understand she works in Kampala and will remain there.

 
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Seeds of Opportunity, Seeds of Conflict

Author: August 23, 2016

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These ladies are one of the new youth groups we are taking on. learning how to style hair at “Brego’s Saloon”. (sic 😉 ) They can run this business from their home. Their little town is west of Bugiri and a popular night stop for truck drivers, with all that entails.

I am sitting in a hotel in Seeta, just outside of Kampala. It is time for a week of Mid-Service Training (MST). I haven’t seén most of my cohort since January. We are going to get re-tested on our language skills! I brought my notes from last year to study on the taxi ride to Seeta. I will flunk for sure. Sorry sorry.

Apparently the accommodations get upgraded for each training of the cohort. This place has a gym and a pool, and free wi-fi. I’m low on data, so I am taking advantage of the free wi-fi for today’s posts.

They say it takes a year for a PCV to get established, then you can get more things done the second year. I have some new optimism about my work in the next year. ATEFO just entered into a contract to work with an NGO which has purportedly established 110 youth groups in Bugiri and Iganga during the past year, teaching various occupational skills. This NGO wants ATEFO to take on these groups and teach record keeping, leadership, marketing etc. Another part of the curriculum is teaching household gardens. I have lobbied Adams to allow some PCVs to come out to Iganga to help me teach the trainers how to dig and teach permagardens. He seems agreeable, but in Uganda they always seem agreeable. We will also probably teach sack gardens. The contract runs through next July, shortly before my service ends. I am being pretty aggressive about getting some good roles to play in this project in the next year. While I am away this week, ATEFO has hired additional trainers for the project, and they are to mapping out the youth groups to confirm they are there, and establish rapport.

In the meantime, I am also working with the Bugiri Rotary Club to obtain grants from Rotary International to assist two projects. The first is the “Love Project”, boosting a primary school for disabled students. They are blind, deaf, handicapped, and autistic. The campus needs some minor renovations, including a wall for security around the school compound, and equipment and materials, such as braille machines, glasses, hearing aids, tactile globes, white canes, text books etc. I am also desirous of putting on a camp for these kids with my follow PCV, Becky, with the assistance of another PCV who has experience with camps for disabled kids..

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A room at Hindocha Primary School.

The second project is to aid renovations of Hindocha Primary School, which is located right behind my  office at ATEFO . A tour of Hindocha revealed terrible conditions at this 70+ year old school. Every room has a leaky roof for example. I will go into more detail as these two projects develop.

A graduate of Hindocha is member of the Riverside California. Rotary Club. He runs a technical training school here in Bugiri and goes back and forth between the two countries. He has asked for forms to request a new Peace Corps volunteer. He has chided the Bugiri Club for identifying the two projects a year ago and making no progress. I am his ally now to push things along. I have told my club I have a year left and the grant process takes a while, so we have to push push push. I have tentatively recruited my home Northglenn-Thornton club to be an International partner for one or both of these projects. I can be their boots on the ground to ensure the money is spent properly.

Endocrinology treatment in Australia costs very less and the best results that viagra purchase on line this medicine gives. Extrovert type of see content buy cheap cialis people can openly describe their problem to intercourse partner, doctor, physician but the introvert type of people will not even feel to tell their erectile dysfunction problem to his partner as well. Daytona International Speedway implemented a text messaging system this season to push out weather updates to cialis properien fans’ cellphones during race weekends. Coffee: Packed with caffeine, coffee not only serves as an eye opener every morning, it also boosts the stamina. generic levitra In the meantime, Azedy my landlord, has been struggling to get full-time work. Fortunately, his wife Margaret is teaching full time. To make extra money, Azedy and Margaret are working on the field behind their house to grow sweet potatoes and a few other crops, which I have written about in recent posts.

In a newer project, Azedy is growing 20,000 orange tree seedlings. You start with lemon seeds, which grow into a very hardy tree, but then graft orange buds on to the seedlings to produce hardy orange trees. Can you imagine doing that 20,00 times? I can’t wait to see this, and will try to learn how, mainly just out of curiosity,   He believes the government has programs to buy these seedlings or direct certain suppliers to him. He is hiring some boys to help him put the seedlings in little bags of fertilized dirt. The other day, Margaret discovered that these boys had dug up some of “her” recently planted dirt for the seedling bags. Voices were raised that night!

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Azedy is able to use his neighbor’s half built walls to get protection from goats and thieves.

Recently, I went to visit my home stay parents in Iganga, Hellen and Simon. Much to my surprise, Hellen has embarked on an identical orange seedling project, including the grafting of orange buds to lemon trees. She is making 30,000 seedlings and has plans to get up to 100,000 of them. I was sad to point out to both Azedy and Hellen that they were doing identical projects, but hated not to say anything.. I am worried about an over-supply, and now so are they. If I know two people who are doing this, how many others are there? Margaret and Simon are friends too, through their teaching careers. The seedling sales will probably occur January through March, I will keep you posted.

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These are Hellen’s seedlings. Some relation told her about this opportunity and she has jumped right in. At least both of the seedling projects are hiring some boys to do most of the work.

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You might recall Adrian had a close brush with mortality. As he struggled, an uncle asked him what he would want if he got better. Adrian said a bicycle. The uncle had just delivered it, sparking a round of sibling jealously. I remember my first picture of these kids a year ago. They were playing with rocks!

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Adams is getting married! The normal way to raise money for your your introduction ceremony is to hand out a budget. I’ve been given budgets for graduation parties too. This one was accompanied by a pledge card. If you care to blow this photo up, you will see on the first two lines that Adams is contributing 7 cows and 4 goats as the dowry he negotiated with the bride’s parents.

 

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Swapping Spit with the Neighbors

Author: August 23, 2016

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Mine is the pink one.

When I shifted to my new site last May, I soon noticed, at the huts right next door, a nightly gathering of people who partake in the Ugandan cultural social tradition of sipping from a communal pot with long straws. This was something I just had to try, though the practice certainly contributes to the high rate of alcoholism in this country. Joining my new neighbors helps me integrate too.

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Some of the straws are like rigid aluminum. Mine is a flexible rubber tube attached to bamboo.

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After the initial tastes, I generally faked sipping to avoid the inevitable sharing of saliva.

Other prostate cancer signs include; Erectile dysfunction (trouble getting an erection) Painful ejaculation Blood in semen Swelling in the cialis viagra generico face, lips and tongue. This fungus is gaining quick popularity because of its strong good anti-inflammatory action. cialis professional india It’s all about how much and what online viagra mastercard you weighed. You are not alone in fight buy tadalafil in australia against diabetes. So the other night Azedy took me over and introduced me, and I joined the group. Azedy, as a practicing Muslim, did not participate. There is a lady who makes the brew in her hut and replenishes the pot throughout the evening. It is made from fermented millet. The taste is warm and kind of bland. I don’t think it is very high in alcoholic content, though you can taste it. If you sit there continuously for hours I’m sure it will have an effect.

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There is a metal filter attached. The participants just take and return a straw to a barrel. I suppose they might be identifiable. I took mine home and boiled it in the rice cooker.

A sound system plays music to lend itself to a party atmosphere and there is a bit of dancing, I watched a mother suckle her child while she indulged (ugh).

It was interesting, but not something I would do too often. Azedy tells me there is another regular group next to the hospital composed of doctors, engineers and other professionals. He says I might find the conversation with them to be more stimulating, so I hope to give my straw another workout in the future.

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Basoga Heritage

Author: August 23, 2016

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A stone marker to recall the British had a “fort” here. It was actually an encampment of tents, as opposed to a structure.

As a side benefit of my evening with the straw sippers, Azedy connected with the son of the current, 37th, Royal Chief of the Bukooli clan. Azedy arranged a tour of cultural sites and artifacts on Saturday with this son as our guide. We set off for a village about 15 minutes south of Bugiri.

Much of the tour involved the 34th Royal Chief, Kauhe Wakoli. He was unhappy that his people could not understand the English language of the missionaries, so he spent three years from 1891-93 translating the Bible into Luganda language. Luganda is the most popular of the dozens of dialects in Uganda and very similar to Lusoga. The guide kept giving Kauhe Wakoli sole credit for the translation, but just recopying the Bible in English would take years, let alone his chiefly duties, so I have to guess he had some help. There is no remnant of this translation.

 

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The tomb of Kauhe Wakoli, 34th Royal Chief of the Bakooli. When he died, he said “Don’t bury my head, and the people should not cry until it is not attached. Thus the mound on the left.

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That is the top of the now disconnected skull of Kauhe Wakoli

Bugiri is the ancestral capital of the Busoga Kingdom, where they speak Lusoga. An individual from the Busoga region is a Musoga, and the people are the Basoga. There are 11 counties (clans) in Busoga Kingdom, which encompasses Bugiri, Iganga, Jinja, Kilaro, and Nambatumba (towns with PCVs) in addition to scores of villages. The Kingdom normally rotates its clans to agree on successor to the King. However, Azedy and the chief’s son said that the NRM (Museveni’s political party) politically appointed the current King from Kamuli in order to attract votes from there. The NRM also built for him a palace in Kamuli. The Basoga people have never accepted this King, and he has never visited or communicated with the area I was touring, perhaps because he fears for his life. When I spoke to Matthews, who is from this King’s town of Kamuli, about this, he laughed and said that wasn’t the truth at all. Whatever, it’s all more than you need to know.

A Wakoli is the Royal Chief of the Bukooli clan of the Busoga Kingdom (The Educate Club I support is at Bukooli College). The 37th Royal Chief is now quite old and lives in Bugiri.

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A photo of the current 37th Royal Chief on a 2016 calendar. The crown is a hand-me-down from Queen Victoria. She is pictured on the upper left

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Click to blow this one up. I thought these close-ups of the 34th, 35th, and 36th Royal Chiefs were interesting based on their alleged life spans alone!

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These two drums are four feet tall. BOOM boom, “the British are coming!” I forgot to ask of they also employed smoke signals back in the day.

 

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In the House of Twins, I was allowed to make an offering and a request. 5,000 shillings and some coffee beans. I requested good health for my family. If my request is granted, I have to go back and give thanks. Those are sea shells surrounding the pot from the Red Sea and Indian Ocean


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We took a walk up a hill with some impressive rock formations. You can squeeze at least ten people into a small sheltered area in that lower gap. It was a good place to go during times of strife.

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At the top of the hill was this lake about five feet wide. It goes deep into the mountain and is never dry. During heavy rain the hill top is submerged. The clan would throw a baby into the lake. If he came out the spring on the other end alive, he was a true member of the clan. The rock on the left is Salongo, father of twins. On the right is Nalongo, mother of twins. The middle rock represents a wall. The twin rocks, not pictured, are behind..

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It’s a lot easier and faster climbing up the slick rocks than going down.

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A ceremonial room, where a clan judge sits to arbitrate disputes

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Another ceremonial room

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Next we headed to a place where parliament sits every December 31. First you have to pass this entrance and announce who you are, and remove your shoes,

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Our guide for this tour of parliament. She smoked a pipe.

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On New Years Eve, the clan gathers and sits on rocks strewn about in front of a cave. Maybe Ill go and get those thanks out of the way.

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Entering the cave

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This rock cave was fantastic. It is where the parliament sits. The photo does not do it justice.

 

 

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Meet the New Boss

Author: August 6, 2016

I was invited to Mbale with another volunteer to have dinner with Sean Cantella, the newly appointed Country Director for Uganda. He was on a tour of the eastern region as he gets acquainted with the country and its volunteers. He has a wealth of experience as both a volunteer and most recently Director of Programming and Training in Ghana.

caption: Thousands of books from North Side-based Brother's Brother Foundation have found their way to a warehouse in West Africa, where Brighton Heights native Sean Cantella, director of programming and training for Peace Corps Ghana, is working with volunteers to get them into 22 rural schools and community centers. credit: Gretchen McKay/Post-Gazette

I forgot to take Sean’s picture at our dinner, so I pulled this one from the Ghana page. Great shirt there, Sean.

We had a “spirited discussion” about the methodology to determine the Living Allowances provided to volunteers. Last summer after my cohorts’ swearing in, an annual survey was given to veteran PCVs about their monthly expenses. Peace Corps required a 75% survey return rate before a raise would be authorized. It’s done this way all over the world. Around Christmas, we learned that a raise had been approved. It just needed to be processed in Washington D.C. A couple of weeks ago we learned someone somewhere dropped the ball, and the raise would not be approved, because now the information was stale. Now they want us to do a new survey.

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Before they left I took a selfie with the outgoing Director of Programming and Training, Paul Sully, who is moving on to be the new Country Director of Jamaica , and Lucine Hayes the outgoing Uganda Country Director, who is moving to Panama with her husband, where he has a new job.

It ensures sexual and cialis rx physical health. The cheapest viagra price http://deeprootsmag.org/tag/walt-disney/ best capsule for this malady is Bluze capsule which is a highly effective herbal product. At the end of this process, it is going to be turbulent on line cialis at some point of time. Both mental anticipation & physical exercise augment adrenaline altitudes & may activate heart attacks & arrhythmias, india generic viagra irregularity of the heart s pumping beat. My point with Sean was not about finger pointing, or even that I needed a raise. At $225US per month, we make more than probably 90% of the people here. I just feel the Consumer Price Index for Uganda, with appropriate adjustments of the Shilling’s value against the US dollar, would be an easier and more scientific manner to determine any increase in the living allowance. Just do a computer program to figure this out. Every country probably has its own CPI. I had suggested this a year ago but was told since this is the way it’s done all over the world, it would be hard to change the system. I had prepared a letter for the chief administrative officer of the Peace Corps and shared it with Sean. I don’t think it will get far. I have to accept my ability to get attention is less as a volunteer than when I could make demands in my old life with a lawyer’s letterhead.

However, I don’t want to antagonize my new director. I need him be my ally. Sean told me there ought to be interesting and challenging opportunities for me in other countries after I serve my time here. I am intrigued by the possibilities. Peace Corps Response has many places for returned volunteers, or Americans with ten years work experience. Service is 6 to 12 months. I could come home for 6 months and then go to another third world country for awhile. Outside of Peace Corps are many opportunities which are more availalbe if you have Peace Corps on your resume. Who knows how I will feel in a year, but I hope I will still have gas in the tank, and I want to keep my options open. I know there are also volunteer opportunities in Denver, but then I am starting spend my retirement savings. I don’t see myself returning to the lawyer thing again.

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At my hotel in Mbale I saw my Fire Extinguisher Ball. Found it on YouTube, you just throw the ball in the fire and it blows up with the foam.

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Getting a cleat adjusted before the town team had an intra-squad scrimmage last Friday. I just watched. No way can I compete at their level. I’m just in it for the exercise. I might go in if the team is up or down by at least 3. This scrimmage ended at 0-0. I chided them “This is why Americans don’t like your football as much as our football.” The long robe is worn by many Moslem men in town for Friday prayers.

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1/2 Full

Author: July 25, 2016

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Ugandan dawn over the pitch. There are up to 25 players in my morning workouts, so the coach splits us into two groups for the drills and exercises. The other group wore the fluorescent green bibs.

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I followed these two cute kids the other day…

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Hump day It’s hard to believe in some ways, but Friday, July 15, was Hump Day. I have been in Uganda for 13 ½ months, and 13 ½ months remain in my service. They always say the process of integration and adjustment can take a year. I am hopeful I can make a better and more lasting impact on my community before I leave. It’s hard to appreciate changes I might be influencing on the farmers’ customary sustenance-only approach, but I will continue to monitor this. You hope to change the behavior of early-adapters, show success, and then the rest of the village will buy in. The grant I was awarded to teach sack gardens is small, and the Peace Corps says I can’t get another grant until that money is consumed (i.e. construct 19-20 sack gardens, plus evaluations of their adaptation by the villages).
In the meantime, I hope to help the Bugiri Rotary Club achieve at least one major project. The Bugiri community has so many needs, and the Club needs to tap into Rotary International Foundation funding. It must develop international partnerships with other Clubs. There is a bit a stumbling, as this new club finds its way.

Dizzy in the head…In an effort to learn why I have occasional spells of dizziness, I’ve had occasion to go to Kampala twice in recent weeks for further tests, including ultrasound scans of my thyroid, an MRI of my brain, and seeing two outside specialists. The Peace Corps Medical Office is top notch, and very aggressive in trying to figure this out. The consensus conclusion is that I have Benign Positional Vertigo. In other words, none of the scans showed anything scary, and it’s probably not harmful. It’s just something I have to get used to. In fact, I do think it is better, with less frequent episodes.

Aruna update While I was in Kampala last week, I was pleased to spend time with my friend Aruna, one of the Lost Boys of Sudan, whose story I told over a year ago, and whose refugee camp we recently visited. Aruna had just returned from his home in Portland Maine, where he got surgery for a torn MCL. He injured it on a four hour bicycle ride. He was gone for nearly the 45 day maximum time you are allowed to recuperate before Peace Corps “Early Terminates” you.
In the two years preceding the Peace Corps, Aruna sent his earnings to South Sudan to pay for building a new home for his parents in their family’s village. The home had been destroyed in fighting when Aruna was child, leading to his epic tale of survival with his brothers, eventually walking to Uganda where he lived in a camp until being relocated to Portland. South Sudan is on the brink of civil war again. As I write this, there is a fragile cease fire. Uganda has evacuated its citizens, and tens of thousands of new refugees have crossed the northern border of Uganda. Unfortunately, while Aruna was in Portland, there was fighting in his family’s village again, and the new house was heavily damaged. His parents were temporarily relocated to yet another camp, but now have returned to the village, which is now under control of the South Sudanese army. They think they can repair the house. A brother who did not relocate to Portland is available to assist them. Aruna says it was probably for the best he was back in Maine while this was happening. He would have been tempted to join the fighting “now that I am not a child”. But as I quizzed him with my limited understanding of the situation, he admitted he wasn’t sure which side he would join. Probably determined by clan or tribe, I suppose.

Malaria update- In the last few weeks, Matthews, and three of the kids (one came home from school) that live on my compound got malaria. It is so common for everyone. I switched meds as part of my anti-dizziness regimen.  So far, half way through service, no malaria, although I wonder what the drugs are doing to my liver as they kill the parasites. I worry more about getting hit by a boda boda.

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Refuse burning day in my neighborhood. Gag.

ED is characterized by the inability to maintain erection. purchase levitra More viagra prices check that storefront so, the purpose of a distance learning M. So the victims of more acquisition de viagra matured age and the persons whose body capacity reached to lower degree due to the attack of some physical disorders can consume this lowest measure to get themselves free from impotency. If these infections are not thoroughly unica-web.com purchase cialis online cured, the infections will develop chronic. Al Jazeera came to Bukooli College- Last week, the Educate Club from Bukooli College was visited by a film crew doing a series on innovative education. The series will be shown on Al Jazeera.  The main focus was on the Reusable Menstrual Pads (RUMPS) that they make as an Income Generating Activity. This is also a big thing for Heath PCVs and I promise a future post on it. A representative form the Educate Club’s main offices in Kampala, Rachel is a recent graduate from the University of Denver School of International Studies. Always good to meet a fellow D.U. alum.

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Heh- they interrupted a class so they could interview the Educate Club’s patron Martin (my adult from Youth Technical Training) with a class in the background. D.U. grad Rachel holds the mic.

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The film crew learns about RUMPS

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Sign on a tree at Bukooli College. Would this sign be posted in an American High School?

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I was happy to find a great Mexican restaurant, Que Pasa, near my hostel in Kampala. It had been a long time since I had Mexican food, and this place would fit right in at Capital Hill or Boulder. It is owned by an Australian!

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A touch of my past: ReMax in Uganda! Jan was a ReMax broker for 15 years before she was a nurse.

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A very pregnant lady in one of my villages.

 

 

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Odds & Sods II

Author: July 8, 2016

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For the 4th of July, I was invited to a school about 30 minutes by boda south of Bugiri to talk about American Independence. A few hundred students in a school assembly were there. The man in blue standing was the headmaster making announcements when I came in and took the picture. I prefaced my remarks with my usual discourse about the importance of education and other patter. I spoke about Paul Revere’s midnight ride, Boston Tea Party and Washington crossing the Delaware to wake them up. I told them that Washington “came out of the bush” to lead the troops to victory, became the first president, and then willingly surrendered power (hint hint).

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The Rotary year begins on July 1, and just like home, there is a changeover of officers at an installation dinner. My NGO supervisor Adams, second from right, is the new Secretary and he is in line to be President in a couple of years. Before dinner they were playing music videos on the white screen. Adams plays videos on his dash when he drives except when I am with him and complain. I also make him wear his seat belt.:-)

I have started working out with a Bugiri town football (soccer) team on a pitch five minutes from my home every morning except Sunday and game days from 6:15 to 7:15. I join them in exercises and drills, which leave me in an exhausted pool of sweat. I am at least twice as old and lousy at the ball drills, but they have welcomed and tolerated me. I am sort of amusing to them. I really need this to stay fit and hope I can stick with it. Due to schedule conflicts most weekends, I will attend few games, relieving them of any pressure to play me. Right now, I am missing some work-outs due to appointments keeping me in Kampala until the end of this week, but I have been walking quite a bit instead. I have lots of little things to show.

 

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“The Book of Mormon” is a hilarious irreverent play written by the South Park guys. Its about the hapless adventures of Mormon missionaries in Uganda. Here, are some actual Mormon missionaries in Uganda! From left, they are from Utah, Zimbabwe, Washington, and Zambia. Utah had seen the play. We had a nice chat.

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I attended a huge funeral for Paul Kitakule, who was Chairperson of the Busoga Institute for Rural Development, and a Canon for a Protestant Church. He had 12 children and 40 grandchildren(one wife). His son is one of the founding members of the Bugiri Rotary Club and owns the Gilgard Guest House where we meet. Adams said I am considered a member of the community now, so I had to go. It was four hours of hymns and eulogies. There must have been at least thirty wreaths for the casket. Ushers would rotate a different wreath on top of the casket every few minutes.

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The funeral was held on the Bukooli College grounds. These cars are in the shade of an Umbrella tree on the grounds planted in 1981, when it was the size of the seedling planted last week at my office by the Ambassador. See how far the branches stretch. When I teach in the villages, it is often under the shade of these trees.

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Heavy demand for boda bodas parked at the funeral


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Wednesday was Eid, the end of Ramadan, and a Uganda public holiday. The men wear white and the women are colorful. These kids in Kampala asked me to take their photo.

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While in Kampala I enjoyed the Uganda National Museum. It was combination of natural history and people history. A guide took me around. So many parallels with the colonization of America but in the 1800’s. The British traded beads, trinkets and old guns for Ivory and slaves.

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A water-tight initiation basket. The mother would place the umbilical cord of her new baby into a solution. If it didn’t float the baby would not be from the the clan.

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I love Google maps in Kampala. This dirt trail showed up as a walking short cut.

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Boda boda drivers don’t hesitate to go up on sidewalks, like the guy on the right.

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I had a snack in the shade of the museum. I met a lady in my hostel who is researching Ugandan museums. She said there is an interesting one in Iganga run by a prince. Azedy tells me there is a cultural museum in Bugiri, the capital of the eastern region of the Masoga tribe. Bucket list items.

 

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Ambassador Malac Visits Bugiri

Author: June 30, 2016

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Ambassador Malac Addresses the gathering at ATEFO. John (seated) and Adams from ATEFO

On Tuesday June 28, Ambassador Deborah Malac made a quick one hour stop in Bugiri town and visited my org, African Trainers and Entrepreneurs Forum (ATEFO). There were about 20 office and field staff from ATEFO, and also some local dignitaries. Then a few of us walked to my home. I will let the photos (most of them purchased a local photographer) tell the story.

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Watching a power point briefing about ATEFO in Adams’ office, with Mark Meassick, USAid Mission Director, my Peace Corps supervisor Meital, and Margaret, Resident District Commissioner.

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i am explaining about how to make a sack garden. We have received approval for a Peace Corps grant to allow Matthews and I to teach sack gardens to the farmer groups and youth groups. The grant will pay for the seedlings, while the community donates the remaining materials.

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Every visit from a dignitary gets a tree planting. She said she is used to this. This is an umbrella tree. near my permagarden. I am concerned a goat will get to it unless we can protect it. Matthews says it will be taller than me before I return to the USA next year.

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This is a ceremonial cake cutting. As you can see, I grew out my beard, it came in brown, whereas the goatee is (annoyingly) all grey. I think the two tone looks like Lassie, or old time ball player with mutton chops, so I might go back to just the goatee. Opinions?

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Here we are taking the five minute walk to my home. Note the cowboy boots worn by Ambassador Malac. Before she arrived, I walked the route with the local police, and then two more times with Embassy advance security personnel. Neighbors must have wondered what was going on. Meital came early with her driver, and the Ambassador had six vehicles in her entourage. I generally wear my backpack most of the time, and a Rockies or Avalanche cap.

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In my well swept and organized abode (I still haven’t got that mouse though). It was hot that day, I look sweaty. Ambassador Malac said she isn’t used to seeing a PCV in a jacket and tie. But Adams and the rest of the org hierarchy were in three piece suits, so I had step it up. Unfortunately, they don’t fit well, made for a heavier man. 🙂

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Local police who provided some security gave me permission to take their picture (this time).

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Gratuitous selfie

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Andrew McCown with USAID staff. He served with with my niece as a PCV in Bolivia. Small world. Invited me to dinner with his wife and 8 month old the next time I am in Kampala.

 

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Uganglish

Author: June 25, 2016

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When you get your change back from the vendor at the taxi stage it is your “balance”. This is as close to drive through fast food in Uganda as it gets. Meat on a stick, drinks, fruit and crackers.

There is going to be a movie from Disney released in September called “Queen of Katwe”. It’s a true story about a girl who is from the slums of Kampala and becomes a chess champion. It was filmed in Uganda and South Africa. This is the trailer. The depiction of the kid carrying two yellow jerry cans of water was part of my life until I moved.
Note the inflections you hear in the speaking. We say Ugandans speak Uganglish. When I speak English to native Ugandans, this is the way I sound now. Clark noticed it a bit during our vacation. At first I was a bit bothered when I heard veteran PCVs speak this way during training, but it’s something you slip into. Sort of like acquiring a Texas twang if you live there long enough. Here are a few interesting Uganglish phrases and elements of cultural communication:

Often injecting “What?” prior to the object of a sentence. “Next week you will all submit your what? Reports.”

“Thank you please” or “Yes, thank you please”

At the beginning of every meeting, the chairman will go through the entire agenda and announce who will be responsible, even when the agenda is handed out.

Ugandans say their names by announcing their surname first: Lilley Charles; Tumusiime Idd Adams

Inserting “Me” before “I”    “Me, I visited my family in the village and brought them a what? Chicken.”
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Dates are written as day/month/year. It took awhile to get used to this, when signing guest books, which are presented wherever you go. My brother informs me this is European style.

“We are struggling” (working hard)

When you greet anyone, especially the children, and ask how they are, they always say “I am fine!” If I am asked, it feels weird to just say “good” or “OK”

Almost always when exchanging greetings with adults, you are asked “How is your place” or “How is Bugiri?”

“Well done” is very common to say when you see a good job.

“Now now” Immediately. A rarity in this country of relaxed time management. .

“Muzungu byeeee” shouted by toddlers as you pass, while they wave. Unless they are my neighbor kids, who yell “Charley! Charley!”

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