::::I've Left Copenhagen for Uganda::::

Everything you need to know to have fun in Kampala

Check out this blog - the Kampala bloggers have joined forces. Cool! Really interesting information about how to access wireless Internet in Kampala, cheap or free. Suppose that is what counts in a bloggers universe as fun.

Am thinking about how challengingly fun it could be to do the same up-country; Everything you need to know to have fun in upcountry Uganda ( - or how to avoid isolation, Kony, malaria!)

Reminds me that I have received quite a few emails (which I never got around to answer due to the malaria and subsequent, momental apatia) with questions regarding life in the upcountry sphere. I believe there is an unutilised potential here for promoting upcountry Uganda.

Leave a comment if interested one way or the other...

Pork, matatus, cocktails, Danes and Ugandans...

Danes love pork. So do a lot of Ugandans. And it is always a treat to be invited for pork by a Ugandan. I have been here long enough to know that Arua is the place for pork, and that the surburb Ntinda is the place to eat pork in Kampala.

Yesterday Dennis Matanda had invited all the Ugandan bloggers to Joglo in Ntinda. Besides munching in pork and cassava, it gave the Danes an opportunity to say proper good-bye to the Ugandan bloggers.

For me - who have been following the process on the sideline - I am amazed how well it went. The Danes have been a pleasure to take round Uganda (I feared they wouldn't be well-prepared or too sensitive towards Ugandan culture, but no). The Ugandan bloggers showed Ugandan hospitality at its best (I feared they wouldn't contribute, but no). In particular, I believe that both parts learned something new from each other, which they hadn't thought of, and I believe a few stereotypes were cracked. I learned quite a bit on the sideline, at least.

Afterward Dennis stuffed us all into a matatu and send us off to Kisementi and Fat Boys. The spirit was high, and the cocktail list long...

4th Ugandan Bloggers' Happy Hour

It is an interesting phenomenon - this Ugandan Bloggers Happy Hour. In how many African capitols do people get together for a few hours on the last Thursday night every month for a beer and a chat? Just because they blog. Or as someone said to me last night; 'I'm here because I read blogs', which I find just as good a reason.

Jackfruity asks today 'for those of you who blog under your real names (Baz, Pernille and Dennis come to mind), do you ever worry about the effect blogging may have on your personal life?'. - Good question. I think I rely very much on the Danish freedom of speech (notoriously know from the Muhammed cartoons) when I write about general stuff.

Originally, I wanted to blog seriously and deep down to the point about the personal side of being a Danish development worker, I always missed the personal approach and political incorrect view on development work in Africa. However, in spite I often take it to the edge, I realised there is a lot I simply can't say. Firstly, because it would be too internal (boring to the majority), and secondly because it would compromise the people I work with and the organisation I work for.

There are quite a few topics I would like to be able to write more personally about - i.e. the frequently asked questions I constantly get regarding how I cope as a single woman in northern Uganda concerning sex (!!); or what exactly I am doing to get my next job. (Believe me the answers are not going together). I am afraid it would compromise myself to an extent I wouldn't like to chair. Hence, I also realised it is necessary to state that whatever I blog is on my own account, not the organisation I work or the people I work with.

I think the UBBH is quite unique. For me personally - I prefer that there is more to it than just the chatting and drinking beers. And I think it is gradually coming. But maybe it could be facilitated a bit more, excuse me for bringing my development worker background into this - but maybe we could exchange more technical ideas on blogging (writing, technical stuff, photography)?

I believe the UBHH has inspired more people in Uganda to blog. I also think that the mix of waungu expats and the local Ugandans have generated inspiration and discussion which might enhance the quality and range of blogging in a Ugandan context. It has definitely created a network which has a life outside cyberspace.

I have learned a lot. For one thing I have seen that Ugandans express themselves directly. Ugandans observe and comment on things I had no clue about, but which has helped me understand Uganda. I believe there is a huge potential - information- and influencewise to integrate blogging in development work. On the other side I think my observations feed the other way back. I get a lot of reactions on the fact that I travel and live in a 'no-go-area', which even Ugandans no little of. Many have noticed Willy Akena's blogging in Gulu, and I hope we can inspire more Ugandans to blog from these areas to give first hand information.

Bloggers supporting what?

I met American Kelly last night at the UBHH. I also asked her some of the same questions which Jackfruity does ask in general today on her blog, and which I will return to in another post.

However, she writes today on her blog:

Baz made the suggestion that since UBHH meets once a month, every month we should throw in 5k each (approx 3.00$) and use the money to pay for school fees for a kid in Gulu, courtesy of the Uganda Bloggers! I thought it was a very nice idea if we could organize it properly and make sure the money went directly to the school and that the kid went to school. I would suggest though that we choose a poor kid from the Kampala area, just so that it would be easier for us to monitor since we all live here.

Allow me to support Baz' original idea. I like the thing about moving focus outside K'la. Some of us don't live in Kampala, you know ;-) - and I would like to encourage more people to blog in the areas of Uganda's black conscience, like Gulu or West Nile. Even a lot of Ugandans have no clue of what this is like. This initiative could possibly help that process. The child mentioned on Willy's blog is one out of thousands! There are many worthy ideas and people to support in this country. Even in Kampala. My idea is however to support those bloggers up country that don't have the benefits of blogging from Kampala.

4th Ugandan Bloggers' Happy Hour

See you!

Ugandan bloggers visit MS Uganda

The Danish team had invited the Ugandan bloggers for a session on blogging and democracy yesterday at MS Uganda.

I didn't interfere - (suddenly I felt like a 10 years older Danish development worker...) but I met them afterwards. The spirit was high, and the Danes were overwhelmed. In a positive way. I was, too, as I had sort of suggested the idea of using the Ugandan bloggers for the theme of a documentary in the first place.

When I did so, I had no idea nor any guarantee that the Ugandan bloggers would participate with such good energy and positive approach. (Though I had prepared the Danes that Ugandans (in opposition to Danes in general) aren't as sceptical). I also didn't have any certainty that the bloggers would provide these substantial contributions on the theme as they did yesterday. Blogging is a private thing, and in spite you write daily, targetting readers worldwide, it is something else to discuss it outside cyberspace.

Also no problem. However, there is a world outside Kampala - and I being a development worker in northern Uganda - I tmust ake the Danes with me on a short trip this coming week to visit Willy in Gulu in order to talk about his blog and work from another perspective.

But we will be back for the next UBHH, which I think soon is to be announced, isn't it?!

Danish Documentary On Ugandan Bloggers - In Action

I've just returned from 3 hours of cruising Kampala for footage material for the documentary on Ugandan bloggers. And after a brief discussion with Sarah and Anette (photo) they agreed that I could post this photo (if I tried to make them look less pale).

I think it is a wonderfull illustration of two Danes trying to capture Kampala life on video!

Imagine how many people shouted 'mzungu, mzungu!', and guess how many rounds I had to do in my car in the Kampala Road Keepilefti before these two had finished shooting?

Read about the progress of the documentary here.

A Momentary Lapse Of Attention

The winners of the 2006 Uganda Best of Blog Awards have been announced here, and the winners are:

Uganda Blog of the Year: I Have Left Copenhagen for Uganda

Best Writing: Dear Mr. Mccourt (now Once Upon Ish)

Best Design: Living Zack's Utopia

Best Photography: Locus Amoenus: Gulu, Northern Uganda

Best Post: mataachi inc.: Kim +10

Not at all unhappy with my placement. It might lighten up my CV ;-). The goal of the 2006 Uganda Best of Blog Awards was to recognize, generate and push the Ugandan blogging further. I belive it has done so - but also that MUCH more is to come! This it really funny - how people get inspired when things rocks.

Let me use the opportunity to encourage the Ugandan bloggers to join the Danish Documentary on Ugandan blogging here! 

Man, it's a jungle, the Ugandan blogosphere!

I have 52 'Ugandan' bloggers listed in my right sidebar. I want to get an idea of what's going on in the Ugandan blogosphere (because I imposed the idea on a group of Danish students of making a documentary on the phenomenon - well, they asked what was up these days in Uganda, and blogging it is!).

I have noticed some trends:

• Ugandan bloggers based in Kampala seem to know each others' blogging habits well. In the days after the UBHH you find many fragments and comments on who was there, did what, what and even who they fancied. Like this one. I am simply unable to get the finer nuances between irony and seriousness. It is often too internal for me.
• They comment massively on each others blogs. Sometimes on mine, too. And I felt very flattered when one even dedicated a post to me (though I believe Iwaya put me in the less attractive category 'tourist').
• Go through a post like this, and it has received 22 comments! I reckon the the 27th Comrade is one of the most active commenters.
• Some Ugandan bloggers are a bit scizofrenic - they zig-zag among identities. I.e. is Iwaya this one or this one or someone else?
• Profiles are often spiced up and are balancing between anonymity and a cover identity. Like this and this.
• Sometimes blog posts resemble reading very comprehensive text messages, or like reading Trainspotting - you know the book by Irvin Welsh, who lets his characters speak each their Scottish sociolect. That takes a lot of insider information - to get the Ugandan/Kampalan corners and the choice of phrases.
• I guess a difference is - from a wazungu blogger, like me and a great deal of the above mentioned 52 bloggers, who often write detailed in order to explain their ordience stuff they find extraordinary about Uganda, it is everyday life to Ugandan bloggers, who then again find other things strange.
• I don't have one favorite, but I prefer the ones who write frequently, and on issues which give me new angles on Uganda, things I can't get from the papers or the talk in Arua Town. In particular I have been amazed with honesty like this, enlightened by this political insight and I have smiled of the courage here to reveal a crush on another blogger.

If you want to track new posts easily and often, I'd recommend the Google Reader which allows you to get and instant overview of whom has up-dated their blog.

NB! Let me remind you that I am still interested in hearing from more Ugandan bloggers interested in participating in the above mentioned Danish documentary.

Are You A Ugandan Blogger? Interested in participating in a Danish documentary about the Ugandan Blogosphere?

I have been contacted by a group of four Danish students at the Faculty of Communications at Roskilde University in Denmark (the second/third largest university in Denmark) who needs help from the Ugandan blogosphere. They will be visiting Uganda during April 2007 to do a short documentary on blogging. More specifically they would like to make a film about Ugandans who blog, their reasons to do so, and what opportunities blogging can create for that person and/or Uganda. That is of course if the Ugandan bloggers are keen and interested in participating!

The group is working with the Danish Association for International Cooperation (MS Uganda), whom I also work with here in Uganda – and who has supported the production of the documentary, and later will help promoting the film in Denmark. Their reasons for this film is to make people, especially the younger generation, in Denmark take an interest in Uganda and maybe even to encourage them to blog and thereby build a bridge between Denmark and Uganda. They have been following the Ugandan blogosphere for a while, and after reading different blogs and just generally reading about Uganda, the angle they would like to put on the story is this:

The idea: Does blogging create new opportunities for Ugandans because it enables people to communicate through a media which automatically crosses country borders and can provide a whole new ordience, so to speak, for free? Does it give Ugandans the opportunity to speak more freely and nuanced about issues which are regarded sensitive in Uganda? What other benefits does blogging provide the Ugandans with which are not possible through the established media?

The documentary, when finished, is to be shown in the Danish secondary school/high school as part of educational material on developing issues. Through a documentary about blogging in Uganda the Danes can get to know Uganda from another angle than the usual. They group would like to follow two or three Ugandan bloggers, give them the space to tell their story and understand why they blog. They would also ask Ugandan bloggers the permission to film during the UBHH in April.

I am aware that anonymity is of great importance for some Ugandan bloggers - for good reasons. However, what ever your background/interest/expectations are we are very keen to hear what Ugandan bloggers think about the idea of participating in a short documentary and in communicating to a Danish ordience this way.

The idea is very much in line with what Country Boyi is writing here and Jackfruity here - although a different way of attention.

Please feed back via comments (preferably  here) or write directly to pernille(at)fastmail(dot)fm

PS. I have already posted comments with this request to a selection of Ugandan bloggers which I reckon are some of the more active. Find an up-dated list of Ugandan bloggers to the right.