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

Lessons learned

My IBM laptop finally crashed. 'I has a lot of virusses', the lady at the Indian computer agency at Bombo Road in downtown Kampala explained, when I handed it in. 'I will take a long time to fix it.', she added, while I was looking for somewhere to let out my anger. The thing is, it makes me feel amputated to be without my laptop, in spite the lady assured me it would be no problem to fix it. Fortunately, last week I invested in an external harddrive (which unfortunately doesn't correspond with my stand-in laptop.), which I'd recommend everybody travelling with a laptop in Africa. A laptop can easily be stolen, and in my case easily filled with red dust and infected with virus as I hook up everywhere (and didn't secure it properly). Argh!

The Coke side of Kampala

They sure drink a lot of Coke in Uganda...

Uganda is ready for CHOGM

Billboards and posters all over Kampala featuring famous Ugandans are telling us that Uganda is ready for CHOGM.

For a long time doubt has been expressed about Uganda's capacity, security and effiency to accommodate the meeting. We observe the daily progress of the construction of new hotels in the centre of Kampala, and ask each other if they will ever make enough room for the CHOGM participants arriving.

However, I see the billboard and poster campaign as an interesting  - and constructive - respond from the Ugandan government; - a positive branding of CHOGM - we ARE ready! I hope so. It is important to Uganda to get this attention. Positive attention. Read more here.

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...

Mabira, CHOGM, FDC and governmental rhetorics

One of Uganda's leading dailies,  the New Vision, Saturday published an editorial titled; 'Opposition should have Uganda at heart'. You can read the whole text here.

In short, the editorial is about the Mabira Forest protests, the up-coming Common Wealth Meeting (CHOGM) and the opposition. In particular I paid attention to the last three paragraphs.

It is unthinkable that any opposition party in the UK would try to boycott an international event benefiting the entire country the way FDC has been doing. Already in Malta, the opposition tried to block Uganda from hosting CHOGM.

You can disagree with Museveni and his Government on many issues. But you should do so in a constructive way, using the appropriate channels, and always having the interests of the country at heart. One only has to look at Somalia to see what anarchy and the pursuit of selfish interests by certain politicians and groups can lead to in Africa.

Certainly, the Government could do more to listen to the people and engage the opposition in dialogue. But attempts of the opposition to sabotage CHOGM and turn Uganda into a pariah- state cannot be justified.

Somehow this editorial piece manages to blend it all together in order to conclude that 1) the opposition (FDC?) uses the 2) Mabira Forest protests to create insecurity in general, in the streets in Kampala in particular, 3) but for the higher purpose of destroying Uganda's opportunities to show off at its best when the CHOGM visitors arrive. If they will arrive, because rumours will that anonymous sources in the British government have stated that the situation might be too insecure regarding the safety of the Queen. In fact there is a strong tendency at the moment to stirr up rumours of uncertainty concerning the CHOGM, not a very factual discussion, I'm afraid. But it makes you think.

It seems as if the editorial is using the old trick to play on dubious loyalty to the nation's interests. But why would the New Vision do so? Wouldn't a serious editorial also question the Ugandan government's evident attempts to cover up that they are failing on time management for the CHOGM regarding road construction, hotels, power, diesel, Juba Peace Talks, well - with or without the CHOGM - the Ugandan government is failing regarding the IDP camps in northern Uganda, the instability of the Juba Peace Talks and the growing problem in Karamoja in north eastern Uganda. If the CHOGM secretariat are looking for reasons to boycot the next meeting in Uganda, there are better ones.

And why doesn't the editorial question that the people behind the Mabira protests and the FDC might have different motives, maybe they are not even the same? I don't know, I don't have any preferences, I am just looking for some journalistic coverage on a higher level. I would actually like to know what is what, but the papers doesn't dig into it. For me this editorial is quite an interesting example of giving space to governmental rethorics. (Actually, go back and give it a try while imagining that the progress-friendly president wrote the editorial).

The images are from the Jinja Road/Yussuf Lule roundabout, where the Electoral Commission, the institutional body charged with administering elections in Uganda, has recently painted impressive slogans motivating Ugandans to practise their democratic right.

Confused?!

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.

How Kampala got its name

Before the arrival of the British, the Buganda King, the Kabaka had chosen the area that was to become Kampala as one of his favourite hunting grounds. The area was made up of numerous rolling hills and lush wetlands. It was an ideal breeding ground for various antelopes - particularly the Impala. When the British arrived they called the area the Hills of the Impala.

The word Impala is used to describe a particular species of antelope (Aepyceros melampus) common across Africa - the word's origin is likely to have been from the Zulu language in South Africa. It was then adopted into the English language by the British. The language of the Buganda, Luganda, adopted many 'English' words from Buganda's interaction with the British.

In this case, the word 'impala' was adopted and the Baganda translated the "...hill of the Impala" as Kasozi ka Empala - Kasozi means 'hill' in Luganda, ka means 'of' and empala means 'impala'. When spoken in Luganda the 'ka' and 'empala' are pronounced together, as one word - Kaampala, and soon whenever the Kabaka went hunting the Baganda would say Kabaka agenze e "ka Empala" - "The Kabaka has gone to Ka'mpala". The name Kampala soon stuck.

Taken from the Wikipedia.

Bar El Gazel - a new bar in Kampala

The Southern Sudanese province gave inspiration to a bar off off the Port Bell Road in Kampala (also seen spelled Bar El Gazal, Bar El Ghazel etc.).

I might be mistaken, but I think that will be the only connection?!

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?!