Sensible Expressions,

Trondheim City Contrast.. (Nighty words, daylight pictures)

2014-10-22T18:48:00.002+02:00

The day was ending, The town was hurriedly preparing for sleep as usual in the rainy season, trying to get things done in time before more rain erupted which had been gathering in the darkening sky in swollen, angry clouds, only waiting for dusk to release all the rage accumulated during the day.

Weary shop attendants were putting away goods they had not managed to sell in the course of the day, closing shops and grimy hired hands from a worshop were busy struggling to roll some gigantic tires, the size of mill wheels back indoors.

Set out on a sidewalk, they blocked the way, forcing passersby to slow down and stop for at least a moment,long enough to plant the seeds of temptation to buy some new car wheels.

In the downtown area, near the bus terminal, offices had already closed up and some were in the process of doing so.

With a rattle and a bang, one after the other the shutters and locks were coming down on shops, hidden in the deep shade of arcades running the legnth of the low rise buildings on the main streets.
So was the Friday evening in Trondheim city.

Ebola, the blind eye of diplomacy?

2014-10-16T16:59:00.002+02:00

The international community had turned a blind eye to the Northern Uganda conflict for over 15 years until UN under Secretary General for Humanitarian Affairs and Emergency Relief Cordinator Jan Egeland Visit to IDP's camp in November 2003 marked a turning point. The same is also true as has been the case with the Ebola virus.

His endless quoted statement on the biggest forgotten, neglected humanitarian emergency in the world today both raised international awareness and prompted the intervention of hundreds of state and other external actors.

On one hand the pressure created by the work of diplomat activities and the hardline political course of action by donors broke the blind eye diplomacy. Ebola has been in existence for many years and surprisingly contained until recently. Why the fuss now?

Cultural Fusion

2014-10-16T16:32:00.000+02:00

The colourful innovative and uniquely stylised works of art exhibited in form of dressing,

music and food can transform any society but the impact of cultural fusion is so great that it is still felt and highly visible today.

History itself by definition relies on written documentation, the absence of documentation of a cultural incident would portray much of it as lack of history.

When different cultures fuse, the result is magical as was witnessed in Molde University College at an International day event.

The fine works of art exhibited were a vivid testimony that humanity can work together as one and share best moments by celebrating each other’s culture..

Minding my own business..

2014-09-20T01:28:00.001+02:00

Picking one’s nose can seem the most natural thing to do when one feels uncomfortable or has an itchy sensation. There is nothing wrong with the removal of the offending speck or whatever it is but it is wrong when you do it with unrestrained aplomb or even worse when you seem to be enjoying it.

I had the unfortunate experience of witnessing a smartly dressed man pick his nose with such poise. It seemed like the most natural thing on earth. He stuck his middle finger deep into his left nostril where it stayed for not less than 10 seconds. He then brought it out and minutely surveyed whatever it had come out with, shook it off and the same finger delved into his nose again.

This time it took longer and when it did eventually come out, it went through the same rigorous survey. To my horror, he removed a hanky and blew his nose.

How can someone do that without a tinge of embarrassment? Okay what was I thinking by staring at him? I should have minded my own business..!

Twins and Society

2014-08-22T23:37:00.004+02:00

Traditionally, within what is today a peaceful continent, the birth of twins was seen as an event of great significance in Africa, though some cultures regarded it as a great blessing while others perceived it to be an omen of ill.

For example, a woman who bore twins that died, kept two small pots in her house, as effigies of the children into which she milks herself every evening, and will continue to do so for five months, fulfilling the time appointed by nature for suckling children, lest the spirits of the dead should persecute her. The twins were not buried as ordinary people are buried underground, but placed in an earthenware pot used for holding beer. They were taken to the jungle and placed by the tree, with the pot turned mouth downwards.

Further on the death of the child, she smears herself with butter and ashes and runs frantically about, tearing her hair and bewailing piteously, whilst the men of the place use towards her the foulest language apparently in abuse of her person, but in reality to frighten away the demons who have robbed her nest.

In another province, twins were ordered to be killed and thrown into water the moment they are born, lest droughts and famines should oppress the land. Should anyone attempt to conceal the twins, the whole family would be murdered by the chief. However, in some other cases, if the birth of twins increased the number of a family size, they were accepted with delight.

Reality vs Beliefs

2014-07-24T19:59:00.003+02:00

Popular wisdom among a particular African tribe has it that the spirit of a dead man resides in his jaw bone for which reason it is customary for the jawbone of a deceased king to be removed and preserved in a separate shrine before the rest of the body is buried in a royal tomb while the rest of the bodies are thrown upon a heap.

There is ambiguity about this thought but does it matter where our bodies lay to rest after our days on earth have come to pass?

It goes without saying or it ought to that man is naturally a being seeking divine intervention.

The tale of Alice Auma (Lakwena), a 29 year old Acholi woman from Northern Uganda whose largely undistinguished life transformed when she claimed to have been possessed by the spirit of an Italian Solider called Lakwena led such a rebellion in the country. Much as mobilizing a discourse of spiritual cleansing enabling her soldiers to believe that bullets would not touch them on the front line if they smeared themselves with a particular oil and that stones would turn into bullets as they striked their enemies actually worked as her troop became larger and larger until they were finally crashed down.

Her claim to spiritual authority blinded the true aspects of real life but then, faith can move mountains right?

I once watched some environmental enthusiasts drinking their own urine in the belief that it actually replenishes their skin. In normal sense what comes out of the body is waste and that in the first place is a reason why it is out of the body but looking at it closely, most of €thcosmetics products do contain urea so that kind of hangs in the balance

Jazz Land

2014-07-15T22:29:00.002+02:00

The pleasant town of Molde has grown significantly in recent years hosting the largest Jazz festival in

Norway

since 1961. It is a pleasant enough place with good facilities generating inherent interest to travellers and locals alike.

Should you presumably be visiting

Norway

in August and a jazz lover, you may be approached about whether you would like to visit Molde.

Your answer to this query should be yes. This setting is a place to gain a faintly accurate impression of the rich culture of

Norway

’s rich intrinsic appeal made up by the utterly stupendous backdrops of the sea and green mountains rolling out of town in every direction.

Perhaps the most eagerly sought of all festivals in the country, 2014 surely does have lots to offer.

Long horned cows

2014-07-15T22:22:00.001+02:00

From mountain gorillas to lions,from elephants to shoe bills,

Uganda

is blessed with more than it’s fair share of impressive wild beasties. But it is also the major stronghold for what is unquestionably the most imposing of Africa’s domestic creatures; the remarkably long horned breed of cattle associated with various pastoralists most specifically the Ankole tribe.

Their cattle comes in several colours ranging from uniform rusty yellow to blotched black and white, but their preposterous monstrous horns which grow from either side of the head like inverted elephant tusks. Cattle keeping is as deeply bound as a lifestyle.

In past times, unlike the Maasai whose diet was not as might be expected centered on meat but rather on blood tapped from the vein of a living cow combined with a relatively meagre yield of milk, the Ankole viewed cattle as close to family so that slaughtering a cow for meat was regarded as akin to cannibalism but it was customary for infertile cows to be slaughtered for meat.

Norway in Pictures

2014-07-09T20:25:00.003+02:00

Norway's beauty can best be described in pictures and for that reason, i will limit my words.

It is believed that the Country's name means the Northward Route.

It is remarkably known for it's many fjords

and unique terrain

with an extensive coastline.

Predominantly Christian hence the Stave churches attributed to the Vikings.

The 2nd least densely populated country in Europe and

it truly presents the most visually impressive coastal scenery.

Children and Conflict

2013-12-20T17:32:00.002+01:00

The breakdown of civil war in any country will inevitably see the same kind of child soldier. The targets by the so called rebel leaders being children compeled to kill one another, their own families, fighting as soldiers in an armed force deliberately composed of children committing atrocities with such malevolence and unrestrained evil is an experience no child should go through.

Just as seemingly contradictory standpoints are common in every human setting, the transition of any child from civilian to soldier is a painful experience. Learning to adapt to new settings, vulnerable with no experience of battle comes with a lot of pyschological pressure.

I was abducted one afternoon on my way home from the farm. Life was terrible, it would rain hard on us on cold nights. I was tied up with other abductees and forced to carry looted food to a hideout in the bush, sometimes given loads to carry and forced to walk distances I was not used to. If I slowed down or became weak, I was beaten. That is when I realized that things were not good.

In days to come the new recruits had to quickly learn how to live in their new environment. How to sleep without shelter,where to fetch water, how to cope with the long walking distances and much more. They easily get killed if they tried to escape, were not able to walk any longer or refused an order..
We are removing the civilian type of life from you. we want to change you into a military person continued Martin. Instead of giving me a gun, I was given a lockwire. Then we got some six people and I was told to use the lockwire to beat these people.
And I had to do it, because if you dont do it you are the next person.

Such horiffying experiences are common during ab abductees initial time with the revels but if the abductee was ready to take on his new role as soldier, the situation could improve.The time you are threatened is when you are still new but when you are a real soldier, a good fighter, already you have been trained, you are now respected.

James a 17 year old school drop out from Northern Uganda (a child) surprised me when he came to the conclusion that vigilante attacks sometimes even against their own people, can be legitimate when no other options are open, when the political climate has stifled any oppositional effort, when you can do nothing. With this in mind, I consider myself fortunate to have escaped all this psychological pain and use this blog as a sensible expression of sensitization.

Create or Criticize

2013-10-16T13:37:00.000+02:00

It had been ages since I laid eyes on my long lost friend Mill. Our meeting over dinner was shadowed by good old tales to the extent that time seemed insurmountable. During our interesting conversation I could not help but question silently, what if this and that story was turned into a screenplay? Wouldn’t it make a great movie? The same is true of African stories. Our continent is rich of tales but sadly the few recorded ones are either left in shelves to dust and read by minority or are written by others not of African origin who may not get the story exactly as it happened or may write it in a different angle as reflected by his or her culture.

Looking at African movies which have become blockbuster hits in Hollywood for example Last King of Scotland (about Idi Amin), Blood Diamond (sierra Leone) just to mention but a few, they all seem to revolve around a central theme and many Africans whose subject is closer home tend to sharply criticize the movies on the basis that the events were not recorded or told as precisely as it happened. But then I am left wondering, if we are keen to criticize what are we doing about it? Why don’t our lovely or sad stories hit Hollywood or the major film industries worldwide?

As I delve in the screenwriting process dubbed “African stories written and told by Africans” a number of challenges hit the desk. Who are the major audiences? What do they expect of me? Who is behind production? The bitter truth in the top notch film world is hard to swallow but there is a system or procedure set up that far and wide has to be followed no wonder most movie genres about African true stories seem to take a particular path.

The bitter truth to swallow is that there is a rule and the screenwriting rule has to be followed and in that case may end up distorting a lot in order to either suit particular audiences or the money makers. Another issue revolves around production. I must admit that I am not an ardent fan of Nollywood movies and this is because of the level of production.

The theme may be central and good but fails at execution. Though successful, Nollywood is a clear example of what we need to be able to tell our stories in our own way by our own people.

The current state of Northern Uganda

2012-03-13T20:38:00.005+01:00

With the viral video on You Tube produced by 'Invisible Children' about Northern Uganda advocating for the capture of rebel Leader Joseph Kony having a great impact on the world, this is to bring us to speed with the current state of that region . The sounds of guns, cries and screams which were the order of the day two decades ago, are just but memories that will linger on forever on the minds of the victims.

Joseph Kony

Northern Uganda is currently peaceful. Although the memories of Kony's war are hard to erase from nearly every family in Northern Uganda, it has led to bitter tastes in the mouths of many. People hardly talk about the sad moments and as soon as they do talk about the war or Kony, tempers either flare or a very somber mood prevails which is understandable.

It is not unusual to see graveyards within homesteads. Many are trying to shed the past behind literally reconstructing their lives by indulging in various activities like farming, building just to mention but a few however, that cannot be said of everyone.

During the war, many were displaced and resorted to living in camps for refuge which came with relief food as well as other social amenities. Areas like Olwal are still highly concentrated with people still living in the displaced camp centers. Although most are trying to leave the camps and go back to reconstruct their homes others view it as trying to make a mountain out of an ant hill especially the old since they have lost hope and camps provide them with food and access to medicine or other needs. Living out of the camp therefore is another story all together as starting life from scratch is not as easy for not only the old but also the young, so the dependence syndrome is very high.

Camp in Gulu

International organisations are quite a number as well as local Non Governmental Organisations and they have provided for many children opportunities to study as well as psychologically motivate the child soldiers or women impregnated during the war period. To note is that they youth are really trying to come to terms with reality as most engage in sporting activities.

Night life booms since many night clubs and social places are stemming up to cater for the high demand of not only residents in Northern Uganda but also travellers as well as employees from different areas of Uganda and worldwide. The prevalence of HIV is also another thing which has to be talked about, I may not have the correct statistics but can boldly state that it indeed has spread there like wild fire.

Infrastructure especially roads are really bad and this makes transportation a major setback.The needs of many people in Northern Uganda really stem from an individual's as well as communal perspective. I believe education is the solution to many problems as a high percentage of children are not in schools and this would eventually spring a generation of uneducated children implying that the vicious cycle of poverty would not come to an end soon if the trend goes on.
As child Soldiers and other soldiers are returning home, settling them within the community is also another issue. Not everyone has a receptive heart needless to say forgiving and as much as chiefs and elders in communities are doing their best to use traditional practices to enable people forgive each other which work best compared to modern courts. Whatever the case, Northern Uganda is much more peaceful than ever but what is needed most is reconstruction.

African Wood

2012-03-13T16:53:00.000+01:00

At the mention of Nollywood, Riverwood, Ugawood and many other WOODs, the film industry comes to mind. Nollywood takes the crown for producing more films annually than Hollywood and Bollywood combined.

However, given the so many movies, how many have been awarded and attained international fame? Besides that the quality of production is still wanting. Without being so critical, I must agree that the African film industry came at a time when we needed it most and it has become a source of entertainment to many given that we can relate to ideas presented. With this slight notion in mind, one asked, how come African movies however good they are hardly receive international fame? An interesting answer was given.

An interesting answer was given..Who awards the film stars, producers, directors and the entire filming crew? It is the dominant nations and that is what they want to maintain, Dominancy! So however much we struggle so long as the star is not from one of the dominant nations chances of recieving an Oscar or Academy award hangs in the balance...

Health does not negotiate!

2011-12-10T14:02:00.001+01:00

An expectant woman had to walk six miles from her home to a district health center and ended up giving birth at a police station as health workers chased her away because she could not raise the required amount of money prompting her to report the case to the police. As a result, she delivered a pair of male twins prematurely at the police station. Unfortunately, the twins died of coldness.

Another lucky expectant woman had to give birth in darkness because there was a black out at a general government hospital with no back up power that prompted midwives to use a mobile phone torch to assist the woman. when a minister’s driver is highly paid compared to a doctor, it makes me question why our leaders do not consider that health is wealth and women are the mothers of our nation. Given that we have very good medical training facilities why don’t we make good use of the few doctors we have and treat them as king and queens to avoid brain drain!

REALITY CHECK

2011-10-22T08:54:00.000+02:00

Looking at a glass darkly, Northern Uganda befits this notion. Decades of terror that led to terrific brutality cannot be erased from the minds of many

but memories were refreshed when it was revealed that 100 American troops had been sent to Uganda to help capture the rebel leader Joseph Kony, the man behind atrocities in Northern Uganda and neighboring countries like Congo, Chad and South Sudan who has ever since been at large.

Society welcomed the news with mixed reactions several questioning America’s intention saying that the help comes when the dust has settled while some scholars claim that oil discovery, the black resource is of tremendous interest and this comes as a bargaining chip.

At the end of the day, the nation’s fate lies in the hands of policy makers. Many opinions were aired but the bottom line is that the rule of law shall always prevail and our leaders actions determine the fate of the nation. We hope for the death of self interest and corruption at the expense of even distribution of resources for the development of our country.

Sidelined Benefit

2011-10-22T08:41:00.004+02:00

Someone well known to me opted to quit school saying that there was no meaning in seeking formal education. Unfortunately he is only 16 years old.

My life span at the university sometimes makes me wonder whether what I pick in class adds value to my life yet majority of life’s lessons are in living life itself. The education system has become wanting as students are trained to be job seekers rather than job creators. Theory is hailed more than practical and experimental learning and the job market has been blamed to be biased especially when many competent people are competing for few resources.

With our curriculum designed ages ago dating back to colonial times, is it fitting for us to continue with this type of learning yet times are changing tremendously? Vocational education has been under-looked yet it proves promising and undoubtedly a major solution to the flooded formal white and blue collar occupations. How about a blend of both formal and vocational education?

Surprisingly, many have the notion that vocational education is meant for book failures. This attitude has to change if we are to push for an industrialized Africa.

How you treat others is exactly how they will treat you!

2011-10-13T17:34:00.002+02:00

A long time ago in China , a girl named Li-Li got married & went to live with her husband and mother-in-law. In a very short time, Li-Li found that she couldn't get along with her mother-in-law at all. Their personalities were very different, and Li-Li was angered by many of her mother-in-law's habits. In addition, she criticized Li-Li constantly.

Days passed, and weeks passed. Li-Li and her mother-in-law never stopped arguing and fighting. But what made the situation even worse was that,
according to ancient Chinese tradition, Li-Li had to bow to her mother-in-law and obey her every wish. All the anger and unhappiness in the house was causing Li-Li's poor husband great distress.

Finally, Li-Li could not stand her mother-in-law's bad temper and dictatorship any longer, and she decided to do something about it. Li-Li went to see her father's good friend, Mr. Huang, who sold herbs. She told him the situation and asked if he would give her some poison so that she could solve the problem once and for all.

Mr. Huang thought for awhile, and finally said, "Li-iL, I will help you solve your problem, but you must listen to me and obey what I tell you."

Li-Li said,"Yes, Mr. Huang, I will do whatever you tell me to do. "Mr. Huang went into the back room, and returned in a few minutes with a package of herbs. He told Li-Li, "You can't use a quick-acting poison to get rid of your mother-in-law, because that would cause people to become suspicious. Therefore, I have given you a number of herbs that will slowly build up poison in her body. Every other day prepare some delicious meal and put a little of these herbs in her serving. Now, in order to make sure that nobody suspect you, when she dies, you must be very careful to act very friendly towards her. "Don't argue with her, obey her every wish, and treat her like a queen." Li-Li was so happy. She thanked Mr. Huang and hurried home to start her plot of murdering her mother-in-law.

Weeks went by, and months went by, and every other day, Li-Li served the specially treated food to her mother-in-law. She remembered what Mr. Huang had said about avoiding suspicion, so she controlled her temper, obeyed her mother-in-law, and treated her like her own mother.

After six months had passed, the whole household had changed. Li-Li had practiced controlling her temper so much that she found that she almost
never got mad or upset. She hadn't had an argument with her mother-in-law in six months because she now seemed much kinder and easier to get along with.

The mother-in-law's attitude toward Li-Li changed, and she began to love Li-Li like her own daughter.. She kept telling friends and relatives that Li-Li was the best daughter-in-law one could ever find. Li-Li and her mother-in-law were now treating each other like a real mother and daughter. Li-Li's husband was very happy to see what was happening.

One day, Li-Li came to see Mr. Huang and asked for his help again She said, "Dear Mr. Huang, please help me to keep off the poison from killing my mother-in-law. She's changed into such a nice woman, and I love her like my own mother. I do not want her to die because of the poison I gave her." Mr. Huang smiled and nodded his head. "Li-Li, there's nothing to worry about. I never gave you any poison. The herbs I gave you were vitamins to improve her health. The only poison was in your mind and your attitude toward her, but that has been all washed away by the love which you gave to her."

Mapped future!

2011-10-04T11:26:00.002+02:00

‘Radio show awards AK 47 guns and grenades as prizes to children at a quiz contest in Somalia,’ reported BBC Radio at 21:00hrs East African time on the 20^th of September 2011. Given that this country is suffering from drought, war, and the gun is obviously highly valued, the question arises, why children? Besides, where are the mothers, sisters, aunts and grandmothers voices in an environment where men run the show?

In another instance, Eunice suffered the shame of working at a funeral home. Nevertheless, the job ‘designed’ for men paid her bills. The life giver, made a living out of people’s death. Seeing this woman hanging around morgues helping grieving relatives identify their victim’s dead bodies at an exorbitant fee, portrayed an unprecedented display of corporate conscience. Like a nest of cockroaches trying to survive, these two kinds of women face the challenge of society finding it hard to tolerate their views hence survive the hard way.

My challenge in creating change in the community lies in stereotypical tendencies based on cultural norms and the ideology that women are their own worst enemies. With all due respect, I believe that women deserve the best professions under conducive working conditions however by bringing out these two examples, I look at a silenced woman who cannot boldly speak in the presence of men and a professional woman whose job is esteemed to belong to men, others comparing it to feeding a dog’s tail expecting it to fatten.

Information is power so goes the old saying. The solution to rigid cultural norms, is buried in education. It is important to educate both men and women on how to respect each other. In the case of Female Genital Mutilation, the campaign worked as a result of community based practical education. Women should get economically dependent by taking on well paying jobs or opening up businesses that can meet their needs. Political Involvement is important as they say, everything rises and falls on leadership and this can arise from women voting women indiscriminately.

Currently, online communities are just cropping up in my continent. Urban centers have an advantage over rural areas and the main problem lies in the rural setting where literacy level is so poor and the aspect of translating some websites into languages understood by the locals is somehow problematic besides, affording broadband in a village which has epileptic power shortages is also one thing to consider. Anyway, I think there is still a long optimistic journey to go when it comes to using the digital age where it is mostly needed.

On a personal note, I have used it to interact with both men women who share the same values as I do blogging and in due course will translate some websites for people in rural settings so that they may be encouraged to read and understand most views that favour women at the end of the day, he who opens a school, closes a prison.

The Untold Story

2011-09-17T14:23:00.001+02:00

He was presumably born a boy but grew up as a girl. Alas! George became Georgina. Confusion in this story does not take away my interest in hermaphrodites, (people born with two sex organs) and later grow up into women as a result of sex change perhaps due to dominant female genes, upbringing or reasons best known to them.

In Africa, a continent filled with everyday tragedy, the subject of sex change is unheard of. Hermaphrodites at birth were traditionally thrown in the river, split into two or cast away together with their mother unlike Australia which has just welcomed transgender people in passport application as indeterminate sex.

It was Georgina’s experience that led me to an online journey, a discovery that few minds could find comfort in and internet succeeded where most had failed.

Georgina was intensively bombarded with hurls of insults by many who previously knew her sexual orientation. Apparently, her female genes were dominant and having been brought up as a boy during her teens, she woke up one morning to cramps and heavy menstrual flow as her breasts subsequently grew larger and larger. She evidently turned out female and an expensive surgery had to be conducted to save her face. Toothless and dejected, she was psychologically distressed.

We can talk about her emotional turmoil until the cattle come back home but she sought refuge working at a tavern, as drugs and alcohol took the best of her. In the quest of helping her, I begun an online research landing on several women empowerment organisations which could particularly have her story out as well as ground research.

My personal vision is a realization that our dreams are too big for us to grow in them. Nothing is too good to be true and my dream of seeing Georgina’s untold story out to a wide audience with the hope that people will have an empathetic perception

towards the few in Goergina’s shoes.

How bad is Very bad?

2011-09-14T16:41:00.001+02:00

Long ago in a little village in ancient China lived a very old man and his one son. The man was very poor. He lived in a small shack on his tiny plot of land. His son was his pride and joy, as well as his only hope of care in his old age. An old work horse was his most valued possession, since it pulled the plough and also the wagon to take crops to market.

One day the horse ran away. When the villagers heard about it, they came to lament the man’s poor fortune. “Oh! This is bad-VERY BAD!”, they mourned.

The old man looked up from his bench outside his door and responded, “How do you know it’s bad?”

Time passed. Now the son had to pull the plough himself and the wagon as well. Work was harder and they struggled more than ever to survive.

Then one day their horse returned home bringing with him a whole herd of wild horses! The son was able to corral many of them. Now the neighbours came to rejoice in the man’s good fortune, for horses were a measure of wealth.

The son spent many days breaking in the horses, training them and preparing them for sale. One day a horse threw him off its back and the son broke his leg. Soon the townsfolk heard of it and came to grieve with the old man,

“Oh, this is bad, VERY BAD! This is so very bad!” And the old father just looked up and asked them, “How do you know it’s bad?”

A few weeks later, while the son’s leg was still healing in a splint, a detail of Chinese War lords rode thundering into town. They took with them ALL of the young men of the village-except, of course, the son with the broken leg. None of those young men ever returned.

Unsilenced Witness

2011-09-13T20:08:00.001+02:00

'Man defiles girl and gets infected with HIV' read today’s news headline. A light conversation with a man seated next to me in a public service vehicle about this subject surprisingly pointed an accusing finger at the defiled girl. As more men overheard our discussion they collectively took the man’s side. Key to note was that the women on board, evidently the majority, sat silently as I defended the girl.

Shocked, dismayed and disappointed at this reaction I sought refuge in my phone and Facebooked, Tweeted and Blogged this headline. These are elements of Web 2.0 application and consequently received tremendous input from WOMEN within seconds. Would it have been the same reaction if women online were in this bus with a few outspoken men? The most exciting factor about Web 2.0.is that it is more than technology, an attitude that gives relinquishing control to set data free as well as communicate in a local yet meaningful global way, more or less a platform for all.

It is an open secret that women in Africa, specifically Uganda, have limited access to internet use and the few who do, may not exactly front for women’s empowerment. An example is given of the many women who get glued to their TV sets watching soap operas from channel to channel. The emotional attachment is amazing but these women may find it hard to make sense of the huge amount of information they receive. The same can be said of the internet especially Web 2.0. Some have used it for emotional benefit especially young women. However, this is not reason to fear for the future or weep for the past. A sticker on my friend’s door says, “Even if I let you in doesn’t mean I can’t kick you out!” and clearly points out what I am driving at. The solution to this can be infotainment, creatively invoking entertainment and information and by so doing, many get attracted to the given events while learning so much.

These tools are empowering because I have unlimited control to set the agenda for the day by posting on my walls, blogs and tweets whilst the feedback I receive , be it positive or negative, is without fear. I also have an opportunity to view what others are talking about and to share views that shape me. Certainly, it has been said that a child educated only at school is an uneducated child. Web 2.0 has become a learning environment, a transmission tool for civilization.

By virtue of the knowledge I have attained from interacting with others my confidence to front for women’s empowerment becomes possible simply because it is easier to be wise for others than for ourselves. George Burns says, “too bad that all people who really know how to run a country are busy driving taxi cabs or cutting hair.” Web 2.0 may not be a place that was designed for the purpose of empowering women but it has certainly helped empower me !

The Visit!

2011-08-12T22:57:00.000+02:00

The homestead engulfed in cattle and chicken scent was all of a sudden filled with a breeze of fresh air as wind swiftly blew trees which danced back and forth. Young children bare feet and dirty yet happy, waved at a distance on seeing us, the visitors, as some ran to closely have a glance at these strangers particularly this young girl who almost looked like them dressed in a white dress which many wore on Sundays or on special occasions, but was almost brown in color as we slowly approached the designated location. The sight of huts strategically placed in the homestead was a spectacle to behold and the thought of sitting in one; was exciting!

This thought was cut short as soon as many women begun ululating and singing songs of jubilation on seeing us. It was the first family visit to our village in Gulu, Northern Uganda. Before settling in the homestead, we were prevented from walking past a particular distance as an old woman, who could hardly walk without the support of a stick and I later learnt was my grand mother, came out of the largest grass thatched hut holding an egg which was thrown on the ground forcefully hence breaking before our very eyes and we were all instructed to cross over it, a tradition called “ Nyono Tong ngweno” This was done to cast away evil spirits which we may have carried from our long journey. Otherwise, bad omen would spread across the homestead. Tradition had to be observed to our surprise.

The sun set and the moon soon replaced it. The dim moon light was not enough, and as a result, my mother suggested that we all go to our huts. I was excited having longed to go into the African makeshift. As my three siblings and I ran to secure the best hut, mother called us back and whispered, “If you hear any commotion particularly the sound of soldiers or gun shots, run using the back door to the forest and do not call me or your dad. Just run for your life!”

I wasn’t scared but horrified! I could feel my heart beating through my throat as I walked to the hut I desired but now dreaded. Warmth from the crackling sound of burning coal lit by Aunt C, which burned bright, sent chills down my spine. The candle lit in the hut was not comforting at all. Even the fire flame that I once enjoyed no longer soothed me as it too was not spared by the wind. Its flames danced to the wind’s rhythm and there were times I even thought they would stop flaming and the uninvited rebels charge in. My cousin and sister, seemed at ease as they got acquainted and spent practically the whole night story telling. My brother was too young to comprehend what was happening.

Joseph Kony: Lord's Resistance Army Rebel Leader.

Terrified to the bone with no one to share my feelings with, I jogged down memory lane and slowly put two and two together. I remembered hearing my parents talking about a man called Joseph Kony, a spiritual rebel leader who resorted to violence on his own people after they rejected his tactic and leadership against the current government. Others claimed that he had special powers which protected him from assailants hence it was impossible to trail and kill him since he had acquired a double portion of powers from his cousin sister Alice Lakwena who self proclaimed to have received a calling from River Nile god’s to execute holy duties and ended up as a rebel leader at large. His soldiers uneducated and untrained, raided people’s homes for food and abducted children who would then be trained into soldiers and girls were forcefully married of to the soldiers or Kony himself. As these thoughts became clearer, sleep crept in and before I knew it, I was deep asleep.

When the wife earns more

2011-07-28T16:54:00.000+02:00

It is an open secret that we are living in a society where the role of women as only home makers has drastically changed. This has placed the male sex in a more or less vulnerable situation most especially when the wife earns more than her counterpart or needless to say when the husband is just but dependent on his wife’s meager earning.

“I cannot imagine my wife earning more than I do. This would demean my pride as a man,” says Kimani, a Kenyan businessman working in Kampala. Without reproach or fault finding, I have witnessed many families in tension as soon as the wife gets a better or high paying job. Mary and John established a loving family under humble beginnings. John worked as a local contractor while Mary stayed home and tended their small grocery farm that substituted their income. As fate would have it, Mary landed on a better job and that is when all hell broke loose. Her role as a “wife” according to John slowly came to test as she begun coming back home late and tired unable to perform household chores and wifely duties as was the norm. With time she became rude and less submissive withholding her finances and demanding that things be done her way claiming that she was also contributing massively to the family. This attitude by and large affected their relationship.

In another instance, Judy and Paul had a rocky relationship as Paul entirely depended on his wife’s income because he had not been able to secure a decent job. Be that as it may, he begun demanding that she accounts for all the money she makes, her movement was restricted and her life was more or less a living hell due to Paul’s frustration. With time he stole from her, embarrassed her in public and became an alcoholic subjecting the family to debts and depression but this did not kill Judy’s spirit, she worked hard each day so that their son could afford basic needs.

Clinical psychologist Maryanne says, “men are naturally tasked with the responsibility of providing for their families but when the roles are reversed, in most cases, they feel as if their sense of manhood is put to test and that is why some resort to violence, alcoholism and other vices. It is upon women to be supportive of their husbands and not rub it in their men’s faces as this triggers conflict.”

In some cases, some families survive the test of time depending on the foundation of their relationship says Mbabazi, “when my husband lost his job, we were hit hard but then did not sit and embrace our misfortune, infact, it brought us closer. As I went on working, he supported me and also applied for jobs elsewhere. With time, he was lucky enough and we are back on track. I never proved him wrong but always loved him and did all a woman can do for her man.”

The Holy book clearly states that he who does not work should not eat and a man who cannot provide for his family is worse than an infidel. True to these words, many young men on our streets lie idle, gambling, playing ludo, cards just to mention but a few sadly, some have families to fend for while others are soon to be responsible dads. Do we blame it on the current economic times that have forced our men out of the working environment or a lazy culture that hides under the demise of unemployment and lack of jobs?

Petroleum Curse?

2011-07-19T14:24:00.000+02:00

Recently, UK-based oil exploration and production company Tullow Oil discovered reserves of nearly 2 billion barrels of oil in rural western Uganda. The largest finds are in the Lake Albert Basin which lies between Uganda and Congo.

This discovery is being called the largest onshore oil discovery in sub-Saharan Africa in 20 years and is being compared to the so called Nigerian petroleum curse in which billions of dollars in oil revenues are siphoned off by corrupt leaders while surrounding communities still live in poverty.

My research thesis calls for immediate attention on the following issues: There lacks local expatriates to carry out this exercise and as reason foreign expatriates are called upon to transfer skills into the country, which the locals can easily adapt.

Uganda has a very different type of crude oil (heavy waxy crude) which is not liquid and requires to be heated up to 50 degrees without damaging it which poses as a challenge calling for high expertise. It is predicted that while Uganda’s political risk will increase, western states will have less say in Uganda matters.

There will be transfer of skills and technology into the country and Ugandans will be equipped with skills required for the sector through formal and industrial training," meaning that foreigners will do most of the work. So does this work for the good of the country or not?

Web Freedom

2011-05-26T08:14:00.000+02:00

It has been called the mind and flesh of human communication. Internet Technology in Africa is innovating at a cutting edge, being ahead of law sometimes.

They say that internet has always and will always be regulated but is there a standard way of regulating what we communicate on the web? Ethiopia governs the entire internet, Uganda cuts off access to twitter and Facebook in calls of protests or critical situations in the country.

In the web society, who is making the rules? Rulers will state that in civilizing the internet, privacy is the key priority while the population will state that freedom of speech is their main agenda so where does that leave us?