My comments on the campaign trail..... Part 1

Interesting to watch all the political parties hit the road again to ask the Ugandans to vote for them. Money is being sought by some, others are minting from supplying the campaigners as the fairly informed Ugandans are watching from a distance.... Wondering what will happen this time round. Whether they will wake up to bigger gullies in the roads, less equipment & medicine in the hospitals and rusted schools, gun shots and more.... They all pray that peace prevails for they have learned that this may be the best they can get from any of the leaders at the moment!!!

We all know the lubiri was attacked because the government had issues to sort with the kabaka of the time, the massacre in Ombaci & others were done because the government of the time had issues to sort, the “grass suffered in GULU and the greater north, in Lira & Soroti because the elephants were fighting”, The same “grass suffered in Luwero because elephants were fighting there also” to name just some memorable times. Who wants the grass to burn again, who wants to watch blood spill no no no one...

I used to sympathize with that (UPC) party but I think they have fundamental weaknesses. They are not moving with the times....1. They need to consider serious re-branding 2. They need to have a serious media office providing accurate information (in their opinion) about their ideals as well as clean the bad image that they have had over time 3. They have businesses! They should have employed experts to build a second tower and make them self sustaining also renovate the old building! 4. They should embrace the more youthful leaders in their party and stop attaching everything to history. If they cannot do this what will they do for dear Uganda? Where are their serious ideas, this is what we “aliens” want to see set the example of what you would do for Uganda.

I feel like they are thinking in slow motion - sorry to say if you are a UPC die hard. DP? Well well it seems like Chairman Mao a good man, getting into the game of dirt and mad, a leader for a future structured systems with all key players doing their part to add up to the big picture! The “aliens” would probably understand you but are we ready for you? I am not sure, sadly I do not “feel” this party as it seems to have internal wrangles as well... The historical leaders seem to sit back and add limited value to the campaigns. My thoughts wonder far and wide is there a semblance of tribal issues, religious or the Buganda verses Uganda question – well just thinking.... Chairman Mao “Who are the people suffering from superiority complex?”

FDC ? Could this be NRM in new dress/skin or could this be the ones who have missed the bread? Just thinking, is the agenda a people centric or a war of two bruised Lions? Anyway that would be over simplifying issues but FDC seems to have traits of the current leadership which is largely considered the best or is it a perception of the few who are not aware? So is the gist of the problems political or really social-economic, where does the real problem lie?  Anyway to the others I wish them luck for I am still observing!

Uganda is faced with a serious challenge; the corruption eating away at the current government is not funny, the increasing divisions in tribes and religion! Then you look at fragmented opposition with each weak party head fighting for dear life well well what can I say.... As they fight to lead us we toil away with our broken roads, riddled with everything moving from one legged animals and machines to 20 legged items...  the appalling level of gas’s emitions no one knows how much lead is in the air and how many other poisonous substances, no one knows how clean the water bodies are we just pray..... And we are hoping to make a living in a country where service to all has become a miracle!

They promise development in the next five years, they promise good things – we shall be developed with large lit roads and sidewalks, no dust or potholes to grant about, schools with superior architecture, libraries (including e-libraries) with an explicitly serene environment to read and learn centres of innovation everywhere! Wow up country towns with well lit streets info points for travellers and tourists, water and sewerage systems and electricity in West Nile, airports and name it we shall be bustling in an entertainment of all good things!

It is indeed turning to "For God and my Stomach" We are observers! Where is the power that we should wield? What is our role in this circus? We sit on the fence and watch as the wiser continue to use us, the unsuspecting people who have learned to be content with mediocre life, learned to give up on dreams and learn to accept the status quo. We say we are extended families, a nation of friendly and receptive people? But it seems we are more individualistic than any other race I have heard of - so will we be something, are we going to see light at the end?

I wish I was from another country sometimes - sorry this morning I am very negative - I need a hero! WE SIT UP DAY AND NIGHT AND LIKE, COMMENT AND WE HAVE ALL THE TOOLS FACEBOOK, LINKEDin, MYSPACE, TWITTER, YOU TUBE, MAILING LISTS..... etc But we are new and sophiscated we believe we are “aliens” and part of a different world so we do not demand, we do not participate, we criticise and continue watch for we are the consumers of everything good or bad, for we have no choice, we consume innovation good or bad, we consume waste, we have no opinions and we watch life pass us by for we are the curse of human kind!!!!

Is this Africa or is this just a Ugandan Situation?

The Man OPP & Chi Chi

Its them man :-)

Hmmmnn waking up today, I remember that day very vividly and wonder where it all started but it kept coming to me!

This cramped up room in a Muva house somewhere in Kabalagala! Incidentally this place is noted for housing mostly Kenyan campus girls, and we were there making noise in the corridors for the room was too small to fit us all. There was this large table and a small TV these were good enough to keep us occupied. This is where I first saw her.

The Man OPP, was visibly taken up by lady Chi, quite talkative but more like in charge of the entire room, - I thought - okay may be she has potential, having known OPP for about 16 years now I wondered whether he was in for a ride being the kind of person he is – extremely polite and kind and ready to take up any responsibilities or even expenses at all times. It was not to be a one sided-affair for lady Chichi started paying us visits and joining us on various social missions. She made us eat well and become more responsible for our actions she taught us a new world!

She became part of the team, she made us laugh and we accepted her. We made friends and OPP became a proud, and a happy man and finally cut his hair a bit more, from the extra long and even once treated much earlier in the day…… He was evidently getting closer and closer to saying it to her ….. We also got closer to her friends, it became one big “manyake” affair but only OPP seemed to be focused on the ball.

I remember the day we swarmed off to the coastal town of Mombasa, half filling the Kenyan plane and chatting away like students in a school bus! The time had come to visit Chichi’s home, now Chichi can mean to have a pinch of arrogance ;-) and that makes her sometimes quite difficult to decipher, however Dad and Mum were kind and visibly excited for the blessings of a good man :-)! They thought to themselves, for these people to come from across the lands in large numbers must make him a good one…......

Over 45 people came only for just one of their daughters! We, of course made merry, had lots of food at Chi’s home, that night we went out to North coast and danced all the food away at Bobs and finally Tembo’s – some even experimented on the famous poles…., The next day we went site seeing with our new friends, visited the ocean front – meeting Danny too, who had apparently made up his mind on the one love too, we visited Fort Jesus, South Coast and the rest of clubs.

At Mofat a small resort we joked away and tried to outsmart each other in various exploits around Mombasa till we finally became the “M Crew” OPP had been approved and the Speaker was ecstatic for his long time solo man had gone down. Then without warning Chichi introduced me to one great person who has long become a life time friend very special indeed was this visit… Then is when I concluded that Chi was very excited to be in love with OPP a man of all. All the way from Paidha via Pakwach, Karuma, Kampala, Jinja, Busia (Well done), Nairobi to Mombawu....

The return was filled with joy happiness of accomplishment of a mission, but also of an official beginning of a romance that would stand the test of time. Many of the “M Crew” members returned thereafter and made decisions, they discovered the value of one verses many and are following suit day by day….

The D-day would happen in Kampala, it happened today three years ago – HAPPY ANNIVERSERY MY PIPO

The Apprentice

The Apprentice – Exciting real life practical learning...

Excitement just hit us like a cloud of sweet scent, we are geared towards a new day....

We started The Apprenticeship program after realizing that a lot of recent graduates had had no chance to participate in internship activities during their studies and therefore faced challenges getting jobs! So far a small 16 have gone through this exciting program and will soon be in sustainable employment or business.

The program facilitates applied learning, where theory is tried in actual business with very strict supervision and support. We actually thought the response from Ugandans would be very low and indeed many skeptics missed the very first Apprenticeship program, which will see off 4 first rate recent graduates turned into experts in their trade through vigorous practical trainings.

They will join the world of business and share there experience in business planning, research, product development, marketing, sales, account and project management as well as applied Information Technology.

In a world where no one is willing to take on trainees or spend vast amounts of money on training people for jobs, Asili Marketing & ICT has made it possible for recent graduates to train themselves by applying their theoretical knowledge in a company working together with senior consultants, mentors and experienced couches in a discipline of choice.

Lets have a good time, come learn and have fun making money....

Memiors of Gulu

It all started in Naguru hill "Mutte Hill" where we discussed and concluded the plans to visit Patiko to Celebrate the life of Mama - Everina. For me it was one visit for three occasions, it was going to be only the second time that I get to see Gulu but also celebrate the life of Everina (mother of Santa) our grand mother as well as pay respects to the mother of the Lawoko's it was indeed a trip to remember.....

We left for Gulu some cool afternoon, driving out quietly through Wandegeya, then past Bwaise and finally past Kawanda, this is the point at which you realize the journey has started. Before that, it is traffic, taxi's stopping every other ten meters and noisy "boda boda's" fighting to prove that they also have a right to the narrow, pealing and slimming road.... Driving on Bombo road after Kawanda is so nice the road is good, new and wide enough, the highway is open - so we set our music to the tunes of the Northern & West Nile connections - local music from Luo and Lugbara land as we waited for the sun to cool off - myself and Joachim - started dreaming about the Tuskers under the back seat we were headed to celebrate the lives of Women........

Knowing our ideas for the trip Ziki and Josephine (big sisters) would from time to time call pretending to find out how were doing, but they were actually monitoring our progress towards Gulu thinking that we might just take a left turn to the park - he he we knew what they were up to, we just kept them happy. Allan kept the speed at a steady 100 as we passed the thick treas and the land opened more and more to the sparse drier tries towards Kafu. Stopping by Migera, we discovered that it was going to be a bigger group Hon. K and his team were taking a break too and of course Cousins Ziki & Jose were carefully watching to see if we had started on our clever pints he he he not yet.........

When one is on the Gulu highway its very important to stop by Kafu bridge shopping center where some of the best "Ghost" meat is found, a delicacy of this meat together with ivory white cassava is so refreshing and so filling that one has to make sure they take at least a liter of water. If one has an unstable tummy they need to carry some desserts- hmn you know what I mean.

We were eating this spiced dish all they way to Karuma... as one draws closer to Karuma the trees get thicker and darker once more. The site in Karuma is breath taking emergying from a thicket is this massive water flowing Violently over the rocks as if to say give me way, we got there in the evening, at this time the sun coloring the water brown and orange is much cooler and kinder to the pint hungry, silently one gets to listen to the water running down the stream with little songs from the wild birds drawing circles and arrows in the air.

Just past the bridge were the monkeys seated on the road side watching as cars pass by and telling each other tales of the monkey history I guess. Looking at human being they muse and wonder what these creatures have made and now killing our beautiful land with their machines and new air that God had not made. It was time to pop the Tuskers, hmmnn they were still ice cold and "yaix" the green bottle looks cute. Allan had limited access due to the nature of his task....

We drove quietly past kamdini corner, Minakulu..... then arriving in Gulu we saw a giant town vibrant with activity it was about 9:00pm, and what!! Well JJ, Jerry & Hkiz were right there so feeling at home that I felt the adrenaline calling on me to join them right away, we got places to stay and I immediately joined them. We made a small visit to The Pub and retired early. However about 100 meters away from us was a bar that closed the road by midnight people were having fun and sometimes extending it close to us, we were at Roma and this famous place is called Green Valley.

Gulu is probably as big as Mbale and may have been much bigger had it had a steady growth. We settled in early, the D day was yet to come!

Raising early apprehensive and yet excited about the prospect of finally making it to Patiko, we got ready to have some starters. Having breakfast on the veranda of the hotel, we see people moving with purpose, quite serious going about their business and I wonder why its some times assumed that these so very polite people are considered rude in some societies.

I look deeper and I see pain in some of them pain of wasted time! Time wasted by some one else, time taken away from them forcefully by someone else, time they could have used to fulfill their potential, time they could have used to share with their loved ones.... Time wasted in a war they too did not understand, some continue paying for the sins of others.... I wondered how rude can the world get! Our mothers see it, they see us and the pray and cry so that we may live a meaning full life..

Well its the crude world of conflicting interests, different societies and sometimes greedy one's too, its the world we grow in.... We prepare for the trip to the first place we are told the function is a three part/three day function. Day 1, prayers, Day 2, Celebrations, Day 3 exchange of pleasantries and gifts, I wonder will we celebrate for all these days, lets see...

Ready to go we drive out of town via Santa Monica - I remember we were there and that is where we started our peace match with youth from all over Uganda, I remember Ernst, Talia, Marion, the Speech from Chairman - that time we walked all for a one world. We drove on towards custom corner and out further turning off finally towards Negri, for the first time I see where Ezaga went to junior school, a very quiet place on vast acres of land, this was a very powerful Catholic boarding primary school, we drive further and we are finally in Patiko.

I think it is called Patiko Pabo.... Reaching the homestead, there was a big set up of tents in a place about the size of four football fields, each tent belonged to a group, a clan or a tribe from a different place! We prayed for half of the Afternoon sitting next to Cousin Monica a no-nonsense Christian! I learn every day from her, very many things about life and she is very inspiring..

If you eat little and no meat you would not enjoy being at the table with us, there was all sorts of dishes ranging from all the meats in different forms fresh, dry to vegetables and stews made with peanut butter and local bread and sweet P & irish P and well it was time to feast and feast hmmnn, I liked most the dry fish in vegetables and white peas in peanut source with "moya" and local bread, this dish can only be eaten with hands......

We had too much to eat...... he he you may note that I do not even remember what happened the rest of the afternoon, guess I was digesting food. Returning quietly to town in the night we are greeted by the bustling activity in town, this night we decided to explore the green valley, this is one hell of a happening place people virtually sealing off the road and extending across to the other side men, women all having fun, the down side though was this place seemed to have minimal regulation otherwise it was loud beats beats and beats and all the things that come with the beats...

Anyway was not keen on too much activity I withdrew to my room to read "The Power of Focus" very nice writings in that book..

The next day was day 2 of our celebrations, reluctantly driving back to Patiko, we anyways sat down to chat about the stories of the previous night, sitting next to Big Uncle of Mutte Hill we laughed at his Jokes from the village to town and beyond, as Leo kept prompting him, Peter just sat there laughing at me, I was pre-occupied with testing the local brew "Qwete". Finally I landed on little cousin Jovine and she agreed to arrange one......

Looking up from our tent, I saw this beautiful, tall lady walking towards me, I was dumbfounded, I could not look else where I forgot the people in the tent, they sounded like voices very far a way..... I was looking, in a state of astonishment and perplexity she stood there and gave me this drink that I had long forgotten about. I think it was even tastier than I had expected! Hmmmnn They all caught me, right from Big Uncle to Brothers in Law, to kid sisters and all. I just said to them God found out that Man was lonely and he made Woman.

Leaving Patiko for Custom Corner, we had to pay our respects to the Lawoko's little did we know, we had to have lunch again!!!!!! Winnie, Doreen, Cathe the usual suspects made sure they staffed us all with more food. Custom corner is a famous junction where roads leading to Paraa, Packwach and Sudan split close to this place is a very big homestead right from the top of the hill slopping in one direction to the road and in the other to a school. Homes have been beautifully built with out distorting the nature, there is a natural shade created by the tree cover in the compound one gets to relax and forget the burning heat above the trees. This is the home to my friends, who have only recently been able to access this lovely paradise after so many years of unrest in the area.

Andrew, Peter & their Southern friends were so full that when they retired to Boma most of them retired early... We had a short catch up though at that magnificent hotel, it was a nice and classy looking place, I am happy Ugandans have started appreciating the power of good architecture...

This night I was determined to explore the night, I found my self at BJ's very nice place, good bbq, good music, good people - I missed Mr. Ogik, wondered where he could have been.... The bar is manned by two good looking ladies, though quite polite they are very firm when it comes to dealing with errand customers. I watched as my cousins danced away the evening.... As Jeremiah showed skills in making new friends Aaron showed skills in snubbing wanna be friends...

Now I don't know why but return trips are not that memorable, it feels like unwinding, like back to work and reality, so I guess you understand why I have nothing much to say on the way back. Gulu a great place. I write this in Memory of all our Mothers those who have returned to the creator and those still with us. Mr. Dell, Mrs. Lugalambi, Ms. Mugyeni, Mr. Okello and all have a wonderful womens day....

If this dream could come true!

I recently had a very brief chat with Chairman Mao in Gulu and what strikes me about this Gentleman is that he is so unassuming of any circumstance... He is not preoccupied with prejudices and he just is an example of people who have learned that life is larger than self.... I am sure if you have read some of my earlier notes you know what I mean!

Mao talking to youth in Gulu

Listening to him talk again on TV was a reminder of this Great man from Gulu, I thereafter listened to M. G. Muntu and was totally amazed at the caliber of his intelligence, I think this Gentleman is too Intelligent for this part of the world, like some one rightfully commented he may be a few generations ahead of us!

I dream that these two men discover each other and make a new party, a party that is larger than self, a party that will bring the likes of me back to the football field. I wouldn't mind which one of them carried the flag for as long as they teamed up! My bias would be though that Chairman Mao takes the first round then retires as party Chairman and M.G. Muntu takes the second round and joins in retirement and all remain advisors to the new flag bearer! Wow this would make African change in less than a decade in the eyes of the world.

I think even our Dear M7 would for once be comfortable to hand over to a new leader knowing that he has done well for leaders have emerged .... This is my dream