The Uganda Martyrs Day - By the West Nile Community

Hmmmnnn it was the last day for the organizing committee, the Chairman (Kampala) was visibly tired but carefully scrutinizing each and everything to see to it that every little thing had been taken care of at the site – it was June 2, 2011 and the day long awaited for was June 3, 2011 the day when Christians celebrate the life of the Uganda Martyrs who lost their lives in the name of their faith. Sr. Driciru our Sub-committee head looked tired too!

The Shrine at Namugongo

But who are these people, I think I will refer you to the world famous site http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Uganda_Martyrs to read more about them. Being a member of the catholic faith and hailing from West Nile a community of catholic faithful who were tasked to organize the celebrations this year, I got more insight into the workings of the people of the church!

As we sat there me, Charles, Sr., Mr. Etima ... Watching people move up and down the sound of the music was calming, they had travelled all the way from the churches in West Nile practiced to play music together on this special day, they carried contemporary and traditional musical instruments and played them in combination like they naturally blended, the sound of music was heavenly as they tested their instruments and voices in all languages they could master!

They too were doing their final touches ... It was amazing to see people sing and sway in colour in a uniform manner like the wave of the grass on the wheat plantation!

There had been a lot of planning in Arua, Kampala elsewhere in Entebbe, Lugazi , Jinja, Pakwach, Nebbi, Moyo and Adjumani among other places, people, pilgrims came from many countries around Africa and beyond! All to remember the lives of the dead men and ask for their intersession with God for it was believed that they lived in favour of Gods ways... Pilgrims confessed their sins all over the compound kneeling and asking for God’s mercy and wisdom in their worldly being! 

The Church at Namugongo near Kampala

The Church remained idle for the evening ...

I thought to myself if I had observed the teachings of the bible? I asked myself what does this all mean, and could there be a whole new country/planet up there in a place called Heaven where these people would live a better and eternal life? What if that was the country/planet where life was forever and free of the spoils of earth? A world that Maximus (from the movie Gladiator) believed in where he would meet his people – but he had to do the movie first “Not yet” he would share with his black friend! So as we all make our movies lets think 

Then I decided that what I was doing was good, being there sharing my ideas and collecting funds and doing anything to make the day a success would be great, like my friend Dr. Alicai from Namulonge community, we believed this day is worth all the energy! Titus and his community among others gave generously to the day! The OB’s in their individual capacities turned up in large numbers in various committees and teams! 

Then like a miracle the day had come, it was full of colour, it was full of people, it was a place where politics or skin colour did not matter, it was a place where white and black, green and yellow all mixed freely to pray to one God! The only other comparable mammoth crowd would be that of the football fans at Namboole where again it did not matter – what mattered was your God or your Team!!!

Starting off with mass (prayers), it was hard to ignore the rhythm and thematic movements of the dancers who danced to the music and the processions as well as the delivery of offertory which was full of anything that nature can provide from fruits to hard cash, from animals to vegetables anything that man could appreciate was offered in the mass.

Christians, politicians and tourists all found the spectacle worth their time, traders made money, service providers too and some FMCG providers also made mileage advertising them-selves – it was indeed a big enterprise. 

A successfully organised Uganda Martyrs day happened!!! Big thanks to the West Nile Community especially in Arua and of course all those in other places.

My last comments on the campaign trail…

I am pondering here ...

It was filled with excitement and fear, anxiety and calm everyone had something to say about the current government, the opposition, the state of the nation… Once again the streets were filled with green men some of them posturing like Rambo in front of the electoral commission. Ugandans were once again reminded of their trials and tribulations over the years since independence. A nation still held hostage with the notion of independence while the rest of the world seeks to appreciate interdependence...

My support for the candidates cut across DP, FDC, NRM and UPC very funny but true, I wanted a new president in the name of President Mao but didn’t like his party – I think a new party is the way forward for my man! This time round, I do not know why, but the little interest I had for FDC had dwindled only that I still liked my village mate Wadri from Terego who for me represents fair views on development.

My most exciting MP’s were the younger and more technology savvy guys who understood the dynamics of the new style leadership and management, types of stakeholders and partners, these are what I referred to earlier as the CEO kind of leaders, men with dreams and aspirations congratulations Gabriel (NRM), Edward (NRM), Vincent (NRM), Maxwell (UPC), I hope they do not catch the plague and sleep on duty. The challenge though, we ask will they manage to make a better leadership this time! Let’s wait and see…

It seems to me like it will be back to business as usual, many unresolved inquiries, ill equipped local governments, more environmental degradation and pollution, no proper waste management, poor farming methods, dropping standards of training, dropping service standards even in private sector the list is endless, it is very important for us to ask these questions, why are we dropping into just another African nation???

The future can become brighter and better, what is the solution? The government should start to run as a profit driven organization, an organization that realizes that appropriate distribution of wealth across the country will unite the country and send people to work. Political power without economic wealth is just like an empty building! We need to build very strong and strategic PPP’s in all parts of the country.

My advice to the President and his team would be to build on patriotism as started, they should adopt the model in Ghana, where a council of elders contributes to the decision making process, the council could include people from the cultural institutions as well, after all this will assist the government on taking more stringent stances on corruption, people are raising the bar and expect more quality in all spheres and not only unplanned poor growth!

The new government should attract MP’s who want to achieve something beyond self. Pay to MP’s should be cut to manageable levels just like it happens in companies that are profit driven. Let it become service to people to be in parliament, or to be a mayor, not a source of daily bread! The use of tax payers’ money should be checked and improved so as to reduce the dependence on foreign support which in turn reduces the decisions we can hold in our hands.

The new government should embrace technology, use IT to manage the national register/ID, voters and voting, not these clumsy manual items. Use IT to detect and track defaulting buses, trucks, cars, poor road usage and among other issues, use IT to fast track education of people who have been affected by civil strife and wars especially in the north. Embrace technology!

Ugandans need to get more proud their heritage and employ the best architecture to build wonder designs for hospitals, schools, local government establishments, parks, preserved sites among others. Again work in a PPP to promote preserved sites and develop models to attract more business to all regions of the country!

Let’s stop lamenting and get down with our bare hands and work, improve the politics too – I think the ones who lost should go and start planning for 2016, in the mean time there are so many ways they can contribute to development.

I wish them well “Aluta Continua”

Poverty, Ignorance & Idolisation of leaders killing Africa

I cry for Africa, I watch the poor running around, being ferried in lorries and buses and they have not a single clue what their vote means to the development of the third world country! They shout to the top of their voices and carry colors of yellow, blue, green, red & black, all just for the show for they do not know the power of their vote...

How can we be so ignorant, how can we be so naive, how can we look to these leaders for miracles when we our selves allow our fate to be sealed by our own actions!

I remember my parents who were content with serving the people, they were proud of what they learned and how they applied that to serve the nation and in return content for what they earned as a salary! Now it is tit for tat and money flows banks have no idea where it comes from, no one knows - all that we see is it is flowing...

Business people were happy to sweat it out and finally make profit providing the best possible they could while competing or making strides at innovations in equal terms. Men were happy to have a steady growth over 10 years, now men grow in days and believe that they are hero's! They will soon drop when they realize that man has to learn to retain money.

You men and women who have reduced yourselves to be content with "free" will one day realize the value of working for money, you men and women who have taken advantage of the poor will face the fire one day for free is valueless - you have missed the point and have not experienced the truth about life - you will always be wanna bees...

Meanwhile can this process end so that we get back to work, we have dreams! We doing it the right way and we shall show you how exciting it is to earn real money we have dreams. We shall show you how Uganda can be one tribe! We shall show you the sun...

My Dreams, My Romance

The innocence of the young linger in my mind, the promises of Venice and Turin remain vibrant in my mind I remember the past with nostalgia...

I dream and it becomes reality, I fade away into the new world and here is the story ... as we sit on the rocks at a construction site, high up in Mbuya hill and watch the lake fade away in the distance... as the darkness engulfs the land :-) We make a contract, an agreement to be bonded together for life with the sharing of raw blood just from under the skin...

Its getting late now ... as we stand to leave the site, we set our music from one Walkman, after running the tape back to the start with a Bic pen, saving our power so that we can listen to our music longer... We hold hands and take one ear piece each and listen to the voice of Celine, Winnie and more, it is now dark and we have to get home before our parents start to worry of where we could be for the danger of the night might take us to another world!

Suddenly a bark and there appears this big monstrous dog, she - my love - clutches my hand with all her energy and there is nowhere to run, I take a quick decision to defend her with my life! Fortunately I have a big boot soft but strong - a Jodachi high top, I wait and with stealth, furtiveness and dexterity combined with the energy left, I kick the dog to silence... She is shaking, beads of tears and sweat roll down her face and she knows we are living...

We arrive at her gate and we have to part ways but she decides to give me a short walk towards my estate and then halfway to my estate, I realize that another king of the night might appear and I make up my mind to take her back – we hug for minutes no end, in silence and finally we have to part for our homes are so far apart from each other ... I run in the night and fear nothing for with her I am living!

There is no chain (http://okuti.blogspot.com/2009/12/okay-one-day-it-will-be-love.html), there is no force, there are no expectations and no one is passing judgment on you its just beautiful, as I prepare to sleep I read the last letter she wrote to me just that morning, look at her picture and kneel to say a prayer like my mother taught me, I pray for her too...

May be the one day has come, or is it all a dream! If I am dreaming let me try pinch myself and listen to the sound of my wince and the reactions of the people around me, I see people every day and they are all just but the same, so why is she different, I want to walk her by the beach at a far away island where only birds and water compete to make noise, where the exhaust fumes and potholes seem like a tale of the aliens...

Only this time there will be judgment, expectations and all let me get back to work so that I can make her more comfortable, the children and the lives that depend on me for I owe it to them...

Harnessing the power of collective funds! Motivator...

Listening intently to a largely experienced team of two yesterday evening I started to imagine that the road to the big time may be easy to follow after all, if only the trust between peers increased and the commitment between them also grew!

Yes savings and financial discipline may be good but is it enough? Or this is a nice situation for the bankers – just asking?

Quietly listening from my table, I heard words like long term planning – which I rarely did, I heard words like mutual funds, collective schemes and many others and thought about them deeply, it occurred to me that together with my fellow bar mates, we could actually collect our own funds into a big sack and jointly invest with government (PPP) in key infrastructure like toll roads, power generation and distribution ventures among others...

The power of collaboration to provide a means to an end, making it easier for us to think about bigger things, share bigger actionable dreams cannot be underestimated! If we started now who knows what ventures we would be joining in five years, who knows how powerful we could become... Tables can change in this part of the world – so let’s run... I started last year my friends, I only feel more excited today...

I learned that we have to learn continuously, be vigilant, study trends, understand the changing dynamics in the region and be extremely fast but most of all focus more on innovation of ideas and getting down to action when they are still burning hot!

Otherwise we face the risk of losing in an economy that continues to grow; first it was protected Uganda, then E.A of 3, now E.A of 5 and soon to be E.A of 8... But you know what these are opportunities, let me dream and see how I can get there.

Let’s not behave like tired managers shooting down ideas e.g - an enterprising young man says “Boss I have a good idea” then the boss says “Please write a contemporary concept note and professional proposals giving various scenarios/possibilities of boosting the business - then call a meeting next quarter so that we can discuss your idea... hmmmmnnn and don’t forget the budgets for the various” - creating the famous situation of “paralysis by Analysis” a common management problem.

Happy New Year all, I hope this adds to your motivations to change the world. Now I have four books to read before the end of March Yaix....

My comments on the campaign trail..... Part 2

This time as I write my part two comment on the campaign trail, I feel happy and excited that my readers are increasing and they actually find these articles interesting.... Let's go! This time I want to focus on corruption in the face of leadership, the voter and civic education as well as the role of the citizen.

Sometime back I wrote about..............

The blame game http://okuti.blogspot.com/2009/09/blame-game.html, corruption is a big subject, many of us are corrupt, many of us are sinners, many of us are haters, back-biters and name it; however we spend time in bars, health clubs and restaurants hating and blaming others. We come from villages where if one shows signs of progress he or she is hated and life is threatened!

Wake up Africans! Anyone who dares takes up leadership is bound to be faced with the problem of dealing with different knowledge levels, motives, skills as well as diversionists. There is a rush for wealth, a rush for power and a rush for acknowledgement that kind of rush that is only found in third world countries characterised by bickering, disgruntled, mediocre and none dreamer actors. Among them too, those with a false imagination of superiority, self righteousness living in the shadow of perceived power.

The NRMO is lucky in some cases but may also be considered unlucky in some cases, having experienced a lot of developments in their time. Some of these developments were globally driven which the NRMO moved to quickly take advantage of, examples include the shift from government owned businesses to private owned companies or for instance the innovations and rapid growth of the banking, telecom and FMCG sectors. On a personal note, I believe the farming sector was hurt though by these changes, the slowdown of cooperatives and marketing mechanisms that were government led seemed to have worked well for the small holder farmers...

We can say the NRMO provided a conducive environment for these businesses to thrive and grow but we must also acknowledge that the mobile for instance had arrived.... the Internet had arrived and for whoever was in power they had no choice but to embrace the “avalanche” or the “tsunami” because these were global treads. The force with which these new trends were flowing was so strong that you either had to shape up or you shape out! Changes were occurring real time. Funs of the 24 series.... “These events occur in real time”

In the same vein it became easier for corruption to thrive, because the private sector grew there is now the commercial, the NGO’s, the churches, the traditional institutions etc... There had to be a paradigm shift in the leadership style, the question now is – is it actually happening? Do our leaders actually know what is hitting them? And again should we encourage an extremist approach to dealing with the subject like some African nations have done? Alternatively do we have the will and capacity to empower institutions to get more vigilant in handling their affairs and civil communities to become more knowledgeable and demanding? Isn’t it true that there is no leader without a community, if there is not community then who do you lead? It is therefore paramount to serve the community well!

So now that we have peace don’t we want more? There should be checks and balances... and citizens should know their rights.

Let's all take a swipe at Government employees, don't they have some of the lowest salaries, why then do they (not every one of them) stick to their jobs with the mightiest energies? Let's take another swipe at the Pastors, how comes they have personal jets, luxury SUV's and large houses doing the work of God. I have wondered why these people of God never visit the hospitals and treat the sick, the terminally ill and the casualties - they rather you carry your patient to their church, then they make drama with your patient and proclaim that he or she is healed! Let's take a swipe at people in positions of law enforcement, the police for instance why stop a car that has a number plate, the driver seems to be okay with a valid permit, where are their records of defaulting cars? Instead they are busy wasting tax payers time and their own! Graduates who do not think about automating their surveillance Police get your act together, this is the ICT era many things are possible...

Unfortunately in many cases the tax payer has no rights to ask for a compensation of time wasted!

The subject of corruption goes on and on, so should we blame the current government, just asking and don't get me wrong, I am not trying to rescue any one, we the society bribe away from getting places in schools - even private, getting work done faster, getting treatment in a public hospital to getting the local council to do something for us! Should we blame a political party for all these occurrences, could this be a stage or a phase in development? Why not blame ourselves for the acceptance of all this, for the participation in all this, for the ignoring of all this and for the blame of others without looking inside ourselves and find out what our values are before we look outside the window? It is the duty of every individual to have some semblance of values....

How are these leaders planning to address the G2B relations, the G2C relations or do they know these dynamics, where as B2B will continue to grow naturally it is key to note that good laws, enforcement and civil society checks will be paramount in ensuring that service gets delivered.

The next leader will have to be able to be able understand the dynamics of all sectors in the country, be able to send email themselves work with smart phones and work like a CEO who must report to the Board of Directors! The new leader must be able to take criticism and advice from a team of advisors who must also in their own rights be elders, experienced and with a high degree of knowledge and integrity. Advisors could be former presidents, people with large business empires, very senior retired civil servants, traditional leaders and the like. People with power and this time I mean real power, powerful enough to unseat a sluggish and slow leader.

See the challenge is the campaigners are more aware of the problems of third world, they are more aware of how these problems could be solved while the majority of the voters may not have an idea of what needs to be changed. So the campaigner gets his/her seat and exploits the loopholes of the system... Sooner or later they increase their pay, upgrade to four wheel drives and spend lavishly in the city. Many times spending money whose value does not ring a bell to them because they have no idea how tough it can be to earn that money...

Travelling during the holiday season, I got time to blend with many friends, relatives, in-laws and politicians they were all defending their manifestos! I wondered whether they are actually educating the people about the plans they were making and how important the plans were to change the lives of those they wanted to represent - how their plans would be bench marked, monitored and evaluated.

In Arua I asked a "mirungi" seller what he thought about Feb elections and he said to me ""honestly I don't care because I do not know and do not see how it affects me", my auntie from the village asked me if there will be more money given out, salt or sugar... So I thought to myself if you give her a handout she will give you the vote! I thought this was a village thing, later passing by a maize (I like maize...) seller in Naguru - I decided to stop and ask what she thought about elections, she said "are you here to buy or waste my time". I told her I would buy and persuaded her to say something, she burst out and said to me "you think I do not want to drive, do not want to live in a nice house, do not want all the nice things - we gave up long time ago may be our children will have a better day". I wondered how many voters are enlightened enough.

The variation between the knowledge levels of our voters are so large and so sad that we are stuck in a quagmire of ignorance... extrication from this situation may take a few light years... We continue to have an increasing gap between the knowledgeable and the ignorant. May be the next President should revive Community Information Centres and with ICT promote adult literacy and continued education! The politicians themselves sometimes do not even see that the people they are talking to need more than campaigns to be able to make informed decisions. Many times decisions are made on populist grounds....

We should introduce serious civic education, but also teach about nation building, patriotism and common good. If we were patriotic may be our families would know more about politics and decision making, they would not make decisions according to how much of the handouts they get. We should teach voters that they deserve service irrespective of where they come from or colour of their skin or which leader they like but by virtue of the fact that they are Ugandan.

So this time I took a tangent, well I decided I will not talk about the candidates any more but about the people the candidates purport to lead, in the meantime let’s learn about our rights and use them effectively.

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....