Paperwork

The weekend is almost here!  I started this week returning to Kampala for the opening of Makerere University and lectures.  After close to three weeks the lectures have called off their strike. The Government of Uganda has promised to restructure the body which controlled the lectures' salaries and pay all outstanding wages.

I now feel like I know all the offices in the Senate Building and both the School of Humanities and Social Sciences as well as the School of Arts.  Two of my three classes I had chosen for this term were not offered for whatever reason this year.  In addition to this my status as an Occasional Student, since I am here for only one term, meant that I had to registrar at the International Affairs office and the other two school offices where I will be taking classes.  Thrown into the mix was a Letter of Introduction so I may apply for a Student Visa to stay here for the full term.

Although it did contain a lot of walking, introducing myself, and my requirements, it was not all bad.  Many of the people I meet along the way were interested in why I am studying at Makerere and were amazingly helpful.  Through the walking around I now know the layout of the campus, it is more akin to UBC than to SFU in the fact the buildings are not connected and everything is spread out.  The great news is that I am now a student at Makerere University for the Fall Semester taking three courses; Theory and Practice of Democracy in Africa, Refugees in International Relations, and Hunger and Food Security. 

Not all of this week was work though.  In fact I have now joined the newly formed Scouts Troop at Makerere and I will be headed to the beach this weekend!  Wish you all the best. 

Politics and Parties

I have taken to reading the newspapers here.  Mainly I read the Daily Monitor, however today I picked up a copy of the New Vision.  I read the Monitor because it is the "leading independent daily newspaper" and sports the motto; "Truth Every Day".  The New Vision is a government-owned, really a public-private, paper and claims to be "Uganda's leading daily".  These days the big international story is Libya and how the war against Col. Gadaffi is going, I also hunt for news on Makerere.  In a letter submitted from the public it opened the discussion over the African Union's actions towards Gadaffi and the NTC and the fact that had NATO not stepped in the stories from Libya would be very different.  President Museveni of Uganda once questioned the very opposite, the lack of foreign action against Idi Amin.  Today's print of the New Vision also ran a letter submitted from the public, with the title of "President Museveni cannot betray Africa to please the West".  Arguing that the AU was taking action; which Museveni along with Jacob Zuma of South Africa among others were, supporting peaceful talks which should be understood to be a principled stance against war and the waste it brings.  Stating "no amount of civilization has, and will, ever inject democracy by dropping bombs," a quote taken from John F. Kennedy.  Both letters brought great arguments and information, however the stance of both papers became clear as the letters developed.  Although tragic in its nature, the Liberian conflict has become a political pivotal moment for the AU and a practical way for myself to understand some of the undercurrents in Ugandan and African relations.   

In other, non-political news, I returned to Fisher Branch this past weekend for their annual Scripture Union Party!  The program started formal; with the Uganda, Buganda, and Fisher anthems, and many speeches for a total of five hours.  Once this was done, the floor was cleared, the honored guests left and it turned into a massive dance party.  It was a total switch of modes, and yet seemed very practiced.  The picture left to the left is a shoot of the stage.  In front, covered in lace, was a cake, and presents which were auctioned off as a fundraiser for the SU.  

The picture to the left shows the new Chairperson taking her new office over from the last in addition to taking another office within the SU executive.  I do not have any from the dance half of the party.  But to answer questions I know will arise; yes, I did dance for a while with my normal ... skill. 

Finally, this is my new stove.  I have been using it increasingly as my skills are still improving on it.  Mainly I am cooking rice and pasta with sauce but with my improving skills will come an enhanced amount of dishes.  Note that it is outside so I will not be poisoned by the fumes.

Hope everyone is well!

Heading to High School

It seems no one really knows when Makerere University campus will be opened again.  There are a lot of stories concerning when it will open.  The last two I heard are that it will be open around the end of the month or a week before that.  Also, that a group of parents will take the University to court in a bid to force it to open.  Therefore I will be heading to Fisher Branch Kalagala High School for a couple of days.  If you do not know, I was there two years ago with a group from St Albans Burnaby working on a few projects; music, typing, and a soccer field.  I am looking forward to seeing our old friends, making new ones and finding out how our projects are today.

Yesterday I was able to visit the Kasubi Tombs in Kampala.  It is a very interesting mixture of new and traditional in many ways.  Firstly, it was not normal that more than one Bugandan king would be buried in the same place as another.  Today there are four in this location.  Secondly, the buildings were and will be made with a mixture of traditional methods hiding modern methods.  Lastly, the politics surrounding the place are affected by traditional customs and governed in that manner yet cannot escape current politics.  Although the main building was in disrepair because of vandals it was great to get a sense of what the place was about.  It seemed I came at the right time because I also received a personal tour with a great guide called Fred.

This is what the main build looks like now, it turns out that just the building was damaged badly.  Work to rebuild it has started.  

 Just the main gate but gives you an idea of what the main building should look like, just 9.5 meters tall and 23 meters wide instead. 

This is Fred, his knowledge on these subjects was amazing!  His recollection of dates; meaning day, month, and year, was perfect for both historical and current events. 

A week in Kampala

Hey, this is from my first week in Uganda.  Included are my room, two friends, and a gift of eggs, bananas, and an avocado.  Oh and the avocado is the size of a small football.

These days the University is closed due to a political situation between the professors and the government.  It so happens that the professors have not been paid in for a couple months and are also asking for a pay raise.  The government is working to pay the lost wages but is having problems raising it from the branch of the government that oversees it.  So I am just getting use to Kampala and meeting old and new friends.  The above are Ssegawa and Beatrice, both have been great in showing me around these days.  That is all for now, I will be visiting friends this weekend!