June 2008

Zimbabwe and a fallacy democracy posted on June 30, 2008 - 11:19am
Whatever is happening to Zimbabwe is a timely reminder that mankind is been hoodwinked. Nelson Mandela was a terrorist. Democracy as some define it is effectively a flawed project. It is high time its alternative is sought. After spending 27 years of his prime in prison the US finally finally removed Nelson Mandela from its list of terrorisst as the terrorist against apartheid clocked 90 years.
The Call posted on June 30, 2008 - 10:59am

...how do you go back to being ordinary, when you've been so much more?It started out as a feelingWhich then grew into hopeWhich then turned into a quiet thoughtWhich then turned into a quiet wordAnd then that word grew louder and louderTill it was a battle cryI'll come back when you call meNo need to say goodbyeJust because everything's changingDoesn't mean it's never been this way beforeAll you can do is try to know who your friends areAs you head off to warPick a star on the dark horizon and follow the lightYou'll come back when it's overNo need to say goodbyeNow we're back to the beginningIt's just a feeling and no one knows yetBut just because they can't feel it, tooDoesn't means that you have to forgetLet your memories grow stronger and strongerTill they're before your eyes

Not here anymore posted on June 29, 2008 - 5:40pm

I had to get out of the comfortable covers, walk across the room so I could switch the 'loud thing' off. It would get louder the longer I held it off -that's how it was wired to work. And already it was more than enough decibels loud to interrupt my sleep; usually I get up earlier, but given I had attended a late night dinner the previous night and had thus gotten back home late, it being the first day of the weekend the next day, I had thought that I would perhaps sleep a little longer through the morning. That loud irritating thing again -I'd gotten it from one of the shops outside the Hyatt Regency Dubai famed for their fair prices. But even there, it had cost me an arm and a leg. I gave in to the price because Esmail, the shopkeeper promised that it would be 'an almost magical' device while he showed me the demo. Brilliant technology. Of course, as a salesman, that was his job!

Coding and Relationships posted on June 29, 2008 - 9:30am
It has always been said that coders are never good at relationships. The reasons given are that coders never see their profession as work but as hobby. They enjoy writing code – whether it’s commercial or open source, coders will definitely enjoy writing code. They will be on their laptops all day and all night.Like sports fellows, they celebrate and jubilate when a certain given functionality that they have been working on works as expected and are stressed if it does not work out. They will spend their entire working hours coding and even do overtime - which to them is not overtime at all since most of them just love writing code.
Papa Ian posted on June 28, 2008 - 2:02pm

To my Daddy, I love you and I miss you, oh and you look awful sexy as a French prostitute...So this is my father, the one on the left. Honestly 31337, he's the one with facial hair, you were half asleep when you asked me that weren't you? The other is a girl called Zeshi! And she's about the coolest person, EVER! Sorry Antipop, you may have been outdone, but no one's got a smile like yours. Savage, what's the difference between a father and a daddy? Or were you thinking that I meant he's my sugar daddy?Can you see the family resemblance? He's not my biological father, who knows where that git is but he's the one who brought me up and he's the one who I share my deep love of mirrors with. We're both utterly vain. Hugely. I mean if you ever thought for a moment that you were vain, well I'm sorry to say but compared with us, you're not.

to every thing, turn, turn, etc. posted on June 28, 2008 - 1:05am

People are pattern-matchers. We also like to discern cycles, I think, paradigms of dynamic balance, specifically creation and destruction. This is the Flood story, for example; the death and rebirth of the world, the genocide of mankind. People make more people, and people fight*. This is the simplest narrative arising from those two imperatives.It's also essentially ending conflated with beginning, at least in some cases. Some post-apocalyptic novels, for example, contain the definitive end of humanity, like Cloud Atlas, for example; although even in this case, the possibility of transcendence is such an integral constituent element that it's hard to think in such facilely polarized categories by the time you put it down.

If one regards fiction as an act, or "act"'s more pragmatic and perhaps politically aware sibling, activity, litcrit cannot be understood as anything other than mere explication, failing (in general) to reach even the vaguely, slightly dizzying heights of exegesis. An observation of activity, no more revelatory in apposition to the activity itself than taking a photograph is to experiencing a sunset, for example.Literary criticism can only, at very best, restate the content of fiction. No, not even that: it can only present the facts of fiction in a fashion more palatable to ready assimilation than the original text. The "unpacking" with which students of the Western academy are (if they've taken the right classes) variously amorously or nauseously familiar doesn't and cannot remove anything from the box that wasn't there to begin with.

BHH posted on June 27, 2008 - 10:07am

Bhh was the bomb. (Do people still say that?) There were so many people, a couple or two of new faces and some old faces which hadn't been in a while.I wasn't the first one there this time but I was the first one to sit down. I was quickly joined by Kissyfur (so sorry about not carrying your book, btw) and then Princess and Jazz figured we were there for BHH and joined us. Kissyfur asked the waiter if he was there for BHH too, probably because she was expecting more new people to turn up. Phantom was there for a hot minute (one must live up to his name) and had to leave early because he lives very far away...in Entebbe! Rev walked in looking a little out of it, what with his hair heading every which way. B2B walked in and then everyone kind of flooded in.Blogroll..........KissyfurPhantomRev

Scarcity List.... posted on June 26, 2008 - 7:56pm
Lately in Uganda, prices of everything single commodity and service has been hitting the skies. Given an opportunity to compile a list of all that is becoming expensive and now being classified as luxurious no longer a neccessity to many, it would be endless. Top of the list would be TIME, for the last nearly one month and half every activity that has been having a timeline attached to it, every second, minute and hour would cost. This explains the irregular blogging or should I say it has been a blessing in disguise! I should be able to post some experiences that I had over the last months.
World's best presentation contest 2008 posted on June 26, 2008 - 6:41pm
You think you got the best presentation skills?! Well, a contest organized by Slideshare has just opened, running from the 25th June to July 31st, enough time to have all your entries in by then. You are free to convince the world about anything, could be your dream, NGOs, the suffering in your community - a sure way to get that word out on finally getting the publicity you so much desired for your community or project.
BHH posted on June 26, 2008 - 2:10pm

"Antipop is here." I'm awake at 3 in the morning, typing out this blog post. Woke up for some odd reason and couldn’t go back to sleep. Got around to thinking about BHH and how awesome it was. And I started writing this post in my head. Do you guys ever do that? Find yourselves blogging in your head? Used to happen to me a lot back when I was a real blogger.Oh that first line? That’s how the post was supposed to begin in my head. Darlyne sent me that message when I was about 10 minutes away. Its no secret I've been dying to meet Antipop. Carlo was asking if she's allowed to be jealous of someone I've never met. Heh. She better be jealous of Angelina Jolie. And Beyonce. And Nina Mercedez. List is long.

Selfish Altruism posted on June 26, 2008 - 2:38am

I care passionately about humanitarian issues -sometimes I can't help it so it shows even in my writing- and this is one of the reasons that must have prompted me to continue with my work in the field of both local and international development, over the past few years. Because of the nature of my work, I am wont to travel quite often, both within and without. Therefore it is from some personal experiences that I speak about certain matters in this blog post.

Greeting from Gus posted on June 24, 2008 - 11:04pm

Greetings to everyone on the BOSCO Newsletter from Gus Zuehlke. It's remarkable to see how BOSCO has multiplied in sites searchable on Google since we launched the project One thing which has fascinated me is the visits we have been getting on our website from all corners of the world!I hope this newsletter will be another way of increasing our communications with the world community. Just today I received a phone call on the BOSCO VoIP system from the IDP camp named Unyama. This call would have been unthinkable just over a year ago, but thanks to the dedicated efforts of Ted, our friends from Inveneo, and of course VoX, as well as Philipp Glaser and Stefan Bock, this phone call was made possible.All best wishes to all my BOSCO friends!...Gus Zuehlke

it's unofficially official posted on June 24, 2008 - 9:48pm

well, today was a big day. with the blessing and approval of my family, the organization i'll be working with and, as of today, my employer, i am unofficially officially starting the process for a (mini) mission in africa in the coming months. perhaps i should get you up to speed ...

Yours again posted on June 23, 2008 - 10:46pm

Every time I'm sad,my heart reaches out to find you.When i feel alone,my being hugs the memory of you.When my smile is wide,when all is just right,I find my soul seeks you still,and I know this is real.All I have to do issearch the corners of my heartand there where my joys hide,where my most intimate memoirs lie,there I find you.And for a while,miles fade away,and time stands stillbecause then my love,we are together again.if only for a moment,we're together again.Ps:Missing you still.

Uganda-The Pearl of Africa is a very beautiful country found right in the middle of East Africa. Blessed with lots of natural forests, waters, very fertile land producing all sorts of food particularly some of the sweetest fruits on this planet earth. Uganda boosts one of the best tropical climates, indeed a must visit destination for every nature loving person who needs to see nature at its best.
BHH posted on June 23, 2008 - 11:39am

Bloggers' Happy Hour is on Thursday 26th June, 2008 at Mateos at 6.30pm for lack of suggestions. Do make it.

posted on June 22, 2008 - 2:42pm

posted on June 22, 2008 - 2:42pm

This will be posted on June 22, 2008 - 4:13am

This will be a great tool to keep closer tabs on progress and opportunities for the project. Thanks for getting it off the ground, Ted!

New beginnings posted on June 21, 2008 - 11:39pm

It's official. I have been away for too long. I'm not gonna go into the myriad reasons for my disappearance here for nearly half a year now so I guess I'm going to have to accept to take the rap for that solely. That's one other thing that I've been trying to have developed lately -the art of 'THE BUCK STOPS HERE'- Let's see how far I can get...

dear posted on June 20, 2008 - 2:25pm

dear God,the spirit is not willing but the flesh is too strong. i need You to intervene supernaturally somehow, because i feel like i just might end up doing it.

Are Ugandans really kind and hospitable? posted on June 20, 2008 - 11:53am

THE TOWER - There is this stereotype that's been around for as long as I can remember, about how kind, hospitable and welcoming we Ugandans are. Over time, I have come to have my very strong doubts to a point where I think it is all bollocks, honestly.Mind, I have seen some Ugandans whose welcomes and kindness appear genuine and these, for the most part, I have encountered in the village; they scream, ululate and envelop you in unwashed and unwanted hugs when you arrive, while admonishing the younger family members to make haste, detain one of the ubiquitous chickens and bring its life to a screeching, bubbling halt in a stewing pot.

Are Ugandans really kind and hospitable? posted on June 20, 2008 - 11:53am
THE TOWER - There is this stereotype that's been around for as long as I can remember, about how kind, hospitable and welcoming we Ugandans are. Over time, I have come to have my very strong doubts to a point where I think it is all bollocks, honestly. Mind, I have seen some Ugandans whose welcomes and kindness appear genuine and these, for the most part, I have encountered in the village; they scream, ululate and envelop you in unwashed and unwanted hugs when you arrive, while admonishing the younger family members to make haste, detain one of the ubiquitous chickens and bring its life to a screeching, bubbling halt in a stewing pot.
Articles posted on June 20, 2008 - 1:32am

I've finally converted my first articles from the Air Uganda inflight magazine into electronic documents. Here's the first one:

Articles posted on June 20, 2008 - 1:32am

I've finally converted my first articles from the Air Uganda inflight magazine into electronic documents. Here's the first one:

Surgery posted on June 19, 2008 - 9:21pm

Last Tuesday, Beatrice went into the vet’s for surgery to fix a hernia. I was at a job interview for the initial consultation, but J asked what might have caused it. The vet said it could have been from falling out of a tree or a fight with another animal or from a previous surgery. She found the scars on both cats from when our vet in Uganda had them fixed and found that they were off-center, then conceded it was perhaps likely that the hernia, also off-center, had been caused by this operation. I liked to think that even though Dr. P. was reticent, he was at least somewhat competent.

Surgery posted on June 19, 2008 - 9:21pm

Last Tuesday, Beatrice went into the vet’s for surgery to fix a hernia. I was at a job interview for the initial consultation, but J asked what might have caused it. The vet said it could have been from falling out of a tree or a fight with another animal or from a previous surgery. She found the scars on both cats from when our vet in Uganda had them fixed and found that they were off-center, then conceded it was perhaps likely that the hernia, also off-center, had been caused by this operation. I liked to think that even though Dr. P. was reticent, he was at least somewhat competent.

Disquieted posted on June 19, 2008 - 7:04pm

If I let goTo search forAnd find notWhat will I live for?

Mr. Pain posted on June 19, 2008 - 5:15pm

Pain came visiting today, me and him had a chat, I told him to go away but he wouldn't let us part. It seems he's here to stay and cause unbearable hurt. He found it amusing that i had murderous thought, I'd tried to poison him with the drugs that I'd bought, He gave me a wolfish grin and took off his coat. You find it funny, i see that i write about pain, invite him for tea see if you stay sane. if you haven been me don't hold me in disdain. Ten years down the road, I'm now Mrs Pain. Don't call me poor sod, he's on the move again.So unless you're God,wait for the rain.NB: Just grumbling thanks to a tooth ache.

Khartoum MTN blocks Sim Card posted on June 19, 2008 - 10:01am
It is not in business interest for any telecommunication corporation to the block sim cards of its hard earned customers. It is not just business in the face of competition. But in a case and by extension, believe that there is an ugly sheet in the Khartoum regime clamping down on its citizenery and people using telephony services registered in Sudan. All persons using mobile sim cards should
While I Was Away posted on June 18, 2008 - 9:52pm

Hey y'all. I know I have been gone a while and I will be gone a while more but in the meantime; Kale that is a place in Kampala. Hot, crowded, smoggy Kampala has such a serene looking spot. I wouldn't mind walking up that drive way everyday after a hard day's work.

dear posted on June 18, 2008 - 1:00pm

dear God,why can't the head and the heart just work together all the time?

Khartoum telecom surveillance service posted on June 16, 2008 - 3:02pm
Hullo, this is customer care [Khartoum] shall you avail us your full names i.e the four names: your two names, your father's name and grand father's name. Please also avail your passport number, nationality and the block number or plot number of your residence. Thank you. Persons in Juba are receiving similar calls, and demands as if the wonderful government of Khartoum was going to provide a

Recently, the Commissioner General of Prisons Dr. Johnson Byabashaija was widely quoted in the print media as having informed a certain meeting that the Uganda Prison Service would soon allow prisoners to exercise their conjugal rights. This is not the first time prison authorities are making this pronouncement. And I am sure it is not going to be the last. It is always easier said than done. It has now become sort of an accepted norm for government officials to announce grandiose proposals which sound good to the targeted audience yet they don't mean what they say.Conjugal rights for prisoners is one of the highest levels of enjoyment of rights that is uncommon in both developed and developing countries alike.

Museveni, Mwenda wrong on high prices posted on June 16, 2008 - 1:11pm

Recently, I was privileged to have been chosen to be part of the team of four people that were tasked to carry out a study on behalf of Food & Agriculture Organisation (FAO) and International Human Rights Internship Programme (IHRIP). The focus of the study was to establish how the budget at the national, district and lower government levels impact on the delivery of National Agricultural Advisory Services (NAADS) for small holder farmers to produce food which would translate into the realisation of the right to food for majority of Ugandans.Our study findings are to be used in compiling a manual on "How Budget Analysis can Strengthen Right to Food Advocacy". This project is to be implemented in four countries namely; Philippines, Guatemala, Brazil and Uganda.The study has been able to expose the inadequacies exhibited by NAADS programme since it was launched almost a decade ago.

MEDIA FREEDOM UNDER ATTACK; IN WHOSE INTEREST? posted on June 16, 2008 - 1:05pm

By Mutabazi Sam StewartOf late, there has been heightened unease about the trend of events of continuous limitation and curtailment of fundamental freedoms of Ugandans in relation to the right to assemble (association) and freedom of speech. The media both government controlled and private, has acted together to fight for space to air their views without intimidation and harassment from government with limited successes. Many analysts are wondering why government is acting this way at this point in time. Considering the hostile press government has suffered in the past years, today’s coverage, I would say is not as bad or as worse as it can get. Government needs to be assured that bad press won’t get better by muzzling the media.Today, we shall deal with freedom of the press and hopefully we shall discuss freedom of association next week. The two are interlinked.

THE FOUR GREAT CONTROVERSIES OF OUR TIME posted on June 16, 2008 - 1:03pm

By Mutabazi Sam StewartHomosexuality, abortion, prostitution and capital punishment are the most controversial issues that have divided the world view in equal measure with both proponents and opponents believing that they are correct. This column will try to highlight the major issues in the debate about what I have decided to call "the big four controversies". Lets first deal with homosexualityHomosexualityHuman rights are first and foremost about individual choices. It is not anyone's business to put to task gay people to prove that what they do is actually natural. Many times, when gay people have been cornered to justify their actions, they say they are "born like that". They relate their sexual orientation to a person who uses his or her left hand having no choice about the same. Whether this is true or false is up to gay people to decide.

By Mutabazi Sam StewartThe opposition in Uganda keeps putting government in the spotlight about the things the State ought to do but is not doing. Most people keep lamenting how Uganda is doing badly in terms providing democracy and improving the lives of its people. President Yoweri Museveni has often rebutted such claims by insisting that Uganda after all is doing even better compared to other nations in Africa. I took trouble to ascertain the truth about how countries in the region are fairing in terms of development basing on available statistics and using personal observations and experiences. I would have loved to cover as many African countries but my limited travel experience would not allow me to get first hand information that I needed to make a fair and balanced judgement in countries which I have never visited.

ARE HUMAN RIGHTS IN CONFLICT WITH RELIGION? posted on June 16, 2008 - 1:00pm

By Mutabazi Sam StewartMany things have remained unclear in the world since time immemorial. But the most mythical have been issues related to religion and God. All attempts to demystify these issues by the greatest people have recorded minimal successes. The search for true religion keeps the world on tension with each religion claiming supremacy and authenticity over others. The more people question matters of God and religion, the more they get confused and the more they confuse other people. Religion remains the most powerful tool that unites and divides people in equal measure. Religion and faith have been interpreted differently by different people throughout history. Some religions have gone an extra mile to kill in the name of God.

2 TEACHERS POISONED IN KABERAMAIDO posted on June 14, 2008 - 2:35pm
BY JOSEPH EIGU ONYANGOKABERAMAIDO 13/6/2008. Poison has claimed the lives of two teachers of Adongkweru P/S in Kaberamaido district. The teachers died on Tuesday this week in different occasions. The Acting District Education Officer for Kaberamaido, Simon Emoru identified the deceased as Richard Edilu a born of Bululu sub county and John Ewechu Onangtot. Emoru says that one teacher had a problem of land wrangle where he is suspected to have been poisoned. While John Ewechu was found dead at around 11 am at his house. Both teachers have finally been buried with the last burial held yesterday Wednesday The acting DEO who was speaking in deep sorrow regretted the death of these two teachers saying that it’s a big loss to the education department and the district at large.
BY JOSEPH EIGU ONYANGO.14/6/2008. President Museveni has been urged to withdraw tough restrictions regarding distribution of iron sheets to Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) in Teso. These tough restrictions are said to be affecting the distribution of iron sheets in Amuria and Katakwi districts because people have failed to meet the conditions. This was disclosed by the LC5 chairperson for Kaberamaido district, Robert Engulu yesterday during the 9th human rights annual report review for 2006 /2007 at Soroti regional human rights office. Engulu was charting a way forward to questions raised by leaders from Amuria and Katakwi that IDPs there have not fully received iron sheets meant for resettlement. Engulu says such restrictions like one must have raised a concrete wall are not applicable with IDPs living in Teso because they can’t afford due to poverty situations.
JOSEPH EIGU ONYANGO.14/6/2008 Kaberamaido district chairman, Robert Engulu has challenged organizations dealing in human rights activities to rehabilitate Karimojong children loitering in Kampala streets. Engulu says Karimojong children are being abandoned in Kampala with no government attending to them. He called on government to address the fate of the disadvantaged group of people living in the country while looking at human rights perspective. He was speaking at Soroti Regional Human Rights Offices yesterday during the 9th annual human rights report review for 2006 /2007. Engulu noted that these children are not attaining any formal education at all and they also needed some medical care. He further revealed that most of these Karimojong children living in Kampala were also loosing sight because of complicated diseases they encounter.
South Sudan erazing New Sudan identity posted on June 14, 2008 - 11:23am
Sudan suffered and continues to suffer an identity crisis. During Sudan's turbulent wars, many in and outside Sudan identified with the SPLM political party and its army, the SPLA's wars against marginalization. Though some parties disagreed and were not in the SPLM /A bandwagon, they truly shared the pain of the marginalized Sudanese and as such easily recognized symbolisms though SPLM /A in
Hi to all posted on June 14, 2008 - 8:36am
Am Moses Kalanzi a human rights activist finalising my BA education degree at Makerere University. My areas of specialisation include human rights reporting and advocacy. I currently work with a youth-led community organisation concerned with resettling children from the streets of Kampala through the use of sport. We have realised that many of these children are victims of conflicts in the Northern part of the Country and from the North Eastern part of Uganda( Karamoja area) I look forward to exchanging experiences and learning from others in conflict areas.Moses
Introduction posted on June 13, 2008 - 3:01pm
Dear Friends,Greetings to all of you. It is great that we are having such an imoportant forum to learn from each other. My name is Monicah Amoding. Iam a Ugandan female aged 27 years from North Eastern part of Uganda, a region that is just recovering from the Lord’s Resistance Amrmy (LRA) conflict but currently working and residing in Kampala the capital city of Uganda.I am a women’s rights activist consistently working to make a contribution to the women’s movement for gender equality in Uganda and Africa. I hold a Bachelors degree in Social Sciences with a bias in Social Administration and Economics. Currently Iam writing up my thesis for an award of a Masters degree in Gender Studies from Makerere University on a research topic; Youth Particiapation in Peace building: A gender anlysis of the peace building initiatives in Gulu District.I have experience in Policy Analysis, research, Advocacy and Communications.
Ministry of ICT Uganda Website posted on June 12, 2008 - 4:22pm
The Ministry of Information and Communication Technology (ICT) in Uganda came into effect in the year 2006 BC. Two years down the lane, nothing positive and concrete can be credited to the ministry which is trying to find its standing among giants namely the Uganda Communications Commission (UCC), Uganda National Council for Science and Technology (UNCST), the Ministry of Works, Housing and
Des journées de 30 hr.... posted on June 12, 2008 - 12:33pm
Parcequ' il faut bien travailler quand même, et que le travail est parfois (souvent, tout le temps ?) très prenant...Parceque les weekends il faut bien se reposer quand même, et aussi faire des activités en famille...mais je vais revenir, car j'ai plein de photos et billets en réserve !
IDP camps to gain ability to recieve phone calls posted on June 11, 2008 - 5:20am

Update - Our new Ubuntu server and backup have arrived in Kampala. What this means, among other technical developments, is that the residents of our client IDP camps will now be able to receive direct phone calls, at extra low cost, from anywhere in the world, and free from Indiana.Thanks to Jeff Wishnie at Inveneo, and good luck Philipp in the installation! More to follow soon...TedMore information - New window

Window to the world posted on June 11, 2008 - 12:35am

Here's an article I wrote for ICT Update magazine, which specializes in agricultural uses of Internet communications technologies. The hope is to get the word out as widely as possible about our project!...TedThe war in northern Uganda has driven thousands of people from their homes to live in camps. Now, after a lot of trial an error, BOSCO Uganda has brought the internet and low-cost phone calls to the camps, giving the people a chance to tell their own story.When an old friend of mine returned from Uganda and told me about the conflict in the north of the country, I have to say, I only paid scant attention. I was well-educated and an avid news junkie, but I couldn’t identify with anything he was telling me. The rebels, the Lord’s Resistance Army (LRA), were fighting a classic insurgency which defied military solution. Local people in the area, the Acholi, were living in government camps, mainly to prevent their children being taken in the night to fight for the LRA.