February 2009

John Mary and Laura Collins (Villanova U) represented URF at the Clinton Global Initiative University second annual conference on Feb 13-15 at the University of Texas at Austin! The conference is organized by the Clinton Foundation under the facilitation of President Clinton. Over 1000 student participants from across the globe made commitments to address national and international needs in five areas: energy and climate change, poverty aleviation, human rights and peace, education and global health.
Kasensero posted on February 28, 2009 - 2:51pm

Last Thursday through Sunday I traveled to a small fishing village on Lake Victoria called Kasensero. It’s taken me a while to finish writing this blog post, maybe because I’m still mentally and emotionally processing. This is by no means a complete account, but I’ll try to share some of my thoughts and observations.

Kasensero posted on February 28, 2009 - 2:51pm

Last Thursday through Sunday I traveled to a small fishing village on Lake Victoria called Kasensero. It’s taken me a while to finish writing this blog post, maybe because I’m still mentally and emotionally processing. This is by no means a complete account, but I’ll try to share some of my thoughts and observations.

A stab at the narrative style… posted on February 28, 2009 - 8:41am
Enrollment doubles at Hope Academy posted on February 28, 2009 - 7:00am
Hope Academy enrollment doubles from 64 at end of 2008 to over a 125 students at the beginning of 2009 academy year which started on February 02. Boys: 74 and Girls: 51. Teachers: 12. The number of orphan students needing sponsorship also increased. However, if we can get sponsorship for teachers, it allows to accept many orphans without worrying much about invidual student sponsorships. Currently, we have many unsponsored orphans we allow to study.

WE HEART SOCIAL MEDIA
Thanks to the generosity and enthusiastic support of all our Twitter supporters, family and friends, Women of Kireka quickly tipped their $1,000 fund-raising campaign at The Point in less than 18 days.

Global Voices Uganda: Fire destroys Owino Market posted on February 27, 2009 - 10:34pm

It's been a long time since I've written anything for Global Voices, but this week's fire at Owino Market prompted enough of a blogger response (and I've been sufficiently inspired by my week in Miami with ten other GV-ers) that I had to post a round-up:A massive fire gutted Kampala's Owino Market early Wednesday morning, seriously injuring five people and destroying thousands of stalls. As many as 25,000 traders, mostly women, are estimated to have suffered losses.

36 Hours in K'la City posted on February 27, 2009 - 8:25pm

Almost two years ago Josh at In an African Minute posted a guide for tourists on how to spend a weekend in Kampala. He included such highlights as bribing a fisherman to borrow his canoe for an afternoon and relaxing afterward in Kabalagala with the mixed plate, Mama's vegetarian Ethiopian special.

Smile and Laughter in Northern Uganda posted on February 27, 2009 - 6:54pm

MY JOURNEY OF LIFE TO THE UNKNOWN FATE posted on February 27, 2009 - 3:21pm
Allow me to introduce my self to you. Am called Quitstorm on this online world,am a Ugandan aged now almost 30 years(i say almost because my birthday will come on 23 March 2009,and on that day,i will turn 30). On this page,allow me to take you in my long journey to freedom.. This is a weblog of a person whose desire is to find happiness and freedom in life. Am not sure where to start but being in
Museveni promises peace and better education posted on February 27, 2009 - 2:15pm

By James Omara
President Yuweri Kakuta Museveni promises the people of northern Uganda peace as long as he is in power.  Museveni was recently meeting head teachers in Lira district at Ngetta DFI to forge way forward on the poor education standard that has rocked the country. He also promised to raise salaries of  secondary school teachers.

‘Lango democratic’
He said the Lango are democratic enough at a point of not fighting the government even at a time when they were in camps, had their animals looted, were the victim of rising poverty and poor education. Even under these conditions they would still oppose government through ballot papers.‘Kony will not survive’
Museveni said Kony and his group has no capacity to come back to disturb the existing peace and urged the locals to work hard knowing they would not go back in camps or sleep in the bush.

New Publications posted on February 27, 2009 - 1:17pm
Katsui, H. (2009) “Negotiating the Human Rights-Based Approach and the Charity-Based Approach in Development Cooperation Activities: Experiences of Deaf Women in Uganda.” In T. Veintie & P.Virtanen (eds.) Local and Global Encounters: Norms, Identities and Representations in Formation. Renvall Institute Publications 25, Helsinki. P.9-28.
PEACE & LOVE posted on February 27, 2009 - 10:10am

Peace and Love
Have a good one y’all.
-Sherry Darling

The February Bloggers 4 hour long happy hour! posted on February 27, 2009 - 9:21am

It's quite interesting that my last post had to do with on-line social networking as a connection rather than a community and then a few days later have UBHH. See, Anne Jackson posits that the web creates connection but not community and goes on to say that some off-line relationships may suffer because of the on-line ones.

Weekend Moods? posted on February 27, 2009 - 7:46am

In Brief

poemz 2 posted on February 26, 2009 - 9:12pm

iam sorry people, i kind of have rhyming on the brain. i am also getting darn good at it. streetside rapper goes out to  fixticks, you are the embodiment of streetside my brother.
Streetside Rapper
His beat is his own

poemz 2 posted on February 26, 2009 - 9:12pm

iam sorry people, i kind of have rhyming on the brain. i am also getting darn good at it. streetside rapper goes out to  fixticks, you are the embodiment of streetside my brother.
Streetside Rapper
His beat is his own

cupcakes and robots: Wednesday at We Media posted on February 26, 2009 - 6:46pm

I'm in Miami this week for the We Media conference, which brings together "leaders and ideas shaping media, business, communication, technology, education and participation in the connected society."Among yesterday's events, which included a video presentation by David Plouffe and a brainstorming session on the future of business, media, education, philanthropy and government (in under two hours, no less), my favorite was something called "Decoding the Culture."

what can i do? what can you do? posted on February 26, 2009 - 6:11pm

How low can we fall? Apparently lower than i thought. Another building has collapsed in the 'city' because of shoddy work. somebody somewhere pocketed money and looked away while this shoddy work was done. another made a profit off of the shoddy materials or whatever. in the end, poor workers have died. what can i do? what can you do? Kampala is a mess and i wonder, what can i do? what can you do

Taxation without services is tyranny posted on February 26, 2009 - 5:15pm

By Mutabazi Sam StewartThe level of development of a country is determined by the wealth of its people. The richer the people the more likely the richer the country and the reverse is also true. Accordingly therefore, Uganda is a poor country because its people are poor. The debate about which solutions are most effective in the fight against poverty in Uganda are as interesting as they are confusing to the population.Ugandans seem to be split between accepting the declared rosy figures of poverty reduction during the 22 years of the NRM government and the actual reality of the not so comfortable standards of living of majority of people both in the countryside and in towns.Independent minded observers rightly think that the current government has to a great extent transformed the economy. A big number of "bourgeoisie" (middle class) has been added to the meager group that existed prior to 1986.

The good, the bad and the future posted on February 26, 2009 - 5:13pm

The sensationalization of calamities and mishaps by the press has just got me cracking up like a toddler at its first circus.Take a look at the Pepper's headline today 'owino in ashes on ash wednesday' and to add to that the Monitor just couldn't resist using the pun 'Harsh wednesday' newspapers and the television can't help but feed off other peoples problems, earthquakes, fires, murders and even genocide offer the papers an opportunity to sell more copies than they would ordinarily sell on a cold wet morning when it's business as usual with nothing going on but the occassional traffic jam.But before you lean back your pompous ass and frown on the fourth estate just remember that it's not the editors that devour these stories with such frenzied excitement it's you. you are the reason the media makes such a meal of these disasters and prints macabre and grotesque images. they do this to feed your thirst for drama.

The Good and the ugly about the Nakivubo inferno, Part 1 posted on February 26, 2009 - 4:19pm
Kampala was on fire yesterday.  The parking yard for Nakivubo war memorial Stadium caught fire in the wee hours of yesterday morning and raged for six hours.  According to press reports, millions worth of goods and more millions in cash was lost in the inferno.  The government has now instituted a cabinet subcommittee to look into the cause of the fire.  They will await the police report after investigations into the causes of the fire.<?xml:namespace prefix = o ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office" /?> When we awoke to TV news of this fire, the anguish on the faces of the traders was to much to bear.
Lady Cranes set for World Cup posted on February 26, 2009 - 2:08pm

The Lady Cranes squad for the world cup has been finalised with Joan Andika and Fortunate Irankunda not making the cut. Helen Buteme takes over from Christine Kizito as the team captain while Rachel Kakaire will be her assistant.The Lady Cranes will depart from Entebbe airport on Sunday afternoon and arrive in Dubai in the wee hours of Monday morning. The tournament kicks off with the men’s games on Thursday while the women’s games start on Friday. Lady Cranes face New Zealand first before taking on South Africa and Italy.Forwards: Christine Kizito, Winnie Atyang, Agnes Nantongo, Rosenburg Kanyunyuzi, (Thunderbirds), Brenda Kayiyi (Black Panthers), Aliya Adania (Rangers)Backs: Charlotte Mudoola (Rangers), Rachel Kakaire, Harriet Kayonjo (Thunderbirds) Prossy Nakakande, Helen Buteme (Black Panthers), Justine Bayiga.ugrugbychiclet

O P Q posted on February 26, 2009 - 2:07pm

You should go hereYou know what? Well actually you don’t. To know would imply that you are me or at least that you have been within hearing distance in the past two weeks while I was complaining which is unlikely. I try not to complain. Fine (Stupid conscious). I try not to complain out loud and especially here. All complaints are funnelled out through appropriate music like Good Charlotte. Sleep is good too. I have to complain now or rather put words to the fear that. Me amazing me is terrified of this semester. If I had balls they would have shrunk to the size of Whoville. School is hard. In fact it is so hard that I am focusing less on it and more on Plan B. Plan B is like so, get married and do whatever and whichever he so desires me to do. Jump? “Sure thing babes. Lemme get a bungee stick so I get up really high” Off that cliff into that rocky patch of the ocean? “Forget the bungee stick, let me just tie these rocks to my legs.

posted on February 26, 2009 - 1:50pm

City Of AngelsI have always wondered about how life goes on in certain parts of the world... you know?Kampala is the kind of city where nothing will move unless you bribe people; the trauma of owning anything and always being insecure about whether someone will steal it; the fear of achieving lest you court envy from even the most kindred of souls; the constant threat of being run down by a speeding cyclist, because in fairness, there is no way to control those blighters.The argument has been for a long time that they need to earn an income and the elitist Kampala populace which had now become very lazy, encouraged them. Now the boda boda takes you right to the doorstep of where you want to go. The ease. The convenience. The sloth.Then they started hitting people on the head with iron bars, mugging handbags, robbing innocent members of the snobbish elitist populace that would not ask government to put in place a proper transport system.

Move B****, Get out the way! posted on February 26, 2009 - 12:40pm

I have started and not completed over 4 posts in the last two weeks since I last posted but was never able to complete them coz my job could not allow me the time. I have recently come to the conclusion that I hate my job. And not only because I cannot read/write blogs any more. I deliberately missed this particular course on campus because I did not want to get bogged down with eternal butt kissing, but here I am at it. You might say that I sold my soul.Of course I have been reading all your blogs, but not commenting as much except where it was absolutely impossible for me not to say anything!

CITY OF ANGELS posted on February 26, 2009 - 12:37pm

I have always wondered about how life goes on in certain parts of the world... you know? Kampala is the kind of city where nothing will move unless you bribe people. The trauma of owning anything and always being insecure about whether someone will steal it. The fear of achieving lest you court envy from even the most kindred of souls. The constant threat of being run down by a speeding cyclist, because in fairness, there is no way to control those blighters.The argument has been for a long time that they need to earn an income and the elitist Kampala populace which had now become very lazy, encouraged them. now the boda boda takes you right to the doorstep of where you want to go. The ease. The convenience. The sloth.

Very Sad posted on February 26, 2009 - 10:54am

“Emese nebweligejya etya, eba ya kapa,” said one woman who lost her merchandise in the fire at Owino market.

*sigh* posted on February 26, 2009 - 8:56am
I've been offline again...this time for almost 10 days!! So much for UTL's turnaround time of 48hours on faults! I haven't been ignoring e-mails etc....just so you know Wink
Odd posted on February 26, 2009 - 2:27am

Apparently with great power comes great responsibility. I think I am going to change it to with a house comes all kinds of scam bags but Since advancing in years my honesty plea has gone to another level, and bitchiness seems to sweep all over me. Here is the drill, I finally get my beloved house i am pimping it all up, making it all cosy and cute so i am starting to live my life, starting to achieve my dreams and all of a sudden i seem to attract the most weird situations and circumstance not forgetting people. So the following events have happen over a space of six days.

Odd posted on February 26, 2009 - 2:27am

Apparently with great power comes great responsibility. I think I am going to change it to with a house comes all kinds of scam bags but Since advancing in years my honesty plea has gone to another level, and bitchiness seems to sweep all over me. Here is the drill, I finally get my beloved house i am pimping it all up, making it all cosy and cute so i am starting to live my life, starting to achieve my dreams and all of a sudden i seem to attract the most weird situations and circumstance not forgetting people. So the following events have happen over a space of six days.

Oweka Daniel.......Congs! posted on February 25, 2009 - 4:35pm

Inspite of the long spell of silence, Lwani returns to pay tribute to a certain Mr. Oweka Daniel- a young diligent man who dons his graduation gown this Friday 27th Februray 2009 in an academic ritual commemorating his successes. Omera Oweka, you are the epitome of the largely untold and countless miletsones that the John Apire Otto family has strode over the past decade and a half. Seeing your face today reminds many of the little brilliant courageous man you were in 1998 when the urgly hands of death stole Mr. Otto and robbed the family of its head. However, this friday we unite in tears of joy not sadness, in drones of determination no sorrow and in anticipation of greater heights not fear. To me especially, i salute you Oweka....."Tic cingi ber, ryeko ni obedo yweka wa.....wamari mada!"One Love.....By the way, your pictures will grace Lwani next week...a drammatic return..isn't it?Happy Celebrations.

who will design me? posted on February 25, 2009 - 1:11pm

Owino Market has burnt. Kati who'll 'design' me now? hmmm? who? who'll pull my hand and say "model/saizi wange/anty/sista, jangu nku dezaininge" who'll find me that bag, shoe, blouse, whatever, that will make me feel like i belong on CSI:Miami for less than a pizza? hmmm? who? Owino has burnt banange and its not just the vendors crying. we are all crying for you. How dare they try to leave us

[ ] posted on February 25, 2009 - 12:39pm

Of late I write less not just because my life is that uneventful, but because life has been overwhelming. Not to alarm you, overwhelming on the whole in a good way. I have known joys and happiness that I did not think I would ever know. I have been so altered that two little boys from a houseful of bending cooing uncles, remember my pet family name before all others. When I’m the uncle who forgets their birthdays, I have to be dragged to their Saturday afternoon birthdays, and we set off on sojourns from Entebbe to where they are at 10am, though in the night before we had agreed by 7am we should be in the taxi there. They call my name when whoever is trying to teach them new words and in baby talk asks, “Uncle where?” It brings me close to tears sometimes, to hear down the phone, these stories retold to me, as I travel from one appointment to another, numberless cars, automobiles, settling back into a Kampala I’m falling in love with again. I thought the dreamer was dead.

MY MOUTH posted on February 25, 2009 - 12:31pm

On Friday while i was on my way to see the dentist, i met this friend of mine and we started chatting. You know the not-so-close type all you can say isFriend: How are you (before i reply) you are lostBS: I am okay and i am not lost just too busyFriend: Eeeh but you chic you have put on weight look at your hips and tush..BS: ((thinking) bitch please you are starving you self) Oh really?

Development Conference at Helsinki posted on February 25, 2009 - 11:16am
By Hisayo Katsui The Finnish Society for Development Research Conference: Knowledge, Development and Academic Partnerships was held at Helsinki University on 12-14.2. It was attended by 150 people, with my rough calculation. 40 papers were presented. This annual conference has been supported by many volunteer students of Development Studies, which is the most competitive discipline to enter in the Social Science Faculty at Helsinki University. I would like to thank the organisers’ and the volunteers' great contribution to this conference.

The Facebook FastUber-blogger, Anne Jackson, says the web creates connection but not community.Blogging. Facebook. Twitter. Those three things are practically my middle name. I've been called a “social media butterfly” over the last four years.The question of "Can community happen online?" which has been the topic of conversation on this blog recently, has also been asked wherever I go. At conferences, at churches, and yes, even at the local cafe where by chance, a Facebook friend recognizes me. Sorry. I have to admit. I usually don't know who you are.

MAY DAY MAY DAY...PMS ALERT!!! i think posted on February 25, 2009 - 9:41am

Woke up today to what seemed like any other ordinary morning, “seemed” being the operative word.Everything was fine until I got to the office, settled in and looked out the window…from where I was seated, I could see Owino on fire!! ….I am not talking about a few bursts. No! Huge raging balls of it. I swear, that’s when it all started. I felt really sad for the traders, still do. Was so suddenly overcome with emotion that I had tears well up in my eyes, while I muttered under my breath “Oh No, Oh No!” suddenly overcome with an acute sense of empathy towards those that had undoubtedly lost stuff in the inferno. I walked away from my work space to get away.

My Neighborhood. posted on February 25, 2009 - 3:29am

In Brief

Here I Come March posted on February 24, 2009 - 6:05pm
A man has never been happier to see a month end. Since that time when I woke up hungry one morning only to find that the rat had chewed on my bread; the car wouldn’t start as I hastened to be at work in time for a crucial assignment; and the wailing baby in the next seat pissed onto my shirt on its debut when i opted to take the famed K'la taxis, I haven’t had it as rough as this February.   To kick off the bad month, I borrow a friend’s car to go see friends for a get together on the other side of town. Driving in K'la the 'Pot Hole Capital of the World', the oil tank is damaged when I hit a pothole. Before I know it, all the oil has spilled out, the science of friction has done its job, and I have an engine knock on my hands. The bill amounts to $50, not to mention the night I spend at the police reception when the traffic warden literally accuses me of navigating the pot holes poorly.
Random Thoruggits: posted on February 24, 2009 - 5:35pm

Random Thoruggits:1. Yes I changed the blog template. I was looking for something darker and if you're not yet on my blog roll, just give it some time.2. This morning as i was on my way to work the taxi was tuned in to Top Radio. The presenters are talking about the recent scourge of beheading little girls that has spread across the country and how that has become a menace. The one guy says "This is a big mess. Government has to do something"

The Healing Power of Laughter posted on February 24, 2009 - 5:31pm

One of the greatest stress relievers God has given us is laughter. It not only makes us feel better, but it actually releases healing throughout our system. When we laugh, it restores and rejuvenates what the pressures of life have taken out.

Through my note books posted on February 24, 2009 - 2:39pm

Today I decided to go through my note books, interesting stuff I found…
I love making notes while reading, that is why I have note books. Well I don’t really like making notes but I do so because I love monitoring my handwriting, formats, space usage…
While reading Tribes by Seth Godin, these are the notes I made:

This is the first style I used. When I am going through these notes, I reaallllyyy take my time.

jackfruit of the week (02.23.09): superheroes! posted on February 23, 2009 - 11:30pm

around the block in 60 days, part 1 posted on February 23, 2009 - 10:10pm

Ok, so over the last couple of months I have been here and there, well, three places really, The Island (Banda) with Eve, Rukungiri with the family and Rwanda on my own.All really lovely places.unfortunately my pictures don't do them justice, but i at least have to tryok first up, the islandthe candle could be from rukungiri, the view from the incomplete building definately is.

Tarantella - Hilaire Belloc posted on February 23, 2009 - 8:49pm

I just found this poem after nearly forever,Our poetry teacher from High school, made us go over it so many times, that it very nearly lost its magic, but now, after all these years, finding it and reading it again, I am once again - captured.TarantellaDo you remember an Inn,Miranda?Do you remember an Inn?And the tedding and the spreadingOf the straw for a bedding,And the fleas that tease in the High Pyrenees,And the wine that tasted of tar?And the cheers and the jeers of the young muleteers(Under the vine of the dark verandah)?Do you remember an Inn, Miranda,Do you remember an Inn?And the cheers and the jeers of the young muleteeersWho hadn't got a penny,And who weren't paying any,And the hammer at the doors and the Din?And the Hip! Hop! Hap!Of the clapOf the hands to the twirl and the swirlOf the girl gone chancing,Glancing,

mirrored by a tree. posted on February 23, 2009 - 7:49pm

twisted bark and carved archeslife has etched it's mark on memy roots run deep and so do my cracks I'm standing tall, but scared I'll fall.my shadow is a giver, my soul-a takerI reap from the ground only to have my fruit ripped from me. I reach for the heights, and must contend with nature's laws,time, season and gravity.

We created a Map to the Park! posted on February 23, 2009 - 5:27pm

Lastly some visitors tried to get to the Uganda Skateboard Union SkatePark and got lost, so we came up with this map…

We created a Map to the Park! posted on February 23, 2009 - 5:27pm

Lastly some visitors tried to get to the Uganda Skateboard Union SkatePark and got lost, so we came up with this map…

And there was Guidespot… posted on February 23, 2009 - 5:24pm

Guidespot… It’s your spot in the universe
I know I’m not the first or last to blog about Guidespot because it’s simply amazing…
This is a basic explanation of Guidespot got from their facebook page:
What is a Guide?
Think of a guide as your own visual list and multi-media story. Now think of Guidespot as an online platform where this creative knowledge-sharing converge and form communities around your interests.
Building a guide offers you the opportunity to combine text, links, photos, videos, addresses and maps all in one place without having to use the techy stuff to get it done. Organize the layout of your guide by dragging and dropping the contents to your desired locations.
In my own words, it is ‘a guide to help you get answers faster!’