Faster Africa

So which one is the government paper?

2010-03-17T00:26:00.001-07:00

Hint: The President is in a row with Buganda.

For me the destruction of a World Heritage site trumps the riot story (especially since the riots were all over the radio and television all day yesterday). The fire occurred last night.

Did Makerere shooting need to be fatal?

2010-03-16T23:40:00.000-07:00

According to an article this morning in the New Vision, the three students were not transported to a hospital for a whole hour after they were shot.

Eyewitnesses said Richard Hafasha, a private security guard, fired one bullet which passed through Nyongesa’s chest and hit Amoga who was behind him. The bullet also hit a Ugandan student, Amon Mugezi, and got lodged in his neck. Mugezi is a third-year law student.

The bodies lay in a pool of blood for about an hour until other students in the hostel mobilised funds and hired a car that took them to Mulago Hospital. By press time, Mugezi was still in critical condition at the hospital’s intensive care unit.

How can this be? Did no one think to call the police? Emergency services?

That last one is a sad joke. After speaking to Ugandan friends this morning, I learned that there is no Emergency services in Kampala. If someone is hurt, you can call one of the private hospitals to send a ambulance but you have to pay the ambulance before they will take the patient.

How can a city exist without ambulances.

And according the the New Vision, the fire trucks that responded to the fire at were unable to access the fire. WHAT?

The Police Fire Brigade rushed to the scene but its efforts to put out the raging fire at the traditional burial grounds of Buganda kings were disrupted by a crowd.

This is an embarrassing state of affairs for a metropolis. Where is the anger here?

Makerere students riot and forget to tell anyone

2010-03-16T06:41:00.000-07:00

Last night two Makerere students were shot by an armed security guard leading to widespread riots near the university today.

Uganda Online - Makerere Students on Strike after 2 Killed

However no one thought to utilize Twitter to get the story out. Searches for #Makerere all day on Twitter Search resulted in nothing more than news reports. How is it that students -- particularly politically-active students -- are not making use of the social media tools available to them. Is it ignorance of Twitter? Is it the high cost of an internet connection? What has led to this?

I know that thousands of students are active on social media sites like Facebook but ignorance abounds. During the deadly riots here in Kampala, only a tiny handful of techies were sending out tweets on what was happening. For many Ugandans and Uganda lovers all over the world, these tweets were THE ONLY source of information on the riots. Local media was not spreading the word and international media does not exist here. Much was the case today.

Even now as I listen to police sirens passing my home, I wonder why this is and how it can be changed. With national elections happening in a year's time, citizens need to be "armed" with their own tools that can help them take a stand against violence and intimidation. Technology and information is one way that such tactics can be countered.

The cost of internet access in the past six months has gone down but it is still high for students of a budget. And unfortunately of the six of so major providers, only Uganda Telecom has a Twitter update feature. These things need to be changed before elections hit full bore.

Perhaps people have ideas as to how we can remedy this media black hole. Only when each citizen holds a Twitter-enabled cellphone will people in power realize that there is no longer such thing as an isolated media event, violent or not.

Is the SA World Cup good for Africa or wealthy Africans?

2010-03-12T21:47:00.000-08:00

Cost of Stadium Reveals Tensions in South Africa - NYTimes.com:

In the past month, three supposed hit lists landed in South African newspapers. One includes people to be shot, another those to be poisoned. The Sunday Times recently quoted a repentant Mozambican assassin who asserted that he was hired by top-level politicians and businessmen to kill their adversaries, describing his profession as the work of a “cleaner.”

Invisible Children - Full video

2010-03-12T00:40:00.000-08:00

I have been hearing a lot about this video and I wanted to see what all the hype is about. Here it is from Google Video:

OK the Australians win! Hilarious.

2010-03-12T00:08:00.000-08:00

US protestors take a stand for Uganda. Uganda fails to notice

2010-03-11T23:28:00.000-08:00

As a professional cynic (read journalist), I am usually pretty negative about the do-gooder attitudes of Americans -- or Westerners for that matter --who think they can parachute into third-world countries and change the world. It might look good on a College resume but after they fly home, the struggle continues.

The one thing I have learned from living in Uganda is that the people in power here are often more concerned with their own wealth and power than with the plight of the common Ugandan. Why should a UN worker who works a three-year stint in Uganda care for the welfare of its citizens when many Ugandan politicians and civil servants don't? Or more precisely, why do they even care?

For the common Ugandan, life here is extremely difficult and an "every man for himself" attitude exists in all aspects of life from politics to business to driving. It is matter of survival. But for the ones in power, it is a matter of corruption, of selfishness, of power.

But to hear about a small group of American students who camped outside a US Senator's office in the freezing cold for 12 days is heartening (read more on the Monitor, local US news video and Resolve Uganda the group who spearheaded the protest). The goal of the protestors was to get Republican Senator Colburn to drop his hold on a bill that would provide $40 million of aid to Northern Uganda. Other students even staged a hunger strike.

For many of these students the only connected they have to Uganda is the film Invisible Children. A documentary that tells the story of young people living in the North who sleep on streets to avoid being kidnapped by LRA rebels, the film has been running the college circuit for a number of years.

One of the leaders of the protest said after Coburn relented: "We have a responsibility to take care of our brothers and sisters all over the world."

Cheesy? Naive? Absolutely!

Impressive? Heartfelt? Enlightened? Even more so!!!

I'm still a cynic and corruption still reigns today in Uganda, but for a few American activists and their Ugandan benefactors, today is a good day.

US bill to help northern Uganda

2010-03-03T22:48:00.000-08:00

It looks lie the US is about to pass a bill that would assist Northern Uganda and up military and media pressure on the LRA. Part of the goal is to try to convince soldiers to leave the bush.

Uganda: Feingold Statement on the LRA Disarmament and Northern Uganda Recovery Act (allAfrica)

Kony has become a sort of cult hero in the the US along the lines of bin Laden and Charles Manson. Books have been written and films made with an unhealthy and incomprehensible goal of "meeting the man".

And for some reason, the topic of returning child soldiers has struck a chord outside of Uganda. I am not saying that this topic is unworthy but I guess it just stirs my ever-present cynicism.

Can US involvement (read money) really help bring and end to the LRA? Doubtful. But can the US military work with regional armies to flush the LRA out of the bush and bring Kony to justice? Probably. But if last year's botched ambush is any guide, it is not going to be easy.

51 die, 300 missing in Bududa landslide

2010-03-02T06:40:00.000-08:00

Another weather tragedy hits the world, this time from the slopes of Mt. Elgon in Uganda. Everyday people are dying just because they live in this village or in that house.

51 die, 300 missing in Bududa landslide

Over the weekend, two old friends of mine and their two young children (3 yrs and a newborn) died because they found themselves in that plane with that mechanical problem.

Hundreds of lives can end for no better reason than chance.

Horrible article on BBC website

2010-03-01T23:15:00.000-08:00

When you read the following headline:

BBC News - Yoweri Museveni 'preparing son to to lead Uganda'

you think that Museveni was quoted that is he grooming his son for his office. But it is a quote from the opposition. Terrible journalism and editing.

But I am more concerned that the president's son is leading the presidential guard. The army must be impartial when it comes to political issues but if your father is the president, guarding him can be nothing but personal...

By the way - FA is back!

Uganda makes "Top Ten Missed Stories" list

2009-12-17T02:46:00.001-08:00

It is the end of the year and time for the planet's annual list frenzy to begin.

One of the most interesting resources on global issues is the horribly-named, but highly-readable Foreign Policy magazine. They just published their list of "The Top 10 Stories You MIssed in 2009".

Uganda came in at a respectable number 9 for a January article in the New York Times by Jeffrey Gettleman reporting that the US military helped fund and plan an attack on the Lord's Resistance Army (LRA), in eastern Congo. Here is the original article.

The attack was poorly executed, allowing the rebel leaders to escape and murder 900 civilians in retaliation. It was the first time the United States had directly participated in actions against the LRA, which is designated a terrorist group by the United States.

It also mentions a pending bill in the US Congress co-authored by Sens. Russ Feingold (D-Wis.) and Sam Brownback (R-Kan.) that will work towards "eliminating the threat posed by the Lord's Resistance Army ... through political, economic, military, and intelligence support."

Here is a link to the bill.

NY Times likes to talk to white men

2009-12-12T04:36:00.001-08:00

On today's "Room for Debate" blog on the NYTimes website, an important question was posed:

How Much Climate Aid (to poor nations) Is Enough?

And who did they ask to discuss the question? Five white American men. Brilliant!

Residents and representatives of poor nations should play a central role in deciding who should get funds to combat climate change and how much.

It is unfortunate that the NY Times does not think so. I wonder if the same is the case in Copenhagen.

Uganda hits the big time - in a bad way

2009-12-09T00:06:00.001-08:00

International media has picked up on the homosexual bill being debated before the Ugandan Parliament. If passed, the bill would allow the death penalty for homosexual acts.

At CNN.com:

...a leading Muslim cleric, Sheikh Ramathan Shaban Mubajje, has called for gays to be rounded up and banished to an island until they die.

At USA TODAY:

(American) Christian leaders who are themselves divided over homosexuality have joined forces to oppose a proposed Ugandan law that calls for the death penalty for some homosexual behavior.

From the AP and ABC News:

KAMPALA, Uganda — Proposed legislation would impose the death penalty for some gay Ugandans, and their family and friends could face up to seven years in jail if they fail to report them to authorities.

From the Washington Post:

As Episcopalians in America were electing their second gay bishop, their Anglican cousins in Uganda were embroiled in controversial legislation that would make would put those bishops in prison for life, or condemn them to death.

While BBC is reporting the absolutely ridiculous political stunt that Ugandan President Museveni flew economy:

"He wanted to find out the difficulties travellers face in flying economy class and why government officials complain about the economy class," said a spokesman.

But Robert Lugolobi, a representative from Transparency International called him on his bluff:

"For a man who has two jets for his official travels, once in a while to move in economy class, is that news?" he is quoted as saying.

Sweden to cut aid to Uganda over anti-gay law

2009-12-03T09:00:00.001-08:00

I started this blog to talk about technology and the media in Uganda. But this topic is just too important!

Article today in Daily Monitor.

Sweden has joined the growing list of countries heaping pressure on Uganda to discard a proposed law that would severely punish homosexuality.

According to comments attributed to Gunilla Carlsson, Sweden’s development assistance minister, the Swedish government says it would cut aid to Uganda over an anti-gay law they find “appalling”.

Sadly, there is no way the US or Germany or Britain will follow suit. The US just pledged $246 million to Uganda at the end of October to help the country "improve its health and agricultural systems".

This grant was announced by Mr. U.S. Assistant Secretary of State for African Affairs, Johnnie Carson himself.

Funny, it seems the US Embassy in Kampala has recently deleted the news about the grant from their site (I read the press release there a week or two ago).

First birthday is an Africa birthday.

2009-12-03T05:34:00.000-08:00

Congrats Bub!

Gay debate continues in Uganda (in the gutter)

2009-12-03T04:28:00.001-08:00

The debate over the rights of homosexuals i Uganda continues, but as with most contentious issues, the level of debate has been pathetic. Here is a headline from Uganda's leading sh@t tabloid paper, the Red Pepper (Sorry I rarely swear but this rag deserves it):

MPs To Discuss Bum Shafting (No way I am linking this site but here is the text of the article!)

Members of Prliament are set to discuss the rate at which bumshafters are slowly but surely entrenching themselves in Uganda, Red Pepper can exclusively reveal.

The meeting which is to take place on March 5 at the parliamentary conference hall will be officiated over by the first lady Janet Kataha Museveni.
Snoops have seen an open invitation to all MPs in which the organizers of the meeting want the legislators to among other things understand the Gay movement’s agenda which is bent on destabilizing society.

The MPs will also have to understand in detail the Gay blueprint for transforming this nation and also how Uganda can respond to the bumshafters’ secret agenda.

“This is an executive sensitization meeting themed ‘Exposing the truth about bum shafting and the homosexual agenda” part of an invitation seen by RP reads.

Recently, State Minister for ethics and integrity Nsaba Buturo informed MPs at Imperial Royale hotel that a group of bum shafting leaning donor countries had approached him seeking for his nod to start funding and campaigning for bum shafting in Uganda, but he refused.

This vice of homosexuality has been reported in several institutions including churches, schools and high institutions of learning.

This is the same paper that published this in April. It is an amazing level of ignorance that displays what the gay community here is up against. Incredible...

Death sentence for gays - In Uganda???

2009-12-02T01:09:00.001-08:00

Two days after we landed in Entebbe, riots broke out in Kampala over a dispute between the Kabaka, the cultural king of the Bugandan people, and President Museveni. More than 20 people were killed and it was a bitter introduction into Ugandan politics.

Now there is another riot brewing online over a proposed bill before the Ugandan Parliament that could impose the death sentence on people convicted of homosexual acts.

You can read the text of the bill here.

There has been both some good reporting on the bill in the Guardian and local papers like the Monitor have been covering it. It is becoming a big deal here.

You can follow the entire debate from a more personal side at the Gay Uganda blog.

One commentator has called the debate Rovian politics - remember that guy? And Andrew Sullivan criticized Pastor Rick Warren of avoiding the issue in recent interviews.

It seems to me the this is just a political issue to deflect attention away from more pressing issues in the run-up to the elections in 2011. What makes me think this is a comment by the president - and many others - that European gays or "liasons" are in Uganda "recruiting" gays. This has a colonial ring to it, but diplomats who bring up the topic to their Ugandan counterparts are told "if you don't like it, take your money and leave". Something they will never do...

It is a debate that will continue to boil on the web and in the media. Unfortunately I am afraid that as politicians and preachers stoke this fire here, it might just explode.

Asleep at the Keyboard

2009-12-01T07:14:00.001-08:00

OK, I am new here and have not yet settled into the local tech scene - or any scene for the matter...

So I am completely annoyed that I missed TEDx Kampala conference last week. Pissed is a better word. Not like I was busy or anything. It was organized by the Uganda Linux Users Group and Tim Berners-Lee, you know the guy that invented the Internet, was there. Scheiße!

Jonathan Gosier over at Appfrica just posted a summary of the event.

I missed it...

"Blood Gold" flows through Uganda

2009-11-30T04:41:00.001-08:00

I just listened to a great report on 60 Minutes about how gold miners and smugglers are financing the continuing war in the DRC.

How Gold Pays For Congo's Deadly War

The price of gold set another all-time record this past week. There's demand for gold for investments, for circuits in cell phones and computers, and, in this holiday season, for jewelry. But there's another price being paid for gold that you probably haven't heard about.

Gold and other minerals are funding the deadliest war since World War II. More than five million people have died in the Democratic Republic of Congo. Years ago, the jewelry industry banned the trafficking in so-called blood diamonds, but the same hasn't happened with gold.

In the heart of central Africa, "60 Minutes" found a campaign of rape and murder being funded largely by gold that is exported to the world.

Here is an excerpt on Uganda's role:

Uganda is right next door to Congo, but it has almost no gold production of its own. In fact, in 2007, Uganda produced about $500 worth. But in the same year, it exported $75 million in gold. Almost all of that is coming from the war zone.

We took a hidden camera into a trader called "Jit." We offered gold for sale and we were clear it came from Congo.

He bought our gold.

Using a hidden camera is something only a member of the foreign press would risk here.

Faster Africa's introduction to Uganda

2009-11-30T03:51:00.000-08:00

I have been in Uganda now for over two months and I finally feel that I can write intelligently on the country. The last weeks were spent building a foundation of knowledge on the topics of politics, media, technology, culture and society in the "Pearl of Africa".

Here is a brief summary: Uganda is a democracy which has been led by the same man for over twenty-three years. It boasts a free media in which journalists can be charged with sedition for criticizing the president. The populace is poor but not hungry and the educated leave for lack of an intellectual infrastructure. It is also highly corrupt and most people just grin and bear it. Ugandans are generally warm and generous but in a land which is poor and poorly educated it is every man for himself. There is also a general lack of the rule of law, especially on the roads and in the villages. And finally there is a vast and vibrant development industry, which according to who you read is either the cause or the potential cure of all of the above.

In terms of geography, Uganda is wet in the west where poor land management and deforestation has led to an increase in deadly floods. The east of the country is mostly dry and poor land management and deforestation there has led to longer and more severe droughts. And in the war-ravaged but now mostly peaceful north, the Lord's Resistance Army has been forced out of Uganda only to rape, kill, pillage, kidnap and terrorize Uganda's poorer and more instable neighbors.

But for myself, it is an easy place to live. I can sit by the pool, munch some "SPicy Nacho" Doritos, drink Red Bull and the iPhone is on it's way. Plus it is 85 degrees (28 degrees) and sunny everyday and the landscape is breathtaking.

This may seem an overly bleak view of the country but negatives usually take a front seat in first impressions. I am sure these impressions will both change and become more ingrained over the next three to five years.

So stay tuned!