Uganda Perspective

Gorillas Earn Uganda Top International Tourist Spot by Lonely Planet

Of all the places in the world, Lonely Planet chose Uganda as THE top tourist destination for 2012. 

It was mainly the attraction of seeing mountain gorillas in their native forests that caused the choice.  CHECK OUT THIS AMAZING VIDEO OF AN ENCOUNTER WITH WILD GORILLAS. But there were the other things as well – the national parks full of wildlife, the good hotels, improved roads, white water rafting on the Nile, climbing to the snowy peaks of the Rwenzori, the safe environment for trekkers and backpackers and the stability of the nation.  This is a major milestone for Uganda which was one of the world’s top tourist destinations before independence in 1960, a status that caused Winston Churchill to call Uganda “The Pearl of Africa.”

Most people following Lonely Planet will most likely spend their time in Uganda with professional tour companies or guides who are highly personable and knowledgeable.  The net experience will be good since the pros understand what it takes to give a pleasing tourist experience. People met along the way will enhance the experience because of course the Ugandan people are naturally welcoming and pleasant. 

But outside of the professional tours, eco-lodges and large urban hotels, I have to say there remains a huge void in hospitality service.  In the last three weeks, frequenting restaurants at all levels, I’ve regularly encountered laziness, resentment and downright stupidity among servers.  One restaurant owner argued with me that I needed to pay in full with my order because the place was often crowded and they couldn’t control people running away without paying.  We were the only people in the place.  One waitress showed me to a table and then pulled out a wet rag to wipe it down, flipping it my way.  While I waited for my table to dry, she came around and draped a table cloth over it and into my lap.  Eventually the coffee came.  Once it did, a guy came around swabbing the floor on his hands and knees, all of which contributed to a delightful breakfast experience.  Like, they couldn’t have been ready for clientele BEFORE the doors opened?

Everyone agrees there needs to be training of hospitality workers but who is to do it if even restaurant owners don’t understand the concept of service?  The owners are often foreign-born Middle-Eastern or Asian who treat their help like cattle and hide behind their cash drawers.  I find it ignorant and deplorable and, even with the immense leeway I give people in Uganda because it’s Uganda, how can people operate with such an innate lack of common sense about service?  Can’t they treat people as they would like to be treated?  A friendly smile, a warm welcome, someone who understands English in this English-speaking country and wishes me a good day… is it too much to ask?  Ask me next trip.

PS:  The next best locations named were Myanmar (Burma), the Ukraine and Jordan.

 

The Power of a Soccer Ball

We are building a soccer pitch in the middle of a moonscape field, in the middle of nowhere.  Why?  Because it will transform a community.  Listen to this:

A few days ago, I was with Headmaster Norman, the guy who has started building this project.  The ground is littered with sharp lava rock, it is uneven, it has potholes.  We were just two guys scoping out the place but I had a soccer ball so we could take some “before” photos of the project.  We were just going to take a few pix, that’s all.  But within seconds of the soccer ball appearing, almost as though an invisible signal had been sent throughout the town, children appeared.  Then a half dozen grownups.  The photos were taken, Norman tossed the ball toward the onlookers and then magic happened.

People started to play. 

Everyone.

Old, young, boys, girls, barefooted, sandaled, dress-shod, the ball darted right and left.  Gaggles of kids chased it when it flew into the bush.  More people joined the game, drawn by the squeals and laughter. Then spectators arrived.  There were no teams, refs, rules or goals but on and on the ball flew, through skirmishes and headers and chases and passes.  The best player was a little barefoot guy dressed in rags.  At the end of an hour, the Headmaster called a truce.  He was worn out and we needed to go.

In that one hour, we affirmed what we knew was there from the beginning: this field in the middle of a subsistence farmer community where people need to struggle just to have a liter of water in the house will be a place of joy and pleasure and a community coming together for generations. It will definitely be part of "saving life."

Want to help fund it?  It will take several hundred truckloads of fill and loam.  Want to come open it in July?  Naming rights to the field are still available.  ou can donate HERE.  If you want to be part of the project, reply to this post.  If you want to have your name on the field, comment here or send an email to info@amagara.org and I will respond to you.

Palestine To Open Embassy in Kampala

See this news story from Uganda's New Vision on 1/8/12

I find this interesting for two reasons.  First,  Museveni seems tohave no problem welcoming a terrorist organization onto Embassy Row even though the al shabbab terrorists killed 80 of his citizens during the last World Cup Finals. Perhaps the Somalis are next.   And second, this is clearly another failure of the Obama foreign policy.  If we had a strong president, he would pressure our allies to shun Palestine as an aggressor nation to Israel just as we have – but then, I guess apparently he doesn’t have the clout or perhaps he doesn’t care or perhaps he doesn’t understand the strategic relationship the U.S. holds with Uganda.

In his defense, Museveni is good at “following the money.”  Mahmoud Abbas looks like a money player, doesn't he?  His Excellency welcomed the Aga Khan when he wanted to build a new hotel in Kampala.  He welcomed Moammar Gadaffi when he wanted to build a $2 billion mosque/university on Old Kampala Hill.  And now he’s welcoming Hamas.  Let’s just see how further abetting the Muslim agenda in Uganda will play out.

Mak U Unveils Electric Car

For anyone who thinks Uganda is some kind of backward African place, check this out. 

Makerere University has successfully tested an electronic vehicle, Kiira EV, manufactured by students of the College of Engineering, Design, Art and Technology.

Makerere Vice Chancellor, Prof. Venansius Baryamureeba who flagged off the car at the college premises described the technological innovation as a historic moment. “It goes on to confirm that Makerere is a top institution,” an all smiles Byaramureeba commented. “When we say Makerere is a great university, you say, ‘are you sure?’ The level of development at Makerere will blow you away. If we keep this up, Makerere will be ranked among the top five universities of the world,” he added.

At the demo, Project Manager Paul Musasizi took to the driver’s seat to embark on the test drive the 1000kg, green two-seater car. The car powered by a 40-amps 64-cells Lithium ion battery snaked out of the college parking yard drove around the university campus, a distance of about four kilometres.

Journalists who gave a chase on foot could not keep up with its pace while those who used their personal cars conceded it was a first runner. “I did perhaps 60kmh,” Musasizi commented afterwards. It’s built to cruise at a speed of 100kmh. The battery can last for a distance of 80km before recharging for 3-4 hours with electric power.

The official explained that choice of the car’s colour, green, was to illustrate the university’s commitment to good environmental practices which include, going green and reducing emissions. The car has zero noise and fumes emissions. “Apart from the stone and iron age, Uganda has been left out. Now we want to have a seat on the electric car bench in the world,” Musasizi remarked.

“I hope I will witness that day when half of Ugandans are driving a car made at Makerere. I hope it will we cost effective. We shall keep improving it. When you look at the benz of 1960 and the one of today, there’s a difference,” Baryamureeba commented. 

And now Uganda has joined Japan, Korea and the U.S. as a leading provider of green technology.  Thanks to New Vision Uganda for the details.

Meet Patrick, the Only Hope for Street Kids in Kabale

You read my piece on street kids in Kabale.  That was the problem.  Here is the solution.  His name is Patrick Tushabomwe and this man is dedicated to getting every street kid off the streets of Kabale.  Estimates are there are only 95 of them so the goal is achieveable but the work will not be easy.

On January 4, Patrick opened The Shepherd Centre in Kabale town, in a rented house, and in the presence of board members, supporters, government officials and clergy.  It was a great event, particularly because there are 14 young boys under his care. The facility offers housing, counseling, parenting.  The kids get to go to school.   It’s a good start.

Patrick’s heart was broken for street kids more than five years ago.  He started seeking them out just to let the kids know someone cared.  He provided soap and some food for them at Christmas.  He learned where they stay, how they live, and began to understand the family situations that would cause them to be tossed onto the streets.  Even while he underwent intense discipleship and evangelism training in the ABIDE program for Juna Amagara Ministries, he thought of the kids in Kabale.  Even while he earned his bachelor’s degree,  Patrick planned facilities for the kids. 

Eventually he found some backers from the U.S. who caught the passion and now Shepherd Centre can provide safe shelter, parental love and discipline AND reconciliation services for families.  None of this easy or cheap but great progress has been made.  The goal?  Zero street kids in Kabale.  However long it takes.  Whatever it takes.  That’s what Patrick says and I believe him.

To support to The Shepherd Centre, click HERE.  Check them out on Facebook HERE.

The Sad Case of Brian The Tough Guy

In Kabale Town, the lowest form of life is not vermin or the garbage storks or mangy stray dogs.  It is the street children, mostly boys, ranging in age from four to sixteen.  These are kids who may have one living parent but whose lives at home are so intolerable, they are forced to survive by their wits on the street.  Some parents are too poor to feed the child so they throw him out.  Some are alcoholic or mentally disturbed and cannot care for the child.  Some are so abusive, the child runs away.

Street kids sleep in abandoned or unoccupied buildings.  They eat from garbage piles.  They wear rags.  They rarely bathe. They must be wary and clever and sly.  They become inured to pain, both mentally and physically and, just to survive, they become tough.  Because they are completely feral, they are treated like wild animals.  People shoo them away.  The police beat them.  They are harassed.

It all became clear here one evening when a young boy named Brian was brought to a place called Shepherd Center, a haven for street boys.  The boy was filthy and weak and had a bloody bandage on his arm.  He was given some food and water and later, the bandage was cut away. It was discovered the boy had a double compound fracture of his left arm.  It appears he had been deliberately hit at high speed by a boda boda driver three days earlier.  But Brian never so much as whimpered.

Shepherd Centre people took him to the hospital and, after hours of searching for the one doctor who was supposed to be on duty, got an X-ray and then, nearly 12 hours later, the boy received treatment that just barely saved the arm.

 Poverty has many faces.  This is just one of them.

Graduation Day at 12 Years Old

It is a simple fact of life in Uganda that not all children go to high school.  It is something of a miracle that they go to primary school thanks to a program put into place in the mid-1990s called Universal Public Education.  Funded by a one billion dollar grant (1.7 trillion Uganda shillings), the program ensured schools would be built and staffed throughout the country.  That was done, yet today, there is a shortage of qualified teachers and class sizes are huge, up to 150 kids per class.

To go beyond primary school requires fees which are often not available, and qualified test scores from the students.  Even if parents can come up with the fees, with such large class sizes, the learning level is low and most children do not qualify.  Therefore, the end of Primary School is a celebration.  It is a day when parents say, “Yay, you made it!  Good luck; you’re on your own now– go tend the goats.”

Yet, in the hills of Kishanje Highlands in the far southwest corner of the country, something of a phenomenon occurs at the end of the term.  Kids in the New Times
Primary School kids almost ALL qualify for secondary school.  Why is this?  Classes are small, teachers are better than average and there are mentors to help kids with homework.  These kids can all realistically look forward to earning an “A” (advanced) level placement in secondary school (See Ritah in her new maroon A-sweater).  Many will go to university on a government scholarship. 

So here are the kids of Kishanje, proud to parade down the hill in their miniature caps and gowns.  Primary school is behind.  Now the hard work begins.

Traveling to Uganda? Make it Easier with Yotel

It used to be traveling to Uganda through London required an overnight stay on the return trip.  Until recently, the only accommodations near Heathrow Airport were the Park Hotel or the Holiday Inn.  Those choices cost $300-400 / night plus about $50 in taxis, and though it was a delight to find hot water showers and soft sheets, the price was steep.  Connections through Amsterdam were not much better in a recliner chair in the airport – cheaper but not very comfortable.

Two years ago in Amsterdam I discovered an in-airport hotel called Yotel.  While I was reading hotel literature, I got to talking to a guy who seemed to know what he was doing.  It turned out he was it was Simon Woodroffe, the founder of the enterprise, a former Hyatt Hotels executive, who just had this idea – hotel compartments built inside the airport – and rentable by the hour.  I checked in.

The hotel looks like railroad compartments off a hallway.  Inside a single, there is not a lot of floor space but there is a hot shower, clean facilities, a deliciously comfortable bed with TV and WIFI.  What more could one want?  I got eight hours sleep during my layover, showered, shaved and walked to my flight refreshed.  The cost?  About $60.00.

This year I led a team to Uganda and planned the return trip to include Yotel.  At Heathrow there were accommodations for traveling singles, roommates and couples. It took some effort to find the Yotel in Terminal 4 but it was next to a delightful pub-style restaurant that served meals in the evening and the following morning as well.  I have to tell you the team raved about Yotel.   Just opened in New York as well.

Being in Uganda is great.  Now getting there is easier.  Go Yotel!

The Battle Over Homosexuality in Uganda Deepens

Many have forgotten the flap a couple of years ago when a Member of Parliament in Uganda proposed severe penalties for homosexual acts.   You can read that background HERE.

While the subject has been back burner in the world media, those who push the gay agenda have been persistent.  This week’s survey of local news in Uganda tells the story.

In October, Mr David Cameron U.K Prime Minister said publicly that “infringement on gay rights is one of the things that determine the country’s aid policy…” clearly threatening that foreign aid from the U.K. to Uganda is to be tied to the latter’s gay policies.

Previously, the UK delegates to the Commonwealth Heads of Government (CHOGM) had urged Uganda to resist a gay push.  In November, Zanzibar President Ali Mohammed Shein said in Tanzania, ““We have our own culture and it should be known and understood that we shall not receive any command from anywhere using whatever sanctions to undermine our way of living. UK should understand this.” 

Kenya said ditto.

A few days later, Robert Mugabe in Zimbabwe chimed in:  “Cameron’s gay talk is diabolical,” he said.  The President has threatened to mete severe punishment against gays for their behaviour, which he said is inconsistent with African and Christian values.  He attacked British Prime Minister David Cameron for threatening to withdraw aid to African countries that did not embrace homosexuality, calling him ‘Satanic’.

And just a few days ago, Cardinal Emmanuel Wamala, the retired Catholic Archbishop of Kampala, asked African leaders not to accept overtures from the United Kingdom or any other foreign nation in exchange for embracing gay rights.

Anglican bishops attending an all-Bishops Conference in Entebbe reiterated their unanimously firm stand against homosexuality. President Yoweri Museveni commended the Church for its strong stand against homosexuality. He asked the clergy and African leaders to guard against Western culture, warning that the continent will end up eaten by homosexuality if they relax.

Homosexuality is a serious issue in East Africa.  It is not acceptable on any level.  When will the West leave those countries alone to deal with it on their own terms?... wait, I know, when they become economically independent and are not tempted to take aid with gay strings attached.

One Man's Safari into Brightest Africa - Read All About It

After more than seven years hard labor (well, three years hard labor and four years wondering how to put it together) I’ve just received copies of my new book on Uganda called They Call Me Mzee: One Man’s Safari into Brightest Africa.

Called “a remarkable story of discovery,” the book charts the cultural and spiritual ife of present-day Uganda.  Part memoir, part travelogue and part investigative report, the reader will learn about how the AIDS epidemic started in Uganda and spread throughout Africa.  And, how Uganda is still the only nation in Africa to have arrested the disease.  The report talks about the huge faith life of Ugandans, where it came from and what it means.  There is much discussion from a personal perspective about the plight of orphans and how ministries, the government and the church are dealing with the ever-growing problem.

Most importantly, it is my personal story of discovering a place where faith underlies all.  The people I meet, the visitors I take to Uganda and the lessons we have for each other are insightful, surprising.

Anyone who has been to Uganda, who is planning to go to Uganda or who supports the work in Uganda should read this book.  You will laugh, you will cry and you will learn something of Africa you have never seen anywhere.

Click here to order the book in paperback.  The Kindle version is due out in about 10 days.  $1.00 of ever sale goes to support the work of Juna Amagara Ministries in Uganda.

After you’ve read it, let me know what you think.  I answer all emails.  Enjoy.