A case for digital mental health services in Uganda

By 

Jacob Waiswa Buganga,

Wellness and Recreation Facility

Kampala, Uganda

Development and growth of cities, countries, and regions have caused excitement, but also misery, arising from income inequality, limited benefit from development programs, limited means of livelihood, limited access to relief support, family breakdown, depression, substance abuse, crime and violence, and limited access to mental health services by the majority of the population, both the urban and rural poor in Uganda. 

As a consequence, they suffer from preventable non-communicable diseases, such as hypertension, diabetes, liver failure, kidney failure due to obsessive, stressful, and risky behaviour, include overuse of addictive substances to cope with extreme stress. This further compromises family and social progress and harmony, yet without adequate means to redeem the situation. 

The limited and available mental health services offer psychological first aid, without midterm and long-term care and management. Covid19 has disrupted livelihoods and more than doubled mental health challenges, leading to sudden deaths. 

The devastating impact of Covid19, compromised delivery of mental health services by the limited service providers in place, despite the need to survive more than 41 million people and counter pathological information that is detrimental to mental wellbeing.

Under these circumstances, emergency responses are needed to boost to mental health  in most challenging times, through alternative care arrangements such as digital mental healthcare services. 

The limited facilities and distant areas require looping system and approach, involving digital technology, to salvage the situation.  This will allow access to digital mental health in any part of the country and support midterm and long-term mental health care and management.

POETHERAPY: WHAT IS IT ABOUT?

 By Jacob Waiswa Buganga

IMI Recreation and Wellness Facility

Poetherapy is latest innovation to healing psychological disorders such as anxiety, stress, and depression-based disorders, through giving a chance a chance to strugglers with such disorders to write down, rehearse and share their stories before a supportive audience that provide attentive and listening ear with whole interest; and for experienced poets to share experiential and evidenced experiences of other strugglers to awaken souls and flattened emotions to get aroused and be directed to present experiences of reality. And the more this happens, the greater relief strugglers find, onwards to complete states of wellness. Poetherapy is under experimentation, but so far so good. 

Thanks to the Poetherapy Team in Uganda.

Keep the movement going!

Understanding academics and intellectuals

By

Jacob Waiswa Buganga

IMI Recreation and Wellness Facility

Email: info@integratedmentalhealthinitiative.org

Academics and intellectuals are not necessarily two in one.  An academic may not be an intellectual and an intellectual may not be an academic. Many intellectuals have never been academics. 

Historically humanity has had intellectuals who never were in the confines of classrooms. Such intellectuals predominated traditional cultural societies of humanity.  Unfortunately, colonial domination largely crashed such intellectuals out of existence. This was the case in Africa. 

We may define academics as products of the education system who spend their time and energy writing, teaching and researching in confines called disciplines,  often with rigid walls to separate them from each other to prevent "contamination" of their "knowledges" by other knowledges. They interact amongst themselves and communicate to one another in their confines with confidence that their ideas,  views, opinions or thinking will not be contested by others in other disciplines or in the public realm. They hardly venture in the public realm to defend their ideas, views, opinions and thinking,  but some people in the publics outside the academia almost worship them. Otherwise they are uncomfortable opening themselves up to public challenge of their on their ideas,  views, opinions or thinking that may impact society negatively. They tend to use jargon only meaningful to themselves and making them a different category of humans serrated from others. They will not come out to clarify or articulate issues for society, and will choose conspiracy of silence when society expects them to lead it out of imposed, difficult fixes, which they will readily simplify to earn academic papers. They are more likely to withdraw into their academic cocoons than come out to face the real world of injustice,  oppression, domination and exploitation. If you want them to join you in confronting the wrongs in society they will be firmly behind the rigid walls of their disciplines. Silence, frequently total silence, will be their daily menu. It is not unusual to find total silence in the academia when society is threatened by extinction,  conquest or domination by the mediocre and hypocrites. 

That is not to say that there are no academics with well-developed intellectual dimensions of their minds.  We have had many academics who have used their intellectual dimensions effectively to engage in public reasoning and to articulate and clarify issues for society. These academic intellectuals are today found in many stations in society: in universities, in many institutions.  Many of them are joining politics for money,  not service, but unfortunately are becoming de-intellectualised,  mediocre and hypocrites and difficult to reason with.  Critical thinking and analysis have become alien to them.  Many have been either  paid to be silent or have chosen to be silent in the face many ills of society or excesses of rulers. Their intellectual dimension is diminishing. 

Without courageous, unselfish intellectuals to articulate and clarify issues our society has never been so vulnerable since Independence in 1962 as it is today. It occasionally tragedy.  Our society is confronted with problems,  issues and challenges of globalisation and highhandedness of our rulers,  but the majority of our intellectuals have chosen to hide their heads in the sand like ostriches or to good their tails rather than guide both society and the rulers. We are now at the mercy of factors beyond our control. 

A country without a dynamic,  effective intelligentsia is a dead one.  Such country is likely to be fully at the mercy of its rulers in concert with sterile external forces.  Without intellectuals standing up to guide citizens, the country will end up having the blind ruling the blind. People from elsewhere will exploit the situation and take even the little that our ancestors had died protecting for future generations, which included ourselves. Dynamic,  courageous intellectuals would stand between the clash of civilisations and the clash of minds and help contain the deleterious impacts of bad governance and exploitative globalisation forces and préserve thé pride of our people. 

As our intellectuals chose conspiracy of silence, our people are being denied political dévelopment,  intellectual development, environmental development, social development,  and ecological development, and instead are being converted into internal and external refugees and internal and external slaves. Effectively we are losing our independence and sovereignty to foreigners. The quality of life for the majority of Ugandans has never been worse than it is today. Because of our declining intellectual space there aren't enough intellectual to challenge the myths and claims of the rulers that Uganda is doing much better today than yesterday. Many myths and untruths are passing and being perpetuated as real and true,  to the detriment of our country, generation and future generations.

 

LEADERSHIP AND MANAGEMENT OF FRAGILE SOCIETY: RESTRICTED MEMBERSHIP TO POLITICAL PARTIES IS A GENIUS-MAN'S STRATEGY

It is fair to say that Uganda has made considerable advances in democracy over the last thirteen years slowly but surely. It had taken a lot of political pressure from then Uganda people's Congress (UPC)'s Cecilia Ogwal and the Rwanyarare group before Milton Obote ate his own child -the UPC achievements. The trend in UPC has notably been that of either eating its own children or abusing them. 

The pressure group, in later years, was joined by Democratic Party (DP) led by Paul Ssemwogere after eating enough from the ruling National Resistance Army/Movement (NRM/A). 

We now have so many political parties ranging from originals or historicals, the outspoken, and the non-government organization-like ones -most of which are so insignificant. Thanks to UPC, who like Jesus Christ -courageously made a way for others  and registered so many converts, much as they are not directly under its leadership.

In one of the violent crashes with police, similar to Forum for Democratic change (FDC)  and Magara fuss in Mengo, a  UPC youth was killed. Actually now we clearly see FDC, this time round, not just leading the forum, but the front for political change from the sustainability perspective of the struggle for democratic change. 

That is how costly it has been before giving some  sort  breathing space for opposition political parties. Along with donor pressure the chains where removed off the feet,  but tightly retained those around the arms.

However, intelligent government approaches keeps it going without much political threats. Absolute breathing space is only a preserve of the ruling party, which enables it to shrive with no much political pressure. Much, though, we have to appreciate the fact that political parties help keep government awake.

The current opposition political parties have a condition that limits their activities more to the headquarters, where some journalists are called upon to witness on behalf of the nation.

Beyond such a condition, permission must be sought, which of course often works to the disadvantage of the opposition political parties. Perhaps permitted rallies would be the kind organized in the bushes, where people do not live.

But not only did they deal with local opposition political parties and armed rebellions successfully, but also their intellectual opponents -including mainly M. Mamdani, the likes of A. Nsibambi and T. Kabwegere. 

Their writings, presentations and vibrant talks at famous debating theatres in Makerere University, then, were either replaced with friendship between them and the system or dead men's silence. 

But like the famous big snake of the biblical Moses, president Museveni ate them up. Only a few like Mamdani and O. Afinaduula escaped the python as biblical Daniel did by refusing to vow before the much respected statue like most other people did. They have never shown willingness to trade their conscience, or otherwise exhibit last kicks of a dying horse.

Perhaps some presidents, “not shrewd enough” could give opposition political parties their full political rights, especially the right to assemble; from the word go, as soon as the need is demonstrated. 

They well know that such a demand, if not checked could arouse mass participation, mass action in favor of  the opposition capturing power, to overwhelm the ruling party; so threatening that it could cause serious instabilities within government and out of it. 

Whether for the good or for the worse, advocates of political rights would be constantly perceived as “jokers,” and any action by them stopped as “nonsense that should not derail development.”

Amidst such strong political winds, as UPC's early encounters with government that could have been strongest if Kizza Besigye and others had come around that time, then Kony rebellion  taking its toll on the people of northern Uganda, the cattle rustling in Karamoja too, military defections  on the other hand; but assuringly, the fellows were able to cause order and calm patiently, yet decisively.  

Currently, if the machinery is still at its best as usually seen to be, observers will be waiting to see how well they handle the pressure from Besigye and Mengo. Them, combined,  reminds us of Kabaka Yekka (KY) and UPC and the precipitating events. 

At times, hieghtened conflicts called for notorious action leading to direct killings, without trial, for the sake of calling the “offensive group to order”. Having gone all through that, they now feel very confident that no one can bring fujjo and as more difficult than ever to do so. 

So, if they talk of a dynasty, probably some people would agree, given above background, while those in power could think and feel the heaven as actually on earth, not elsewhere. Maybe yes, but best if president Museveni undergoes ecdysis to live the years that constitute a dynasty.

Very intelligently, he lets out one dog at the time -usually a card played to invoke massive election support. We now hear that local council chairmen and women will be paid some form of salaries soon, which alone can sufficiently retain considerable amount of support nationally -regardless of Besigye and Mutebi intentions. What a genius! Possibly, yes.

Against all odds, if this worked, rationally, he would deserve another doctorate. Having done that, then, he could, set up a university to take on his political science philosophies to the next generations, and to nurture young unstable governments in Africa. Perhaps, Kyankwanzi school could be the nursery bed of the ruling ideology.

Even within themselves, they do struggle and fight intelligently. They have either eaten up runaway comrades or let some others go -especially after legally sterilizing them so well career-wise or business-wise that they will never be that harmful to affect any election outcome. The so-called politically damaging former allies are not really so, but  rather manageable. 

These fellows are true managers, not just leaders; they can effectively, efficiently and decisively deal with challenges of the day, successfully, so long as they occur under the sun.  When such challenges are perceived as politically threatening, they will always be swift to act, accordingly. The responses are such rocket-speed. Look at how they handle elections; mindless of the approach. To them, approach is never an issue; but a favorable election result. The balance to that will be left for scholars.

When they realized that allowing secret ballot in parliament would affect decision-making, especially given a possibility that some of their “trusted” members of parliament could vote the opposite or undesired side, had it scrapped. Having done that, they would feel confident and in control of their political destiny. 

The ruling political party could be assured of victory in parliament, whether in nation's interest or not. And what could the allied members of parliament do besides following the hand that fed them? The ruling party succeeded when choice was made more of a public matter than secret ballot, which too worked under the direct influence of the genius.

After realizing there was no law to make it part of the management system, the genius made laws to create enabling structure and have it enforced by public courts.  He and others are now proposing to make it illegal for anyone standing outside party setting -realizing that it would weaken the system. Instead, they agree to have all the support go to one anointed party-candidate and, as a slogan or party principle. Indeed, that augurs well in favor for a strong political party. 

If that happened, the outcome will be another complicated issue; how well it goes, is the question. But, noticeably, it would infringe on individual rights. Political party principles may stand in motion a little longer, but not person's opinions about nation's political outlook and development strategy, more so when he or she feels oppressed and when there never  debate or voter consultation on contentious issues. 

There must be a time when the political party principles will fade and mean nothing to its members. If not adjusted to fit the changing political times, as soon as possible, it could be disastrous to continue working under them. There are already evident stories of that -in UPC and the democratic party (DP) -each having the progressives and conservatives combined. Isn't that suicide? 

Usually, people, who commit suicide never come back to life. Maybe there is still hope for  affected political parties. Funny enough, when some are asked to join  a coalition, they feel proud on no understable ground. In addition, they fight and eat their own children -the supporters and achievements. Isn't that political psychosis? 

With promotion of party-choice representation as what is lawful, it could side-by-side come along with political fraud, political malice, and the unfit coming to the fore at the expense of the politically-fit; a scenario where Darwin's theory of survival for the fittest will not be measured on the basis of intellect, but by power or combined radiating from one solid angle. When asked by journalists to comment on the outcomes of national executive committee elections,  Otafire was too brief to say, “intrigue.”  

That is a case of confusion that occur in political party primaries and national executive committee elections, the back-door phenomena -not using the main door to gain one's political position, or a Mafia-style phenomenon -where someone drops down from the roof to gain a political position with the majority's surprise of how that happens. Mafiasm as many call it will be the order. Maybe it might be interesting for us to see so we can have a moment to prove it.

Voters in either parties' electoral college or universal suffrage, will be forced to select a unworthy person for a political appointment, just because of mafias' actions. If anyone had someone in mind -as felt never to qualify for high office on the basis of corruption, the assurance guaranteed will be that the new proposal will defeat the moralists' plans. 

If the machinery instructs its supporters to heed, then, they will. Remember that so many rewards would follow from election wins, where wins are usually a must or expected. If, for example, one does not eat pork, he will be forced to. It will be a time when one's wishes and/or beliefs did not mean anything: to who?

Also, not forgetting to mention that generating fear of losing jobs would be a weapon of the day -guarded by a legislation to determine political choices.  Who will want to be seen opting for a different choice from that required by law. 

Unless one did not vote so that the mobilized ones make the party's anointed one go through unopposed on his or her behalf, there will be pressure to heed. It can be painfully conflicting with one's conscience, especially given the dynamic nature of human beings. The question remains: for how long will the proposed law-supported repression stand, and what cost?

By

Jacob Waiswa

Situation Health Analyst between between 2004 and 2010 at Dishma Inc.

www.situationhealthanalysis.blogspot.com

Development of Buddhism in Uganda: Successes, Failures and Opportunities

 By

Jacob Waiswa♣, formerly associated to Uganda Buddhist Center as Mindfulness Research and Development Associate.

Introduction

There existed behavioural aspects, philosophies, educational fields that either borrowed or shared critical aspects of Buddhism, like meditation and yoga, on which some aspects of our culture, personal and community expectations thrived on.

Purpose: establish the successes, failures, and opportunities of Buddhism in Uganda.

Specific Objectives: find out how Buddhism took root in Uganda, to identify its successes, challenges, and opportunities.

Findings:

Buddhism Roots in Uganda: it is widely believed that Buddhism was officially introduced in Uganda in 2005 by Venerable Buddharakhita Bhante, the monk of African decent. Successes: it provided room for diverse sections of people and diagnostic solutions to numerous ailments. Challenges: there was lack of local leadership to organise and facilitate humanitarian interests. Opportunities: Buddhism was highly permeable because of it all-embracing and all-respecting nature.

Conclusion: the biggest challenge at hand was lack of local leadership to organize community interests and direct them for the general good. There is, thus, a need to provide leadership and funding to the Buddhist interests in Uganda so that its presence can be felt truly by the local communities. 

Changing Bad Habits

Introduction

IMI underscores the importance of setting goals, basing on priority, health of relationships, state of business growth, and financial performance in order to achieve them. This information is based on expriences, theories, and insights about human behaviour.

Pioritising goals: It is important to set goals to guide one's path to successful career and life.

Effective transformation of the self, family, group, organisation or society happen in desired period of time, if importance of the goals is determined, basing on the degree and urgency of needs. 

According to Maslow (1970), human needs are ranked as follows; physiological needs, security needs, social needs, esteem needs and self-actualisation needs. This is, especially so, because of the assumption that resources are scarce and must be used wisely.

Being wise means that you realise that human wants are insatiable as much as the human problems.

Indeed, anyone can be wise. But, in any given moment, or period of time, there is what can be identified as biggest problem, central action necessary to diffuse it, and resources needed to do so.

It is upon this background that planners choose to breakdown goals, according to priority or level of importance, and target each of them, accordingly, beginning with the highest in demand goals. Then, be followed by the medium and lower goals.

Changing bad habits: Firstly, change is a process. ‎It is widely considered natural.

Missed change is a source of conflict within the individual and his or her social environment. The first step to consider in the change process is gaining insight about self, which helps to recollect, review and sieve information about behaviours and their consequences. This creates a need and goal for change of the identified habits, to learn how they evolve, to identify trigger factors associated to them,  to develop systematic plans to address trigger factors, to find healthy alternatives to replace trigger factors, including the sensual drinks, environments, and people.

It is very important to regularly say words of masterly during the change course and find reinforcing groups of people and objects within one's immediate environment to support the new course of life.

Changing bad habits is a self-driven and reinforced course of action.

Holding regular family councils</strong><br />Holding regular family councils has the benefit of resolving family conflicts through assimilating challenges in the socioeconomic and political environment.

Many mental health challenges, if not all, originate in families in form of child abuse, neglect, rejection, separation, and divorce, among others. These can be resolved to reduce adverse impact on character damage on the individual and society.

Assimilating socioeconomic challenges or any other environmental pressures on the individual family member can only be effectively rationalised, faced together as family or friends, organisations, and be resolved by them to reduce extremes of anxieties, stress and depression on the individual.

Avoiding debt:‎ Avoiding debt calls for commitment and utilisation of immediate resources to satisfy most important needs, since human needs cannot be fully satisfied.

Sites (1990) presented needs as analogy of emotions, such as fear, because of the sense of insecurity.

The steps people can take to avoid debts and go on to prosper are; 1) identifying, focusing and utilising available resources to satisfy needs, investing in available resources, including skills, talents, experiences and abilities to make a living, and exercising contentment and patience, while exploiting available resources -having realised one's limits.

And 2), craving for debts is a sign of excessive anxiety, lack of contentment, and greed, which can be overcome to avoid borrowing.

Investing in the future: Investment is a means to sustain livelihoods. It allows current resources to be valued and cost-tagged for monetary exchange at a price good that is enough accumulate wealth more quickly. This requires reduction and restriction of expenditure, and developing a mentality of saving.

Ultimately, increased savings avails monetary resources that are adequate enough to invest in a new project or expand current income-generating activities to yield higher returns.

Essentially, financial intelligence is key in undertaking investments, as well as sustaining and  expanding them.

Investing in the future guarantees sustainable means of livelihood. Enhanced state of growth can be furthered to accumulate wealth in form of assets.

Incomedifferences: There are two major income types, namely; fixed income and variable income.

Fixed income are earnings that are not affected by external variations, like inflation, while variable income changes as external variables change. This affects performance of businesses, depending on how positive or negative or extremes the variations are. However, it is important to keep income flow stable regardless of the insecurities in the business environment, through diversification of revenue resources, research on high-value business ventures and investment in high-value business ideas. This can help create economic security in the individual business, family business, organisation understanding, or even country's development programmes.

Conclusion‎

It is possible to overcome poverty and lack or limited revenues‎ among individuals and organisations, through setting clear goals, changing habits that encourage waste and misuse of resources, wise use of resources, avoiding debts, investment in the future, and diversification of income sources. This ensures financial sustainability at both individual and organisation levels.

Maslow, A. H. (1970). Motivation and Personality (2nd ed.). New York: Harper.

Sites, P. (1990). Needs as an Analogue of Emotions. In. J Burton (Ed.). Conflict: Human Needs Theory. (p.28-24) England. Macmillan Publishers,‎ ‎978-0-333-52147-2‎.‎

Talent Verses Hardwork

Introduction

There is ongoing debate on talent verses hardwork, in terms of which of the two is best consider, explore, and grow to thrive in unpredictable economic times. The author shows why talent counts more than hardwork. However, in doing so, it is pertinent that the reader understands role of handwork in talent development. 

Talent is widely understood as natural endowment or acquired skill that facilitates exceptional performance on a given task. On the other hand, hardwork is consistent effort exerted on a given task to yield desired effect without necessarily considering quality outcomes and time span. Rather, it is result-focused. 

Talent comes with skills for doing work, including the ability to accomplish tasks in the fastest time possible to achieve quality outcomes. Hardwork without any skill is effortless, frustrating, and stressful. It has far-reaching psychological implications, including burnout, depression, and psychopathic behaviours. 

On the other hand, application of talent is hardwork applied to consistently explore, discover one's potential, and gain exposure to realize it, which are more strategic and well-intentioned actions to succeed. It is, then, about how much effort one puts in that makes the difference, even when everyone has the talent to perform a similar task. Below are justifications for talent on one hand and hardwork.

Why talent counts more than hardwork

Success is made possible through application of talent on a given by task. This does not necessarily mean working so hard, but offering the best one can to achieve success. Talent involves the critical thinking, planning, skill formation, and testing before valuation and introduction to the market. 

Further, formal management structures are formed to provide leadership and organize resources in processing tasks, assessing needs, sourcing tools and efficiently applying them to achieve set goals.

Without brain power, a person may work hard without changing the situation he or she may very much want to change. 

Typically, hardwork is a measure set by society rather than the individual concerned, which undermines own values, beliefs, and special qualities about the person. 

Again, this causes unnecessary anxiety, stress, depression and abscondment from duty.

Eventually, no one will be interested in work and growth anymore, even when naturally obliged to meet social obligations. Of course, an end to this is failure, until confidence and hope runs out. But, this is not the life we all dream of, and work hard for. It can be reiterated that hard work does not mean favourable outcomes. This calls for extraordinary skills to escape the misery, transform the unfavorable status quo and attain skills and performance measures needed to prosper. 

The opportunity to develop skills is available from 1 year of age under supervision, until 16 when skills develop, and 24 years when maturity, proper personal, and self-organization are well demonstrated. 

Otherwise, a child or teenager maybe tuned to work very hard on concerns that yield nothing, because of absence of planning skills, organization abilities and leadership qualities, which are specific talents some individuals may not have or may have had no opportunity to develop them. 

Current work environment attract presence and keeping busy at work stations without concern of outcomes; quality of work, productivity, and relevance to development plans. 

Exceptional performance through talent shows and skillful accomplishments count most in driving success home. In such circumstances, people with talents are most preferred and bound to benefit from the limited resources the country and the world can offer. 

Working hard is meaningful if applied with skill or talent. But talent development occurs as a result of skillful hardwork. It is never by accident that a person has shown specific talent. He or she must have demonstrated the known talent very consistently over a decade of time. 

Hardwork is never in vain once sandwiched with talent. Talents reduce friction encountered during hard labour and comes with results or rewards. This kind of hardwork is most meaningful. 

A talented person is able to see opportunities available, develop interest, demonstrate passion, openness to taking on chances, strong desire and enthusiasm while performing tasks before him or her. These are key ingredients in successful end of hardwork. In fact, hardwork is "softwork" upon application of talent during performances. Therefore, with hardwork at the core of driving one's talent, very successful ends are predictable.

A case for hardwork

"Hardwork pays" is a popular saying across cultures and a motivational slogan for learners in primary, secondary, post-secondary and higher education levels. It is encouraged and rewarded through competitive group activities. It motivates everyone to work hard and be the best or nearest to them. The weak ones begin to think and act as the strong counterparts act, the strong endure, and the successful ones to sustain great performances. 

Hardwork determines how much and how better a worker can manifest himself or herself to be alongside others with same attributes in terms of how successful they are and can be. For example, in a football league, each team player is talented well enough and capable of winning a match-day contest, but the amount of hardwork exhibited by the teams may vary, and so are the performances, results, and rewards. Hardwork is such indispensable feature in skillful pursuit for success, despite performers' possession of talents associated with their work.

Conclusion and recommendation

Talent superceded hardwork because it is developed through consistent hardwork, rather than by only hardwork. It is powered by the Brain; there is critical thinking, critical planning activities, organization of and application of right tools to achieve a given goal. 

On the note, talent clears any obstacles faced during performances such that perceived hardwork becomes "softwork. Therefore, there is need to focus on developing talents since it encompasses application of hardwork to achieve predictable success. This turns hardwork into "softwork".

Elections In Uganda: Is Change Possible?

By Jacob Waiswa Buganga

It is election season in Uganda and other parts of the World.

It is time for prospective leaders to contest for power to serve citizens and experience 'successful' careers in politics.

Ms. Nancy Linda Kalembe - a Presidential Aspirant in Uganda,

There is one issue for sure that prospective leaders never mention: the fierce search for jobs and survival, or at least be recognised and open new opportunities for future appointments. They are like any other citizens who chose different avenues to find sources of livelihood.

Service to one's country has been most noble since the introduction of formal democracy around the World. However, it has had a sharp twist in recent years, when individual ambition to exercise power before others has proven stronger aspiration than the real desire serve and change lives of fellow citizens. The rhetoric is citizens' concern, yet in practice, concerns about the self matters most.

https://youtu.be/WG-IQXQ7_4s

Museveni (above) at one of the international press interviews revealed the truth about what and for whom he really stood for since coming to power in 1986

His statement on being a servant of his children and grand children only did not affect support he had and still enjoys, because of vested interests supporters have in his rule, as protection of business interests and enjoyment of favours in case of any threat to such interests.

While everyone has a duty to determine a leader of his or her choice, over time, those in power have restricted citizens' efforts to decide who that person should be, and even influenced decisions against national values. This has not gone on without opposition. The question though is: how effectively organised, knowledgeable, skilled, and experienced are they? Even with the experience they have, have they learned anything, or are simply time-wasters?

Patrick Oboi Amuriat -the president of leading opposition political party, Forum for Democratic Change (FDC)

Despite the limited success at changing leadership, very costly elections are organised every 5 and exhausted voters asked to actively participate. It is costly in terms financial resources spent, lives maimed or lost, and further deterioration of the quality of life of citizens. But, then, it goes on and on.

If loss of lives is the cost for a successful election contest, of what relevancy is such an election, when millions continue to live in poverty and social services are limited in quality and access? An election should be one, not a game or joke as it has proven to be in recent years. In fact, lowly voices argue that, other than run costly and unproductive elections, it is best for those in power to invest in social services and improve citizens' quality of lives. A section of the opposition, noteable People Power/ NUP believe that any earlier efforts by the opposition was comedy, and at no time would Museveni stay in power, even after rigging elections. However, experience has so far indicated that they never live by their word and cannot be trusted. Often, NUP leader was seen escaping arrest or confrontation with security personnel, while below they can be seen without berrets or red tops, which they vowed to wear as long as they existed.

People Power / NUP Party spokesman shortly after confrontation by security security forces.

People Power / NUP leader in red tie after going through a test of his own courtesy of security forces

While, again, everyone may have the power to influence leadership, much of what can be seen indicate practices like vote-buying and selling, supporting incumbent to guarantee security of one's property and business dealings, voting based on perceived chances of candidate winning elections, and culture of election-rigging that ensures preservation of the statusquo.

Nevertheless, election time still provides an opportunity to turn despair into fortune, to turn hopelessness into hope, to reawaken veteran voters to play active role in elections, to organise effectively and massively towards ultimate victory, and to strategically defend people's victory with the best mechanism to successfully deter alteration of voter numbers. If any such actions are impossible for the opposition, in their respective formations, then it is better to save one's effort and those of the people, time and resources, or even avoid risks to live through destruction of livelihoods, injury or death.

As interested citizens surge to contest for leadership, voters must seek for accountability from, first; the incumbents, much of which is lived experiences; second, assess individual personality and values of political parties in relation to aspirations as masses, and probe their knowledge, skills, experiences in leadership, and abilities shown in solving past challenges. He or she should not be a leader who says one thing and does another, or one who is renowned for self-talk, self-gratification, or whose message does not make sense, and are impractical, whose talk is usual noise and meaningless.

Leadership of a country should not be about ability to excite people and shift moods from one end to another. It should be about having knowledge of the country's policies and policy gaps, from which to build from planned actions.

It should be about understanding the real needs of the population and drawing interventions to address them in the order of priorities, and on record time.

Amb. Irene Wekiya, former NRC Jinja City and integrity of Parliament.

It should be about strongest desire to serve others rather than protect own interests as leader, or business interests of the individual. He or she should be a leader for all and have a national outlook, without regards to where he or she comes from.

It should be about ability to explain his or her vision and articurate clearly the very needs of the population, describe with accuracy and in a replicable and comprehensive manner how such needs will be translated into tangible goods and services, envisioned, and in a reasonable time, like within a year rather than 10 or 30 years.

It should be about a leader, who will render current generation of youths productive rather than let them expire intelletually and physically, or even face extinction without any known contribution to the country or themselves. These youths should able to leave a legacy behind for newer generations to inspired-to-aspire, as Prof. Amb. Badru Kateregga loved to say during his very arousing and memorable lectures.

Wanzala Richard has been champion of youth causes since 2004.

It should be about a leadership that can make use of existing manpower to contribute towards the economy without undermining the integrity of the natural environment, and ensure sustainable livelihoods of families.

This leadership should guarantee families effective means to secure decent shelter, nutrious for healthy development of children, decent income, quality healthcare, and quality education for their children. There is no best guarantees for sustainable security and peace for all, including reigning leader and his expendables, as securing quality services for sustainable livelihoods and wellbeing of citizens that no weapons of mass destruction can guarantee. Instead, they are rendered dormant and non-essential, or unjustifiable to dwell on as the basis of security.

It should be about leaders, who respect life and work towards nurturing it. Otherwise, how can a fox be the shepherd or even part of the sheep? It should be elsewhere.

It should be about leaders, who have strong foresight, enough to undo impending danger, prepare in advance for undesirable scenes with high-degree risk management strategy in pursuit of ultimate goals, and put in place systems and mechanisms for safety of his or her people, including ensuring confidentiality of information sources, or one that could endanger anyone in their political parties, against the increasing uncompromising, insensitive, robotic, and reckless security agencies.

They should exercise high-degree intelligence and awareness of the dangers at-hand posed by the incumbent, enough to win confidence of citizens and faith that change is possible, while pursuing leadership and a country for all to be proud of as citizens, where future of all citizens lay and disinterested in facing racism and xenophobia in other countries, with leaders who value lives of their people and work tirelessly and meaningfully towards prosperity for all.

Jacob Waiswa Buganga at an International Event

The author is a peace psychologist and founder of IMI-BMA

Kenya General Elections 2017

Kenya Elections 2017: Possible outcomes

By

Jacob Waiswa Buganga
IMI Uganda
www.facebook.com/integratedmentalhealthinitiative
+256774336277
waiswajacobo@yagoo.co.uk

Kenya set precedence. It broke bare the traditional tendencies of African democracies - sticking to power and rigging elections or suspending elections, altogether. Therefore, it was "Unafrican" and strange part of the governance system in the region. Also, it must have been received with surprise by the regional leaders.

 Several reports showed that Uganda ever interfered in the electoral process of Kenya in the efforts to defend the statuesque. There were similar reports that Uganda security wore Kenya police uniform, with a mission of influencing election outcomes in Uhuru's favour. Russia too was said to have been involved. Besides, calls from Uganda and other regional countries to cling to power and reject Supreme Court outcomes were expected.

Analysts said that the court decision had a lot to do with the 2007 election violence in which over 1400 people died. The awful memories of the violence could not encourage perpetrators to stage a similar episode this time around. On the contrary, militant civilians were determined to die for justice or otherwise see Raila in power. Two of my friends in Kenya told said to me, "no Raila, no peace, and we are ready to die." This followed my question that, "what if Raila does not become president?" From their responses you could see sheer determination to see Raila in power. It was also evident from the conversation that, for long Raila was cheated out of elections and Kenyans had simply lost the patience. This time no chance would be given to Uhuru to either rig his way to power or assume the presidency. Simply, he had to go. It was just enough for majority of Kenyans to keep Uhuru and Ruto at the helm of Kenya leadership.

Early congratulatory messages and reports from observers caused outrage. At least, this time, civilians did not burst out in full-scale violence as the case in the Kibaki era. Media reports indicated total number of the dead as about 24 people. The congratulatory messages were sent along side concessions from some elite Raila supporters, who traditionally knew that once announced winner, no matter how victory was achieved, it remained valid. Not even the courts would nullify it. It would have been most pleasing if congratulatory messages returned after court ruling for the very extraordinary occasion in the history of democratic governance and thank Uhuru for consideration of nationhood against self. I think, on this event, Uhuru rose to become a hero, to be remembered alongside the likes of Nelson Mandela and other renowned statesmen and women.

Although there were some cases of violence, restraint was well exercised to give way for the courts to decide. The two "elephants" too made efforts to control respective supporters and give the courts a chance to arbitrate and decide on the matter. The outcome of the court was most eventful in the history of electoral disputes in any African country, when it ruled in favour of the opposition. The court decision was celebrated by oppressed people and opposition leaders in the region and made week-long news globally. Some opinion leaders explained that court action aimed at preventing another election violence that threatened the election process.

One aspect about Kenya people though, is: they are decisive and very well know what they want and get it if they have to, unlike people in other African countries. I would say, for example; that, Kenyans are not like Ugandans, even the Armies in both countries are different. Ugandans have been suppressed for long whose reaction is latent in a short run, but highly explosive in the long run, more over carrying an ethnic context.

Unlike Ugandan Army, which is still tied to a personality cult in Museveni, Kenyan Army is largely national. Uganda Army is still evolving in as far as carrying national image and appeal are concerned. Indeed the soldiers in Uganda care so much about their country, but the regime will never allow them to express it and respond to the plunder and chaotic socioeconomic and political environment in which the dictatorship thrives best. They only wish that civilians make the changes possible on their behalf, instead. Morally, they are at par with oppressed civilians as for any professional soldier or as human beings with families and friends within the civilian population.

The general elections in Kenya, as a whole, has for long carried a sharp ethnic line - featuring Kikuyu verses rest of the country's tribes. The country's socio-economic and socio-political structures have for decades been aligned, according Tribes, with the Kikuyu taking the biggest share of every aspect of Kenya resources and good life. There has been hopelessness on the part of other tribes, owing to generations of poverty and marginalisation, where urban crime has emerged as major way of life for the marginalised youths.

Despite the awful conditions of life most Kenyans have gone through for centuries, their proactive, principled and bold tendencies have never been compromised, and always showed promise that one day they would liberated themselves from maladministration and nepotism.

The Kenya's revolutionary outcomes I see today are therefore not surprising. I have had a chance to interact with Kenya youthful activists, but one thing you can never take away from them is the zeal and courage, which are very characteristic of youth-hood. In Uganda such activism happens in isolation, one time in a long time. Universities and colleges, which were the brains of the whole country ceased to be, activism significantly declined, vibrant intellectual debates at universities went so low down the drain, and any political discussions are now highly compromised. The Mamdanis and Nsibambis have never been replaced. From here, other public sectors assumed dysfunctional states and private sectors suffer as a consequence. A country where youths once became national leaders at 30 during the pre-colonial and post-colonial eras, active drivers of country's development endeavours, is no longer the same. Museveni succeeded at shuttering social life of Ugandans through poverty and political alienation as tools of oppression. What we have in Uganda is rule by pensioners who have ceased to act visionary and representative of the country's future. Should the majority and corrupt members of parliament also decide that, there should no longer be retirement age for civil servants. Incidentally, the regime youths working for pensioner-politicians are shameless, celebrating the short term pleasures from regime handouts and unknowingly compromises their lifelong legacies of being champions of youth-hood they ought to have and be part of the good history of Uganda and democratic Africa. That is very possible, more so, now, when the regime can change anytime, any day and very soon.

Kenya is very impressive. Young people are very much at the forefront of change, and never succumb to tendencies of oppression that Uhuru regime tried to exhibit. The 2017 general elections were not only about the struggle for the structural and fundamental changes, but a desperate need to change the highly corrupt and gangster government of Uhuru Kenyatta.

As such, for the first time in Kenya history, the tribal factor counted was minimal, and Uhuru was bound to fall. In fact, the election defeat of Uhuru was bound to be a rebirth of Kenya. The active participation of youths and women was very spectacular. It was a true reflection of the need for structural reforms, to eliminate structural violence and achieve lasting peace for Kenya.

Particularly, the women; their socioeconomic and political liberation has been long overdue. Their enormous entry into the political arena marks the end of much dreaded cultural stereotypes against them. And a new Kenya, without Uhuru, was bound to break the myth of change-of-regimes as evil, and instead push for change as guarantor of new lease of life for citizens in neighbouring countries, and change as much desirable if national development is to be fast tracked.

The court decision on disputed elections was highly celebrated as victory for democratic governance in Africa. Kenya took the model role of revolutionarising the region from military dictatorship to democratic governance, and join Southern and Western African countries. It showed how strong-willed Kenyans are and independence judicial arm of government, which in countries like Uganda, is only a dream. The poor young lawyers are nurtured in the same sorry state of the legal environment and are recycled to become corrupt as part of the profession. Many Ugandans wished to be citizens of Kenya, to be led justly and genuinely and express their political will, which they lack. This showed how proud Ugandans are of Kenya. They would beg Kenyans to keep pushing for good governance; inspire them so that they can aspire to become the Kenya of today.

The changes in Kenya will have some interesting yet positive outcomes in the region, as the decline in wars and humanitarian crises which characterise the region from independence times. Since independence, the departure of imperialists has seemed to be more curse than a blessing. The promising African leaders turned rulers and dictators, worse than the foreign colonisers. They became new colonisers.

Therefore, the final nail in the coffin of bad governance in the region shall be realised, when the Uhuru leadership finally falls. This should the prayer for Africa from any lover of liberated minds and fully liberated Africa. However, with all these said, Uhuru must be congratulated for respecting the court decision, which any other person in his position would castigate and, instead, stick to power. Even possible influences from his counterparts - Museveni and others could be resisted! It is a legacy set, for which he can always be remembered for.

Dhamma Book Publications in Africa

In this study efforts are done to communicate research problem clearly, with one of the sentences indicating the goal of the study._ Rationale statement reveals whether one was doing pure research or applied form._ The researcher shows how important this study is and a worthwhile undertaking._ Under significance of study, the researcher indicated major ways the research would impact other in parts or in whole._ For example, it was important to effectively use of research to improve public policy, enhance public services and contribute to quality of debate on how Buddhism has over decades spread to Africa._ However, this study goes forward to seek and reach consensus on the development of Buddhism in Africa.  Theories in this study are formulated to explain, predict and understand phenomena._ There were three key constructs investigated and made operational by the author, which included  –‘reason,_’ ‘strategies’ and ‘response.’_ 

In this book the study of Buddhism in Africa greatly envisages how it was organised, because it was on such a basis that quality performance and future relevance were either determined or guaranteed. Organisation development consisted of the following principles: an effort – 1) Planned, 2) organisation-wide, and 3) Managed from the top, to 4) increase organisation effectiveness and health, through 5) Planned interventions in organisation processes –using behavioural science knowledge._

The chapters of this thesis ranged from one to five. In this chapter one, the researcher presents the topic, background, research motivation, research measurement and justification. These sub sectors of the book provide direction of the study that all other chapters reflected on. In chapter two, researcher explores and identifies literature related to the study and indicated how they implied to it. Chapter three highlights and discusses the systematic procedures of finding answers to the study questions as a requirement in any scientific study. Chapter four shows the findings of the study, which are outcomes of vigorous research processes, with respect to the study questions.  And chapter five discusses the findings of the study, with arguments for and against with support of relevant literature. It also contained sections indicating corresponding conclusions and recommendations of the study. Ways to master challenges of propagating Buddhism for the future and progressive development of Buddhism on the continent are elaborately explained. The study aims at making contributions to Africa’s moral consciousness through crossdisciplinary approaches strengthening orientation towards social progress and appropriate utilization of resources and increase access to development opportunities. And as a moral guide, it suppors efforts to promotion of efficient operations and service delivery._ The concluding sections elaborates the researcher’s major findings and proposals for the future. The study is an outcome of the experiences and tangible efforts by unsung personalities to advance Buddhism and related practices in Africa, including the commendable responsibilities and contributions of resident and visiting religious_Buddhist missionary leaders and lay Buddhists in Africa. 

How to get involved:

- Donate towards Dhamma publication in Africa and completion of the manuscript, "Development of Buddhism in Africa."

- To express need to support Dhamma/Dharma publication in Africa, please do not hesitate to reach us by phone +256774336277 and/or mailto:dishma.imhs@gmail.com

Indigenous Psychology and Integrated Psychotherapy Development

INDIGENOUS Mental Health Services
It is IMI position that transforming communities comes with a lot of resistance engraved in the spiritual, cultural, mental, social, economic, and political set-up of nomadic. This, however, must be done carefully with the right human tools, with a clear understanding of pastoralists psychology and the need to preserve indigenous knowledge systems associated to it, from which the country thrives as a tourist destination point, basing on attractions from strong cultural traditional, arid landscape, featured wild animals, and how all are related.

HOW YOU CAN BE INVOLVED
As client
As volunteer
As service activity sponsor
As client sponsor
As fundraiser
As donor/funder
As ambassador
As development partner
As friend
Visit us
Visit our blog www.integratedmhi.blogspot.ug
Visit our facebook page: www.facebook.com/integratedmentalhealthinitiative
HOW YOU CAN REACH US
Telephone: +256774336277 or +256752542504
Email: waiswajacobo@yahoo.co.uk or dishma.imhs@gmail.com

 Mental Health Services

Children Mental Health and Development Project

IMI is working with in school chuldren to develop mental balance and general wellbeing, June 2015

Children Mental Health and Development Services
The challenges of children growing in broken families included; the big burden to achieve life goals on their own –with no hope of parental intervention, inability to make wise health decisions, difficulty to ensure personal safety and healthy social relations, generation of high pressure to achieve and to break development barriers (mentally, socially and institutionally), the fear of dropping out of school due to inability to pay fees on his or her own that catapults into failure to concentrate and excel academically in order to attain a good career, inability to solve problems associated with choosing and having healthy relationships, and inability to manage chronic stress that characterizes his or her family life a condition that, potentially, pursues child into adulthood –and in responsible social positions. Also, there are critical challenges of lack of social support coupled with the lack of confidence to seek it –as viable path to building resilience required for the child succeed in life.
Family and individual members in it cannot be separated from the wider community. Indeed communalism is medicine of its own. The wider community had inexhaustible reserves for the family to access for survival and wellness purposes –which is a foundation for community survival and wellness –in return.
As the family continues to play its children development roles –providing both moral and physical support, the community, too, begins to identify its development concerns and wishes in that child. That, though, can either be for the good or worse. Responsibility on the part of family and community and eventual decisions made, thus, contributes to mental wellness of the child that characterizes freedom from the means to psychological trauma as violence.
Case study:
Decision making is a choice reached after verifying available options, consequences, and resources to pursue a specific cause. It is as a result of a cost-benefit analysis of having children that a prospecting parent made decisions, rather than on the basis of urges or feelings. This was so simply because urges or feelings did not think apart from causing excitement.
Attachment denotes the nature of the bond between the mother and the child while level of attachment implies the degree of the existing bond between the mother and the baby or child.
Children in Uganda have been most marginalized –with children-friendly health services only limited to referral hospitals. Elsewhere in the country, children share facilities and health care services with adults –an indiscriminate administration of health –yet special care for them is paramount.
Direct, structural and institutionalized violence too claims the lives and right morals of children. Domestic violence does not only take the life of one of the parents, but also is psychological violence –moreover the worst a human being can experience. That, now, becomes a children affair to deal with, or a shared experience upon observing parents fight.
Cultural environment –which is discriminative according to gender; never recognizes the rights of children and the reproductive health rights of women –and those have turned out to be a huge and overwhelming social cost –including HIV spread and under-development. Cultural provides a way of life that suffocates the rights of women and children as men behaved immorally –supported by it.
The economic environment disables parent’s ability to sustain children education, or not even at all afford it –yet it is through child education that the future a community is secured –given the highly productive citizenry.
The cycle continues from children dropping out of school and opting to marry or succumbing to wrong and untimely choices to conceive –when pressured by the economy; then there the burden becomes a product to be handed over from one generation to another –rendering the talk of children rights only a dream.
Now, that the parent unhealthy lifestyle dictates the quality of life of a children, level of attachment –a level where insecurities and future behavioral problems begin; irresponsible parenthood, reckless and risky behaviors of a parents as children observe, low or no health seeking ensues –as there will be no money and, ultimately, lack of motivation to adopt a healthy lifestyle –even when health guidelines are issued (which in turn affects children health), leads to broken family situations, or broken marriage relationships. And as the saying goes, “if elephants fight it is the grass that suffers,” the consequences accruing from broken-family situation hit children hardest –as all the anger gets projected to them in form of abuse and neglect.
It is from such grounds that families and communities face accountability for in the child’s teen or youthful years. No shall we have a moral fabric in society, violent free generations, because society simply ignores the root causes of structural violence –whose origin is quality of care of children right from conception. And who should save the children of Uganda?
Parenting is thus a responsibility one finds himself or herself under voluntarily or involuntary. During adolescence, gradual changes that may be cognitive, emotional, biological, physical and social or environment occur.
The qualities of changes are influenced by how well decisions are made at different levels of interaction (cognition, instinct or biology, emotional, social and/or natural environment) in relation to one’s sexuality. It all begins at conception –through important stages of birth, special care of newborns, weaning, and child in playful stage, socialization and learning, gender roles or interests, young stardom, youthful period and adulthood.
It is important explore parents’ basis of taking on responsibilities over children, quality and level of attachment, parent’s ability and circumstances under which she or he conceived, and the parent’s nature of the environment and lifestyle.
However, equal treatment among children (boys and girls) must be emphasized as it was told by children (4 boys and 4 girls) and adults (6 males and 6 females) such that they both benefit from existing development opportunities –of education (both formal and informal) and employment.
Friendliness between parents and children was highlighted (4:4) –with correction behavior attributed to light beating -with strongest emphasis put on friendly conversations with children (6:6). However, to parents, family planning was still a big challenge –as hardly at all did men approve of it (regarding condom use).
On the other hand, women complained of hemorrhage and delayed resumption of pregnancy as most negative (2 of 6 mothers).
Condom use was out of every parent’s mind –given the fact that they were married (6:6). 1 of 6 mothers said that she privately sought family planning services, because her husband did not care about it vital role. 2 of 6 women nurtured a norm that alcohol eased delivery and was associated to healthy and pretty babies.
Becoming a parent was not only an urge or a status reached by accident as some young women say, but an issue –not even pressure from elders or traditions could determine. It was important to look at children as human capital of the future –through integrating health care, nutrition, and early child care services for young children in developing countries.
It did not matter what age of pregnancy, but from the time of conception. But for the purposes of this submission, care had to start from the time one started developing feeling to become mother or father because, ultimately, the quality of decisions made counted in determination child health.
Child care was a cost the prospecting parents needed to think about long before deciding to conceive. In fact, child care began at conception. Successful child care ought to put that into consideration, otherwise the psychological implications of neglect and abuse potentially turned out to be the most damaging to the child or baby.
Failure of parents to ensure child health growth and development is by and large a result of poverty. This greatly hampered decision making. In rural and semi-urban areas it is only mainly men who went to work while women stayed home to cook and bare children.
In the same way, the nature of jobs determined by their level of education do not at the same time help meet children development needs as women complained of men’s negligence. There is thus a need to start life skills education, poverty alleviation program and reproductive health (or health education) programs to help better family-life situation.
Broken-family events are a result of extended family system failing to stand the test of time (twentieth and twenty first century new world order). As the urge to have children arose as traditionally demanded from the ages of 18 and above or less, the new order, instead, required productivity of prospecting parents before, at all, they decided to have children.
Others –even when economically liberated will tell you that things are not really. The confidence is only left to the possibility that God will provide for them. For some reason, the question of sustainability of care and love within the family set-up is ignored –yet critical.
Policy makers should embark on massive gender-conscious literacy or education programs intertwined with aspects that address reproductive health concerns, impart life skills, or vocational skills –all of which empower communities with tools of rightful decision making that go as far as influencing health children development, or for that make transform children rights talk from theory to practice.
HOW YOU CAN BE INVOLVED
As client
As volunteer
As service activity sponsor
As client sponsor
As fundraiser
As donor/funder
As ambassador
As development partner
As friend
Visit us
Visit our blog www.integratedmhi.blogspot.ug
Visit our facebook page: www.facebook.com/integratedmentalhealthinitiative
HOW YOU CAN REACH US
Telephone: +256774336277 or +256752542504
Email: waiswajacobo@yahoo.co.uk or dishma.imhs@gmail.com

Terrorism and Mental Health

TERRORISM CounterInterventions
Terrorism was a global threat bound to spread to all countries that shared conditions and history of discrimination, oppression, foreign dominance and social alienation, which turned victims into killers (Mamdani, 2004). In Uganda, reports showed 84 people –either blown out of being by 7/11 explosions or dead but with some body parts missing. This was masterminded by the Somali terrorist group called the Al-Shabaab, allied to the Al-Qaeda Network (Ssenkabirwa, 2010a). These events occurred with concerns of possible psychological trauma suffered by survivors, rescuers, families, neighborhoods, and concerned members of the public, whether present at the bomb scene or not. It had a contagious effect (Greig, 2006). The experiences showed that events as the 7/11 may have caused wide range of emotional and behavioral problems (Tanielian and Stein, 2006). This prompted interventions to enable coping, well-adjustment, and sustainable psychological healing for families from well-prepared and equipped service providers. Indeed, following the 7/11, a handful of service providers rushed to the scene to attend to the victims (Ntulo, Mugherera and Ndyanabangi, 2010). Proactive responses were made at various fronts to deal with the adverse impact it caused: at the military, medical, psychological, family, individual, group, religious, and media levels –within  the country, regionally, and globally to support families of the dead, injured, and survivors –without injuries.
The incidence was so tragic and historical –without experience on interventions and guidelines.
Unemployed or ambitious young people, most of whom come from refugee communities,  have been lured into terrorist activities upon being promised either money or better life after death away from uncertain future. Once poverty and indoctrination are married on one hand, and powerful ambitions and indoctrination on another, a powerful terror spirit can be created. The Ugandan youngsters who bombed Kampala had been promised an equivalent $250 Uganda Shillings per month.   From the information fed to the suspects there was a clear indication that such information is packaged in a way that convinces the executioner that life would be better than the current. In his confession to the Ugandan press one of the terror suspects (Idris Nsubuga) revealed that by answering a phone call (that triggered the bomb blast) his life will never be the same. In his words he said,
"I thought by answering this call my life would be better," he said. "But it changed it entirely -- I've never been the same since then."
Unsuspecting youngsters are taken advantage in the name of religion to carry out acts of terror, Issa Ahmed Luyima a much more senior member of the Al-Shabaab found it easier to recruit his young brother (Haruna Hassan Luyima) than any Ugandan outside his kinship -as they could be suspecting enough ti foil his terror plan. He was quoted in the Ugandan media saying,
“I did not want to work with my brother but recruiting other people was very risky, so I manipulated him.”  
In another media statement that reinforces the terrorist organizations' act of indoctrinating young people into terror activities, the inspector general of police was quoted saying,
“The eight Pakistanis arrested preaching in Pallisa were initially in Kasese recruiting children and indoctrinating them in Madarasa (Koran schools). The next thing, they were in Pallisa without documents.”
In conclusion, extremist in religions was the critical contributor to terrorism showed by yes (84%), no (1%) and other factors (15%) against religion at yes (30%), no (64%) and other factors (6%), and foreign policy at yes (28%), no (58%) and other factors (14%). It is therefore pertinent for religions and other ideologists to preach tolerance and promote diversity, as the media plays the role of creating a human spirit -across religious and cultural spectrum.
HOW YOU CAN BE INVOLVED
As client
As volunteer
As service activity sponsor
As client sponsor
As fundraiser
As donor/funder
As ambassador
As development partner
As friend
Visit us
Visit our blog www.integratedmhi.blogspot.ug
Visit our facebook page: www.facebook.com/integratedmentalhealthinitiative
HOW YOU CAN REACH US
Telephone: +256774336277 or +256752542504
Email: waiswajacobo@yahoo.co.uk or dishma.imhs@gmail.com

Mindfulness Practice and Development Project

MINDFULNESS PRACTICE
The mindfulness perspective provides a more structured and guided form of critical thinking, shaped by ethical and moral values that are channeled through the practice and structure of insight meditation. It provides consistent path of thinking and discipline towards attainment of knowledge facets. This comes with some resources such as time, good feeding, and initiative. The positive outcomes outdo the negative, and reinforce the initiative. This makes it most scientifically compliant form of thinking relevant to living fulfilling lives in relation to other philosophical approaches. This significantly prepares practitioners of the discipline for happier times ahead, henceforth; should be encouraged.
HOW YOU CAN BE INVOLVED
As client
As volunteer
As service activity sponsor
As client sponsor
As fundraiser
As donor/funder
As ambassador
As development partner
As friend
Visit us
Visit our blog www.integratedmhi.blogspot.ug
Visit our facebook page: www.facebook.com/integratedmentalhealthinitiative
HOW YOU CAN REACH US
Telephone: +256774336277 or +256752542504
Email: waiswajacobo@yahoo.co.uk or dishma.imhs@gmail.com

Spirituality and Peace Programme

THE SPIRITUALITY PROJECT
This project ventured into ways, through which spirituality and religion fosters overall state of individual and social wellbeing. It specifically identifies prerequisites of healing, the actors in the healing process, efficacy of healing, and sustainability of wellbeing. The outcome of this paper is based on an in-depth discussion with 9 key spiritualists (6 males and 3 females), and workshops (3) and experiences from the interactions with Muslim, Christian and Buddhist communities.
There is an answer to human problems amounting to ill-health. There has to be faith from the un-well party seeking good health. When the faith of the ill-person meets with the faith of interceder, a powerful call of healing powers or spirit is invoked. The healing spirit maintains presence in the life of the now healthy person. Healing efficacy is determined by the strength of faith. Spiritual healing is involves emotional healing, mental cleansing, and care and support of the physical body, with effort of the individual and sought care and support of expert members of the community. The person has a responsibility of ensuring obedience in this or her relationship with the Holy Spirit in order to maintain benefits. Obedience applies to instructions and advice from godly people. God’s grace prevails for people who relentless seek it to be revived even when they fall. The individual has a duty to maintain him-self or her-self in the Christian fold, to avoid bodily dangers associated with wickedness. They can continue thrive in good health when they return to the Christian fold. God’s numerous blessings and protection prevails so that he or she is happy in HIM (God).
Healing is sought by person and people concerned, of which faith is central; it is sustained by obedience of Christian teachings and respect for Christian norms, such as fellowships and being exemplary. The healing benefits cease to occur when the Holy Spirit is displaced by misdeeds and disrespect of godly teachings and Christian norms.
FAITH HEALING Services
Healing was real and complete if the individual does not have negative conflicts (adversity or EVIL) in the mind or defeating perceptions about life (or body). This paper attempted to examine the interplay between healing and the concept of evil. The findings from this project originated from the experiences of interactions with a cross-section of faithful (s) from Muslim, Christians, and Buddhist communities as well as from the review of secondary literature. The findings were as follows: positive actions and perceptions of life build positive spirit and vise-versa while negative actions detached individual from positive spirit (God) [good emotional feelings about oneself, life and others] for negative spirit (Satan) which reinforced negative thought, emotions and actions (anti-social behaviors and other associated psychological problems). Optimism is associated with variety of positive benefits that includes, lowering production of stress hormone –cartisol, bettering body function and reducing risk of chronic diseases.  Tuning the mind changed body’s biochemistry accordingly (the structure and function of cellular components such as proteins, carbohydrates, lipids, nucleic acids and other biomolecules). The negative oneself (feelings of anger, guilt, depression, fear) simply shrunk the life cells and compromised the immune system. Man’s failure to adopt and master nature dictated his downfall –helplessly. His decision to hand over management tools to the Divine was only a reflection of failure that came back to taunt him (or her). God had no role to play in man’s failures and self-extinction –if he/she (man) chose. When the relationship went bad, the spirits not appeased, when the certain details of the covenant in the relationship were broken, when individuals or sections of society abused the divine influence to attack and inflict pain on others, their normal life functioning got adversely affected. With broken spiritual life, individuals’ hearts and relationships were broken, unless interventions are made as soon as possible to reset the relationship to rightful order. Prior mindsets had stronger influences in new beliefs.  There is greater environment influence on life: both negatively and positive –depending on the nature and strength of it or such influences. It was thus vital to position oneself in an environment that would yield health influences and propulsion to positive outcomes.
HOW YOU CAN BE INVOLVED
As client
As volunteer
As service activity sponsor
As client sponsor
As fundraiser
As donor/funder
As ambassador
As development partner
As friend
Visit us
Visit our blog www.integratedmhi.blogspot.ug
Visit our facebook page: www.facebook.com/integratedmentalhealthinitiative