Having toured and understood one’s country would be one way to measure the level of patriotism in oneself. That could be a basis upon which every individual citizen would cease a moment to make a social impact –with prior knowledge about the countries challenges to address at individual level.
The recent talk about patriotism has featured two nation’s political party heads reaching out to the countryside to spread the gospel of patriotism. Unfortunately, patriotism speeches have been partisan – as applicable only to supporters of the ruling party while, according to them, the rest (Ugandans) never qualify to be patriotic outside their parties.
Much as the idea was fantastic, it has served competing interests of FDC and NRM to foster the love for one’s party –rather than in the best way to construct national identity, unity and solidarity against challenges that affect Uganda, as a whole.
As a consequence, the NRM party has resumed its patriotic activities by recruiting students into para-military engagement commonly known as chakamchaka. From that, we are set to have new definitions of patriotism; among them being one according to FDC party and another from the NRM view.
One interesting complimentary on the patriotism talk was one by former vice president of Uganda, Wandera Specioza, who suggested to members of parliament –to consider their positions as mere services to the country rather than a career –whilst responding to the proposal of securing a government house for a serving vice president.
Her appeal was a show of patriotism; although during her time as a vice president, she accepted huge sums of tax payer’s money to fund her PhD study. If Specioza was patriotic as she meant, she would have rejected tax payer’s money and opted for her own allowances, since she was working and could afford.
Perhaps, if she was in Bukenya’s position, she would as well support the idea of tax payers providing accommodation to her. It is, however, hard to imagine that as some people are making their lives as comfortable as possible, elsewhere in the country-side citizens lack essential livelihood services.
In Busia District, for example, HIV/AIDS services have to either be sought in Kenya or some miles into nearby districts like Tororo and Mbale. The situation can be worse for the more rural people, who they have to travel for several miles to access ARVs and other related services. This can be pretty costly for them to sustain in-patient care at a health center, and stigma is very high in rural areas.
Family members keep the anger and remain in denial over a period not less six months –characterized by violence against the person living with HIV/AIDS. Because of that, a much longer recovery and positive living program would be desired, for example; 1) having to address household poverty –which renders life with HIV difficult to live, 2) having to create awareness about HIV/AIDS –to desensitize people of the fears and negative cultural attitudes about HIV/AIDS and, 3) encouraging NGO establishment in places like Busia to provide psycho-social services and medical services that foster positive living.
There are a handful of NGOs in Busia. HIV/AIDS components of the existing organizations are too weak or limited to offer tangible services to potential clients. Yet, Busia, being one of the historically a trans-boarder route –through which HIV/AIDS is said to have penetrated Uganda should have benefited earliest from HIV/AIDS service organizations, both local and international. In Busia, they are mainly focused on widows, orphans and other vulnerable groups.
From an assessment of a sample of twenty five women selected to benefit from a micro-credit scheme; a poverty alleviation program of New Hope African Children organization in Busia showed that all married women did not make independent decisions that affect their health and livelihood.
Husbands often interfered with their businesses and played a more influential role, which negatively affected the extent of credit trust-worthiness –given the danger of men wholly determining allocation of money, and possibly taking it to drinking sprees.
Moreover, all did not have necessary knowledge to ensure proper hygiene and sanitation, and were under constant threat of heavy rainfall due to poor housing. Actually, some were often kept awake whenever it rained; fearful that their shelters could be washed away.
Interesting about non-government organizations there was their ability to use brain and paper-work to win and manage huge sums of donor money. However, their management was so centralized that the founder in reality acted as the chairman board of director.
Organizations decisions never involved the stipulated board members as per the constitution requirement. It was only strategic to include prominent men and women as board members –to win donor money and reputation. They only sat down and cooked attractive reports to retain healthy donor relations.
Some of them are lucky to have achieved that without key organizational structures in place. Perhaps the Christian face of such organizations left their sponsors with no doubt but to offer whatever assistance they could.
And those working for the organization are a small team of family members (wife and husband), in-laws, friends and distant relatives. This, supposedly, was intended to reduce incidence of conflicts and fasten decision making process in the organization
Whereas rising towns like Busia are basically secure, there exist individuals or small groups who are very influential and seemingly untouchable. Reports say that criticizing them could land one in trouble.
They can organize violent action against people they found a threat to their personality or any possible competitor in terms of power and wealth. And when they need anything, they explore all means to get there; an interesting value, though.
For example, a famous local council one or village chairman was able to become district speaker with ease –an opportunity only reserved for a councilor at district level –who chooses to vie for that position (district speakership).
However, religion as a major tool for social order has bigger roots in Busia. One interesting element is the ease at which one became a pastor. The balokole –born again Christians have a great network of members –who relate well and often help each other in times of need.
It, again, was the most influential and expressive balokole –who as other go to Bible schools to become pastors, they either labeled themselves so or others simply began calling themselves pastors. It was like business to do so by organizations and individuals –who want to gain financially or attract donor money.
Bazungu –whites or colored people are viewed as gods because of the commonly held view that they are “wealthy” guys who have come in the area to give away money. Because of that, they are made to feel as comfortable as possible. For a field team consisting of two or three whites, the most likelihood there could be discrimination of local team members by local communities they served.
Perhaps the only privilege local team members would enjoy is paying cheaper prices for good and services. Even with equal roles and responsibilities side-by-side with mutual respect within the team, outside it, will be conclusions that local team members are servants to bazungu.
At home stays, chefs will want bazungu to eat what is best of the food served rather than have it shared equally among team members. According to the hosts, best food consisted of passion fruits, irish potatoes, meat and rice. The local team members could only serve from that menu long after the bazungu have served.
The host expectations ever are that, when the foreign visitors return to their respective countries, they would send them gifts and other donations, which really any local community member could do to someone in need.
What Africans need to develop is the culture of volunteerism and caring or helping out change lives of vulnerable groups, victims of war and natural calamities –for the better. This could help raise and preserve African dignity in the face of bazungu.
Jacob Waiswa
Community Psychologist, DISHMA CONSULT
Showing posts with label Policy and Decision Making. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Policy and Decision Making. Show all posts
Saturday, May 16, 2009
PREMIER LEAGUE: A REFLECTION ON THE FIVE YEARS PERFORMANCE FOR ARSENAL FC
It is now five years since arsenal foot ball club last took a trophy –along with usual consolation messages at press conferences, as if that will ever give fans the right game results
A lot of confidence has since been invested in the coach, but the deteriorating performance overtime, leaves many doubting future press releases. Such, now, as then –will mean nothing to anyone –be it the fans or opponents.
To most teams, arsenal is so average that they find it possible to beat it, unlike years before 2005 –when opponents could be sure of a rough time. Because of Arsene’s ever unconvincing game plans, it would take arsenal another marathon of years to attain the level of 2004 performance level.
Much as investing in the young players was economical and excellent sporting strategy, how best to employ them, to adjust from the past philosophies (of mainly attack) and at what time to make important changes in the team –remained a tight challenge for Wenger.
It could be noted that after 2004 the game required more of defensive consciousness than merely adventurous or rampage attacking. Arsenal, given its record of having most goals conceded, of the big four teams, continued with its senseless attacks –whilst mindless of defensive requirements.
Instinct to defend lacks in arsenal’s current defenders, perhaps because current defenders were mid-fielders before. It has been more-less a team of eight mid-fielders and two strikers whenever it played competitive games.
Yet, with the changes in the level of the game –especially in the premier league – regardless of the team one played, fielding two good defensive midfield players could be most appropriate. In fulfillment of that, Arsenal has been lucky to have Alex Song and Denilson.
Unfortunately for him, he has been exerting all efforts on experimenting players around possible positions they possibly played –no matter how poor. Arsenal has not had a standing team, but rather, a clique of players the coach best believed in as ones that could automatically win a chance to play; and anytime.
One observational method used is nationality. Most likely, regardless of the player-form, he would field one of a French origin. There has been a tendency of him being reluctant to play black Africans in preference for the French folk or Brazilian ones.
When Song was playing wonderfully and more stable than Denilson at most times, Wenger, so often left him on the bench. And, when Eboue showed more stability in his game amidst Sagna’s declining game, the coach was slower with taking on Eboue.
For the cliques of most influential young players were sure of getting selected. Even if they played poorly, their positions would be reserved. Eboue, for example, deserved playing every aspect of Chelsea and Manchester game, but Wenger preferred Diaby at the cost of his frequent ball donations to opponents.
More over, Eboue’s attitude, always proved excellent on both teams. Indeed, this season than ever, arsenal scored goals more by luck than as obvious as it were four to five years ago.
Besides, over-patience over having to substitute a player has been so chronic that by the time a better substitution is made the game would be almost over. If the substitute scored or helped others score, the game still could be 2:1 loss to Arsenal.
So surprising and disturbing was when he left out Andrei Arshavin from the starting line-up of the FA game with Chelsea, yet he was not qualified to play champion’s league. The question is for whom was he reserving Andrei for, and for what purpose; to lose the game afterwards?
The season 2008/9 has featured more of arsenal players and coach doing much of the talking off-pitch than in the game –as if cushioning themselves from mistakes they never want to recognize or accept.
Then, when the club captain expressed dissatisfaction, the most influential clique of young players led by Van Persie, warded him off with contempt. And, on the other hand, the coach failed to take a disciplinary action against them.
Instead, rushed out at captain Gallas and had him demoted –without having to look at his concerns; as strikers not being clinical at the goal, and playing as though not competing at all! But all it cost him was loss of his position as club captain. Could the other reason have been that he wept at bogus arsenal losses?
But Christians can agree that Jesus did the same for his love for mankind yet considered righteous. And just in the premiership alone, Chelsea’s Terry and Manchester’s Ferdinand have often wept upon bogus losses, but are still the best and doing wonders in their respectful clubs!
Of course, there cannot be more than one coach or decision-maker at the club, much as the adverse effects, in the very end, are not met just by club management, but fans else-where in the world. Just three years down the road Uganda has had three arsenal-related deaths and numerous emotional and physical complications in people –accruing to its poor performance.
Yet thinking that being part of the crowd watching Arsenal play to beat a any team in the weekend game opponent would be one way to fade-out work stress; instead, are met with more insults with team’s poor performance.
Only at the champion’s league game against Manchester united, an arsenal fan in Kenya committed suicide due to arsenal loss. This shows how much faith and expectation people have in arsenal team that are rather in disharmony with either the coach or the players themselves –who at times play as if outside competitive match.
About how those attending live matches could feel about arsenal losses is another issue. Unlike, fans living several miles away from England and unable to watch live matches, financially could find it a bigger bite watching the team lose at emirates stadium, while at the same time failing to see substance from coach’s press conferences at the same time.
But, rather than deviant press-talks like world war propagandists and comforting self-talk from falling dictators, it has been evident that for the last five years, arsenal has not won any trophy –including the smallest of the kind.
What mission, then, does it have; just talking at pre-press and post press conferences? Isn’t it high time every one concluded that arsenal management has failed, and that any future press statements be branded lies?
But, Christians to which Arsene must be subscribing to –believe that if the smallest can never be achieved, then it could always be a joke to claim desire to win bigger challenges. On the basis of that statement, there must be one person fooling the other, and that is the coach.
Surprising, as if the team did not have sufficient pre-seasonal training, the coach often shifted that time to replace competitive games like FA, premier league, champion’s league and carling. Isn’t playing a reserve team or considering a competitive game experimental just sheer arrogance and useless pride?
Fortunately or unfortunately, Arsene is not like other premier league managers –who have either been sacked or resigned, so that he saves every one’s time on the pitch and television from being wasted.
He still rides on the pride of winning the 2004 English premiership, rather than studying the current game dynamics adoptable to win English games. Amazingly, regardless of the extent to which his policies have failed, he has continued pursuing them. That is the policy famously called Arsenal policy.
Having done that for five years, doesn’t it only show fading or faded mission for the team? And has he run out of team management form? What, then, should we expect from Arsene, come 2009/10 campaign?
Jacob Waiswa
Community Psychologist
DISHMA -Uganda
A lot of confidence has since been invested in the coach, but the deteriorating performance overtime, leaves many doubting future press releases. Such, now, as then –will mean nothing to anyone –be it the fans or opponents.
To most teams, arsenal is so average that they find it possible to beat it, unlike years before 2005 –when opponents could be sure of a rough time. Because of Arsene’s ever unconvincing game plans, it would take arsenal another marathon of years to attain the level of 2004 performance level.
Much as investing in the young players was economical and excellent sporting strategy, how best to employ them, to adjust from the past philosophies (of mainly attack) and at what time to make important changes in the team –remained a tight challenge for Wenger.
It could be noted that after 2004 the game required more of defensive consciousness than merely adventurous or rampage attacking. Arsenal, given its record of having most goals conceded, of the big four teams, continued with its senseless attacks –whilst mindless of defensive requirements.
Instinct to defend lacks in arsenal’s current defenders, perhaps because current defenders were mid-fielders before. It has been more-less a team of eight mid-fielders and two strikers whenever it played competitive games.
Yet, with the changes in the level of the game –especially in the premier league – regardless of the team one played, fielding two good defensive midfield players could be most appropriate. In fulfillment of that, Arsenal has been lucky to have Alex Song and Denilson.
Unfortunately for him, he has been exerting all efforts on experimenting players around possible positions they possibly played –no matter how poor. Arsenal has not had a standing team, but rather, a clique of players the coach best believed in as ones that could automatically win a chance to play; and anytime.
One observational method used is nationality. Most likely, regardless of the player-form, he would field one of a French origin. There has been a tendency of him being reluctant to play black Africans in preference for the French folk or Brazilian ones.
When Song was playing wonderfully and more stable than Denilson at most times, Wenger, so often left him on the bench. And, when Eboue showed more stability in his game amidst Sagna’s declining game, the coach was slower with taking on Eboue.
For the cliques of most influential young players were sure of getting selected. Even if they played poorly, their positions would be reserved. Eboue, for example, deserved playing every aspect of Chelsea and Manchester game, but Wenger preferred Diaby at the cost of his frequent ball donations to opponents.
More over, Eboue’s attitude, always proved excellent on both teams. Indeed, this season than ever, arsenal scored goals more by luck than as obvious as it were four to five years ago.
Besides, over-patience over having to substitute a player has been so chronic that by the time a better substitution is made the game would be almost over. If the substitute scored or helped others score, the game still could be 2:1 loss to Arsenal.
So surprising and disturbing was when he left out Andrei Arshavin from the starting line-up of the FA game with Chelsea, yet he was not qualified to play champion’s league. The question is for whom was he reserving Andrei for, and for what purpose; to lose the game afterwards?
The season 2008/9 has featured more of arsenal players and coach doing much of the talking off-pitch than in the game –as if cushioning themselves from mistakes they never want to recognize or accept.
Then, when the club captain expressed dissatisfaction, the most influential clique of young players led by Van Persie, warded him off with contempt. And, on the other hand, the coach failed to take a disciplinary action against them.
Instead, rushed out at captain Gallas and had him demoted –without having to look at his concerns; as strikers not being clinical at the goal, and playing as though not competing at all! But all it cost him was loss of his position as club captain. Could the other reason have been that he wept at bogus arsenal losses?
But Christians can agree that Jesus did the same for his love for mankind yet considered righteous. And just in the premiership alone, Chelsea’s Terry and Manchester’s Ferdinand have often wept upon bogus losses, but are still the best and doing wonders in their respectful clubs!
Of course, there cannot be more than one coach or decision-maker at the club, much as the adverse effects, in the very end, are not met just by club management, but fans else-where in the world. Just three years down the road Uganda has had three arsenal-related deaths and numerous emotional and physical complications in people –accruing to its poor performance.
Yet thinking that being part of the crowd watching Arsenal play to beat a any team in the weekend game opponent would be one way to fade-out work stress; instead, are met with more insults with team’s poor performance.
Only at the champion’s league game against Manchester united, an arsenal fan in Kenya committed suicide due to arsenal loss. This shows how much faith and expectation people have in arsenal team that are rather in disharmony with either the coach or the players themselves –who at times play as if outside competitive match.
About how those attending live matches could feel about arsenal losses is another issue. Unlike, fans living several miles away from England and unable to watch live matches, financially could find it a bigger bite watching the team lose at emirates stadium, while at the same time failing to see substance from coach’s press conferences at the same time.
But, rather than deviant press-talks like world war propagandists and comforting self-talk from falling dictators, it has been evident that for the last five years, arsenal has not won any trophy –including the smallest of the kind.
What mission, then, does it have; just talking at pre-press and post press conferences? Isn’t it high time every one concluded that arsenal management has failed, and that any future press statements be branded lies?
But, Christians to which Arsene must be subscribing to –believe that if the smallest can never be achieved, then it could always be a joke to claim desire to win bigger challenges. On the basis of that statement, there must be one person fooling the other, and that is the coach.
Surprising, as if the team did not have sufficient pre-seasonal training, the coach often shifted that time to replace competitive games like FA, premier league, champion’s league and carling. Isn’t playing a reserve team or considering a competitive game experimental just sheer arrogance and useless pride?
Fortunately or unfortunately, Arsene is not like other premier league managers –who have either been sacked or resigned, so that he saves every one’s time on the pitch and television from being wasted.
He still rides on the pride of winning the 2004 English premiership, rather than studying the current game dynamics adoptable to win English games. Amazingly, regardless of the extent to which his policies have failed, he has continued pursuing them. That is the policy famously called Arsenal policy.
Having done that for five years, doesn’t it only show fading or faded mission for the team? And has he run out of team management form? What, then, should we expect from Arsene, come 2009/10 campaign?
Jacob Waiswa
Community Psychologist
DISHMA -Uganda
Tuesday, August 19, 2008
REVISED EDITION: KNOWING OUR COUNTRY BETTER FOR DECISION MAKING AND POLICY
Local tourism is one important undertaking that Ugandans could take advantage of. It would not be about wasting time as some people might say, but something that comes with a lot of amusements, lessons and amazements or a kind of craziness.
However, very many Ugandans leave the country without having traveled much of it. Yet, interestingly, claim having knowledge of United Kingdom, Washington and sometimes, just Kampala, and never about northern, western or far eastern Uganda.
Kityerera is one other place in Uganda that on the face-value could strikingly want to mean “an area covered by mud, and that is all about sliding as one makes his or her way.” By that statement, it would take one a while contemplating whether to travel there. A decision to go there could perhaps come from a courageous person.
It is, actually, a place deep in Mayuge District with a population of over one hundred thousand (100,000), whose creation helped reduce the size of Iganga -once known to be most populated district in Uganda.
It houses the South East Busoga forest reserve –a battle area for encroachers and workers charged with re-planting trees. Battles can sometimes be severe -registering scores of the injured.
Also, according to one elderly resident in Bugadde, the reserve was once a habitant and feeding grounds for hippopotamuses and buffalos. After their extinction, locals resorted to destruction of natural forests.
Forest battles rage on. The question then would be: why do encroachers have to fight heartily for the forest-land? The interesting answer to this question, according to one forest official is that settlers are run-away criminals, who ran way from various regions of the country, and, as far as Kenya to escape justice.
On the other hand, the most vivid explanation for the hardliner approach by encroachers is the fact that from its rich forest soils they harvest heavily, and earn a lot of money through farming, and illegal sale of pieces of forest land to new encroachers.
As a result, many have bought land, build houses and equally (men and women) married multiple partners. For prosperous women as much as men, economically struggling potential sex partners could always go for them. Having achieved all that encroachers are capable of taking on anything to resist and stick-on and even grab more.
Interestingly, encroachers have own administrative systems led by the chief encroacher or aggressor of forest workers. He, along with his assistants constantly plan attacks and organize rebellions against any plans to replant trees or resettle them. To note is that the forest workers represent government at the reserve, and are mandated to work tirelessly to re-afforestate the area such that it regains its vitality as a forest.
The sad bit, however, is that restoration of the forest cover would alienate the local population so much that they would go hungry and gradually get impoverished. This would be so because forest land has been the main "blood vessel" necessary for their survival and well-being.
It is because of forest land that so many motorcycles zoom out and about Mayuge, presence of huge transport vehicles that transport food to Juba (Sudan) -the new UK where a Ugandan can within no time grow wealthy. And also, forestland being being a source of such transported food crops -to help feed the hungry and increase farmers' incomes handsomely.
Some of its busiest towns are Bugadde and Bwonda that command numerous commercial activities including; fish trading, food crops and food vending and textiles trading. The main food crops notable are; maize, millet, rice, jack-fruits and tomatoes.
The food crops are produced for local market and export, with much of it destined for Juba (Southern Sudan).
The prices at the local market equal Kampala’s. Come hydro-power: the towns, being surrounded by islands, with a shorter distance to Kenya (by water), are headed for rapid development in the near future.
Despite of the fact the people work very hard for a living, and with such a fast growing area, Kityerera, unfortunately, does not have hydro-electric power, has the worst net-work coverage of both MTN and Celtel or Zain, while for Mango, its (net-work coverage) is so miserable that one might throw away the card as he or she enters Kityerera.
But of late (November-December 2008), there is amazing news of the fact that MTN has led the conquest of the area. People can now receive and call from anywhere -be it the latrine, bathroom or bedroom. But even for area electrification, plans are underway, and in the near future would hear of a Dubhai of Mayuge-District.
Comparing it with some suburbs of Kampala and Mukono, it is hard to forgive whoever is concerned about electricity distribution. The trading centers in Kityerera are more developed than most suburbs in Kampala or Mukono. For instance; Bugadde or Bwonda are better than Mbalala (with electricity) development-wise, yet they do not have hydro-power.
Girl education in primary schools is very impressive. The numbers of girls in existing primary schools are close to doubling that of boys. The boys sooner than later sense the goodness of money, which in turn compels them to drop out of school in favour of farming, brick-making and boda-boda transport business.
With some money in the pocket, the next item in their plan would be to marry, have children, experience the family head-ship as fathers back home, and most likely, marry several other women or men, accordingly.
Besides, there is evidence that after primary level, they hardly look forward to furthering their studies. The area, well, has more of primary schools than secondary schools. For the existing ones (secondary schools), they are only a recent creation.
So, as if it were a tradition, primary seven (7) tended to be the highest level for girls as much as boys. Consequently, the mainly girls very soon face the challenge of cross-generational sex and prostitution for economic security.
Reliable sources in the area put the numbers of pregnant teenagers seen at pre-natal clinic -between the ages of sixteen to eighteen (16-18) years at over thirty (30), as recorded in a single month. And they in many cases become second, third, and fourth wives to older men. And between 13-18, there were 35 Sexually Transmitted Infections recorded per month by the health center. Surprisingly, the teenage rate encompassed 13 to 15 year olds. And total births by teenagers between 13-18 were 8 per month.
Even with one wife chance initially, the probability of her getting a second and third co-wife is, still, very high. In this part of the world hardly will you find young girls in the above age bracket either unmarried or without one to two children under their care. Indeed, whoever wishes to enjoy marriage life here must either come along with a wife or risk becoming a step parent, and second or third partner.
According to Mzee Abdul-khadir Bazalaaki, one of the proprietors of a private secondary school, who helped set up a prominent public secondary school (Bunya Secondary School) and extending water supply in the area, as well, community members do not value education. And that a lot needs to be done to compel stubborn parents here take their children to school. But reluctant would not discourage school proprietors like Abdul-khadir and Sadat.
Jacob's Class Playing Volley-ball:
-One of the central private schools in Kityerera (Mayuge-District) is Alliance High School, which as a model school, encourages local population to value education through their directors Sadat and Mzee Abdul-Khadir
School directors remain positive of the future. They feel that with their huge hactares of land, support from Muslim brothers in diaspora and other well-wishers, they could transform Alliance High School into a model school and college in the district and country.
From the graduated, employed and well off alumni, parents would re-think and start to value education of their children. They would, for example, begin to think that peasant agriculture is less valuable than agriculture with education.
Unlike Kampala, here, instead of street children, the towns have street goats that run and move all around day and night in groups like some sort of antelopes. They look healthy with fat bellies. It is, however, surprising that the animals have owners who easily identify them from within groupings.
Kityerera towns, like Kampala, have a mixture of tribes from various areas that come to participate in the lucrative trade and make life possible. They include; Basamia, Bateso, Bagisu, badama, a smaller number of Banyakole, and of coarse the Basoga.
And they are predominantly Moslems who have sections of Shias and Sunnis. Looking at the history of Christianity or the reformation, Shias would take the position of the Protestants, while the Sunni take that of Catholics (as told by Mzee Abdul-Khadir).
The development of the area has not left out prostitution as key to it, though silent economic activity. Prostitutes here, unlike their Kampala counter-parts respect traditions of kneeling while greeting their clients, and wearing long dresses. With such courtesy men feel encouraged and find ladies very generous.
A week of one’s visit may not be enough to help identify them, unless inquiries are made about their location. They tend to be; bar and lodge attendants or owning and working in local food joints. Their clients are mainly traders (hawkers), small and big truck drivers, and boda-boda transporters.
Prostitution, as a global trend, does not surprise anyone deep in Kityerera. But, the only puzzle, perhaps, is the ability of women to have more than four pseudo-marriages whilst basing from the home of a traveling “husband”. Actually, of the four, whoever travels misses out. The loneliness due to business trips, near and far, could be held responsible for such mess.
It is normal to find a partner (from both men and women) with a history of three to four husbands before the present relationship, while across them, are children either left to grow under the care of grand parents or brought up by one or none as biological parents.
Wherever it came from: it is widely believed and a matter of public knowledge that Basoga are extra-ordinarily sexually active. People from north, western or central will tell you the same. After debating for long against the famous assertion that Basoga are sex maniacs, the verdict showed up in this part of Busoga. Could the Moslem background have dictated so having not witnessed the same in Jinja, where they (Moslems) are not as many?
To some, the situation might be appalling, with a lot of urgency needed. But, much as aggressive sensitization of people here -on reproductive health is very necessary, and something that must be on-going over six to twelve years, condom accessibility must be guaranteed. People here say, there have no access to condoms, yet for sure they play sex. How safe are they?
There is zero-tolerance to crime in the area. Crimes committed include; adultery, chicken theft, shop breaks, idle and disorderliness, fighting, land disputes, and defilement. Local sources say, defilement is highest in Mayuge.
As part of crime prevention, local authorities recently passed stringent bye-laws that bar community members from roaming around at night beyond ten (10pm), from abusing drugs, irresponsible drinking as well as being found idle and disorderly. It became extreme when mere going out to bath or for a short-call could earn one an arrest. This, believably, must have adversely affected lodges and bars.
Solar energy, which would be a close alternative to hydro-electricity, is instead used pettily for phone charging. Generators, on one hand, are mostly used in barber shops and cinemas.
But solar panels could be acquired communally with good organization from the local leadership, where a section of houses of about twenty (20) or fifty (50) pool resources and acquire a strong panel good enough for lighting and application of other electric accessories. Strategic groupings, associations and cooperatives, too, could take on this opportunity rather than wait for years to see hydro-power.
A lot of emphasis, also, needs to be placed on secondary education, supporting new private schools with face-lifts, and helping to establish more secondary schools.
And, aggressive reproductive health programmes too need to take root in this area, as must be the flooding of condoms there, as well as having the ability to demonstrate their proper use.
Jacob Waiswa
Situation Health Analysis
waiswajacobo@yahoo.co.uk
www.situationhealthanalysis.blogspot.com
-The author was volunteer peer educator in Mayuge District for six months courtesy of student partnership worldwide (SPW). And Alliance High School was one of the taught schools. Subjects taught were sexual reproductive health, life skills and livelihood issues. Other schools worthy recognizing -having been taught by the same author are; Conquerors College School, Bugadde Primary School and Gift Academy Primary School. The wonderful time spent with them is hard to forget. It was characterized with great lessons learnt and experiences got. It is authors note, however, that Kityerera becomes a priority area for policy makers and donor community
However, very many Ugandans leave the country without having traveled much of it. Yet, interestingly, claim having knowledge of United Kingdom, Washington and sometimes, just Kampala, and never about northern, western or far eastern Uganda.
Kityerera is one other place in Uganda that on the face-value could strikingly want to mean “an area covered by mud, and that is all about sliding as one makes his or her way.” By that statement, it would take one a while contemplating whether to travel there. A decision to go there could perhaps come from a courageous person.
It is, actually, a place deep in Mayuge District with a population of over one hundred thousand (100,000), whose creation helped reduce the size of Iganga -once known to be most populated district in Uganda.
It houses the South East Busoga forest reserve –a battle area for encroachers and workers charged with re-planting trees. Battles can sometimes be severe -registering scores of the injured.
Also, according to one elderly resident in Bugadde, the reserve was once a habitant and feeding grounds for hippopotamuses and buffalos. After their extinction, locals resorted to destruction of natural forests.
Forest battles rage on. The question then would be: why do encroachers have to fight heartily for the forest-land? The interesting answer to this question, according to one forest official is that settlers are run-away criminals, who ran way from various regions of the country, and, as far as Kenya to escape justice.
On the other hand, the most vivid explanation for the hardliner approach by encroachers is the fact that from its rich forest soils they harvest heavily, and earn a lot of money through farming, and illegal sale of pieces of forest land to new encroachers.
As a result, many have bought land, build houses and equally (men and women) married multiple partners. For prosperous women as much as men, economically struggling potential sex partners could always go for them. Having achieved all that encroachers are capable of taking on anything to resist and stick-on and even grab more.
Interestingly, encroachers have own administrative systems led by the chief encroacher or aggressor of forest workers. He, along with his assistants constantly plan attacks and organize rebellions against any plans to replant trees or resettle them. To note is that the forest workers represent government at the reserve, and are mandated to work tirelessly to re-afforestate the area such that it regains its vitality as a forest.
The sad bit, however, is that restoration of the forest cover would alienate the local population so much that they would go hungry and gradually get impoverished. This would be so because forest land has been the main "blood vessel" necessary for their survival and well-being.
It is because of forest land that so many motorcycles zoom out and about Mayuge, presence of huge transport vehicles that transport food to Juba (Sudan) -the new UK where a Ugandan can within no time grow wealthy. And also, forestland being being a source of such transported food crops -to help feed the hungry and increase farmers' incomes handsomely.
Some of its busiest towns are Bugadde and Bwonda that command numerous commercial activities including; fish trading, food crops and food vending and textiles trading. The main food crops notable are; maize, millet, rice, jack-fruits and tomatoes.
The food crops are produced for local market and export, with much of it destined for Juba (Southern Sudan).
The prices at the local market equal Kampala’s. Come hydro-power: the towns, being surrounded by islands, with a shorter distance to Kenya (by water), are headed for rapid development in the near future.
Despite of the fact the people work very hard for a living, and with such a fast growing area, Kityerera, unfortunately, does not have hydro-electric power, has the worst net-work coverage of both MTN and Celtel or Zain, while for Mango, its (net-work coverage) is so miserable that one might throw away the card as he or she enters Kityerera.
But of late (November-December 2008), there is amazing news of the fact that MTN has led the conquest of the area. People can now receive and call from anywhere -be it the latrine, bathroom or bedroom. But even for area electrification, plans are underway, and in the near future would hear of a Dubhai of Mayuge-District.
Comparing it with some suburbs of Kampala and Mukono, it is hard to forgive whoever is concerned about electricity distribution. The trading centers in Kityerera are more developed than most suburbs in Kampala or Mukono. For instance; Bugadde or Bwonda are better than Mbalala (with electricity) development-wise, yet they do not have hydro-power.
Girl education in primary schools is very impressive. The numbers of girls in existing primary schools are close to doubling that of boys. The boys sooner than later sense the goodness of money, which in turn compels them to drop out of school in favour of farming, brick-making and boda-boda transport business.
With some money in the pocket, the next item in their plan would be to marry, have children, experience the family head-ship as fathers back home, and most likely, marry several other women or men, accordingly.
Besides, there is evidence that after primary level, they hardly look forward to furthering their studies. The area, well, has more of primary schools than secondary schools. For the existing ones (secondary schools), they are only a recent creation.
So, as if it were a tradition, primary seven (7) tended to be the highest level for girls as much as boys. Consequently, the mainly girls very soon face the challenge of cross-generational sex and prostitution for economic security.
Reliable sources in the area put the numbers of pregnant teenagers seen at pre-natal clinic -between the ages of sixteen to eighteen (16-18) years at over thirty (30), as recorded in a single month. And they in many cases become second, third, and fourth wives to older men. And between 13-18, there were 35 Sexually Transmitted Infections recorded per month by the health center. Surprisingly, the teenage rate encompassed 13 to 15 year olds. And total births by teenagers between 13-18 were 8 per month.
Even with one wife chance initially, the probability of her getting a second and third co-wife is, still, very high. In this part of the world hardly will you find young girls in the above age bracket either unmarried or without one to two children under their care. Indeed, whoever wishes to enjoy marriage life here must either come along with a wife or risk becoming a step parent, and second or third partner.
According to Mzee Abdul-khadir Bazalaaki, one of the proprietors of a private secondary school, who helped set up a prominent public secondary school (Bunya Secondary School) and extending water supply in the area, as well, community members do not value education. And that a lot needs to be done to compel stubborn parents here take their children to school. But reluctant would not discourage school proprietors like Abdul-khadir and Sadat.
Jacob's Class Playing Volley-ball:
-One of the central private schools in Kityerera (Mayuge-District) is Alliance High School, which as a model school, encourages local population to value education through their directors Sadat and Mzee Abdul-Khadir
School directors remain positive of the future. They feel that with their huge hactares of land, support from Muslim brothers in diaspora and other well-wishers, they could transform Alliance High School into a model school and college in the district and country.
From the graduated, employed and well off alumni, parents would re-think and start to value education of their children. They would, for example, begin to think that peasant agriculture is less valuable than agriculture with education.
Unlike Kampala, here, instead of street children, the towns have street goats that run and move all around day and night in groups like some sort of antelopes. They look healthy with fat bellies. It is, however, surprising that the animals have owners who easily identify them from within groupings.
Kityerera towns, like Kampala, have a mixture of tribes from various areas that come to participate in the lucrative trade and make life possible. They include; Basamia, Bateso, Bagisu, badama, a smaller number of Banyakole, and of coarse the Basoga.
And they are predominantly Moslems who have sections of Shias and Sunnis. Looking at the history of Christianity or the reformation, Shias would take the position of the Protestants, while the Sunni take that of Catholics (as told by Mzee Abdul-Khadir).
The development of the area has not left out prostitution as key to it, though silent economic activity. Prostitutes here, unlike their Kampala counter-parts respect traditions of kneeling while greeting their clients, and wearing long dresses. With such courtesy men feel encouraged and find ladies very generous.
A week of one’s visit may not be enough to help identify them, unless inquiries are made about their location. They tend to be; bar and lodge attendants or owning and working in local food joints. Their clients are mainly traders (hawkers), small and big truck drivers, and boda-boda transporters.
Prostitution, as a global trend, does not surprise anyone deep in Kityerera. But, the only puzzle, perhaps, is the ability of women to have more than four pseudo-marriages whilst basing from the home of a traveling “husband”. Actually, of the four, whoever travels misses out. The loneliness due to business trips, near and far, could be held responsible for such mess.
It is normal to find a partner (from both men and women) with a history of three to four husbands before the present relationship, while across them, are children either left to grow under the care of grand parents or brought up by one or none as biological parents.
Wherever it came from: it is widely believed and a matter of public knowledge that Basoga are extra-ordinarily sexually active. People from north, western or central will tell you the same. After debating for long against the famous assertion that Basoga are sex maniacs, the verdict showed up in this part of Busoga. Could the Moslem background have dictated so having not witnessed the same in Jinja, where they (Moslems) are not as many?
To some, the situation might be appalling, with a lot of urgency needed. But, much as aggressive sensitization of people here -on reproductive health is very necessary, and something that must be on-going over six to twelve years, condom accessibility must be guaranteed. People here say, there have no access to condoms, yet for sure they play sex. How safe are they?
There is zero-tolerance to crime in the area. Crimes committed include; adultery, chicken theft, shop breaks, idle and disorderliness, fighting, land disputes, and defilement. Local sources say, defilement is highest in Mayuge.
As part of crime prevention, local authorities recently passed stringent bye-laws that bar community members from roaming around at night beyond ten (10pm), from abusing drugs, irresponsible drinking as well as being found idle and disorderly. It became extreme when mere going out to bath or for a short-call could earn one an arrest. This, believably, must have adversely affected lodges and bars.
Solar energy, which would be a close alternative to hydro-electricity, is instead used pettily for phone charging. Generators, on one hand, are mostly used in barber shops and cinemas.
But solar panels could be acquired communally with good organization from the local leadership, where a section of houses of about twenty (20) or fifty (50) pool resources and acquire a strong panel good enough for lighting and application of other electric accessories. Strategic groupings, associations and cooperatives, too, could take on this opportunity rather than wait for years to see hydro-power.
A lot of emphasis, also, needs to be placed on secondary education, supporting new private schools with face-lifts, and helping to establish more secondary schools.
And, aggressive reproductive health programmes too need to take root in this area, as must be the flooding of condoms there, as well as having the ability to demonstrate their proper use.
Jacob Waiswa
Situation Health Analysis
waiswajacobo@yahoo.co.uk
www.situationhealthanalysis.blogspot.com
-The author was volunteer peer educator in Mayuge District for six months courtesy of student partnership worldwide (SPW). And Alliance High School was one of the taught schools. Subjects taught were sexual reproductive health, life skills and livelihood issues. Other schools worthy recognizing -having been taught by the same author are; Conquerors College School, Bugadde Primary School and Gift Academy Primary School. The wonderful time spent with them is hard to forget. It was characterized with great lessons learnt and experiences got. It is authors note, however, that Kityerera becomes a priority area for policy makers and donor community
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