7-year-old Keith Galiwango is a sickle cell patient.  In his hometown of Nsotoka in the central Ugandan district of Kayunga, as in many other resource-poor regions of Africa, access to healthcare, diagnosis and treatment for sickle cell disease is often limited. That status quo, in many ways, indicates that many young African sickle cell ...

Edward Sseremba, 46, speaks Ruruuli, the native language of the Baruuli and Banyala peoples, who live in the central Ugandan districts of Nakasongola, Kayunga, and Masindi, in mid-western Uganda. Sseremba, a teacher, lives with his three children and wife in Kangulumira County in Kayunga.  Recent reports naming his language among 23 Ugand...

On his farm in Bunashimolo parish, Bushiende sub-county, Mbale, eastern Uganda, 47-year-old Andrew Wangota uses small scale agrivoltaics technology—the combination of solar energy (raised photovoltaic (PV) solar panels) with agriculture. The technology, which is a critical component of the Water-Energy-Food (WEF) Nexus, has enabled Wangot...

William Ruto, Kenya's President recently reiterated his pro-GMO stance as he engaged in a wide-ranging roundtable discussion with Kenyan journalists. Ruto who has been in the cross hairs of anti-GMO groups and individuals, including some who claim he refuses to rely on science to determine the safety of GMO products, defended his government's decis...

Preaching to Africa's GMO-averse countries and publics about the long-term merits of GM technology to the continent's agriculture systems remains very much a work in progress. More often than not, ignorance of the virtues of GM technology and unwarranted anti-GMO lobby narratives have stood in the way of progress. In recent years, however, the tide...

Poetic Justice, with her lifted scale,  Where, in nice balance, truth with gold she weighs, And solid pudding against empty praise.Alexander Pope 1688-1744 

Whilst it didn't devastate Africa's health systems as some analysts in the west had anticipated it would, COVID-19 did offer and still offers a new window of opportunity for African scientists to develop and modernize novel COVID-19 therapeutic drugs from African medicinal plants. The World Health Organization recognizes traditional medicine, princ...

So we now know for sure that an election loss is not after all a bitter pill to swallow for disgruntled African Politicians only. By refusing to concede defeat to Joe Biden in what US authorities are calling one of the most secure elections in US history, Trump has shown the world that he has something in common with some of the third world's paria...

In this Podcast, I cast an eye on the most important day in the American electoral process, which dawned yesterday. It coincided with the nomination of firebrand Ugandan Politician /Musician, Bobi Wine as a Presidential candidate.As the day progresses, many global citizens, myself included, will be watching keenly as one of the most ...

In this Podcast, I cast an eye on the most important day in the American electoral process, which dawned yesterday. As the day progresses, many global citizens, myself included, will be watching keenly as one of the most momentous Presidential elections in American history reaches a climax. The world is waiting to see how the scales will tip. Plug-...

In part two of this Podcast, I disabuse some of the false impressions created by some western media outlets on the heavy-handedness of some African security forces during COVID-19 lockdowns. Some headlines in western media like the [France 24] April story headline entitled-" Curfew crackdowns in several African countries kill more people than ...

https://allianceforscience.cornell.edu/blog/2020/07/uganda-pays-subsidies-to-improve-small-farm-productivity/

In recent weeks, the world has been gripped by racially diverse, anti-racism protests, following the deaths of George Floyd and Rayshard Brooks in the U.S. In part one of this podcast, I cast light upon a select few, thought-provoking, and conceptual anti-racism/anti-police brutality and social injustice protest songs, from across the globe, w...

^{Many Kampala urbanities who are indisposed to sitting through the city’s infamously long-early morning and late evening traffic jams, always rely on web-based motorcycle taxi service providers like Safe Boda to make it to their places of work, in time.}

<sup>Safe Boda has been in high favour with many of the city’s residents, primarily because they have broken the mold with their service, choosing safety and caution, on the road, rather than recklessness.

Kampala’s roads are however still crawling with impatient motorcycle taxi riders, who, on a daily basis, recklessly navigate the city’s perilous roads without helmets.

According to the Uganda Police annual crime report 2018, motorcycles accounted for 60% of all vehicles involved in road crashes in 2018.

From 2014 to 2016, at least 7,000 people lost their lives in Boda Boda accidents in Uganda.

There are however, now safer and convenient alternatives in the form of Safe Boda, Taxify, Uber, etc.

Over the last four years, Safe Boda which principally transacts business, through its Smartphone App, has been transforming the commercial motorcycle transportation landscape in the rough and tumble metropolis of Kampala.



Since it took root, the Safe Boda Company has created job opportunities for several Ugandan youth.

They have made it priority to give their clients safety / crash helmets [the single most effective way of protecting against injuries or death whilst riding on a boda boda].

Kampala may not exactly be that quintessential smart city, but its residents do catch up quick with trends and notwithstanding, a few mishaps like limited IT skills and knowledge, a big number of the city’s residents have sure embraced the Safe Boda digital service and its gig workers, who wear identifiable orange color reflecting vests and helmets.

The upshot of Safe Boda’s radical approach has been disciplined riding by their riders and fewer road crashes on Kampala’s roads.

“In many respects, the risk of road traffic crashes involving Safe Boda riders is lower, compared to Kampala’s regular, kamikaze motorcyclists. That primarily is, on account of their respect for traffic rules. It is hard to find a Safe Boda rider running the traffic lights, like most regular Boda Boda riders in Kampala, do,” Isaac Tusubira of Easy Ride Accident Solutions, says.



Ricky Thomson Rapa, one of the co-founders of Safe Boda says at present, they have over 10,000 riders in Kampala alone.

“In Nairobi, there are over 1,500 riders and many more in Mombasa. The numbers are set to grow further, as long as we do not waver in adhering to our set objective, which is the provision of safety to clients,” Rapa says.

“Safe Boda’s biggest achievement has been the transformation of the Boda Boda industry in Kampala, which hitherto is known for its disorganised nature.
Our Boda Bodas are professionals. The orderly way in which they work is a far cry from Kampala’s regular Boda Boda riders. They are given first Aid, customer service, technology and financial literacy trainings,” Rapa adds.

“Before, we set forth with our operations, less than one percent of Boda Boda passengers in Kampala used to wear crash helmets. Now more than seventy percent of our clients, wear them. Prior, less than thirty percent of Boda Boda riders used to wear crash helmets; now over hundred percent wear crash helmets.”

One of the other standout achievements for Safe Boda has been the building of the first ever Boda Boda motorcycle training Academy, where all prospective boda boda riders are painstakingly trained in the observance of traffic rules, safe riding, etc.

For the future, the Safe Boda powers that be are looking at expanding to other cities such as Lagos, Daressalam and many other African cities, to boot.  

“The future of digital technologies like Safe Boda is looking ever brighter. Africa’s young population is growing fast and many are moving to cities, which are increasingly getting congested and inundated by traffic grid locks. With that growth, comes a need for safe, fast and affordable means of transportation,” Rapa says.</sup>


 

In many African societies, people living with albinism struggle to find social acceptance. In environments pervaded with albino phobia, stigma and negative stereotypes, it is a tall order.
There are people living with the condition however who are intent on shedding the negative stereotypes associated with albinos. One of those people is Gerald Byamukama; a 15 year old from Rubirizi district in western Uganda.
Many people ill advisedly regard albinism as a handicap, but I prefer to look at it differently, Byamukama says.

“Albinism is not a handicap in any kind of way. The only handicap I see is placing limits on myself because of people’s illusions about my condition. As long as my attitude is right, I know I can bring a value to my life. Albinism is not by choice and it should not be a basis for anyone to judge me or to hold me in a low regard. There are many great albino people out there making a difference in their societies and I intend to do the same,” a buoyant Byamukama says. “The difference in my skin appearance does not make me any less human as some people would want to make it seem. Albinos have rights just like normal skinned people and nobody should infringe on them. Nobody will make me hate myself. I will also not let people patronize me under the guise of trying to be friends,” he says. There have been moments however, when Byamukama has been inundated by some people’s indifference. “On several occasions, I have faced discrimination and disdain. People have called me ridiculing names. Some have even gone to the extent of calling my condition a punishment from the gods. It got to a point when I started hiding in the house, almost the whole day.  I can only wonder how life is for that beat down, often stigmatized and socially withdrawn albino child or adult who lives in an environment where traditional myths and superstitions about albinism abound. There is need to promote greater awareness of albinism throughout the country,” Byamukama says.

Before he passed on, my late grandfather, had always offered me good counsel.
“Have the grace to forgive. Let not your mind be held captive by memories of having been wronged in your childhood,” he told me.
My grandfather knew about my broken childhood experiences. He knew I had grown up resentful, depressed and disillusioned on account of the abuse I suffered at the hands of my late Dad.
The rejection and constant physical abuse I was subjected too at a young age had left me wretched and unnerved.
As a result, I grew up devoid of self esteem, will power and strength of character.
The indelible negative upshot as a result was my poor performance in school. My human relationship skills were also at a low ebb.
To most people, I came across as an eccentric introvert, yet in actual sense, I was just a young boy beset and inundated by a mood disorder I had no idea to overcome.
It was hard for me to figure out why I was at the receiving end of my late Dad’s anger.
Theories as to why, he did whatever he did to me came up later but I was too young to fathom.
When I got older, I was brought to terms with the harsh reality but I was to laden with bitterness and last thing I wanted to hear was talk about Dad and what he did to me.
It was not like I was not his child or I was disrespecting him. Far from it.
As fate would have it, Dad eventually chased me out of his house.
As a result, I spent close to 9 months living with a bunch of other young boys on the cold streets of Mbale town.
We subsisted on left over meals from Mukwano restaurant on Naboa road. Often we were chased. All the while, I could not go to school, though I was supposed to be in school.
Majority of the time however, we slept hungry. A short and a t-shirt is all I had on me.

Through mum’s efforts however, I was reinstated back home but I did not know who I was no more. The little self esteem, mum tried to bestow in me, at an early age was all gone.
I was disenchanted with Dad. What he had subjected me too had put a heavy damper on almost every aspect of my life.

I was young but my smile was always locked away. My friends frolicked but I was hesitant to join in because I felt worthless.
I bore a grudge; retaining bitterness in my heart at Dad for the wrongs he had done to me.
My anger did not draw forth any positives however and I was constantly depressed.

There was a silver lining however when I went and visited my ageing but deeply religious grandfather,(Bartholomew Wangasa) in Magale, Manafwa district.
Wangasa is the father to my mother.
He always had something positive to say to me.

First thing he talked to me about was Forgiveness.
“Forgiveness is a redeeming virtue, Richard. Your dad abused and mistreated you but remember the bitterness and anger you kindle for him will only burn you more. Look at it in perspective now and learn to forgive because when you forgive, your heavenly father will also forgive you,” Grandfather told me.

As if to emphasize his point he refered me to read Mark 11:25 and Matthew 6:14-15 which essentially talk about how God will forgive us our trespasses, if we learn to forgive others.

Grand father also laid emphasis on the fact that lingering unforgiveness was a sin.
“God will not bless you if your heart hangs on to unforgiveness. Unforgiveness only breeds bitterness, resentment and anger. If you read the parable of the unforgiving debtor in Math 18:21, you will get my drift,” he told me.

At length, I let go of the bitterness. It was hard but grandfather had prevailed upon. All gratitude to him. Reading helpful Biblical chapters he referenced like Ephesians 4:24, 31, 32 also came in handy.
Now whenever the opportunity presents itself and wherever there is need, I share with my friends my experience and how I have been able to cope.
I can not say I have completely forgotten and overcome all the hurt and ramifications of the abuse I suffered.
There are times when memories play back. There are times too when I inevitably predispose to depressive thoughts.
By and large, however, I have moved on.
I and my dad were on speaking terms before his demise.
The anger and bitterness was gone.

THE VIRTUES OF FORGIVENESS, A PSYCHOLOGICAL PERSPECTIVE
Paul Wanetosi, a psychologist at Wanale community counseling initiative, Mbale says forgiveness as a precept helps people offset depression and other negative energies.
“The anger, resentment and bitterness fire you kindle in your heart only burns you more, not the person who wronged you. Forgiveness means you are letting go of the past, even if it is hard to forget. Mandela’s case is a classical example. Holding onto unforgiveness disrupts relationships. This eventually fans the fires of chronic stress, putting the body at risk of disease. When you forgive, you heal your emotional or physical wounds. Forgiveness allows you to redirect your emotions to more constructive activity. It may take a while but when you forgive people who have wronged you, your body lets go of all the feel bad chemicals responsible for mood disorders like depression and anxiety,” Wanetosi explains.

Letting go of anger and hurt by way of forgiveness is key in improving mental and emotional health.
“There is no greater nourishment to one’s emotional and mental growth than through forgiveness. Retaining bitterness in one’s heart adversely affects emotional growth in all areas of life. It robs one of the energy to stay healthy. Research shows that emotions such as anger and resentment often brought forth by unforgiveness, amongst other factors are risk factors for heart attacks. Letting go of negative emotions is therapeutic. It makes you feel better, happier and relate better. It also creates a sense of inner peace, hence less stress,” Wanetosi says.

The English poet, Alexander Pope put it well when he said to err is human; to forgive is divine.
“Forgiveness is a moral virtue that God himself exhorts us to practice. Learning to forgive is essential in moving along with God. It is an act of love as taught to us by Christ. It is a gift that we give to ourselves to live more peace filled and spiritual lives,”Pastor Fred Sseremba of the Living word ministries, Kyebando says.

Forgiveness sustains relationships and makes hope for reconciliation possible.
“When forgiveness is given a chance, damaged relationships can be repaired and rekindled. Relationships which are not necessarily shaky will benefit in a sense that there will be sustenance,” Sseremba says.

James Whistler, a famous nineteenth century American painter once said painting is visual poetry. While he may have said it in a different context, parallels can undeniably be drawn between his statement and the ingenious paintings of 35 year-old Ugandan visual artist, Veroniccah Muwonge.
It is easy to notice at first blush, that Muwonge wields a skilful painting brush. Hers is a paint brush that sketches expressionist and evocative art pieces. Most if not all of Muwonge’s paintings are heartfelt portrayals of everything from nature, traditional African cultures, people’s behaviours and everyday experiences of people she meets. In a sense, her art works represent an inward significance that is not outwardly obvious.

“I believe I was born to create. To create beauty in form of art. Painting feeds my soul. It is like food to me, I can not live without it. I use my art paintings to stimulate the mind. I enjoy making a world within another world. It is how I see art. The art process begins with imagination, generating ideas, and making up our own reality, fantasy, and dreams in a new form.  Art is a universal language so I use it to bring out ideas that people know but do not give much thought to. Painting as a medium of communication is fun for me because I love color and its powerful effect on human emotions,” Muwonge says.

INSPIRATION TO PAINT
Casting her mind back, Muwonge says she was inspired and eventually made the decision to become an artist whilst in high school in Trinity College, Nabbingo and Taibah high school in the early 90’s.
“I thought I would become a performer growing up. I also enjoyed playing soccer, netball and ping pong but I just knew what I wanted to do with my life early on. I do not remember anyone influencing me to become an artist,” she says.
Muwonge however started painting professionally in 2003.

Traces of Muwonge’s artistic talent showed early as she narrates.
“I noticed how much I loved to draw whilst I was young. I drew a lot at the ages of 5/6-10. I knitted, wove, built tiny mud houses and learned to sew and crotchet at a young age. A ceramics piece was the first artistic piece I sold. I was in my senior 3 then,” she reminisces.

Tadeo Masereka may be visually impaired but he never loses sight of his purpose in life. The buoyant 23 year old hopes to rise from his handicap one day and become an inspiration to both the blind and non blind in Uganda.
“People with disabilities are often looked down upon in Uganda. The blind, just like able bodied people should live and work with full responsibility. Being blind, I have experienced prejudice and discrimination on several occasions and I am hoping I can be the change. I envisage studying law at the university. I want to advocate for the rights of less privileged people especially the blind. At times, it seems as if we have no voice. With belief, courage and determination, I know I will make it,” Masereka says animatedly.
 
At present, Masereka is a senior three student at SAAD memorial secondary school in Kisinga, Kasese. From the look of things, he interacts freely with other students, though discrimination has stared him in the face, on occasion.  Masereka however tells me he has no qualms about being discriminated against.
“I consort with many people around school. I have had cases where people ask me impolite questions and treat me with impertinence but I have learnt to take things in my stride. If you were in my position, you would agree it is the best recourse. Anger is never an antidote if you are a person living with a disability,” Masereka says.

Just before the early morning school assembly on the day I visited his school, Masereka was joined by a posse of his friends around their classroom block.
They seemed to be exchanging pleasantries. There was poise about him as he moved around with his walking stick and as he spoke to his friends.
I noticed all of his friends were of 20/20 vision.  
The fact that almost all his classmates are of normal visual acuity, I thought to myself must be some kind of disadvantage to Masereka.

Franca Lucy Nacuge, Masereka’s teacher was however quick to dispel my thoughts.
“Masereka’s handicap has not in any way affected his performance in class. He has been giving a good account of himself. He is brilliant at reading Braille (Braille is a method ofreadingand feeling text through touch, rather than sight). He reads Braille books avidly. He is also excellent at communicating by means of the manual alphabet. Learning to spell words with manual language was not a tall order for him. He struggled a bit with his enunciation but he gradually got better. In class tests and exams, Masereka excels and is always amongst the top five. He has a great potential and I think if he does not get any distractions or financial challenges along the way, he will achieve his goal,” Nacunge says.

Masereka has created good rapport with his teachers, just like he has done with classmates. During class lessons, he is always attentive and active especially when questions are paused.
His teachers generally have a high opinion of him, saying he has been exceptional in his relations with others and in his class performance.
He comes to school early, well tucked in and always smart. He is also always open minded, inquisitive and eager to learn. It has helped him perform well in class. He has a bright future ahead of him. He is also deeply spiritual and reads the Braille Bible often. It is his valued possession. He has learnt great stretches of the Braille Bible by heart and has committed to heart verses that help him whenever he is feeling low. His spirituality has helped him a great deal especially in dealing with his visual limitations,” says Godfrey Abine, one of his teachers.

I watched as Masereka used his fingers to make sense of a document he had been writing as Nacunge taught. I sat transfixed, eager to see how he uses Braille reading.
I was amazed at how effortlessly he went about it and by all accounts, it has been a success for him.
“If Masereka was not using Braille reading, I figure he would not be performing as well as he has been performing. Unlike those with vision, he reads both at day and night time. We have taught him how to use Braille mathematical sets for subjects such as arithmetic and maths and also how to use invaluable materials such as Parkins Braille and geometrical sets. These have helped him a lot. The bottom-line however is that he learns and internalizes things fast,” Nacunge says.

After school, Masereka studies type writing. Nacunge has also chosen to take him under her stewardship.
Just like in his class sessions, Masereka is quick witted when it comes to type writing.  Nacunge says plans are in place to purchase him a desk top computer to get him in line with current trends.
“He should be learning how to operate and use a computer by now but we have been limited by funds. The sooner we get one the better, because he is very eager at learning new things,” Nacunge says.

Masereka is also passionate about music. He wants to study guitar, piano and drums in the future.
“Music is something I have a fascination for. I am inclined to singing and I want to develop my talent. Maybe one day I can make money out of singing. Singing is therapy for me. It sustains me in those quiet lonely hours when I retreat into that deep silence that only the blind know,” Masereka says.

Masereka has also been employing his entrepreneurial side in his free time. With a little financial support from friends and with training from the National Union of the disabled persons of Uganda, he managed to establish a small poultry business 3 years ago.
The business has grown by leaps and bounds albeit with challenges.
“The main challenge in the business has been finance and finding someone trustworthy to do the day to day running whilst Iam away at school. Financial and management challenges aside, the business has helped me a great deal. It has opened up my entrepreneurial side and with time, I plan to take root in another business, preferably a printing and photocopying business. This business has taught me how to make money on my own, rather than depend on others. I have always wanted to be independent,” Masereka says.

Besides the entrepreneurial skills, Masereka has also received trainings on human rights and HIV/AIDS prevention.
He has been returning the favour by sharing the knowledge he received with classmates and people in his community and other areas.
Masereka was born to John and Mary Ndyahikaho.


 





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