Tales from Abyssinia

Is Obama eating MLK fruit?

2012-01-20T22:06:00.001+03:00

Martin Luther King And The Case For Enlightened Cowardice; Obama Is Eating The Fruit by Charles Onyango Obbo [Every Tuesday] the US, nay, the world remembers Rev. Martin Luther King Jr., the inspirational African-American civil rights lead that was assassinated in April 1968. He would have turned 83 this year if he hadn’t been finished off. I think it was in 2001. The Americans had just moved

Freedom from Fear

2012-01-06T23:29:00.000+03:00

Speech by Aung Sang Suu Kyi, 1990 It is not power that corrupts but fear. Fear of losing power corrupts those who wield it and fear of the scourge of power corrupts those who are subject to it. Most Burmese are familiar with the four a-gati, the four kinds of corruption. Chanda-gati, corruption induced by desire, is deviation from the right path in pursuit of bribes or for the sake of those one

Happy New Year: Reflections on Life

2012-01-01T02:46:00.000+03:00

There is time for new beginnings, resolving unresolved issues, kicking harmful habits, getting rid of "toxic" people in our lives. The start of a new year is opportune to do so but that does not mean we cannot do it at any time, day, minute, second of the year. Happy New Year to all my blog readers Below are some “moments of clarity” that I felt I should share with you. During the last week of

Uganda should fully back Palestine’s statehood bid

2011-12-03T19:06:00.003+03:00

On the International Day of Solidarity with the Palestinian People, November 29, a statement from the Director-General of United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO) re-affirmed the decision taken by the organisation in October to admit Palestine as a member. This step is an achievement for a people who are striving for self-determination and the right to exist as a

Steven Paul Jobs

2011-10-10T11:09:00.000+03:00

Below is part of what I wrote for the "People in the News" section of the Daily Monitor newspaper (and it was published on 7 October, pg 24). I take it as my tribute to such a great personality, that is why I have posted on the blog Many think that success is going from achievement to another with falling along the way, others are often discouraged by the fear of failure that they don’t even

We Need More Than Vuvuzelas For Uganda Cranes Pt 2

2011-10-04T23:01:00.000+03:00

On the eve of this year's Independence Day, Uganda Cranes hosts neighbours, Kenya's Harambee Stars, at Namboole Stadium in Kampala. This is one of the do-or-die matches for qualification to 2012 Africa Cup of Nations. Despite expectation that we are expected to give our all in support to the national side, I am not keen on having my heart broken for the umpteenth time. While we may need to

Book Review: A New Harvest for Africa

2011-09-29T21:46:00.000+03:00

Title: The New Harvest: Agricultural Innovation in Africa Author: Calestous Juma Pages: xxvi + 268 Publisher: Oxford University Press Reviewer: Gumisiriza Mwesigye Available at http://ksgexecprogram.harvard.edu/features/agin.aspx Africa’s agricultural sector employs most of the labour force and most of the population derives their livelihood from it. And the growth of the sector is vital for

Support Palestine's Bid for Freedom and Justice

2011-09-24T20:04:00.000+03:00

On 23 September 2011, Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas addressed UN General Assembly after submitting application for recognition of Palestine as a state to UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon. As a support of freedom and social justice for all peoples anywhere in the world, this blog post features the full transcript of Abbas' speech below: Mr. President of the General Assembly of the United

Book Review: Why 2011 Could Be The Year To Plant A Family Garden

2011-08-29T22:26:00.001+03:00

Title: Food Shock: Why 2011 Could Be The Most Important Year Ever To Plant A Family Garden Authors: Bill Heid and Brain Brawdy Pages: 33 Publisher: Off The Grid News Reviewer: Gumisiriza Mwesigye Available at www.offthegridnews.net This year more than any another, the prices for food have been volatile and have kept rising beyond the point at which a number of experts had predicted that they

Sweet and Bitter: The Story of Uganda’s Sugar

2011-08-12T17:18:00.002+03:00

by Mwesigye Gumisiriza When many Ugandans took to the streets of Kampala in April 2007 to protest the government’s intention to degazette 7,100 hectares (17,540 acres) of Mabira rainforest for expanding sugar production, it may have taken many by surprise. More so, when the protest assumed racial tones, became violent and subsequently targetted the Asian community. However, if one is to closely

Breaking the vicious cycle of food crisis

2011-08-09T22:26:00.001+03:00

by Masimba Tafirenyika/UN Africa Renewal magazine Once every few years, the world goes through a familiar ritual: various factors converge to trigger unusual increases in global food prices. In response, countries rush through emergency measures to ward off widespread shortages. Prices stabilize, calm returns and the world declares yet another victory in the war against rising food prices. The

More Breasts Not Jets

2011-08-02T22:02:00.000+03:00

This week marks the 19th World Breastfeeding Week, an event that has been observed annually, from 1-8 August, in more than 120 countries. The aim is to promote breastfeeding for infants and the health benefits of providing important nutrients and protection from diseases. It also beneficial to women, as it helps in protection against breast and ovarian cancer and in the spacing of children, among

Funny but Serious: A Memo from Home Affairs

2011-07-12T21:35:00.001+03:00

FROM: FATHER TO: ALL DEPENDANTS AND RELATIVES CC: MOTHER DATE: July 2011. WORSENING ECONOMIC SITUATION AND MITIGATION MEASURES TO THEM IN OUR HOUSEHOLD Due to the current economic situation and the so-called zero deficit budget, all domestic rules and regulations have been revised until further notice as below and under no circumstance is any violation going to be accepted. You have already

Why does marriage go haywire?

2011-06-28T21:04:00.000+03:00

by Isaac Kalembe I've just been discussing with colleagues over why relations (especially married life) finally go haywire. Here is my position: 1. Marriage is the most difficult institution. 2. There are few genuinely happily married couples. 3. Since marriage is a treacherous territory, the foundation of a happy marriage is love, trust and faithfulness. Those three ingredients should

Flashback: When Patriotism was the Catch Word

2011-06-01T21:49:00.002+03:00

A few years ago, when I was a columnist for an upstart weekly newspaper called The Manager, I wrote this article for People and Power (which was the name of my short-lived column). With the just-elected MPs tabling issues of their emoluments as the first business to be considered and the Speaker and her deputy getting Shs 800m (US$334,700.03) cars in the same week, I chanced upon this piece in my

Book Review: Mind, Man and the Spirits

2011-05-31T22:08:00.001+03:00

Title: Mind, Man and the Spirits: Man's Desperate Search for Meaning in Intellectualism, Mysticism and the Occult Author: J. Stafford Wright Pages: 160 Publisher: The Pasternoster Press Reviewer: Mwesigye Gumisiriza The author starts off by navigating through the varying explanations of what the mind is, the unconscious and subconscious as well as its relationship with the body, time and space.

Book Review: Making Sense of Social Policy in Uganda

2011-05-26T19:42:00.004+03:00

Title: Social Policy: The Integrated Approach to Social Development Author: George Muriisa Zirimu Pages: xvi+331 Publisher: Makerere University Printery Reviewer: Mwesigye Gumisiriza Available at leading bookshops How to bring about the kind of development that ensures equitable benefits for all groups within a society is a complex issue that spurs debate, discussion and controversy. The

Worlds Collide in a Luxury Suite

2011-05-24T13:25:00.003+03:00

by Rebecca Solnit Source: Huffington Post websiteHow can I tell a story we already know too well? Her name was Africa. His was France. He colonized her, exploited her, silenced her, and even decades after it was supposed to have ended, still acted with a high hand in resolving her affairs in places like Côte d’Ivoire, a name she had been given because of her export products, not her own

Despite economic growth, Africa still lacks industries

2011-05-23T11:31:00.004+03:00

Many countries in Sub-Saharan Africa like Uganda have been posting impressive rates of economic growth over the past decade and experiencing increasing urbanisation, but the pace of industrialisation has remained slow. And despite investments in infrastructure like roads and the spread of modern technologies like mobile telephony, several African countries have largely remained exporters of

“My civil protest against Museveni”: A voice in the wilderness?

2011-05-04T15:38:00.003+03:00

by Benji NdoloTuesday, May 3 2011Mr Benji Ndolo, a consultant with several Kenyan Civil societies was over the weekend whisked away from a Nairobi hotel where President Yoweri Museveni addressed a forum ‘Mindspeak’ because he had booed the Ugandan President. Below are his reasons for his civil protest.“On Saturday 30 April I arrived at the Intercontinental hotel to interact and share with other

What to do about high food and fuel prices

2011-04-25T12:56:00.001+03:00

With the concerns rising over high food and commodity prices, and now spilling over into protests and tensions in different parts of the world, a recent policy brief from the International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI) suggests a number of measures that should be taken by governments and international institutions.The IFPRI policy brief, Urgent Actions Needed to Prevent Recurring Food

Note to Self: What CAN does, What CAN'T doesn't

2011-04-04T18:50:00.002+03:00

A milk vendor used to sell milk on his motor cycle in a town. He was carrying four milk cans, two on each side of his vehicle. One day, while he was calling on a house, two students approached his motor cycle and pushed frogs one each in two cans. The happy frogs started finding themselves in a tight position. The frog in one of the cans studied the situation. It made a SWOT analysis. His

9 Things Successful People Do Differently

2011-03-18T18:23:00.001+03:00

Heidi Grant Halvorson, Ph.D.Motivational psychologist, author of Succeed: How We Can Reach Our GoalsWhy have you been so successful in reaching some of your goals, but not others? If you aren't sure, you are far from alone in your confusion. It turns out that even brilliant, highly accomplished people are pretty lousy when it comes to understanding why they succeed or fail. The intuitive answer -

Note to Self: All the 5 Signs Are There

2011-03-04T15:09:00.002+03:00

This is more of a note to myself (and any reader of this blog who feels this situation). So, I'm posting so that I can keep referring to it frequently.Five Signs You May Be Sabotaging Your Writing Careerby Writers Relief Staff on 1 March 2011 Many professional writers credit their success to both hard work and to being in the right place at the right time (note: Writer’s Relief can help with the

Habakkuk the Catechist

2011-02-21T20:38:00.002+03:00

Title: Habakkuk the CatechistAuthor: Peregrine KibuukaPages: xiv+378Publisher: Marianum Press Ltd 2010Price: Shs. 15,000Reviewer: Mwesigye GumisirizaThis story has been written over a period of three decades. It started while the author was a secondary school teacher in the 1970s, and then repeatedly shelved over the years. But with continued prodding from family and friends, he eventually

Graduates can be change agents

2011-01-28T18:42:00.003+03:00

by Mwesigye GumisirizaGraduation marks a major milestone in the life of anyone who has completed his or her course at the university. The award may be a diploma or a bachelor’s, Master’s or Doctorate degree but it shows that the individual on whom it is conferred has successfully completed all the educational requirements for a particular academic programme of study.The ceremony of graduation

Ekitafferi: A Natural Cancer Killer

2011-01-20T22:21:00.006+03:00

I received this information through an e-mail from a colleague, and in the interest of spreading the word, below is the story (which i have slightly edited for brevity and clarity).The soursop or the fruit from the graviola tree (known as ekitaffeeri in Luganda) is a miraculous natural cancer cell killer 10,000 times stronger than chemotherapy.This tree is low and is called graviola in Brazil ,

Blogging by Numbers

2010-12-25T21:34:00.006+03:00

When I started blogging in 2008 to keep my writing active, my first post was unwittingly an obituary of sorts to great friend “Never be the Same Again (A Tribute to Andrew Kataryeba)” on 10 March that year. Though it was not my intention to start on such a sad note, it was an incident which coincided with my decision to start a blog. When I checked the statistics (covering the whole time I have

Don't Ask, Don't Tell: My Take

2010-12-24T22:14:00.003+03:00

This post came about as I was responding to comments on a Facebook page. While the other was a spur of the moment thing, the one below is edited for spelling, grammar and correctness..and the relevant links included for further information.What I gather is that DADT does not as such seclude gays and lesbians but requires them to be discreet about and not required to reveal their orientation (

African Sexual Practice That Guarantees Female Orgasm

2010-12-21T19:17:00.004+03:00

Experts confirm that 70% of women do not achieve orgasm from vaginal penetration alone. But a sexual practice used in Burundi, Rwanda,the eastern D.R. Congo, western Uganda and western Tanzania is known for triggering female orgasms during heterosexual encounters. It is termed "kunyaza" in Rwanda and Burundi as referred to as "kachabali" in Uganda.“Kunyaza” is said to be so effective that most

My Take on Ocampo's Kenya List

2010-12-20T05:45:00.002+03:00

Below is my comment on a post by Jared Ombui, a Kenyan journalist, at his website about some of the reaction to ICC's Chief Prosecutor fingering six Kenyan politicians for their role in the post-election violence in 2007 and 2008.Good observation. The debate is on because now the politicians realise that impunity is coming to an end….it is time African politicos realised that they can be held

How to Stop Procrastinating

2010-12-19T14:32:00.001+03:00

by Susan Adams Joseph R. Ferrari has spent his professional life studying procrastination. In 1985 as a student at Adelphi University in Garden City, N.Y., he took a class called "Self-defeating Behaviors." He asked his teacher if procrastination had ever been studied in depth, and she said she thought so, but wasn't sure. He investigated and discovered that no one had taken a serious, thorough

Asamoah Gyan Deserved This Prize

2010-12-17T20:10:00.002+03:00

London, 17 December 2010. Ghana and Sunderland striker, Asamoah Gyan, has been voted by football fans across the world as BBC African Footballer of the Year 2010. The results were announced live on BBC World Service’s flagship sports programme for Africa, Fast Track today. The search for BBC African Footballer of the Year 2010 began on 15 November when fans were given a chance to choose their

7 Deadly Sins of Small Meetings

2010-12-17T19:26:00.003+03:00

by Mary Tomlinson and John Dreyer All too often, board and committee meetings and leadership retreats feel more like a yearly visit to the dentist: No one really wants to go, the experience can be painful, and participants are frequently relieved when it's over. All of which undermine the retreat's original goals: time in a relaxing setting, the development of plans without constant distractions,

Hosting Africa’s TV King – Shaka Ssali

2010-11-22T20:42:00.001+03:00

November 18, 2010 | by Jared OmbuiAs the Voice of America was marking 10 years November since the inception of Straight Talk Africa – a television talk show famous in the continent, my mind is illuminated interviewing the host Dr Shaka Ssali early 2006.After welcoming him to 107 Campus FM studio (a students’ radio), the tall, built and dark complexioned renowned international journalist hits back

A Taste of Milégé: Repainting Uganda

2010-10-28T16:14:00.002+03:00

Milégé Afro Jazz Band started out in January 2009 with a message of love and tolerance for all humankind through universal language of music—a fusion of classical jazz and traditional African sounds. It is a perfect blend of modern and traditional that signifies the place of contemporary Africa in a global village.The name “milege” is derived from the Luo word for a rattle-like bell worn around

A Case for a Noble Profession

2010-10-20T13:49:00.002+03:00

Dear Susan, I became a teacher by accident....at the time the Ministry of Education had declared that there was need to train more teachers and I was among those who were forced to that profession. I spent two weeks at the Registry office begging him to change the course. The registry became very curious and asked why l desperately needed to change that noble profession. I told him while at

Is it Still in Our Common Interest?

2010-09-15T11:59:00.003+03:00

The Commission for Africa [which was set up by Tony Blair, when he was British Prime Minister] has released a report, which follows up on the one published in 2005. It examines what has happened in Africa since then and conducts an assessment of the progress made against each of the recommendations made five years ago. In a statement, the Commissioners said:“There is much to celebrate. African

We Need More Than Vuvuzelas For Uganda Cranes

2010-09-04T16:45:00.002+03:00

Today, Uganda Cranes hosts Angola's Palancas Negras (Black Antelopes) at Namboole Stadium in Kampala. It is one of the matches for qualification to 2012 Africa Cup of Nations. Despite expectation that we are expected to give our all in support to the national side, I am not keen on having my heart broken for the umpteenth time. While we may need to support Cranes, Uganda's football needs more

Three Million Dollars

2010-09-03T21:02:00.004+03:00

Michael Ezra's press conference at which he flashed what seemed a huge amount of money in US dollars has captured headlines and the buzz around the city. Even earning a top headline on Uganda's #1 independent daily!! (Were there no more important stories, Daily Monitor?) More than it being a case of Mr. Ezra debunking talk of being in the red, owing about $2m (or UShs 1 bn) in back taxes and an

Land of Confusion

2010-08-31T13:47:00.003+03:00

Across Uganda, the ruling political party, National Resistance Movement (NRM), is conducting primaries for its flagbearers for different elective positions in the run up to 2011 general elections. The exercise which was supposed to be conducted yesterday (30th August 2010) has been marred by vote rigging, stuffed ballots, missing voters' names, intimidation, vote buying, administrative

As Wedding Anniversaries Roll By, Some Truths We Should Take With Us

2010-08-17T11:35:00.002+03:00

Someone sent me this via e-mail and I decided to post on the blog as a number of my friends and my sister have beeb celebrating wedding anniversaries in the June-August period. This is also all those that come to the blog and could do with this advice or give it to others. Congratulations are in order and all due credit goes to the author/s.WHAT MARRIAGE COUNSELLORS DO NOT TELL YOU ABOUT MARRIAGE

7-11 M.E.M.O.R.I.A.L

2010-08-14T20:02:00.004+03:00

A selection of rock tracks I made into a mix, which is inspired by the events of July 11 2010 (now known as 7-11). The following is the tracklist Intro-Swift Blow to the Evil (prod. by DMG)Strictly Sorrow (Pink Floyd/EPMD blend)Runnin’-Lil Wayne (ripped from Prison Break mixtape)My Last Breath (Evanescence)Boulevard of Broken Dreams RMX/Sing for the Moment (Green Day/Oasis/Aerosmith/Eminem blend)

Unforgettable Fire: The Story of U2

2010-08-06T16:10:00.001+03:00

Book ReviewTitle: Unforgettable Fire: The Story of U2Author: Eamon DunphyPages: 392Publisher: Penguin BooksReviewer: Mwesigye GumisirizaU2 are considered one of the best rock bands and they are currently a top-earning touring act in the world—in 2009 alone, they grossed more than US$300 million. The lead singer, Bono, is perhaps more known to us in the Third World for his philanthropy and social

Should Terrorism Have Been on the Agenda? Or Been Part of A.O.B?

2010-08-06T16:08:00.002+03:00

At the recently held African Union (AU) Summit in Kampala, Uganda, the issue of terrorism took centre stage completely wiping off the scene, maternal and child health, which was the focus for the event. Thanks entirely to the bombings that occurred at a rugby club killing up to 80 people who had gathered there to watch the World Cup final on 11 July. Shortly afterwards, the al Shabaab militia (or

Back Like Krueger on Elm Street

2010-06-11T14:41:00.003+03:00

After a three-month hiatus and a not so power-packed writing on this blog this year, I'm coming back to it in full swing. I'm feeling inspired by the deliberate coincidence with the first World Cup on African soil.I'm getting to my work ethic of 2008 when this blog had just started. Within the rest of 2010, I have to equal the number of posts; 64 in number. Lately, I have been writing weekly

So What?

2010-03-29T12:41:00.003+03:00

Emmanuel Adebayor has been criticised for wearing a T-shirt spotting a gun to a 50 Cent/G Unit concert. Further, the critics bring up the Angola incident early this year when he and Togo team mates were attacked by gunmen in Cabinda on the way to the Africa Cup of Nations. My word to the critics is "So what? Get off his back!". If anyone has listened to G Unit lyrics, then don't be surprised by a

Lesson in Life: Mousetrap

2010-02-15T10:18:00.002+03:00

What to start a new week full of hope and reaffirming my belief in the sense of community....if my brother or sister is in trouble, I have to help him or her out, carry the load and just be there to lend a listening ear...This forwarded e-mail from my sis just it perfect for me to place it on my blog. I don't know the original author. Nevertheless, all credit to you and thanks for this inspiring

From Third to First

2010-02-08T16:40:00.001+03:00

Title: From Third World to First: The Singapore Story 1965-2000Author: Lee Kuan YewPages: xv+729Publisher: Harper CollinsReviewer: Mwesigye GumisirizaHow much does having a foresighted and focused leadership determine the path of development that a country will take? Are some countries just lucky to have had such leaders or do we get the leaders we deserve? Or is it that the leaders we have are

I Wanna Be Wolf

2010-01-22T13:26:00.004+03:00

After starting off the year in depression mode, this is an article that has inspired me for its perpestive of looking at animals and making the comparison with the corporate world. I wanna be wolf...An Excerpt from Wisdom of Wolvesby Twyman ToweryThe attitude of the wolf can be summed up simply: it is a constant visualization of success. The collective wisdom of wolves has been progressively

After 50 Years, It's on the Way Home

2009-11-17T17:34:00.001+03:00

Ugandan traditional music to be repatriatedby Mwesigye GumisirizaAfter more than 50 years in the British Library Sound Archive, recordings of the traditional music of 28 ethnic groups are to be brought back to Uganda, later this month. The music was recorded by the late Prof. Klaus Wachsmann, who was the first curator of the Uganda Museum, in the 1940s and 1950s. This is one of the highlights of

Bob's Story: Started Out Cryin'

2009-11-04T17:58:00.003+03:00

Title: Bob Marley: The BiographyAuthor: Stephen DavisPages: 248Publisher: Arthur Baker Limited LondonReviewer: Mwesigye GumisirizaMuch has been written about Robert Nesta Marley, mostly known as Bob Marley, whose name and music is synonymous with the breaking out of reggae music from the confines of Jamaica to a worldwide phenomenon and a movement of millions of people on all continents. But

Do Starving Africans a Favour. Don’t Feed Them

2009-11-02T13:58:00.002+03:00

I got this article via WHYS, it was first posted on http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/comment/columnists/guest_contributors/article6886167.ece#. I have to say, I mostly agree with the writer of the article especially against the backdrop of the recently released reports from IFRPI and other international organisations that monitor such issues. Read on and see why.Do starving Africans a favour. Don

Time for Reflection: Carrot, Egg or Coffee?

2009-10-08T13:51:00.005+03:00

Many times we encounter adversity but how it impacts on us and how we react determines whether this builds or destroys us. This message below presents a point to ponder. In Africa, we come across enormous challenges and go through great adversity, the causes of which are beyond our control, but after reading this and Richard Dowden's book (see the review on this blog), I am of the view that we

Altered States, Ordinary Miracles

2009-09-24T19:30:00.003+03:00

Book ReviewTitle: Africa: Altered States, Ordinary MiraclesAuthor: Richard DowdenPages: 576Publisher: Portbello BooksReviewer: Mwesigye GumisirizaIt is a growing trend for Western journalists to write a book about Africa. These have ranged from biographies of prominent personalities, reflections on the period spent on the continent, to extensive coverage of significant incidents or issues such as

Are We Pre-Occupied with Obama and America

2009-09-22T17:47:00.004+03:00

There has a lot of Obama and America topics on the BBC show "World Have Your Say", or WHYS in short, that brodcasts in my part of the world, 9-10pm every weekday. As an regular listener, I was pushed to sound off to the host, Ros Atkins, in an e-mail below:‘Hi Ros,I think there has been a lot of America on WHYS lately. I thought it covers the world issues…it’s becoming boring, Obama this, Obama

Lessons for Success in Business and in Life

2009-09-18T18:34:00.002+03:00

Lessons to learn from my favourite hip hop artist. Read on....From Times Online September 16, 200950 Cent's 10 lessons for success in business - and in lifeSuccess comes from seeking an advantage in each and every encounter, here the US rapper offers indispensable advice on how to win ‘The greatest fear people have is that of being themselves. They want to be 50 Cent or someone else. They do what

Mazrui's Take on African Intellectuals and Their Role in Development

2009-08-18T18:19:00.006+03:00

This month Professor Ali Mazrui returned to Makerere to be honoured in perpertuity by the establishment of an East African Centre for Global Studies and an endowment and scholarship fund. I was glad to be part of it as this man is one intellectual that I love and admire...courtesy of watching, starry eyed, his now world-famous TV series "The Africans: A Triple Heritage" as a young boy back in the

Between A Rock and A Hard Place: Women, Career and Family

2009-08-12T15:17:00.005+03:00

A good article but this view of balance between career and family is very unfair to women. There are many men who would like their wives to work and support family....we just need to appreciate that the world is very different these days from when women were merely home makers. That is why we are educating the girl child not to be child bearer.-----------------------------------------------------

An Excuse for Fewer Posts Thus Far

2009-07-14T19:02:00.003+03:00

I have just read this article and I relate to the author on the excerpt I have reproduced below. Otherwise, the full text is at http://www.journalism.co.uk/young-journalists/?p=597 Unlike him or her, I'm not on Twitter but I "feel" him or her. After the initial fire, it may wane but I disagree that blogging is on the death-bed. I will continue writing on this blog until further notice....

Pop goes the King of Pop: A Tribute to Michael Jackson

2009-06-26T15:20:00.004+03:00

by Samuel Gary DawaDeath has visited the musical scene once again and this time it takes one of the greatest. Michael Jackson, love him hate him but you gotta give it to him, 'brother' had talent. He opened the way for musical videos and dance strokes that called for physics professors seeking prime time TV appearances to comment on. He was one of the 3Ms in the Notorious BIG hit (Jackson, Jordan

The Africa That Never Was

2009-06-18T18:26:00.006+03:00

Book Review This is one of the most interesting books I have read, so far, this year. There was several quotes I extracted and pasted on my Facebook page. Upon finishing it, this was not enough...so I wrote this review to share what I learnt with the world [in particular, my African brothers and sisters]. But I sincerely hope you get a chance to read the whole book, then you will know what I am

Housing in Uganda: Growing Pains of a Boom Sector

2009-05-28T21:04:00.000+03:00

Daudi and Rose have been saving to build a house for their young family or the last five years. However, because of many other commitments such as paying school fees, rent, water and electricity bills, the money never seems to reach the target. When the couple decided to go to real estate exhibition [Stanbic Bank-sponsored Auto Home Show 2009], they were exposed to available options of home

Sad News on Africa Liberation Day

2009-05-25T15:52:00.003+03:00

Today is Africa Liberation Day but for me, and indeed many others, the death of Tajudeen Abdul Raheem has surely overshadowed this. When I learnt of the news, I couldn't get myself to pen my reflections on this oft-low profile day and what should be its significance to us, the youth and future of Africa--especially in the face of globalisation and its onslaught on the dream of African unity as

One Scribe's Vision and My Response

2009-05-21T17:50:00.004+03:00

Recently, the Uganda Journalists Association held an event to mark the World Press Freedom Day [3rd May every year] at which our President was invited to officiate. By the end of the day, His Excellency pledged Shs 150 million to UJA [which in reality, is a dead association that hardly many Ugandan journalists are even members or care about]. Of course, there were many arguments for and against

Could Migingo dispute break East African Community?

2009-05-18T20:41:00.000+03:00

This month, it is expected that the issue of whether Migingo—the tiny island in Lake Victoria—belongs to Uganda or to Kenya will be resolved. This is the date that was set for the joint comprehensive survey team, tasked with establishing the actual borders, to report their findings to both governments.The team was created as decided in a meeting between ministers and other government officials

Great Rules That Will Help You Remain Poor All Your Life

2009-04-24T13:42:00.002+03:00

I know a lot of people, including myself, that could make good use of these rules and not implement them. For the benefits of the readers of this blog, read through and don't be another statistic at workshops, conferences, dialogues and summits on poverty in Africa. 1. Never wake up early: Keep stretching and turning in bed until you get too hungry to continue dozing. If there are no bedbugs,

Most Beautiful

2009-04-21T13:33:00.009+03:00

According to a poll by Vanity Fair, Angelina Jolie, mother of six, is the most beautiful woman in the world. With 58% of the vote, Jolie far surpassed all others--model Gisele Bundchen came in second with only 9 percent of the vote. Jolie was also number one in Australia's version of the Most Beautiful People List. I got this from http://modernmom.com/mommywood/article/3592Yeah right, I always

Because I Got High...What a Pothead for a Role Model

2009-04-03T18:57:00.002+03:00

Many youths in Africa are trying hard to break into musical stardom...some have succeeded while others are still in that category referred to as "upcoming". While we may seem to copy from the stars in US, Europe, below is a perfect example of celebrity life. I even wonder why this guy is not charged before a court of law for seeming to endorse a drug habit/addiction.It is also scary that young

Who is the Slum Lord?

2009-02-28T19:21:00.003+03:00

Barely a week into Lent, and we are witnessing a tragi-comedy of epic proportions playing out at Parkyard [Owino? St. Balikuddembe?] market in downtown Kampala that went up in smoke on what is sometimes called "Harsh Wednesday".First, His Excellency pulls off a surprise visit to the site in what is now becoming the norm for the politicos when a disaster [especially a fire] occurs. Visit the place

Up in Smoke: An Opportunity in the Dark Cloud

2009-02-26T18:45:00.003+03:00

Yesterday was Ash Wednesday when persons of the Christian persuasion go to church to have ash smeared on their foreheads as a symbol of the beginning of Lent. This is the start of fasting and reflection. Coincidentally, it was the time when we, the residents of Kampala, woke up to the grim reality of the time-bomb waiting to blow off downtown. Sections of one of the biggest and most crowded

Same Pattern, Different Players...and We Don't Listen to the Victims

2009-02-12T20:15:00.003+03:00

This is a story that keeps replaying itself in different homes...it is only the faces that change but the pattern of abuse is the same. Father starts to sexually abuse daughter...she suffers in silence for so long until somehow, either by default or design, she opens up to Mother or any other person. Instead of showing compassion and listening to the Victim, the response is usually to condemn her

Are We All Prostitutes, Purveyors of Sex?

2009-02-09T16:49:00.001+03:00

Recently, as I was moving on the streets of Kampala, I came across old copies of a weekly tabloid newspaper called The Onion. This enterprising guy had collected all old copies was selling them for a fifth (Shs. 300) of the cover price (Shs. 1,500). The Onion mostly covers the sex, scandals and local celebrities....and also features several pages of photographs of different young attractive girls

Success Story: I Have Made Him Rich

2009-02-05T12:57:00.002+03:00

As a person who loves a good success story, of ideas that originate from young people and go on to catch a fire...I am truly pleased. As a user of Facebook, I know that in a small way I have contributed to making this guy a billionaire. Read on...Billionaires are getting younger. Forbes magazine released its list of the world's mega-rich Wednesday and said Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg, 23, became

My Fourth Book Review for the Africa Reading Challenge: From Juliet to Julius

2008-12-19T17:47:00.000+03:00

From Juliet to Julius: In Search of My True Gender IdentityAuthor: Julius KaggwaPublisher: Fountain Publisher, KampalaISBN: 9970-02-131-1Pages: x + 115Reviewer: D. Mwesigye GumisirizaIt has been called an extra-ordinary story, and indeed it is. The author recounts his story that in many instances feels ‘stranger than fiction’: how he was raised as a girl, grew up as a woman and eventually became

My Third Book Review for the Africa Reading Challenge: Half of a Yellow Sun

2008-12-05T18:31:00.001+03:00

Half of a Yellow Sun Author: Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie Publisher: Anchor Books, New York ISBN: 978-1-4000-9520-9 Pages: 543 Reviewer: D. Mwesigye Gumisiriza This is a story of the Nigeria-Biafran War (1967-1970) told through the experiences of the main characters—before, during and after the war. A large part of it is narrated from the perspective of Ugukwu, who is a houseboy to Odenigbo,

Sweat and Pain for Mama

2008-11-27T17:48:00.004+03:00

So, the Kampala Marathon is successfully behind us and we have gotten the results. I have just checked and this is how it went down for me:Distance: 10 kmCategory: OpenOverall: I was the 4,874th out of 6,151 who finished the race. This means I beat 1,277 to the finish line.Gender: Among the men, I was the 3,862th out of 4,326 men who reached the finishing line. I outperformed 464 other men.Other

Running for fun, running for money but for a noble cause

2008-11-21T15:52:00.005+03:00

When the 4th Annual MTN-branded Kampala Marathon is held on Sunday 23rd November 2008 under the theme "Mama Bag and Return Kit", after the prize money has been won and other accolades awarded, the major beneficiary will be the Uganda Red Cross Society (URCS). The humanitarian organisation is on a drive to raise a total of Shs. 100 million (US$ 51,020) for the resettlement of expectant mothers

Now that Obama-mania is burning out, I can blog

2008-11-06T21:13:00.004+03:00

The Obama-mania kept me busy writing, these are some of the stories I put out on this blog, BBC radio’s World Have Your Say website and The New Vision, a daily newspaper in Uganda—Feel free to add comments on these articles:Are We Pre-Occupied with Obama and America http://talesfromabyssinia.blogspot.com/2009/09/are-we-pre-occupied-with-obama-and.htmlIs Obama Win the Biggest Moment in Black

Malcolm X was truly an inspiration, Obama is not

2008-10-23T20:17:00.002+03:00

After the publication of my article on Obama in The New Vision newspaper, among the feedback I got was that I was "stuck in the Malcolm X era". This was in reference to my contrasting of Barack Obama with Malcolm X, Nelson Mandela, Kwame Nkrumah etc. I have not yet read his (X's) biography [or is it autobiography] but I have watched the Spike Lee film and read different articles over time. But

Is Obama really an inspiration?

2008-10-21T18:52:00.001+03:00

So much has been said and written about Barack Hussein Obama, who is campaigning for the Presidency of the United States and may win the elections scheduled for next month. Among other accolades, he has been hailed as an inspiration, especially, to Africans and African-Americans; how he symbolises their hopes and dreams of breaking through a system that has tended to exclude them.What is partly

My Second Review for Africa Reading Challenge: Apollo Milton Obote: What Others Say

2008-09-18T21:21:00.007+03:00

This is a collection of various articles, letters and commentaries, mostly published in newspapers, on Dr. Apollo Milton Obote, who led Uganda to independence in 1962 as Prime Minister, and was President twice, 1966-1971 and 1980-1985. Dr. Obote is a figure in Uganda’s history that draws a variety of emotions from various people depending on how they experienced his

Dishonourable Discharge for Hip Hop

2008-09-15T21:26:00.004+03:00

As a fan of hip hop, I thought this story on www.hiphopdx.com was quite interesting. I don't know what I would do if someone destroyed my music collection? At least, Mr. Jackson was able to get new roles from that discharge...for me, you will be dearly departed [just joking....]US Soldier Dishonorably Discharged For Hip HopSeptember 11th, 2008 Author: Anthony Springer JrFormer US soldier Martin

Another Inspiration Between The Lines

2008-08-25T15:17:00.005+03:00

I cannot remember the last time, my alma mater had a positive, feel good story on the front pages of a major newspaper--like The Daily Monitor has done this morning. The story below is the kind that I always wished for [worked towards] during the time I managed the PR Office of Makerere University. But it makes me prouder as an alumnus that my university and the students are doing great things at

Inspiration Between The Lines

2008-08-25T14:42:00.003+03:00

It is one of those stories that show how blacks can indeed be prosperous and have the drive to create wealth. This is from the Forbes website, my purpose for posting here is what I find noteworthy in this story: look for the key words, work ethic and focus.This should serve as an inspiration to only musicians in Africa [or in UG in particular] but to all the youth on this continent [who are 50's

Why Hate on Us?

2008-08-22T14:43:00.003+03:00

There is something about racism or xenophobia that really makes me very angry. Two articles in The New Vision newspaper [one a letter to the Editor and the other an article from a reader]. They are both about how Ugandan students [and I guess other African or black students] are treated or mistreated or sometimes killed in Ukraine. They go there for university education which is relatively

Africa Reading Challenge: Capitalist Nigger, My First Review

2008-08-15T17:42:00.002+03:00

Capitalist Nigger The Road to Success: A Spider Web DoctrineAuthor: Chika A. OnyeaniPublisher: Timbuktu Publishers, New YorkPages: xx+180 pgsISBN: 0-9678460-9-9Reviewer: D. Mwesigye GumisirizaIn this hard-hitting analysis of the economic status of black people around the world, Chika Onyeani, a Nigerian who has lived in the US for more than three decades, develops his ‘thesis’ that the black

Sex Athlete

2008-08-13T19:52:00.003+03:00

I don't know what to make of this, Sean Combs thinks sex [or put bluntly, fucking because sex can encompass many aspects] would be his ticket to the Olympics. It is the most amusing story I have read this week at www.hiphopdx.com Though admire him a lot as an innovative music producer and showbiz entrepreneur, I think this was rather lousy. He should remember that he has teen sons [or children]

8.8.8

2008-08-08T12:07:00.002+03:00

Two years ago, in 2006, it was the sixth day of June, the sixth month of the year; this made the day click a 6.6.6 of sorts. To the religious [to an extent, irrationally so] and the superstitious, it was the day of the Devil...a rather misinterpreted version of the mark of the Beast that the Book of Revelations in the Christian Bible warns us against. On the other side of the hill, the devil

Turkish Delight: Sweet and Sour @ Bloggers’ Night

2008-08-01T18:42:00.003+03:00

Aah...yesterday [Thursday] was Bloggers’ Happy Hour [if that is what BHH stands for] and it was my first time at the over-hyped event ‘blogwise’. The venue was changed from the usual Mateo’s [or is it Mateos?] to Effendys, a Turkish restaurant, at Centenary Park, which is much further down the road.For me and the rest of the newbies [as we were later branded] plus the Country Boi, a veteran in UG

T.O.S: Thrashed on Soundscan? Terminate(d) on Sight?

2008-07-31T18:45:00.005+03:00

At the beginning of the month, I was excited about the release of a second album by the hip hop collective, G-Unit. Exactly a month later, I am very disappointed with its showing on the charts. As fans of hip hop, we have to keep in mind that sales figures have been lacklustre at best. However, with the runaway success of Lil Wayne [selling 1 million copies in one week], there was hope that the

Something Good is Cooking: Africa Reading Challenge

2008-07-25T16:30:00.006+03:00

This is to inform you who happen to pass by here that there is this very exciting 'challenge' [I don't consider it so, more like an initiative, good one], which seeks to encourage reading of literature about Africa, Africa related or written by Africans.I came across this from a blog I read frequently and I am signing up, I am two books up with a third one in the bag. Please all ye who check this

Talking of a Revolution

2008-07-14T14:51:00.002+03:00

Today is a national holiday in France [known as Bastille Day or quatorze juillet], where they celebrate the famous storming of the Bastille prison in Paris [that was the symbol of repression and oppression by the monarchy]. This was one of the events of the French Revolution of 1789, that has had a significant impact on revolutions and the struggle of freedoms elsewhere in the world since

An Africa That's Unseen, Unheard, Unnoticed

2008-07-14T13:06:00.004+03:00

There are times when there is a very positive story on Africa and its vast potential and successes. I have posted only the intro below: Mixed in with war and poverty on the remarkable continent are stock markets, high rises, a growing middle class and investment opportunities that offer the highest returns in the world. Read the full story here

Forty Days, Forty Nights, My Fave Writer Turns Forty

2008-07-10T15:46:00.003+03:00

This is a reflection by one of my best authors/writers when he clocked the magical 40 years of age. He writes a regular column called The Riddle in The Daily Monitor, where it appears every Saturday. I always make it a point to read The Riddle every week and it makes me reflect on a number of issues that he tends to raise. My favourite were the series on Idi Amin, which were enlightening [

Am I Mis-Educated?

2008-07-10T14:35:00.008+03:00

After reading this and listening to many of my peers [like someone with a Master's degree but making very pedestrian arguments and observation] or PhD holders failing to come up with workable suggestions to national issues, I think so...it seems all these years I spent in school were to tune me into a mis-educated black young man. So, what is the way out of this quagmire, if I may ask the author.

For My Sons

2008-07-10T13:08:00.003+03:00

This morning as I was reading through the newspapers online, I came across this article crafted from inspiring talk given by Prof. Charles Olweny, currently Vice Chancellor of Uganda Martyrs' University. I also discovered that he is an Old Boy of St. Mary's College Kisubi, which I attended from 1988 to 1993. [I may also add that he was one of the founders of Friends of Makerere, an organisation

Greed Destroys Hope: It is Painful, But Weep Not, Child

2008-07-09T17:49:00.006+03:00

Back in March this year, when I wrote an entry critical of a government minister's comparison of an ailing government-funded enterprise to a sickle-cell baby, I got a comment from Asclepius [who is a nurse in "a very busy N.W. Chicago surburban hospital]. This was more a point of information, which pointed me to the existence of a drug for sickle-cell anaemia; it is called Nicosan. Though

Infidelity

2008-07-03T11:25:00.002+03:00

Yeah, the word that makes eyes pop and the guilt set in while others become self-righteous, either because they need to whitewash their dirty linen or because they are actually clean and want to make everyone else believe that.Me, I just keep quiet and look at these various reactions when the subject is broached, especially in settings like the dinner table, family reunions, 'marrieds' groupings

Some Words Come Back to Haunt Us III

2008-07-02T13:38:00.005+03:00

With the recent happenings in Africa and a call to condemn the winner of yet another disputed election, we are reminded of when Uganda or rather Mr. Yoweri Museveni was the first and only leader to send congratulations to Mr. Mwai Kibaki.Will he do the same this time round? Or have these words come back to haunt him?...President Museveni, who has taken some beating in the media for sending Kibaki