Tuesday, 15 March 2016

‘Nalangirira sinnafuna biwandiiko byonna nkwate obudde’ Says Kiggundu of The Uganda Electoral Commission

By Ahmed Mukiibi

‘Nalangirira sinnafuna biwandiiko byonna nkwate obudde’

SSENTEBE w’akakiiko k’ebyokulonda, Ying. Dr. Badru Kiggundu asimbiddwa mu kaguli ka kkooti ey’oku ntikko mu maaso g’Abalamuzi mwenda abaakuliddwa Ssaabalamuzi wa Uganda Bart Katureebe, Bannamateeka ba Amama Mbabazi ne bamusoya kajogijogi w’ekibuuzo;
Mohammad Mbabazi (omu ku balooya ba Mbabazi): Buulira kkooti oba empapula okulangiririrwa ebivudde mu kulonda ku byalo eziyitibwa ‘DR Forms’, empapula okugattirwa obululu, ebiwandiiko ebikwata ku bivudde mu kulonda nga bwe byogerwako mu tteeka ly’okulonda Pulezidenti, bye biwandiiko kwe wasinziira okulangirira omuwanguzi e Namboole
Dr. Kiggundu: Nnasinziira ku kkopi ez’ebivudde mu kulonda ku buli disitulikiti ezaakubwa ebifaananyi ebyaweerezebwa ku kompyuta z’akakiiko k’Ebyokulonda e Namboole:
Looya: Ekitegeeza tewalina, ‘DR Forms’, empapula okwagattirwa obululu, n’ebiwandiiko ebikwata ku bivudde mu kulonda nga bwe byogerwako mu tteeka ly’okulonda?
Dr. Kiggundu: Nnalina kkopi ezikubiddwa ebifaananyi ku kompyuta, ssaalina DR forms ezo z’oyogerako kubanga obudde bwe nnalina obw’essaawa 48 okufulumizaamu ebivudde mu kalulu bwali butono nga tekisoboka kulinda DR forms zonna mu ggwanga.
Looya: Buulira kkooti engeri gye wafunamu foomu ezikubiddwa ebifaananyi.
Dr. Kiggundu: Okulonda nga kuwedde ku byalo, ebivudde mu kalulu n’ebikozeseddwa mu kulonda byakuhhaanyizibwa ku magombolola gye byaggyibwa ne bitwalibwa ku disitulikiti, olwo akulira ebyokulonda ku disitulikiti (Returning Officer) n’abisoma mu lujjudde nga baagenti n’abantu abaliwo bawulira era balaba ne bikakasibwa oba ddala bituufu.
Kiggundu ng'anywa ku tuzzi oluvannyuma lw'okumusoya ebibuuzo eby'okumukumu
 
Ng’okubirangirira mu lujjudde kuwedde, byassibwa mu bbaasa okuweerezebwa e Namboole. Wabula olw’obufunda bw’obudde, omukungu w’akakiiko k’ebyokulonda ayitibwa ‘Tally clerk’, yayingiza ebivudde mu kulonda mu kompyuta z’akakiiko k’Ebyokulonda ku disitulikiti oluvannyuma akulira ebyokulonda ku disitulikiti n’abikakasa nti bifuufu ne biryoka bituweerezebwa e Namboole tusobole okussa mu kompyuta zaffe n’okubirangira kubanga twalina okufulumya buli ebifuniddwaawo buli luvannyuma lw’ekiseera ekigere.
Looya: Baagenti b’abeesimbyewo baalina omukisa okulaba ku biyingiziddwa mu kompyuta okukakasa oba bituufu?
Dr. Kiggundu: Akulira ebyokulonda ku disitulikiti yalangiriranga mu lujjudde ebivudde mu kulonda nga baagenti b’abeesimbyewo weebali n’abantu abalala bonna.
Looya: Mu kuyingiza mu kompyuta ebyo ebiwedde okulangirirwa akulira ebyokulonda ku disitulikiti, baagenti b’abeesimbyewo baaweebwa omukisa okubirabako okukakasa obutuufu bwabyo nga tebinnaweerezebwa Namboole?
Dr. Kiggundu: Baagenti baakoma ku mutendera ogw’okulangirira ebigattiddwa mu disitulikiti.
Looya: Nnyonnyola kkooti oba eyo y’enkola entuufu, oba etteeka bwe liragira.
Dr. Kiggundu: Akakiiko k’Ebyokulonda kaalina kompyuta bbiri zokka ku buli disitulikiti, tetwalina busobozi bwa nsimbi zimala okussa kompyuta mu buli kifo okusobozesa buli agenti okulaba ebibeera biyingiziddwa ku kompyuta.
Looya: Clerk avunaanyizibwa ku kussa mu kompyuta ebivudde mu kulonda tasobola kuyingizaamu ye by’ayagala nga yeeyambisa omukisa ogwa agenti obutabaawo?
Dr. Kiggundu: Mu kusoma ebivudde mu kulonda, agenti asobola okwemugulunya singa ebibeera bisomeddwa takkaanya nabyo.
Kompyuta zaffe zirina obusobozi okugaana emiwendo egitakwatagana ne foomu ekubiddwa ekifaananyi.
Kiggundu ng'anyumyamu ne ssabawolereza wa Gavumenti Luhindi Fredrick
 
Looya: Etteeka ligamba ki ku buvunaanyizibwa bwa baagenti b’abeesimbyewo?
Dr. Kiggundu: Kantandikire ku kifo ekironderwamu, baagenti balina okubaawo ng’okulonda kutandika ne bakakasa nti ebikozesebwa mu kulonda byonna weebiri, bookisi ez’obululu ne zisumululwa nga weebali ne bakakasa nti temuli bululu.
Looya: Omanyi etteeka ly’okulonda Pulezidenti kye lyogera mu butundu 54 ne 56?. Buulira kkooti oba mu kulangirira ebivudde mu kulonda, wali omaze okufuna bbaasa omuli foomu n’ebiwandiiko byonna ebikwata ku bivudde mu kulonda okuva mu bakulira ebyokulonda ku disitulikiti zonna mu ggwanga?
Dr. Kiggundu: Njagala kkooti etegeere obugubi bwe tukolereramu ng’akakiiko k’ebyokulonda kubanga Konsitityusoni etuwa essaawa 48 zokka okulangirira ebivudde mu kulonda. Tetusobola kulinda mabaasa gonna okuva mu disitulikiti zonna.
Looya: Etteeka liragira ki?
Dr. Kiggundu: Bakama bange Abalamuzi, etteeka lye limu limpa obuyinza nga ssentebe w’akakiiko ak’ebyokulonda okukola kyonna ekisoboka ku lw’obulungi bw’okutegeka okulonda.
Looya: Obuuma obweyambisibwa mu kulonda obuyitibwaBiometric Voter Verification Kit(BVVK) bwakozesebwa mu balonzi bameka?
Dr. Kiggundu: Simanyi muwendo.
Looya: Oyagala kutegeeza kkooti nti tomanyi muwendo gw’abalonzi abaalonda nga beeymbisa BVVK?
Dr. Kiggundu: Sigumanyi Looya:
Abantu bameka abataakozesa buuma obwo?
Dr. Kiggundu: Omuwendo sigulina wano.
Looya: Ogambye nti oli musanyufu n’omulimu ogwakoleddwa BVVK ate ng’otegeezezza kkooti nti abantu tebaakozesezza buuma obwo era tomanyi na muwendo gw’abantu bameka abaabukozesezza.
Dr. Kiggundu: Njagala okutegeeza kkooti nti olw’obufunda bw’ensawo yaffe ng’eggwanga, bwe twali tugula tekinologiya ow’obuuma buno, tetwasasula buli kimu kye busobola okukola wabula twasasula ebintu bimu naddala ekyo eky’okulemesa abantu okulonda emirundi egisukka mu gumu era ekyo twakifuna.
Looya: (Alaga Kiggundu DR form ezaava ku Corner Primary School e Wakiso). Foomu zino ozimanyi?
Dr. Kiggundu: Ebyo ebiwandiiko sisobola kubikakasa kubanga simanyi gy’obiggye.
Ba puliida ba Mbabazi nga beegeyaamu wabweru wa kkooti
 Looya: Okubikakasa nti bituufu kyetaagisa ki?
Dr. Kiggundu: Olina kubireeta ku ofiisi zaffe ez’akakiiko k’ebyokulonda tulyoke tubikakase nti bituufu n’oluvannyuma nja kusobola okubyogerako.
Looya: Kati bw’oba weegaanyi ebiwandiiko ebibyo, kwe wasinziira okulangirira omuwanguzi, tulage ebiwandiiko kwe wasinziira okulangirira awangudde okulonda?
Dr. Kiggundu: Twabayita mu ofiisi zaffe ne mubiraba.
Looya: Foomu zonna ezaakubwa ebifaananyi ne ziyingizibwa mu kompyuta kwe wasinziira okulangirira zo ziriwa?
Dr. Kiggundu: Teziriiwo kati mu kkooti kubanga biri ku kompyuta zaffe ez’enjawulo, bw’oba ozaagala nsobola okuzikufunira.
Looya: Era okyalumiriza nti okulonda wakuteekateeka ng’ogoberera amateeka?
Dr. Kiggundu: Kituufu era kino kye mbadde nkola ebbanga lyonna lye mmaze mu ofiisi y’akakiiko k’ebyokulonda okuva mu 2002.
Looya: Omuwendo gw’abalonzi mu Kampala ne Wakiso olowooza gwenkana wa?
Dr. Kiggundu: Ndowooza bali obukadde nga bubiri.
Looya: Ekitegeeza abantu obukadde bubiri tebaalina bikozesebwa mu kulonda ku lunaku lw’okulonda?
Dr. Kiggundu: Nneetondera eggwanga okuva ku ntobo y’omutima gwange era twayongezaayo obudde mwe baalina okumaliririza okulonda ate we kisaana abamu ne balonda n’enkeera.
Looya: Abalonzi bano era baakozesa BVVK?
Dr. Kiggundu: Ekyo kituufu nnyo era bwakola omulimu gwa ttendo nnyo. Looya: Akuuma kano buli muntu kaali kamukolerako bbanga lyenkana wa?
Kiggundu nga bamusoya ebibuuzo mu maao ga balamuzi
 Dr. Kiggundu: (Asooka kusekamu) Ssebo gy’olaga mmanyiyo nnyo kubanga mulowooza akuuma buli muntu kaali kamukolerako eddakiika 2. Kino si kituufu n’akamu. Buli muntu kaali kamukolerako sikondi 30.
Looya: Mu sekondi zino 30 tubuulire kiki akuuma kye kaba kakola ng’omuntu atuuse?
Dr. Kiggundu: Omulonzi bwe yatuukanga mu kifo awalondebwa ng’afuna akapapula akamwogerako. Akapapula kano kaakubibwanga ekifaananyi ne kiteekebwa ku kuuma kano nga buli kimu ekikwogerako kakireeta era ng’omulonzi ateekako ekinkumu kye okusobola okukakasa nti ye gwe kennyini agenda okulonda si muntu mulala.
Looya Twinobusingye: Ssemateeka afuga Uganda naddala akatundu 2 kagamba nti tewali tteeka lyonna liri waggulu wa Ssemateeka afuga Uganda. Ani yakulagira okuleeta amateeka ge Ghana okuddukanya ebintu bya Uganda?
(Looya we Erison Karuhanga ayimirira n’amutaasa ekibuuzo ng’agamba nti ensonga z’okutaputa amateeka zirina kubuuzibwa ba ooya wabula ssi Kiggundu kubanga ye si mukugu mu byamateeka).
Looya Basalirwa (Naye wa Mbabazi): Tukakasa tutya akuuma kano [BVVK] nga tosobola na kutegeeza kkooti bantu bameka be kaakolako?
Dr. Kiggundu: Omulimu gw’akuuma kano tegwali gwa kubala bantu bameka abalonzi yadde nga kakisobola. Omulimu gwako ogwakatuleetesa gwali gwa kulwanyisa bantu kulonda mirundi gisukka mu gumu era kaakola bulungi ku nsonga eno.
Looya Basalirwa: Kalonda eyali mu ligesita enkadde gye mwakaddiya mwamuteeka wa?
Dr. Kiggundu: Guno si gwe mulundi ogusoose okudibya ligesita. Twasooka mu 2005 kubanga yali ewandiisiddwa ngalo.
Tugenze tuzza ligesita obuggya enfunda eziwera okusobola okuziyiza abantu okulonda emirundi emingi. KKOOTI YAKKIRIZZA AB’E MAKERERE Mu kusooka kkooti yakkirizza abasomesa b’Ebyamateeka mu Yunivasite e Makerere okwegatta mu musango gwa Mbabazi ogukwata ku by’okubba obululu.
Copyright © Bukedde
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Sunday, 13 March 2016

Through Song, Women Continue With The Struggles Of Women Emancipation

                      

SUMMARY: In this write up, we explore  women and their contribution to society and diversity. This is traced through individual capacity to live as dignified people, creating and maintaining homes and communities. We shall read about Fannie Lou Hammer, Eve Ensler and a commentary on a song by the Supremes.
                 Women in the communities, families and homes can contribute to social life from any station of life. This discussion, is about the contribution of a social organizer, writer and singers. The discussion takes us through their experiences and aspects of life in which women are contributing to social wellbeing. 
                      Fannie Lou Hamer a poor, stocky, uneducated woman who had spent most of her life as a sharecropper in rural Mississippi, was able to turn into a dedicated and effective civil rights activist. She mobilized African Americans to register to vote even when she knew it would cause her trouble (Janice D. Hamlet, 2011, verse 1).  She was never discouraged in getting people in the fight to battle racism, poverty, and injustice. She faced police brutality as she went about mobilizing people. in doing this, she highlighted America's hypocrisy and injustices. “Although she lacked a formal education, she was more intelligent than most about the evils of American society and the hypocrisy of politicians’ rhetoric. Most importantly, she embodied a strong sense of character, intelligence, goodwill, and charisma, components that governed her life and the work she felt compelled to do,” (verse 42). 
                    Eve Ensler, is a writer of “In the body of the world.” Through that book, the reader is introduced to the different outcomes arising from respectful love as well as what results where abuses abound. The narrator shows how parenthood is important to the growth and development of children. Parenthood and a family ensure sense of wellness and confidence for children.  Children need their parents help and the author refers to it as a firmness that is dependable. She writes about it when she says “a mother’s body against a child’s body makes a place,” (Ensler, E., 2013, verse 1). It is in such an environment that fidelity, care, love and responsibility towards one another is possible.  She also shows us the pain of separation from her mother and this is when she experienced “gaps, hole, hunger, disassociation, violence and constant travels,” (verse 2). In her travels around the world to collect her stories, the author shows us the pain, recklessness and deprivations that resulted in  “the deeper crises and ills against women,” (verse 9).
                 Through song, it is possible to narrate experiences of love and happiness. The first verse of the song, “Someday We'll Be Together” by the Supremes, depicts a woman assuring her spouse of undying love (Someday We'll Be Together by The Supremes, verse 1). The song goes on in subsequent verses to show other social change themes like: fidelity, accomplishment, consideration, care, belief, hope and trust. These are experiences through which women as well can reciprocate true love for their spouses whether they are absent or present. Two literary techniques used in the song are: first person narration and setting. The first person narration enables the hearer to listen to first hand conversation as it is narrated. The setting is that of spouses who are not together but keep in touch through communicating. This is seen in: “You're far away from me, my love, And just as sure my, my baby, As there are stars above, Wanna say, wanna say, wanna say it,” (verse 2). Commitment to make their love work as spouses is emphasized in the song and it offers a social change perspective related to women’s family and community experience. “And long time ago, my, my sweet thing, I made a big mistake, honey, I said, I said, goodbye, oh, oh, baby, Ever, ever, ever since that day, Now, now all I wanna do is cry, cry,” (verse 6).  
                 The lyrics reflect the family and community themes Ensler and Hamlet raise in their writings. The recurring themes are: people committing to each other; providing a positive message of hope; motivating others to embrace actions that promote joy; sharing in a life that promises achievements; and showing what may happen if opportunities for happiness, growth, development, civic duties, political life, freedom of expression and enjoyment of relationships. These themes are outlined by Porter and Brady in their writings too.

                                            Reference:

Ensler, E. (2013). In the body of the world [PDF]. New York, NY: Henry Holt & Company.      Retrieved fromhttp://inthebodyoftheworld.com/pdf/EveEnsler-InTheBodyOfTheWorld- Excerpt.pdf. Retrieved on March 2nd 2016.


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Saturday, 12 March 2016

The Great Pacific garbage patch: Courtesy of Avaaz!

Great Pacific garbage Patch.  Source:Avaaz




A shocking new study says that by 2050 there will be more plastic in our oceans than fish. 

What we're doing to our planet is just obscene. It might shake our faith in humanity. But then you hear about Terry, Christina, and Chris -- 3 friends who read about the plastic problem and the Great Pacific garbage patch -- a vast semi-dissolved island of waste twice the size of France. 

They were disgusted, and invented a simple solution -- the SeaVax, a solar-powered ship that can suck up to 22 million kgs of plastic a year! Just a small number of these ships could clean up the entire Pacific garbage patch in just 10 years!! 

It's a beautiful example of people rising to a great challenge of our time. But it's just begun, and it needs our help. The first SeaVax model has been built, but needs funding to scale it up to the awesome task of the world's greatest clean-up. For just the price of a meal or a cup of coffee, we can turn this story from one of obscenity to inspiration. Pitch in to help make the SeaVax dream a reality, and scale-up other ambitious projects to rid our oceans of plastic: 


In December, I visited a remote island off the coast of Vietnam and Cambodia. It was stunning. But then a wind blew in, and for the next two days, the ocean was covered in garbage, from candy wrappers to styrofoam. It was obscene, apocalyptic. 

The discomfort such pollution causes us humans is nothing next to the damage it’s doing to our precious oceanic ecosystems. Dolphins, whales, fish, every living thing is affected -- particularly as the plastic degrades into tinier pieces that clog airways, mouths, and gills. 

The SeaVax is a big vision, a solar-powered, self-driving ship that sucks up plastic but has special sensors to protect marine life. And it’s big ideas like this and others like it that we need. If we scale them up, we can help them get traction and show even greater results -- and then our community can push governments to take action to take these ideas to scale. 

The Avaaz movement is uniquely able to help here - there's no larger global community able to crowdfund. It's on us to help these inventors' dream become a reality, to help other great projects find the light of day, and to give the entire world hope. For the price of an average meal out, you can help clean up 170,000 pieces of plastic! -- click to pitch in: 


Of course, in addition to cleaning up our oceans, we have to stop dumping so much waste into them. Starting with these funds, our community could:
  • Work with projects to reduce the flow of plastics into the ocean in the worst-polluting countries;
  • Identify other ambitious ideas focused on clean-up of the garbage patches using new technologies;
  • Organise community and beach clean-ups to stop plastic from finding its way to the ocean;
  • Push governments to limit or ban plastic -- like San Francisco recently did with plastic water bottles.
Avaaz has campaigned for and won some of the largest ocean preserves in history, in the Chagos islands of the Indian Ocean, and in the American Pacific. We've also worked to ban plastic bags in some cities. Let's make the inspiring story of the SeaVax the beginning of a wave of global people power to reach a comprehensive solution to this scourge of our oceans. Out of our disgust at the Pacific garbage patch, let’s help an inspiring new world of commitment and love for our oceans be born. 

With hope and gratitude for this amazing community,
Ricken and the whole Avaaz team. 

Sources: 

Solar-powered vacuum could suck up 24,000 tons of ocean plastic every year (Eco Watch) 
http://ecowatch.com/2016/02/19/seavax-vacuum-ocean-plastic/ 

By 2050, there will be more plastic than fish in the world’s oceans, study says (Washington Post)
https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/morning-mix/wp/2016/01/20/by-2050-there-will-be-more-plastic-than-fish-in-the-worlds-oceans-study-says/ 

SeaVax - Robotic Vacuum Ship
http://www.bluebird-electric.net/oceanography/Ocean_Plastic_International_Rescue/SeaVax_Ocean_Clean_Up_Robot_Drone_Ship_Sea_Vacuum.htm 

Plastic oceans: What do we know? (BBC)
http://www.bbc.com/news/science-environment-34414710 

Full scale of plastic in the world's oceans revealed for first time (The Guardian)
http://www.theguardian.com/environment/2014/dec/10/full-scale-plastic-worlds-oceans-revealed-first-time-pollution 
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Psalm 50

A psalm of Asaph.

1 The Mighty One, God, the Lord,
    speaks and summons the earth
    from the rising of the sun to where it sets.
2 From Zion, perfect in beauty,
    God shines forth.
3 Our God comes
    and will not be silent;
a fire devours before him,
    and around him a tempest rages.
4 He summons the heavens above,
    and the earth, that he may judge his people:
5 “Gather to me this consecrated people,
    who made a covenant with me by sacrifice.”
6 And the heavens proclaim his righteousness,
    for he is a God of justice.[a][b]
7 “Listen, my people, and I will speak;
    I will testify against you, Israel:
    I am God, your God.
8 I bring no charges against you concerning your sacrifices
    or concerning your burnt offerings, which are ever before me.
9 I have no need of a bull from your stall
    or of goats from your pens,
10 for every animal of the forest is mine,
    and the cattle on a thousand hills.
11 I know every bird in the mountains,
    and the insects in the fields are mine.
12 If I were hungry I would not tell you,
    for the world is mine, and all that is in it.
13 Do I eat the flesh of bulls
    or drink the blood of goats?
14 “Sacrifice thank offerings to God,
    fulfill your vows to the Most High,
15 and call on me in the day of trouble;
    I will deliver you, and you will honor me.”
16 But to the wicked person, God says:
“What right have you to recite my laws
    or take my covenant on your lips?
17 You hate my instruction
    and cast my words behind you.
18 When you see a thief, you join with him;
    you throw in your lot with adulterers.
19 You use your mouth for evil
    and harness your tongue to deceit.
20 You sit and testify against your brother
    and slander your own mother’s son.
21 When you did these things and I kept silent,
    you thought I was exactly[c] like you.
But I now arraign you
    and set my accusations before you.
22 “Consider this, you who forget God,
    or I will tear you to pieces, with no one to rescue you:
23 Those who sacrifice thank offerings honor me,
    and to the blameless[d] I will show my salvation.”
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Friday, 11 March 2016

A Toast to USA!

           My time in USA, has been a time of self-discovery. I intend to have fun in this country. But not too much. I came to America to be part of a larger family and contribute to it as well. My sense of things was: engage myself in a re-education program; process and at the same time rebrand myself as a skilled bio-scientist. I knew then and I still know it is possible. Not so much because I had someone tell me but because I had read about what makes America what it is. Am originally from Uganda. Yes, the Uganda known for 10 things: Zika Forest; Source of the Nile; a small country with over 20 fresh water lakes; Luzira artefact that goes back in time; small nation with over 50 ethnicities; a state with a kingdom nation within its borders; pearl of Africa visited by Ted Roosevelt and Churchill; African martyrs; a country that showed political will combined with science helps drive back the ravages of HIV; and the country with a unique bio-eco-diversity.

American Flag. Source: Google Images

          I came to the US when President Obama was the sitting president. I remember the earlier days of a black Senator who was vying for presidency in US. It was the continuous breaking news in Africa.  I also remember when he made it to presidency. The euphoria that abounded in the communities I managed to travel to was almost palpable. Mosques, Churches, prayer spaces and traditional shrines filled up with faithfuls. I had been to Kisumu in Kenya as well as Nakuru and Nairobi and there the words delivered with pride were "our own was to become an American president."  I also recall how it helped keep a patient of mine resilient. This patient eventually recuperated. Part of the reason was the mental contentment, my patient had,  due to the ascendancy to the US Presidency by President Obama. I was 200 miles away from Kampala the City of Uganda, nursing a bedridden person when the news broke! It was a time that is still vivid up to now. A black president in America! My mind became a reel on which the following scenarios played out: the combination medications and nutritious foods that the US funding provided; the fact that the patient was adhering to all treatment requirements; and the fact that the patient prayed for Obama's presidency worked together to enable him heal. Today, this person is a post-test club leader in Uganda (the term "long sur-hiv-vivers" is yet to catch on in that small country in Africa). I reflected on the fact that a policy adopted by the US and other developed countries enabled ARVs to be present in Uganda. I might not have met this patient nor would I have become a healthcare provider. I chose to work in the sub-urban and rural areas until I left Uganda. I read about George Bernard Shaw's saying about active life. It rings true in my life. "Life isn't about finding yourself. Life is about creating yourself." I owe this to my work among people living with HIV in Uganda, Kenya, South Sudan, Congo, Tanzania and other countries. Whether as a healthcare provider or a trainer. But, I also knew that the policy of providing facilitation by US and other countries made this possible.

Ugandan Flag. Source: Africaspeak
          When I came over here, I stayed in Washington DC next to the Catholic University of America and a National Shrine. I used to take solitary walks and ventured onto trains and buses whose destinations were so new to my ears. I got lost 80% of the time. I sought the help of the transport supervisors and police officers. At first this was with dread. But, all the officers turned out to be friendly and civil. I became street wise and that is when I went window shopping. My alimentary/culinary knowledge  was average then (fortunately). At least I knew my poisons from the meats. I managed to order a la carte or otherwise. But, I mostly fed at home. I later left DC for LA and that added to my troubles at first. The sheer size of the boulevards and the city meant I had more re-learning to do. I had to recalibrate my navigation system. Fortunately, while I was there my host who had been in LA for over 20 years showed me the ropes willingly. In order for me to work on my documentation and schooling, I shifted to Massachusetts. I later had to take a train from Boston to come and live in San Francisco. I still make visits to Boston, LA and other American cities. I enjoy the travel. It broadens and one gets to see the stuff that makes US interesting.
          I have had an opportunity to study at different American education institutes and also trained in an education-to-work 18 weeks program. I have given some of my time to do volunteer services from: serving foods, sorting clothes, community clean up, safety volunteer at different parades to enlisting as a member of different community organizations. I volunteer at a very big hospital. I admire the belief in systems that make one be a more productive member of society. I admire the values and principles at the different work places. I have seen a manager uphold a principle of fairness; I have seen a beneficiary demand equality and opportunity. I have seen what I thought remains in books turn out to be real. It is true that if one applied themselves,  worked harder and played by the rules, one can make it. This is no matter what the circumstances of one's birth. I live in a very nice neighborhood in San Francisco, I have very friendly neighbors, a train and bus comes by my neighborhood, the parks are big and the air is clear. My house overlooks the Pacific Ocean. At night, I am able to see almost the entire bay gelded in sparkles of lamps. I grew up in a Kampala suburb to a father who was the government vehicle inspector until Amin realized he had better people to replace him. Someone tipped off my father that he was to be taken to the notorious State Research Bureau.  He had to leave Uganda for two years during Amin's regime. But, a large family and working mothers saw us through those hard times until it was safe for him to return. He used the two years away from Uganda, to do a Master's degree in Engineering.  For the few years, I have lived here I have no fear of eviction or regimes that will come and point me out because I happen not to be of the clan of a ruling president. I am sure if I apply myself, the country will support me in this project. It is already doing so indeed. I am guaranteed by this country that am safe at home now.
          I chose to skill myself in the public health areas. It is so eye-opening, capacity building and uplifting. I found out a long time ago, I can also be useful as a medical comprehensivist. The US has very good training for such a medical specialty. Eventually, I may become a family medicine practitioner. But, that is in the future. Right now, I have seen how I can contribute however slight to such fields like:mental health care; well mother and child; nutrition; infectious diseases; gerontology; report writing; research to inform policy; medicine; human rights; poetry; Global health; and Computer science. I can be able to say I am at school, at work and I have a home. I have a store where I purchase all the foods that my body requires. I now shop like all other Americans do. Man! I love it. I have eight particular shopping malls I like frequenting.  I do the elliptical and treadmill once a week. I see my primary care provider when necessary. Obama cares! That is the better world I live in now. I have the opportunity to make my life better. Every morning, I wake up and tell myself that I  believe in myself. That I stand up for myself. I now know myself better, I have accepted responsibility to myself. I have also learnt to see this in others. I see a commitment to make a better life. I wake up earlier and see commuting automobiles, through my window, in a long line on a highway leading into San Francisco. I see the same vehicles going out at night and so on for days on end. 
          I see so many cars parked in the yards or parking areas every evening as I return home. Owners are assured that they will turn the ignition on the following morning to go to a destination of choice. The belief that there will be someone waiting to greet one at home, or that there will be a job to go to or a school to attend and that anyone can say prayers in their tongues. The fact that in this country when one believes enough, they can move mountains is what I admire most about the US. I intend to be part of a team that will help find the HIV Cure and that is possible.
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