It rained heavy last night and there is flooding everywhere. Truly the place where I live resembles much more a squatters refugee camp than a neighborhood. There is deep water on all the side streets laping the entrance of the houses. Children stand looking out from their houses, and boda bodas (motorcycle taxis) were slipping in the water. Mud everywhere.
Clara's modest house is surrounded by a very high iron gate. Everyone stares stoney eyed as we drive past. Clara's car is on its last legs to say the least. You can smell gasoline leaking somewhere, and water must be replaced every day. I am constantly amazed that it starts. It's safe to say that this car would not pass smog at home. And yet here it is an unmistakable sign of incredible wealth.
And with good reason. Clara's car and good education is what allows her to continue building a life that has a strong hope of one day reaching a western lifestyle.
Good news, Agaba has found out that he is the only person who will be retained and given another contract. This is very wonderful given that many of his colleagues have yet to find even a single contract of any kind. I have met many intriguing and thoughtful men and women who are unable to find a job.
Right now Uganda is hosting a forum of the Commonwealth and the Queen is coming. There is this sense of a last minute scramble to tidy up the place for the Queen. Last minute road improvements on the handful of paved roads you find in the city, plantings, repainting, etc. To renovate the hospital I was told they simply shut off the electricity to the critical care unit and many people died instantly. Any day now delegates from around the world will come to Uganda. They are spending millions of Ugandan tax dollars on this.....
2 comments:
"To renovate the hospital they simply shut off the electricity to the critical care unit and many people died instantly."
?*&^%$#@ What? That is crazy! And horrific! I can't understand that. I wonder if the Queen knows this? I can't imagine anyone in the world wouldn't be horrified that this had been done b/c they were coming. I just don't have anything to say.
Sara,
We love you and are proud of your reporting.
Things are a little different out side of Sacramento, but that is simply something that must be understood. The U.S. government also did not respond properly before, during or after Hurricane Katrina and many died.
You can and will make a difference.
There was an expression we used during the Mozambique War, to help people understand the killing/ starvation "A LUTA CONTINUA"("THE STRUGGLE CONTINUES").
Uganda and it's people and the people of Africa have endured much and yes, "THE STRUGGLE CONTINUES" not only in Uganda and the rest of Africa, but also in the U.S. where insurance companies/government "allows" promote the deaths of American citizens.
God Bless you Sara Rogers, you are now only observing and reporting what you see, when you return together we will help build a stronger healthier Ugandan society.
Your phone # doesn't work
Allen/Cynthia
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