The following appeared on msnbc.com on 12 Jul 2010:
“An al-Qaida-linked Somali militant group claimed responsiblity for twin bombings in Uganda that killed 74 people who were watching the World Cup final on TV, saying the militants would carry out attacks “against our enemy” wherever they are.
It’s long been an axiom of global economics that having bountiful natural resources can be as much of a curse as a blessing. Globally traded natural resources can distort prices in a developing nation, divert investment from other sectors that need capital and, above all, provide a tempting target for corrupt political officials who want to get their hands on easily monetizable assets.
The following article written by Belinda Luscombe appeared in Time Magazine (14 Jun 2010):
“Twesigye Jackson Kaguri’s American Dream was motoring along quite nicely until he was besieged by grandmothers. Born in a remote part of western Uganda, he’s studied hard enough to get to college in the capital Kampala, and then to the U.S. He had an American job, and American wife and the beginnings of a down payment to buy a house.
The following was written by Alex Perry and published in Time Magazine (June 21, 2010):
“To reach the most malarial town on earth, head north from Kampala (Uganda) across the Victoria Nile and, just before you come to the refugee camps that mark the southern edge of Uganda’s 20-year civil war, turn east to Lake Kwania. Africa’s other Great Lakes are known for freshwater beaches and cool evenings, but Kwania is more of a giant swamp: shallow, full of crocodiles and choked with lily, papyrus and hyacinth. The malaria parasite loves it here.
On my last full day in Uganda, I visited the Baha’i temple located on the outskirts of Kampala. It was constructed about 40 years ago on Kikaya Hill. The temple is beautifully sited atop a knoll and is well landscaped. Like all other Baha’i temples, the domed structure has nine sides (each with a door). Each side represents a major religion or religious leader (no, Joseph Smith is not one of the nine, but Abraham and Christ are). Each continent has just one temple, and for Africa it is the one in Kampala.
Last week, while in Gulu Uganda, we needed gravel (aggregate) for our concrete mix. We had rented a truck and our driver took us to the local supplier. The source was a large rock (probably granite) outcrop. All around women, children, and a few men were breaking large chunks of granite into a smaller size appropriate for concrete and other uses. This was accomplished using small metal hammers. The day was an inferno and the humidity was high. Some quarry workers had found a little shade; some just worked in the hot blazing sun.
I was recently in Gulu, Uganda, an area that has only recently become safe. At a village about 70 kilometers north of the city, a friend and I installed a swing set at a primary school that the parents are working hard to keep going. The nearest school is over 5 kilometers away. So a village school would be a definite plus.
I’m currently in Gulu, in northern Uganda. The Internet connections here are not good and I have only gotten out one e-mail. At least, I think I’ve sent one e-mail. So this is my current method of communication. My blog seems to be working fine.
I arrived in Uganda a little over 2 weeks ago. I love the country, the people are very friendly and the landscape is very green. The problem is that Uganda is a comparatively small, landlocked country located in the heart of Africa. It has a population approaching 30 million; and the population is continuing to explode. To make matters even more congested, most Ugandans live in a narrow north-south corridor around Kampala. Big families and poverty are the norm.
Wednesday of last week (May 19th), I started by trip to Uganda. The itinerary was: Salt Lake City - Seattle - Amsterdam - Kampala. Thirty minutes out of Seattle our plane had to return to Seattle. One jet engine was leaking fuel and the crew wasn’t sure we had enough fuel to make it to Amsterdam.