To Lira, To Lira

Yes, I have been trying to soak up my Kampala time, including friends, exercise, lattes and Indian food. Last night, as I attempted to exercise on an archaic treadmill, I enjoyed the view of about 15 Ugandans and Indians of all different shapes and sizes, shoulder-to-shoulder in a closet-sized room enthusiastically aerobicizing to "Gloria" and "Hey Mickey You're So Fine". Doesn't get any better than that.

My return to Uganda coincides with serious political developments related to next year's presidential elections. On the day I left Colorado, the Ugandan Parliament voted to lift the constitutional presidential term restrictions, paving the road for Museveni to become a president (dictator) for life. There have been increasingly more demonstrations (in fact a grand mass of people marched right by my hotel room last night) which has in turn led to greater repression and violence. There will be more to come on this, especially as it has direct implications on the war in the north...

Tomorrow I shall be off to Lira, where my project (and myself) are based. I've spent much of this week figuring out just how to implement the project put before me. Writing great project proposals is one thing, but actually making good on what you aim to do is a whole other game -especially when you consider that I am working in an environment where people still live with insecurity and violence in IDP camps. Wish me luck.