Is Poye a Game from Arua?

I spent the first 11 Years of my Boyhood in Jinja and Football was my Number One Passtime. I can still remember kicking small dark green Oranges as Balls when I was 5 Years old at Wilson Road even though my elder Cousin Charles (who even played at St. Jude Field) had a real Football, it was just too big for my Size. In the 90s at Spire Road, I started making my own Footballs using various Materials like Papers and Banana Fibres (Later advanced to inflated Milk Sackets plus Straws then Lukoba or Rubber Straps) and would kick till 8pm Sunday to Saturday plus playing Basketball and Rugby using a Football, Mini Cricket at Victoria Nile School using a Tennis Ball (because we had no special Sportswear to protect us from the hard Cricket Ball), Checkers (Chinese Chequers or Draughts), Number Hop, Jumping Rope, Skipping Rope, Tapo [Tap, Hide and Seek], Dulu or Dooloo [Marbles], Daddy and Mummy, Omweso, Ludo, Snakes and Ladders, Cards, etc. My Hoodmates would pick Golf Balls from the Jinja Golf Course and found out that the Interior is full of Rubberbands. In KLA, I learnt Badminton but the Shuttlecock is just too lightweight for me to fancy the Game. At SMACK, I played Chess since 1998 (and won my first three Games before Losses started), Darts, Table Tennis, Squash, Clay Tennis and very little Baseball. Every Civilisation has found a Way to spend their Leisure Time. When I started travelling to Arua again in Y2K at Age 16 having first been there as a Handheld Baby, I discovered that Boys in the Area play a Game that resembles Hockey, Tennis, Bowling and Golf or Gwara Gwara [like in Mr. Bones (film)] rolled into one. I wonder where it was invented. Girls and Adults do not seem interested in playing this Game. On Sunday 22nd December 2019 after Church Service (Sally Anguyo's Sermon was that Everyone should give like the Macedonians in 1st Corinthians 16 and not only People with lots of Money. Personally, I think Church Offertory Competitions must be banned basing on the Poor Widow's 2 Copper Coin Story by JESUS. The Bible demands for only 10 percent of Earnings (as compulsory Church Treasury Tax) from each Worshipper, it's not a Contest. If somebody earns 1 Million per Week, their Minimum Tithe is 100,000 onwards, you do not coerce someone who earns only 50,000 or 20,000 a Week to also pay 100,000 as Tithe in the Name of Competition), I walked to Osu Village's Eastern Crescent Road to try and get some Data about the Sport. The first Boys I interacted with in Lugbara Language said they all play it but refused to reveal anything new I wanted besides the Fact that it is called "POYE". Were they ashamed to talk about it? Poye is just a Game like all the others People play. In fact, it's played from Arua's urban Ghettos to the Arua Countryside, witnessed it myself several Times. A spiteful, older Youth told them to get away from the Side of the Street and the Boys including the ones kicking a Supertele Ball ran away from me as if I was some kind of infectious Disease. He said dismissively while pointing southwards on the murram Crescent Road, "The Boys who play Poye are on the other Side!" I'm the kind of Person who does not rebuke People after they reject me yet I mean well for them, I just let my Soul surf Contempt and Negativity, point blank like Kakaparaka. Wind creates Thrust, so spread your Wings as an Eagle does, no Lager, maybe Riham Juice! Wasp Pee is not as painful as its Sting; People near Glass Windows must not throw Stones. Humbled, I walked away coolheadedly without any Anger to try and find someone else willing to reveal some Info; I might have paid those Boys as my Token of Gratitude if they cooperated. In fact on my Way back after getting Data from elsewhere, the Boys started calling me "Poye" and asked if they could play for me, maybe it had now sunk in that there was no Shame. I told them while brandishing a Thumbs up Gesture with my right Hand, "Yo, awa'difo [Translated from Lugbara: No, thanks]!" and did not look back; I had somewhere else to go. Sports taught me that sometimes you win, other Times you lose and you must be prepared to contain both Situations; if you wish, then you can draw (that's why I became an Artist)!
Luckily, on the other Side of the same Village was Shafik Fahad clad in black and navy blue sitted on a Verandah, I requested him to come behind the House and help me write something about Poye. He thought I wanted to coach the Game but then asked me to allow him call a Poye Maestro named Ibrahim Ewale [Lugbara 4: Like an Elephant] and I was very impressed; these Boys were born Champions. Tabin Muhammad, who spoke less than the other two, also joined us and the Boys shared their Views on the Game without Inhibition. Two younger Boys who had not yet started playing the Game plus a Girl holding a Baby also came around and they were attracted to my Moustache Hair. They kept pressing it with their Fingers while I bent down but focussed on what Fahad and Ewale were teaching me. About two Hours later, I had my Hair cut off at a Salon near Arua Airfield.

L-shaped Hockey sticks

Poye (pronounced poh-yeh) is a game played by 2, 4 or 6 players (in singles, doubles or triples). They stand on opposite sides of a halfway line drawn on the ground as they hit a round rubber puck also called poye (made from mainly Umoja or Bata-esque flipflop cutouts joined together with nylon) back and forth using L-shaped sticks for example cassava stems. Like a coin toss in Football, the game starts when the poye lying down on the halfway line is hit from above with a stick; a player from the half in which it falls must roll it with his hand like a mini car tyre for his opponent to start hitting with his stick or foot. A point is scored when the puck is hit above the opponent who then rolls it back. When a player crosses to the opponent's half, one point is deducted from his side. Records can be kept mentally by the players or a referee who is not playing. Players stand one metre away from the centreline. In both halves, each player stands about one metre away from his teammate behind or in front of him. When the front player misses the puck, the one behind him must strike it. A puck cut from a thick flipflop might not need to be joined to another cutout but joining two or three from smaller flipflops is okay. The width of flipflops (Many Ugandans call them Slippers) determines the diameter of the puck, so a big puck and small one are the most common two heights. Cutouts are sewn together using a tool called a hwiki [I understood it as a shoemending needle or sindani] and nylon thread or superglue. However, I think other binding materials like wires might work. It's wise to have two or more pucks during a game so that when one gets lost, the other will be used. Gamelengths have no timeframe and can be played from sunrise till sunset. But who exactly invented Poye? Is it a game from Arua? The sport seems good for exercise or recreation because of a lot of swinging, hitting and running; it does not need too many difficult rules nor equipment. Nevertheless, protective gear like gloves, shinguards, mouthguards, neckguards and helmets can still be used if accessible. Poye is almost like the ancient Game of Polo from Tibet minus the Horses; Sepak takraw (Kick or Soccer Volleyball), a hybrid of two or more sports; etc...

Engel Of Death

What does GOD want, why does HE take away some People before they reach 90? King Hezekiah cheated Death for an extra 15 Years; I wish we could all live for over 120 Years, inaccessible to the Passover Destroyer that took away the Egyptian Firstborns. Save us, Blood of JESUS! Long Life should be normal! When Alfred Munguleni, my Mum's Cousin died of Liver Failure on Friday the 13th December 2019, an unlucky Day, I started wondering why GOD wanted it that Way. As a Kid in the 90s, I used to pray with Eyes closed for my own early Death maybe because I adored Michael Jackson's dangerous Music but nowadays I pray for Long Life plus give Thanks for all these Decades on Earth. Before P6, Munguleni taught me about Food Nutrients and helped me match their Deficiencies. By the Time I was learning them in School, they were very easy to grasp. I did not scratch my Head revising that Topic. During my S6 Vacation, he asked me to replace him at his Highfield College (Secondary School that later turned into a Nursery and P1 by the Time he departed the Earth) and teach Biology to S1s and 4s; he was going to KLA for about a Week. I had no Problem teaching the S1s but when it came to the Candidates, he gave me a Topic that I skipped revising during my own UCEs at SMACK over two Years behind: Cell Division, Mitosis and Stuff. I used to ride my Dad's Bicycle to the College in Awindiri (Arua Suburb) but gave up the unpaid Trial because of constant Headaches (Maybe I needed to reduce my Sugar Intake) plus I did not want to fail the S4s. I was there half Day about twice and the Brunch was sweet Tea as black as Coca Cola escorted with sumptuous Anyoya [boiled Beans and Maize]. He died 16 Years later at a Branch of Mulago Hospital on Entebbe Road. His Corpse was driven to St. Philip's Church (Arua) [For Contributions to build new Sanctuary of Prayer, deposit at Equity Bank, Arua Branch: 1023201018632 or call 0772-333217] on Sunday 15th December 2019 by Rhino Funeral Services. His Vigil was attended by mainly women who praised him as a very generous Giver. I stepped there at 8PM and stayed silent for very long as Congregants told testimonial Stories, sang and danced; Crying is discouraged in Lugbara Culture because the Overnight is a Celebration of the Deceased's Life. Momentarily, some Ladies danced up and down while facing each other and shaking Hands; they could also raise their locked Handshakes above the Chin. Others shook Hands then released and left their flattened Hands in mid-Air for a short while. They greeted a second Time rhythmically and repeated the mid-Air Suspension plus Handshake again and again till Music stopped. During the Vigil's Final Prayer, my Cousin Juliet Drijaru asked Mourners not to question GOD why HE took Munguleni away. Monday Morning, his Corpse would be transported to Maracha for the Tuesday Burial. Munguleni was diagnosed with nine different Diseases; one of his Government Service Workmates confessed that it was the Result of Bad Hearts in Maracha and begged People to love. After 6AM, I walked towards the Post Office and found some Men exercising, one was doing Pushups before moving to the other Side of the Road to walk while others jogged, a Man and Woman actually bypassed me on Avenue Road. Inter-City Coaches are arriving in Arua with multiple Lights near the Roofline. A Cloth Banner hanging on a Fence to my left advertises that Fille Muthoni will be performing during the Fashion Runway at Heritage Courts on Saturday 21st December. The Total Petrol Station Bonjour Supermarket and Cafe at the End of the Golf Course look glam in the Night. The Market on the Opposite Side is made of Iron Sheets and so is the Perimeter Fence for the Arua Hill Stadium Construction. Work began in the 2nd Quarter of the Year and more than Half of the Ground Floor seems to be started on. I walk up towards Arua Hill and find a new storeyed Building next to Electoral Commission. National Water has also put up three blue Signposts (one West, the other near the Reservoir and also South) warning Tresspassers about their Land or face Prosecution. When I point at the topmost Signpost, one of the Workers at the Hill encourages me, "Do not fear!" Sometimes when I want to reset my Mind or refill my Hope, Arua Hill is the Place I visit; watching the reddish orange Sunrise is quite refreshing: No matter how dark the Night, the Sun always rises again! This is where I was praying when my beloved Cousin Godia (a Security Guard) - who taught me how to knot a Tie around 1996 - departed in Nebbi in September 2018. He also had an unforgettable Part in my Childhood: he would fetch my grey Coat once a Month for Drycleaning when I was the P7 Headboy at Kalinabiri Primary School (Ntinda 1996). Right now, am clad in a grey Lowe Alpine Jacket covering a cream yellow longsleeved Shirt gifted to me by Leta Group from KLA, brown Office Trousers and brown Sandals, my usual Fashion though I fancy T-Shirts too (Bajjo-Style). Weaverbirds sing in the Forest while others perch on a Tree behind me plus a few Crows fly about. I notice a Snail attached to its Shell crawling on the Hill, Geckos are awake and moving too. The three storeyed House at the Eastern Foot of the Hill looks massive though seemingly less occupied. Near the Arua Hill Residences on the South Top are Ironsheets set up majestically for trapping Grasshoppers. There is a new Mast on the Awindiri Hill plus Scholars Hostel under construction near Muni University. The highrise Building, perhaps a Hotel being set up on Circular Road is visible from behind the Nile FM/ BTN Studios. I wish I could spot the magnificent Albert Nile River using a Binoculars plus know the Names of all the Hills on the Eastern Horizon. LORD, have Mercy...

Izi MUNGU [Ask GOD]!

Erica

 “Pray without ceasing…” - 1st THESSALONIANS 5:17

"The Highest Form of Prosperity is to be in the Presence of GOD..." - JONATHAN PHILIP TIMMONS (Mysterious Secrets of the Dark Kingdom)

JESUS Christ Superhero
HE is the Saviour for everyone, sent from Above, Son of GOD, Messiah, the KING of Kings and LORD of Lords; the Way, Truth and Light. JESUS was born in Bethlehem Town, Nazareth (Israel) without an earthly Father. HE could walk on Water, calm a Storm, heal the Sick (like a Woman who bled for 12 Years, Centurion's Servant, 10 Lepers, etc) with HIS Word by Touch or from a Distance, raise the Dead to Life, make the Blind to see and the Lame to walk, resist the Devil's Temptations, turn Water into Wine, mold a Bird from Clay and breathe Life into it, teleport and appear inside a Room with a locked Door, create a Whip from nothing, forgive Sinners, transfigure like the Sun, cast out Demons, prophesy, recreate a cut Ear plus feed Thousands from a Boy's Lunch (2 Fish and 5 Loaves). HE was knowledgeable by Age 12 and became very active at 30: JESUS was a Refugee among Africans, studied with Asians, was killed by Europeans and worshipped by Americans. Crucified on a Roman Cross, HE saves us from  Hell with HIS Blood instead of the Atonement Blood of Animal Sacrifices. On the third Day, HE resurrected. Forty Days later, HE ascended to Heaven after HIS Salvation Mission and will return very soon on a white Horse like a Thief but with Lightning to destroy the Beast and False Prophet. HE will judge all the the Nations and HIS Kingdom will have no End. Every Knee shall bow and every Tongue confess that: JESUS is Lord...

“In the 2nd Heaven, there is a Principality; there is a Dragon that swallows People’s Prayers, because Prayer goes to Heaven in form of Smoke… If Prayer was that easy, then everyone would be praying, but People don’t have Time to pray because every Time you want to pray, that is when you feel you need to sleep… watch a Program on TV… read a Novel… And when you are going to do other Things, you feel like you are very comfortable… I’m talking now to Intercessors. The 1st Heaven is where we see the Clouds and People go to the Moon and they see Mars, Jupiter, all that is the 1st Heaven… Aliens: Demons and they call them Aliens… When you get to the 3rd Heaven that is where the Kingdom of GOD starts. From the 3rd, there is a 4th, 5th, 6th to the 7th where GOD is… There is a Channel where all Prayers pass to go to the 3rd Level… They gather and pass through… So when they get to that Funnel, there is a Dragon there that drinks People’s Prayer; it’s like it’s smoking in. This Dragon, what it does, it takes in the Smoke and it spits out the Fire. Why is it taking in the Smoke? It is weakening this Person that is praying. You want to pray but you feel you cannot pray; you are just struggling. When the Person persists and they pray too much, the Dragon cannot hold the Prayers. It gets to scream in Pain because the Prayer turns to Fire. So as it is screaming, the Prayer escapes. And when it escapes, it goes to the 3rd Heaven…” - ERICA BELINDA MUKISA KIMANI (Former Devil Worshipper)

"Now am free to sing for Christ..." - ERICA (Omukisa [ft. EVANS])

Azazel (X-Men: First Class) based on Marvel Comics

[Revelation 12 mentions a great Dragon that was cast out to the Earth, that Serpent of old called the Devil and Satan who deceives the whole World; that is probably the one Erica mentions. When I was a Jinja Kid in the first Half of the 90s, I thought Lightning came from a Dragon in the Sky like the black one on the Agip Petrol Logo with six Legs and its red Tongue was the long Spark reaching the Earth to strike Humans and rope them up. I later learnt in O-Level Physics that Lightning is actually a Flash of Electricity from Clouds, but it did not mean the Dragon ceased to exist; it was still somewhere up there. On Earth, he walks like a Man, saw him on Buganda Road (KLA City) some Months after I got my 1st Campus Degree. Other Times, he is in the Underworld and Hell. Leviticus 16 talks about two Goats for Atonement Sacrifice to GOD plus Azazel in the Wilderness, I wonder what that meant, probably Mount Azazel. But JESUS was tempted in the Wilderness by Satan masquerading as a Snake. In the Marvel Universe, Azazel is a red-skinned teleporting Supervillain, must have been one of the 200 Fallen Angels, a Leader. In the Book of Enoch, Azazel corrupted Man with Forbidden Knowledge…]

 
"After visiting the New Jerusalem, the Angel of the LORD said: Let us visit the Temple of GOD... The Temple of GOD was vibrating with Noises and the Sound of Trumpets on top of the Multitude of the Redeemed and the Myriads of Angels. The first Category of Angels that I saw had Trumpets in their Hands... These Angels don't sing, they just sound Trumpets and the Sound of their Trumpet is a Perfume Smell before GOD. The second Category of Angels that I saw were just worshipping the LORD. They were repeating the Movement that Muslims do in their Mosque... bowing with their Face touching the Ground. The Companion Angel said to me: Benjamin, what you see is the Secret of Heaven! I was told that Worship and Praise are the Main Activity in Heaven and when we die we will join the Myriads of Angels in the Cycle of Praise and Worship. Some will join those who are sounding the Harp and Trumpet and some will join those who are kneeling and raising their Hand. I noticed that the Angels of the LORD were raising their Trumpet and Harp and putting it down continually and the Worshippers were kneeling Face down and raising their Hand. The Companion said People who are kneeling and worshipping are facing the Greatness and Glory of GOD, that is why they are lifting HIS Throne with the Movement of the Hand. The Worship Service in the heavenly Temple is different from our Church Service on Earth where we ask for the Forgiveness of the Sin, we intercede for others, we ask for the Power of the Holy Spirit. These Prayers are related to our Adamic Nature but in Heaven, it is the Sound of Harp and the Song of Worship and Praise that matter. I was told that there is a Mystery in Worship and Praise that the Church is failing to grasp. If only Praise and Worship become our Lifestyle and everyday Activity, many of our Problems will be resolved, without making Petition to GOD. We should praise and worship more than casting Devils because the LORD delights in Praise and Worship of HIS People. You can cause Change in your Life through a Life of Praise and Worship. The Angel of the LORD underlined that Spiritual Warfare can be won through Praise and Worship not just taking Authority and casting out Demons. The Bible says: About Midnight, Paul and Silas were praying and singing Hymns to GOD and the other Prisoners were listening to them. Suddenly a strong Earthquake shook the Foundations of the Prison and once all the Doors flew open, everyone's Chains came loose. Singing to the LORD Songs of Praise and Worship can break our Chains..." - HEAVEN VISIT - 11 HOURS BEYOND THE GRAVE by BENJAMIN (from Congo)

“There was no other business in Heaven, only worshipping. We were all before the throne of GOD; it was made of pure gold and GOD was seated on it. HIS face was emitting bright light so no one saw HIS face. Beside HIM on HIS right was another throne. It was also made of gold but its arms were blue in color - JESUS was seated on it looking at the people. All I saw was that Angels came regularly to HIM and they could talk for a little moment, and then leave… Eh! I saw things which looked strange like both an animal and human. Two were on the left and the other on the right. Their faces were shining brightly. They had wings and the wings were covered with eyes; they were just looking down at the earth. I also saw other people who surrounded the throne. They had crowns… In the revelation, I saw that I stayed in Heaven for almost one year. Some babies were less than one year yet they were worshipping GOD. They were only clapping because they didn't know how to talk. When they grew and were one year old they could speak and sing along with the others… Most of the time, we used to spend worshiping GOD. We only used to go to the house to eat and take a bath and sleep for a few hours. We used to take two meals in day. However, in Heaven you cannot know when it is daytime or nighttime because the place is ever with light. It is not like here on earth. The light never changed like the way we have sun during the day and moonlight during the night or other kinds of lights. However we used to know what time it was. JESUS could tell us what time it was after every one hour. We used to take our breakfast at 6am - No lunch; supper at between 7 & 8pm and slept at 10pm. Exactly at 3am we would wake up and go to worship… (In my house, there were) two sofa sets (3 seater) and a table and everything I needed; there are no TVs in Heaven. My house had six rooms: two bedrooms, a kitchen, dining room, bathroom and toilet… There was a variety of foods. Every week we had different foods and the food that we ate in one week could never be repeated. Even though it was like daytime all through, we could automatically know when it was morning and evening - JESUS used to tell us the time… We only used to be brought ready food of your choice… The Angels used to serve us. Everybody had two angels in their house. It is like they used to read our minds. Whatever you wished and thought of eating is what you could see them bringing… They only served you the food they knew you could finish; there was juice and fruits. One time the Angels brought juice for me in a big bottle and I drank it all then it automatically filled again. There was no thirst in Heaven. No one was angry nor sorrowful. All people were happy. That place was very good. Another thing is that, I saw a river just from within the throne of GOD. On one side of the river was a tree. (The tree of life) its leaves were green in color and the trunk looked as if it was purple. In the river banks I also saw fish… We used to bathe in a river. The water used to be warm. You could bathe in the morning, breakfast time or in the evening when taking meals. After breakfast, we could worship all day and after evening meal, we could worship almost all night though we used to sleep a little…” - ISAAC L. KARANI, 8 year old Kenyan Boy taken to Heaven by an Angel on 25th June 2019 as interviewed by his Mother Pauline W. Kithaka Paulina (MUMMY, I SAW JESUS IN HEAVEN - The Hidden Facts Of Heavenly Realms)

"Chapter 5 (My Meeting with the Prince of This World): After initiation and training in the Interdimension and Parallel World, over time I began to work with politicians. Later on, I was taken from northern Congo to the Capital by these politicians, I was their priest and I was working for them alone. While I was living in the capital, I met a marabout from the Republic of Chad. When he saw me, he told me: My friend, your level is low, you must gravitate level;  therefore write to this address and drop the letter in the toilet and you will get a response. The address on the letter was that of an Egyptian mystic. When he got my letter, he began to come visit me through astral travelling. He was travelling from Egypt to my house in Congo every day at midnight in order to train me and prepare me to meet the Devil. After training me for one year, one day he summoned the Devil who manifested in my room. When the Devil showed up, I noticed that he had the appearance of a Caucasian though he can take whatever  appearance he wants. Actually, before this Egyptian mystic summoned the Devil, he warned me not to fear, otherwise I will become crazy. And when the Devil manifested, he actually came out of the ground. He was sitting on his throne and he had two bodyguards. I could not watch his bodyguards as they were horrific. Many people asked me about the appearance and shape of the Devil and demons. I was meeting the Devil every day in the night for report. The Devil liked to operate like GOD because he is the god of this World; he is also god in many parallel dimensions and reality. Considering that GOD changed HIS shape and appearance, the Devil also changed his shape from time to time. In the dark World, the Devil is god; he has no shape, he changes from time to time yet he is not omnipresent; if he is in South Africa, he is not in Congo. Often when he was coming to me for report, he was in the shape of a skeleton. The Law is that when he comes to you in whatever shape, you have to master your fear and not run. Otherwise, you will become crazy and die. Sometimes, the Devil was coming to me in the shape of a monster with one or two horns with a tail. Sometimes he was coming to me in the shape of a toad and while talking to this toad, he would be growing in size until he reached the size of a car. He was also appearing to me in the shape of a seven-head snake in order to get report about my activity. I was supposed to converse with each of his seven heads. However, every Saturday since the beginning of the Earth, the Devil comes to the Earth in human shape. So every Saturday, Satan dressed with black suit and white shirt, white socks and black shoes. Every Saturday, the Devil drives a black Mercedes on the Earth. He goes to popular bars, hotels and nightclubs all over the World in order to sleep with women. He gives them a lot of money but many of them die; some don’t die. When the Devil enters a bar or nightclub on Earth, he always has a tendency to order the barman to serve beers or food to everybody around. That way he can capture and buy people’s stars and chances. Just note that every Saturday the Devil walks the Earth in human form in bars, nightclubs and hotels, he drives a black car and he is accompanied with his two bodyguards. One day, the Devil said to me: Peter, even if I can give money to people, still I cannot leave them with my money; I have to take it back! That is why the Devil always takes back what he has given to people who came to him for money. I said demons have their shape and appearance but there are times where they dress with human appearance and manifest physically. Even the Devil has his shape but he also takes human shape and walk among the people but no one can recognize him. On that day in my room when the Devil manifested with his two bodyguards, he said to me: Peter, I am appointing you as Ambassador of all the witches in Central Africa. You will be supervising execution and decapitation of the victim… From this day onward, you will not rest. You will not sleep in the night. You will work for me without rest… You must not have mercy in you, you must not have love in your heart, you must not forgive and you must never accept people’s forgiveness… You must target those who go to Church… Basically, I was offering the Devil a sacrifice of 1,500 souls a week. I was killing Christian pastors. There are people who go to Church but they do not have JESUS in their heart… Many people play with the things of GOD, so I managed to destroy Christians who were quoting the name of JESUS against me…" - A FORMER LUCIFER SECRETARY

Closed On Weekends
Sunset Friday to Sunset Sunday has always felt like rejuvenating Rest for me; having Parties on Friday Nights is welcome. When I see Cars and Streetlights on Sunday Night, the Stress of Study or Work blows Wind on my Face; you feel like resting one last Time before the Cycle of Life's Hustle begins again for five more Days. According to the Bible, the real Sabbath Day referred to in the 5th Commandment is on Saturday, clearly highlighted by the Removal of JESUS from the Cross before Good Friday's Sunset (Mark 15:42-47 The Preparation Day). However it does not mean People cannot rest on Sundays too. In fact, 1st Corinthians 16 shows that the Macedonian Church made its Store Collections on Sundays. Muslims assemble on Fridays (Koran 62: Al-Jumu'a or The Assembly Friday Prayer), Seventh Day Adventists assemble on Saturdays while most Christians (Catholics, Anglicans, Pentecostals and Jehovah's Witnesses) assemble on Sundays; Exodus 12:16 calls for a holy Sunday Assembly and a holy Saturday Assembly ("No Work shall be done on those Days") but the Law of Moses is not that Sunday is Sabbath, Hell NO! As an Anglican-born JESUS Freak, I believe Christians can gather, sing, worship, tithe, pray and fellowship on Sundays, but they need to respect Saturdays too by resting from Work. Beware of National Sunday Laws...

West Nile (Uganda - Germany) Investment Symposium 2019

Elders Bonfire

Arguably the Biggest Business Conference of all-time in the Region, this was a ground-breaker for zota [development]. The refreshing Muni University hosted an unforgettable inaugural investment gathering on Thursday 8th to Friday 9th August 2019 - postponed from 24th July because the President of UG did not want to miss and it was worth the wait. So many high-level politicians from West Nile (like Maracha's Onzima, Ayivu's Atiku, Arua's Wadri, Vurra's Ajedra - State Minister of Finance plus Zombo's Grace Freedom - State Minister for Northern Uganda), Acholi and Lango; clergy, delegates, government agents, investors, industrialists, farmers, Private Sector business-people, academia (from Gulu University, Busitema, Mountains of the Moon, Lira plus Mbarara University of Science and Technology), researchers, NGOs, cultural leaders and other professionals from different countries attended, all protocol observed. The main tent was literally African-full with Europeans also in the audience. Ozoo[Rain] even fell for some minutes on all the days as a blessing. The theme of the symposium was: "Transformation of Africa's Upper Nile Valley through Pan African Peace-Building and Holistic Development". Some Natives say People from down-country benefited more than them, but it was still a Ugandan Thing for all.

Ori'ba

On Day 1, Robert Rukare - the Chairman of the Organising Committee remarked that Uganda is a landlinked country, "From Koboko to Central African Republic is 160 kilometres... As entrepreneurs, we should be thinking our market is in West Nile... South Sudan... DRC... Central African Republic!" He praised the Indian Community in Uganda (represented by their Chairman) as being only 0.1 percent of the population but owning 60 percent of the economy. The Muni University Chancellor, Dr. Eric Adriko said West Nile is a "gateway" to Africa. The First Deputy Prime Minister General Moses Ali (from Adjumani) who baptised himself "The Cock of West Nile" gave a brief history of how his rebel group named Uganda National Rescue Front (UNRF) quit guarding Katonga Bridge and instead supported NRA for the betterment of West Nile after he visited Gaddafi and found M7 with him in Libya. He stated that the idea of “People Power” which is fronted by the younger Opposition today is already the first article of the 1995 Ugandan Constitution, "What is the difference?" People power can only be used within the Constitution, but the other one will not survive because the Elders took care of it; many people actually lost their lives in creating stability, "This is Peace of Ugandan people, therefore it must be protected jealously!” General Ali confessed the following day that he is not only growing his stomach, but working for GOD and his country [suru]. I was stunned to learn from him that Dr. Eric Adriko used to be his Secretary General; I had never heard of it before from Kyambogo University to Lungujja to Arua. Meanwhile, Retired NRA General Salim Saleh, originally named Caleb Akandwanaho aka “Oriba” lamented about not being included as a minister in his step-brother M7’s cabinet reshuffle after he won the 2011 Presidential Election; he left Arua amidst Barifa Forest wrangles to go back to Garuga and even sold his house before settling in Kapeeka Village (Nakaseke District) where he set up Liao Shen Industrial Park (like the plan he had for Arua) plus his headquarters. He is considered a “Family member” in Arua and on his return after eight years was the Convener of this symposium as Chief Coordinator of Operation Wealth Creation (OWC) in partnership with the Government of Uganda (GOU). The mission of OWC [something like "Oparesoni or Otita Lonyi Ideza" in Lugbara] is to improve household income through poverty eradication and overall prosperity of Ugandans. Salim Saleh presented messages from Africa Industrial Integration Centre in Cairo, Egypt; South Africa Agribusiness Mission and Kapeeka. Panelists sitted on the stage also spoke including the Vice Chancellor of Muni University Professor Christine Dranzoa; Patricia Ojangole - the Executive Director of Uganda Development Bank (UDB) plus others.

[Translated from Lugbara: GOD, deliver us from Evil! No Fear.]

On Day 2, panelists included the recently-replaced Miss Uganda 2018-2019 Quinn Abenakyo who nonetheless still has a few more weeks as Miss World Africa. She urged the attendees especially youth to return to agriculture. Later, Klaus Kunkenmuller from Riela - a tech giant in Germany presented slides of what his company is capable of doing in West Nile by partnering with Muni University for a Post-Harvest Training and Service Centre. It was a good encouragement for farmers because STORAGE is the final Agriculture; if your after-harvest handling is poor, then your yields get wasted. Another German Industrialist who originates from near KK's home base mentioned how Zombo has iron ore that can be tapped for making metal sheets in Uganda since the closest sheet-makers are actually in Alexandria (Egypt). By the way, Kabale also has iron ore.

When M7 arrived at Muni University, he toured the exhibition area that included showcasers from Arua City (like the Women Empowerment Group), Bantuland, DR Congo, etc. Then starting from around quarter to 3pm in his keynote speech that closed the symposium, President Yoweri Museveni revealed his desire to start fish farming with the youth along the Albert Nile Valley, plus encouraged navigation of the stretch of water for tourism rides. He emphasized that a Money Economy comprises four sectors: 1. Commercial Agriculture: He advised that maize should be planted by people with big pieces of land (on a large scale). Same should apply to tea, rubber (Factories in Mukono making motorcycle tires actually use rubber from Congo), sugarcanes used to make sugar for energy of workers, oil seeds like simsim, olives (he plans to introduce in Karamoja), dates, etc. Since a lot of land in West Nile is fragmented to as low as 2 acres, M7 recommended coffee, food crops, zero grazing, poultry, cows and the like; 2. Industrialisation; 3. Services: Hotels, Banking, Education, Shops, Transport and Tourism. M7 does not want private universities to charge non-Ugandans more than citizens because they are also “our children" In addition, he mentioned the plan to rebuild the railway to Pakwach, useable for cargo transportation before extending it to the South Sudan Border and farther. “Arua will be able to get 200 Megawatts” (of Electricity) when connected to the National Grid. That will be a very big upgrade compared to the 4 MW WENRECo Genset (Thermal) solution to Nyagak Hydro's 3.5 MW power issues that got switched on around Easter (April 2019) and has been commendably constant; 4. ICT: Business Processing Outsourcing (BPO), etc. M7 praised Nwoya District for being awake and urged Ugandans to use their land and labour. Just before ending his speech and launching some publications, M7 dramatised on stage his amusement at how some elderly ladies carry one sugarcane or just an egg as an offering to GOD and warned that if we do not apply our talents, HE will give them to other people. But if that’s what GOD gave them, then it is not their fault. Some people actually receive just one talent or two while others get five and so much more; that is GOD's otita [arrangement].

At the Heart of West Nile

The symposium brought to Arua Airport a large plane that amazed onlookers, like a precursor of things to come. With a monthly average of 180 traffic movements, Arua is the 2nd Busiest Domestic Airport in UG. Government plans to upgrade Arua Airfield to a Category 4C Airport with a field length of more than 1,800 metres capable of accommodating planes with a wingspan of up to 24 metres. The aim of the symposium was to rebrand the Upper Nile Valley as a very important Cross-Border Investment Destination and not just a place for Refugees, Conflicts and Poverty; something Nobert Mao once called “Prejudice Reduction for Northern Uganda” instead of just Public Relations. The conference was powered by Muni University, Azur Water, Northern Uganda Regional Development Forum (NURDEF), Uganda Investment Authority (UIA), National Information Technology Authority (NITA), Uganda Communications Commission (UCC), Uganda Development Bank (UDB) and Uganda Electricity Transmission Company Limited (UETCL). GOD bless the 105 Year old West Nile Province…