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Lugbara With A Green Pearl Earring (2021 Ugatoons rendition [of Dutch painter Johannes Vermeer's artwork] by Aiko)
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Uganda is truly the Pearl of Africa: Progressive, beautiful, sweet and fresh! I've spent most of my life within this Suru [Lugbara Translate: Nation], only sneaked out across imaginary borderlines a few times and personally, I call it "United Gombololas (UG)" because we have so many subcounties represented by over 500 Members of Parliament in arguably the Biggest August House on Earth. In the Arua Hill Gombolola where I stay, there are zones or villages such as (N)Sambya, Kenya, Congo, Sudan and Zambia. Other Gombololas of Arua District have territories named after Tanganyika, Dubai, Mutukula, Malaba, Garamba, Kampala, etc; it can be very confusing but also cosmopolitan at the same time. Let's meet at Makutano Junction or Casablanca, not the town but venue! Viewing Arua City from the masts on the main hill reminds me of Toronto (Canada) even if the buildings are not as tall; it's a straight Avenue Road thing. The Covid-19 pandemic turned Ugandan homes into some sort of "Indoor-nesia" like thousands of islands. From the adventurous Source of the Nile in Jinja (my Birth place) to the wonderful snow-capped Rwenzori (Block) Mountain in Kasese to the paradisic Nile Bend around West Nile (my ancestral origins) plus Murchison Falls (Kabalega) National Park in Bunyoro and Acholi to the refreshing big-size Lake Victoria (aka Nalubaale) in Bantuland, there are so many Points of Interest to tour by train, aircraft, land vehicle and water vessel; Virtual Tourism is also possible on electronic devices or paper. The Government led by Yoweri Museveni since 26th January 1986 (when I was 2 years 19 days old) is relatively steady despite a turbulent first 30 years of bananas after 1962 (My parents were born in the late 1940s, only my Youngest Sister out of 7 siblings arrived in the M7 Era but all those older than me have been refugees in Zaire now DR Congo before), Business is profitable, Cultures diverse and Music creatively therapeutic. Ugandans as a group are very friendly people except for isolated hate crimes based on Land, guerrilla tactics and other discussable civilian wrangles. The Food is platelickingly tasty eg Luwombo (cooked in banana leaves), Indian Buyi Buyi sweets, Balafu (like Cool Cool Bar), Bushera drink, Malwa alcohol (preferably with sugar added, Ugandans can sip Beer with a straw), Namungodi [Rice mandazi], Lugbara Ombangulu [mashed Whiteants], Nsenene [Grasshoppers, especially in April and November], Posho [Maize meal], Anyoya [Boiled maize onion-fried with boiled beans], Rollex that originated from Nakulabye in KLA City, Emboli [Sweet potatoes in Busoga], Amukeke Porridge, Fried Fish, Rice and Beans plus Fried Eggs (my personal Favourite Dish), concentrated Mango Juice without sugar added, Tamarind Juice, Molasses and so much more. Most natives pray to the Israelite GOD mentioned in the Christian Bible and Muslim Koran though there are ancestral tribal beliefs (labelled Witchcraft) and Oriental tendencies (making offerings to small statues like Hindus). My Country is crossed by the Equator and lies in both the Northern and Southern Hemispheres plus landlocked from or linked to the Indian Ocean by Kenya. English is the official national language but Luganda and Swahili are also quite prominent among about 61 tribes recognised by the 1995 Constitution. Dialects can be categorised as Bantu, Luo, Karimojong-Ateso, Madi-Lugbara and Wahindi or Asian. Bazungu (Europeans or Whites) also constitute a section of the population even though their race is looked at as colonial and imperialist; that mindset will change eventually. We are all the same colour when you turn off the lights; we come from soil and are 99.9 percent similar. Fun games include Dooloo or Dulu (Marbles), Obugolo obutono [Small goals], Kwepena [Dodgeball], Poye, Omweso, Soccer, Basketball, Netball (mainly for females), Tennis, Golf, Volleyball, Cricket, Rugby, Badminton, Motocross, Goatracing, etc. Uganda has two major rain seasons and celebrates Independence (Uhuru) Day on 9th October amid jubilant fanfare. For me, Opposition in UG is like Government circus; they get paid to disagree with the ruling party, something quite funny about Democracy which works to appease opponents who can be bought with millions so that they tone down. Such phenomena never happen in Schools nor Local Councils. I preferred the one-Party Movement System (similar to China) before the 2005 Multiparty Referendum. We are all Ugandans: What we need is peace and tarmacked roads not defiant partisan riots; the rest will sort themselves out like Mivumba 2nd hand clothes do. Hallelujah to the Most High...
