Welcome to the house of fun!
by muguruki
Not that much to see at The Parliament of Uganda but it’s bang in the middle of town so would be rude not to pop by and have a look.
The current incumbent is President Yoweri Museveni who came to power in 1986 after Tito Okello surrendered to the National resistence Army led by Museveni.
Even though Uganda was basically a one party state up until 2005 there was presidential elections in 1996 when Museveni won 74% of the vote. At the next election in 2001 Museveni beat Dr Kizza Besigye with 70% of the vote.
In 2004 Museveni scrapped the presidential limit on 2 terms going back on an earlier promise, clearing the way for him to run in the first multi party elections for years in 2006. A few months before the election Dr Kizza Besigye returned form exile in South Africa only to be shortly after his arrival to be banged up, fortunately he was released on bail a month before the 2006 election.
Radio
by muguruki
On my travels In Africa I always used to take a short wave radio with me and listen to the BBC World Service to keep in touch with really important things such as finding out the Wrexham result.
In recent years the BBC has been broadcasting in various places throughout the globe on FM, Kampala is one of the places to benefit from the BBC spreading its “interference free” wings.
As well as the Beeb there are some really good home grown radio stations (Capital FM and KFM appear to be the most popular) in various languages; French, English, Swahili, Luganda and Asian language stations can be picked up in the city. A lot of the stations focus on music and not all of it local, Congolese, Hip-Hop, Reggae and western music are all regularly heard. There are also a lot of talk radio stations some of who broadcast in English. What I find most bizarre are the commentaries of the English premiership football matches broadcast in Luganda and they seem to be on more than a couple of stations. On the final day of last season’s premiership I was buying some miraa in Owino market in Kampala when a huge cheer went up, obviously “Man U” had just scored and the majority of the market’s stall holders that were tuning in were voicing their approval.
If you arrive in Kampala without a radio and you want to buy a cheap and nasty FM radio, there a couple of stalls selling these near the main entrance to Owino market.
The BBC can be picked up on 101.3 FM in Kampala.
WAY BODY
by DAO
In Uganda they speak a lot of languages. English, Swahili, Bantu, up to at least 36 at last count. So how do you say “Thank You”? The guy at the petrol garage told me to say “Way Body”. Not sure how it’s actually spelled or what language – but it works! When ever I said this I did get a giggle, but a satisfactory smile. Someone told me this is actually old fashioned, but it seems to please people. Go for it.
THE FLAG OF UGANDA
by DAO
The very colourful flag of Uganda is one of the most striking national flags of the world. It is comprised of 2 stripes each of Black, Yellow and Red and Red with a crested crane in full colour on a white disk in the middle. Black represents the African people, Yellow stands for sunshine and the Red symbolizes the brotherhood of man. The 3 colours were the colours of the Uganda People's Congress party, who came to power in elections in April 1962. The flag was officially adopted on the day of Uganda’s Independence from Britain on 9 Oct 1962. The crested crane was a symbol used for Uganda during colonial rule. Despite the many bloody upheavals and changes in political power – the flag has never been changed.
Catch a game of cricket
by muguruki
Ugandan cricket is ever improving. Earlier this year the national team was promoted to World cricket league Division 2 after beating Argentina and in October 2007 beat Bermuda who had apeared in the last world cup.
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Visa on arrival to Uganda
Boda-Boda motorcycle taxis in Kampala
Muyenga club in Kampala
Pictures from Kampala
