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Could Kasubi Tombs stir your creativity?! posted on March 18, 2010 - 8:17pm
People, exactly two weeks are left for our short story writing competition with a significant cash prize… Possible topics are three: role models and bad models, tribal secrets and healthy life. And there is too much to write about… For example, the magnificent Kasubi Tombs, so shockingly reduced to ashes - is there a story you can write about this monument (tribal secrets)?! Or about the kings resting there (role models)? You could build an artistic memorial while others fear more destruction. Think, imagine, create. Important: We need a story, a piece of literature. We have received some entries that are a little bit academic; that will not make it. Please read the competition rules carefully. photo: Francesco Sassano
Girls lose, girls gain posted on March 18, 2010 - 5:51pm
  Men… How do you, dear colleague, deal with males? A Kenyan elder receives a traditional burial not practiced for half a century. He is wrapped in a cow skin and girls are not allowed to the funeral site. Ugandan Betty Bigombe receives a Dutch award for peace after spending years convincing our beloved terrorist Kony to get out of the bush. There is a new project to help train Rwandese disadvantaged youth in computer skills and income generation from ICTs. Is the rest of East Africa sleeping? Girrrl power, in monkeys too! It has been discovered that monkeys learn better when taught by females. Think twice before undermining ladies! Solomon Akugizibwe image: Miha Logar
photo: Katherine Kaywood in Daily Monitor Kasubi Tombs burns down. This UNESCO-protected site is of tremendous historical importance for the Baganda, and nobody is going to believe it was an accident. Will Kampala burn again? Another Ugandan kingdom has a very different day - its teenage king makes it on CNN! King Oyo admits to wanting to be like any other teenager at times. Ruling over two million subjects, attending class and still having time to do your homework must be pretty exhausting! Media does good! Seriously… The Daily News is leading the charge on reporting on cases of albino killings and raising awareness of albinism. But not for everyone, apparently, as other Tanzanians believe burning the newspapers is the best thing for them. Corruption doesn’t always mean bribing people in high up places. Through poor public service delivery and smaller scale corruption, the development of Tanzania (and other East African countries) is suffering. A story with cuteness overload!
Epic Amos - Part III posted on March 16, 2010 - 2:09am
Our chat with Amos Wekesa is eventually published in full. Solomon Akugizibwe who transcribed the interview, needed two days to type everything recorded, but at the end he wanted more! Amos simply is an amazing guy. (more…)
No more trophies for Uganda posted on March 16, 2010 - 1:03am
A wheelchair bound Kenyan girl Carol Wanjira not only plays basketball for the national team but also takes care of her elderly grandparents. Keep on inspiring others, Carol! The World Health Organization ranked Uganda as the leading consumer of alcohol a few years ago. If the proposed bill to prohibit bars from opening beyond 10pm is passed, Uganda’s global status may be challenged. Or will Ugandans rather break some getting-drunk-early records? A Japanese prince visits Kenya without his wife who is suffering from a mental disorder caused by pressures to produce a son for the royal family. A queen has worked for England, why not you Japan, cut the woman some slack! To spray, or not to spray? Rwanda’s government steps up the efforts to fight malaria using theatre for education. Martha Ndiritu, Pheonah Aboli, Dorothy Ashabe, Solomon Akugizibwe
Epic Amos - Part II posted on March 15, 2010 - 1:56am
In the second part of our epic interview with Amos Wekesa of Great Lakes Safaris/Uganda Lodges we start with the promise made by Sylvia from The World Bank. (more…)
5th weekly Studio Edirisa radio show posted on March 13, 2010 - 8:31pm
Here we are: 47 minutes of The Studio Edirisa radio show #5 (click to download), 11MB of: - the weekly news wrap - challenges & competitions: what you love/what you hate competition, short-story writing competition - role models & bad models: Amos Wekesa (article) - career guidance: Ambrose Kibuuka and how to think critically and positively - local talent: Ssalongo Mubiru (article) - tribal secrets: Banyankole (article) - agony aunt panel (problem) The previous shows: one, two, three, four If you are in Uganda, you can hear us every Saturday at 11am on Best FM and at 5pm on Voice of Kigezi. Frequencies: - 106.5 Best FM: Kampala; reaching Jinja, Entebbe, Luweero - 91 Best FM: Masaka; covering central and western Uganda - 89.5 VOK FM: Kabale; covering southwestern and western Uganda
How the weekly radio show comes to our listeners posted on March 13, 2010 - 7:12pm
Our radio show has just been played on Voice of Kigezi, some 300 kilometres away from our base. It would not be there without the devotion of Edirisa’s Oscar Kavuma and Fred Beinomugisha. Late by night Oscar found a lorry to take him to Masaka, waited for any bus to Kabale and passed the CD to a conductor. That was the easy part. (more…)
The people of Ankole (western Uganda) used to have an interesting marriage process. The elderly first chose a family to marry from. Some nights before the marriage ceremony they went to the female courtyard to listen for farts. The girl with the loudest fart was supposed to be the healthiest and was selected to be the bride. An extreme act followed. Before the groom met the bride, he was obliged to have sex with the eldest of his maternal aunts. This was to train him for his night duties. On the wedding night, the maternal aunt was required to watch and listen to the freshly married couple’s first intercourse. If the groom didn’t do a good job, he was prone to ridicule and more lessons from the aunt. A white sheet was used for the beddings; blood on it would prove the girl was a virgin. No blood would mean abomination and hence becoming an outcast. Omukeikuru Nyakairima (as told to her grandchild Roderick Atuhaire) illustrations: Martin Aijuka Depories
Epic Amos - Part I posted on March 13, 2010 - 11:55am
Amos Wekesa is somebody who has built a lot from absolutely nothing. He is now a major player in Ugandan tourism, but how he got there is a remarkable story. (more…)