The week that was…..

Last weekend the PiFF held its 1st AGM. The Deputy Executive Director of the USAID was the guest of honour. He is an interesting fellow. The turnup was quite impressive. Guys and girls rocked in their PiFF Tshirts and Vests. The MC of the day was the all-time hilarious Becca. We elected a new committee of executives and after that we partied like we do. Some faces were painted.

Listen to this song by Jeffery Osbourne – If My brother is in Trouble.

The Japan death toll has surpassed the 10,000 mark. Lets pray for these brothers and sisters.

Back home, the FDC yesterday burnt all its MTN simcards claiming that MTN acted unethically during the just concluded election. The top dogs at MTN vehemently deny this.

An earthquake has hit Burma killing 60. That is number of victims as we write this.

There is a new employee at this work palce where I pretend to work. She is of Asian origin and for the past week, we have enjoyed her cookery skills. She brings in all sorts of snacks. We are in big things!

Prices are headed for the moon especially those of foodstuffs. Schools are proposing to close early for the Easter holiday. I can guess what will happen next. Each school will call a board meeting and at this meeting, members will reach a decision to arise school fees for the next term. Guys, as you deliberate, remember the salaries of the parents/guardians have not been raised. Think about that!

This weekend I am spending it indoors. So I will make this:

This:

and this:

Bon appetit!

A wiseman’s words:

“Failures are made only by those who fail to dare, not by those who dare to fail.” Lester B. Pearson

Have a great wekend!

World Poetry Day

Today – 21st March 2011 is World Poetry Day.

I have been ransacking trough my collection of poems and  landed on this one. This is my dedication to you my reader on this very special day.

In this room,

Thoughts of you engulf me,

Your smile,

Your smooth voice,

And I reach for your hand,

Only that this time, it is just an illusion!

 

A lot happens in this room,

Lots of ideas are born,

And deals are closed.

Your absence surpasses them all.

In this room, I am but alone!

 

Your photograph adorns the wall,

The sparkle in your eyes,

If only I could touch you,

I could tell you how much I miss you,

Only that this time, it is just a photograph!

 

 

Lionel B. Mugema ©

February 2009.

 

May your day be good.

The week that was…

This is a long overdue post. It was supposed to have been posted last week and then the rains started. Mr. Badru Kiggundu, that one of the Electoral Commission here in Uganda was generous enough that he pleaded with the government of Uganda to give us a public holiday on 14^th March 2011. After a weekend of hard partying and lots of drinks, this holiday was more than welcome. The real reason was of this day was to give we, the people of Kampala to vote a new Lord Mayor. We have to choose from 6 contestants. If only they had played juke box then it would have been more entertaining and fun to watch.

According to the press men and women of this city….the voter turnout was very low.  Blame it on the alcohol! We knew we had a public holiday coming so we took the liberty to indulge ourselves. We drank till the bars were depleted of all forms of alcohol. When Monday came up, we could not even recall what the public holiday was about. Blame it on the alcohol!

My current employer has hired a new person of Asian origin. She spent most of Tuesday introducing herself.  More than half of the time, we had no clue whether she was making a statement of asking a question….it all sounded the same.

It is 22h40 and my Orange broadband has run out. Kenny G is entertaining me. I will have to post this tomorrow. I am supposed to be reading my Bible and here I am typing away. Today, I had major fallout with my current employer. She says she cannot stand my care-free attitude to life and work. When the boss stops speaking English….alarm bells go off!

It has been a tough week with the onset of the rains. Traffic jams are worse. I almost booked myself into a guest house on Wednesday after waiting for a matatu for about 3 hours in dark, cold and crowded Kampala.

Congratulations go out Mr. Erias Lukwago – the new Lord “read Rod”mayor. Big ups to the other contestants for conceding defeat honorably. We respect you.

“People often say that motivation doesn’t last. Well, neither does bathing – that’s why we recommend it daily.”Zig Ziglar

Today is International Francophonie Day and the PiFF is holding its AGM.

Be part of one of these or both.

Have a terrific weekend!

Questions of life

Have you ever wondered who you really are? Why God created you? What your purpose in life is? What you are here for?

Well, I have and of late it is all that has been occupying my mind. I started feeling a void inside of me a few weeks ago. I thought it would go as it had come. It did not. It is almost a month now and I am going through hell searching for myself. I stopped living the day I started feeling empty. Everything has just become plain routine to me. My senses are working alright but the person seated in front of this monitor is not me.

So the big question: Who am I? Constantly, I keep asking myself: What is wrong with me? Yet the question I should be asking is; what is that right thing about me that I have not yet found out? How can I find it?

What should I do to find it? God does not make mistakes and whatever He sets out to do He brings to completion. The Bible tells me that I am created in God’s own image – Gen 1:26. To find that right thing, I need a settled and clear mind which I do not have at the moment. The past 4 years have been a kind of blur, it seems yesterday when I graduated but look at me now!

Should I change the way I live?

Should I change the way I relate?

Should I change the way I work?

Should I change the way I think?

Should I change the way I pray?

If so, how should I?

These are some of the questions in my head. They keep going on in my head and I have no answer to any of them. This leaves in a very confused state of mind. WHAT SHOULD I DO? I need your help.

I ask God on a daily basis to help me find an answer. I know better than to rush Him. As a Christian, I was taught in catechism class that God works in mysterious ways at His own time and His ways are not our ways. The Bible says that “Give your burdens to the LORD and he will take care of you. He will not permit the godly to slip and fall.” Ps 55:22.

“Dear God, I wish to give you burdens but Lord, I am confused. I do not know what my burdens are. Please Lord, help me clear this confusion and find answers to these numerous questions rotating in my head. “

I know He listens. I find no satisfaction anywhere. If I can not find it in cooking, will I find it anywhere? Yeah, I love cooking that much!

Is it because of this Celiac Disease that I was born with?

Is it because of my weaknesses and failings?

Why? Lord, why?

Quote of the day:

The purpose of life is a life of purpose. ~Robert Byrne

Let me go wait on the Lord.

Happy weekend friends!

Feb: A month of Elections & Love

As a certified blogger, I am supposed to give you my dear reader a recap of the month just ended at the beginning of new one. This is my attempt at reviewing February 2011.

Did you vote?

– When Feb started, all Ugandans were looking forward to one particular date – 18th Feb. This is the day the Electoral Commission had chosen for Presidential and Parliamentary elections. However, prior to this date we had 14th Feb aka St. Valentine’s day.

– Since 14th Feb is usually a day for couples to celebrate their love….we the single guys are always left in the cold….

– This time it was different. The singles had their share of the fun and excitement. On 12th Feb, a hoo-up party was organised for all the single ladies & gents of Kampala. Venue: Boda Boda. Yours Truly was unable to attend due to work commitments.

– However from what I saw on Login on NTV,  there was more laughter and less hooking up!

– 14th Feb – The lovers’ day or as my colleague said; this year the day is specially dedicated to Olara Otunu of the UPC. He did not explain why. I received no texts, no calls, not even beeps….looks like I  have to revise my love life.

– 18th Feb: The day that we had all been waiting for finally arrived at last. To make it even better, it was a Friday and in Kampala we love our Fridays. Rumours had been going around that there would be war, violence, and chaos. Expatriates left the country while others in the name of obeservers arrived in plenty. Mr. Kale Kayihura of the Police force assured Ugandans that anyone who harboured thoughts of violence would be dealt with.

– On his last rally, Presidential Candidate Y K Museveni echoed Kayihura’s words of comfort.

– On polling day, drama ensued in many polling stations. Some voters were unable to find their names on the register. Others were at the wrong polling station even Presidential Candidate Besigye Kizza was turned away from one polling station.  All in all, it was a calm day here in Kampala. The EC  promised to declare results in 48 hours. True to their word, the EC delivered as promised. On 20th Feb: Y K Museveni was declared president-elect.

– On the evening of 22nd Feb: The EC finally decided that 23rd would be a public holiday. The day for Mayoral/LC 5 Elections.

– 23rd Feb: Kampala awoke to news of vote rigging and ballot stuffing. Soon there heavy military deployment allover the city and then the Kiboko boys arrived – and mayhem did they cause. One aspirant was  blamed for all this chaos.

– In other news,  after about 5 years of my relationship with MTN….. we have reached a point where only divorce is the only option.  Details in another post soon….

– The month has come to an end.  I am still searching for myself. I hope that March will be better than February.

– I wish you a month of blessings and goodness. Go conquer the world!