Uganda in the news

Uganda has made several appearances in the news this week!  Here are links and quick reactions. 

 

Discontent Simmers in a Market as Uganda's Economy Staggers

The economy in Uganda is struggling, and it is clearly evident in my daily interactions with taxi drivers, shop owners, and coworkers.  Prices of everything from avocados to petrol have gone up substantially in my 4 months here (and the exchange rate has gone from 2400USH to the dollar to 2900USH to the dollar).  There have been contentious debates over the skyrocketing price of sugar, which has bisected environmental debates about where sugar can be grown in this country.  It is obvious that people are not happy and "many Ugandans say that their government is corrupt and that their president, Yoweri Museveni, who after 25 years has ruled Uganda for longer than more than half the country’s population has been alive, is dismissive of the people’s plight." 

3 Officials Quit Amid Scandals in Uganda

The entire country was tuned in to the Parliament debate over oil last week, and the corruption runs deep.  While oil could be a great asset to Uganda financially, they currently do not have the capability to cultivate (mine?) or refine it without outside investment and help.  Hopefully they won't go the way of other resource-cursed countries or be exploited by oil-hungry countries.  Ugandan's currently pay about the equivalent of $6 USD a gallon for petrol and have one of the weakest currencies in the world. 

 

Armed U.S. Advisers to Help Fight African Renegade Group

This article was the most upsetting to me.  There is peace in northern Uganda right now and the last thing people want or need up there is more conflict.  I am hopeful that this won't provoke anything, but worry that it is not a positive step for the US or Uganda.  The LRA is basically a 300 man insurgency, and though they certainly pose a threat they have been quiet for several years now.  Northern Ugandans have lobbied for amnesty for the LRA, and although it certainly won't be granted to Kony himself (due to involvement by the ICC), bringing in 100 US troops NOW hardly seems productive.  My coworkers have mentioned the possible ulterior motives by the US... namely, the newly discovered oil reserves.  Why would the US get involved now and not at any point during the 23 year war/terror when northern Ugandans were being systematically kidnapped, brainwashed, tortured, and killed by the LRA.  

In Uganda, Security Forces Clash with Protestors

There is another “walk to work” protest this week, which is known to incite violence.  Walk to work is organized by the opposition and is intended to stand against the high price of commodities and petrol.  I think it’s interesting for several reasons.  For one, Uganda is the only country I know of where walking to work is a political statement (in general people here don’t walk… walking is seen as a sign of poverty, hence why when I walk to work I am stopped about every 5 seconds by people wanting to give me a ride.  My walk to work is only 10 minutes!)  It is also interesting because walking to work seems so harmless and even beneficial—less traffic on the road, good exercise for the masses, less pollution, etc—but it is seen as a revolutionary, political act and is met with violence and persecution.