Inside Uganda

So if you don’t know already I’m back from Africa. I have been back since late February….I’ve been trying to figure out the next step I want to take in my life. In the fall I will be starting my Masters in Interactive Communications. I have also been selected to serve in the Peace Corp which I am extremely excited about.

Since my laptop was broke while I was in Africa and the internet access was limited I was not able to blog to the extent that I would have liked to. 

Thank you for everyone that did read my blog and put me on blast (Slav) for not updating it….I mean I was in Africa! I have started making multimedia presentations with the footage from Africa. 

For the next couple of months I will share my experience on my blogs: www.uganda.today.com and www.saharrawhite.com . 

Currently I am planning my second trip to Uganda. If you are interested in volunteering with Bavubuka email me at swhitejournalist@gmail.com.

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This
little Muslim girl was walking with her mother in front of me and Gerald as we
walked to his families’ house. I think I was talking about our families–I
don’t even know but this Boda guy grabs the little girl and is screaming at her
saying ‘Gwe,’ which means warning in Lugandan the native language used here in
Uganda. I guess she got in the way but whatever…she is a child and there was
no right for him to touch her …it happened so fast. It wasn’t until later
that night that I brought it up again to Gerald. I just couldn’t believe it and
I was so furious..Gerald guessed that the mother and the child were not from Uganda….so she may
have not understood the Boda driver but she could have still defended her
daughter. To Be Continued…….

Wow the last time I wrote in this book was about a month ago. What day I had today. I went to the US Embassy today with Gerald and woke up early. Early like when you’re in middle school or high school or have a real job in the morning 6:30 am in the morning! ewwh I don’t like getting up that early anyways let me go on with the story….So we go to the Embassy because Gerald is planning to come to the
US in the summer. First when we go into my embassy the security guard tells me that the visitors badge that I was handed needed to be clipped on me– I guess he was wondering why I was examining the object. I clipped it but then it wasn’t in the right place–as long as I don’t clip it to my ass…I don’t see what the problem is….I’m really not fond of wearing badges unless I’m somewhere and I want you to know I’m a VIP (lol joking people joking). I advised the guy to finish checking me in and I clipped the badge where everyone could see it…that I was a visitor —-get a life. When am I going to see an American is what I thought. All I saw were Ugandans working in the
US embassy….I’m a little confused…….To Be Continued

I am hanging out with the guys at the Girl Power Conference in Uganda.

The lights were bright and the cameras were out last month as those in the film industry and community celebrated with the first ever Uganda Movie Awards. The event which made history was hosted by the Uganda Federation of Movie Industry at Hotel Africana on Saturday, November 22.

      The event brought out over 40 Ugandans, Vice President Dr. Gilbert Bukenya and the Minister of Culture, Nigerian actor Ramsey Noah and many others. “Thank you so much for the support, for being here [and] for being part of this event is a great honor,” said Noah. The actor who said he made Uganda his second home had the audience laughing when he stated “next year I’m coming here to buy a house and marry my second wife,” he said was just kidding.

      There were a total of 15 awards that were handed out at the ceremony. The first Uganda Movie Award was given out to Mugonza Bato for Best Director for the film City Mafia. Motovu Osman (Ensisinkano Y’ebizibu) took home the awards for Script Writer of the Year. Noah presented Jopseph Mabirizi with the award for Best Film of the Year, for his film Standing Alone. “Thank you Uganda Film Federation, thank you Uganda, thank you every one,” said Mabirizi.

      “Ramsey I’m very very happy, I’m privileged [for you] to honor me with this award,” added Mabirizi.

      The award for Best Film Actor was handed out to Diriisa Sebandeke. Best Film Actress was Aisha Kyomuhangi. Ramathan Kaggwa won Most Supporting Actor. The actor thanked God for his award. “I dedicate this ward to my beloved mom,” said Kaggwa. Betty Nabasirye won Best Supporting Actress.

      Dr. Latif Abdu was awarded Best Film Artiste. The first film maker from Uganda Ashraf Simwogerere was awarded an honorary award; he was not present for the award.

      The Regional Film Producing Company award went to Theatre Ambassadors. Video World received the award for Best Film Distributor of the year. There were even awards to recognize those in the media for their support of the film industry. Most Supporting TV Station was received by NBS-TV. The Ambassador of Germany presented the awards for the Most Supporting Radio Station which went to one of the supporters of the awards Ssuubi fm 104.9. The Independent was nominated for the Most Supporting Newspaper, but the award went to Bukedde.

      The best part of the awards was the performances. A number of artists performed including Betty Mpologoma, Ronald Mayinya, Martin Angume, Sheila Nvannungi, Eddie Yawe, Sylver Kyagulanyi and many more.

      The Vice-President of Uganda Dr. Gilbert Bukenya said the film industry was an important industry for innovation. He also said that the Ugandan government must support this important industry. The Vice-President said he would be meeting with the president of the Uganda Film Federation to see what the government can do to protect films and copyright laws.

      “We are grateful for the very first time Uganda Federation of Movie Industry in Uganda had organized a Movie Awards. It’s not a past-time event, but the main issue is we intend to promote and build a strong film industry in Uganda,” said Kagalo Hussain, the Chairman of the Uganda Federation of Movie Industry.

      “People are earning hundreds of billions of dollars from films. Just this year alone we have looked at a number of people spending more then 500 billion dollars just on one film. We are asking why should we be consumers not producers,” added Hussain.  “Uganda Federation of Movie Industry is ready to help you achieve what you want, let us come together and build a strong film industry in the country…for those who intend to go into the film industry please first look for experts like [those] in the Uganda Federation of Film Industry. Makin a good film is not about introducing something extra ordinary….you can use the art you have, use the local content we have and produce something that is tangible,” said Hussain.

      The first Uganda Movie Awards is an event that will not be forgotten by the audience members and winners. As the award show grows the first participants, hosts, performers, presenters, and winners will remember the first award show. During the show presenters also uttered United States President-elect Barack Obama’s words “Yes We Can,” and some saying “Change has come to Uganda.” Those in the film industry are picking up their cameras and making change. 

When is the good news coming….so I made my first assignment for The Independent…if I don’t tell them what I want to write they will never come up with anything. I cover my first events this weekend.

 So anyways back on the malaria thing….I went to the doctor and they told me I had Malaria! I’m just not really feeling Africa! Everyone kept on telling me I had Malaria because of this blister/bump thing on my lip….I didnt have any syptoms but last week my musles were hurting really bad and my chest. I just thought it was from dancing:-( But I was wrong. ….I brought the medicine which was some $$$$ yesterday I should be getting better soon…I just don’t understand I was taking my medicine, vitamins and everything—-its just not okay….. I will be celebrating my 1 month in Africa on Monday:-) I’m so excited there is so much I want to do and see. I went to the ”beach’ lake yesterday it was nice….pictures coming soon on Monday —- a picture slide show showcasing my month in Africa

This is a picture I took at the beach yesterday….more coming on Monday:-)

Obama!Obama!Obama! A local salon renames their salon to the Obama Salon when Obama won.

Obama SalonSo once we got dressed after Barack Obama’s speech, the girls Divinity and Tiffany went to Web City to call up everyone on Skype and email family and friends.

I went with Seb to The Independent a magazine/newspaper out here in Uganda. I was hoping to do some freelancing assignments there (using the high speed internet would come in handy to ). The internet at Web city is kind of slow and I just end up all mad and when I go there.

Seb is one of the ports coordinators at the house is friends with the managing editor of the paper. I have been told that he is the top journalist in the city. His name is Andrew M. Mwenda.

Today I actually got to sit down and talk to the guy…..but we didn’t talk for that long which was weird. So I guess I’m officially an international reporter! The sky’s the limit. So I googled Andrew’s name he was a fellow at Stanford University last year.

According to the natives in the house and those that I have interacted with Andrew is the only journalist that really “really” talks about the government and Uganda’s president Museveni. It’s crazy because their actually related. Museveni had a son with Andrew’s sister. It makes me wonder if Andrew wasn’t related to him if he would be treated different.

I think…no I’m sure I will learn a lot from him.

You know those days that last forever. Well it seemed like finding out the results of the U.S. election would take a million years. Uganda is ten hours ahead of California and seven hour ahead of N.J./N.Y.

After my first night on the club seen in Africa I didn’t want to go out again. To keep up with what was going on in the U.A. we (Tiffany, Brian, and myself) started the day at Café Pap and sipped African Tea (Spiced—-another blog with details about this wonderful TeaJ—-it’s so good).

We drunk our tea and watched CNN on the big screen t.v. in the café. The election had just got started. We spent the night at three different clubs dancing and stopping to look at the T.V. Screens in each club to see how Obama was doing in the race. The DJ’s periodically gave us club goer’s updates…but of course I already knew as I was not far from the t.v.

Everyone all day wished us luck and high-fived us. Everyone also had on their tee shirts with their cousin Obama’s picture on it.

When we finally got home it was 4:30 a.m. The race was still hard to ell but Barack Obama was in the lead. The final results wouldn’t be known until 6 or 7ish am Ugandan time—Wed. 11/5/08.

We turned on the T.V. when we got home, but I fell asleep. A couple hours later I woke up the t.v. was off. We turned it on and the results were on. Barack Obama was President-elect. Everyone in the house gathered in me and Tiffany’s room. We listened as McCain gave spoke and then Obama followed. The room was silent as Obama spoke. Tears rolled down my cheeks as they did for all the African American women in the house.

We told the kids we would be slaughtering a goat on Wednesday Nov 5^th when Barak Obama won.

Election day events: To be continued