A week in Kampala
Our last several weeks have mostly been spent in the office with administrative details. During that time we have done a few interesting things to break up the daily grind. One afternoon we went to a lecture which was part of a project of Faculty of Law, Refugee Law Project and Human Rights & Peace Centre. “Beyond Juba….” builds on work of peace and conflict related issues in Uganda in response to the Juba peace talks between the government of Uganda and the LRA, the rebel group that brought conflict to northern regions for two decades. Two outspoken, well-versed persons each gave a 30 minute talk and then there was an hour for discussion. It was a very lively afternoon. Not everyone agrees on the “way forward” but are willing to listen and discuss.
We celebrated our 46th anniversary with a delicious dinner at a French/Belgian restaurant—grilled tilapia with mushrooms (Sally Jo), puffed pastry with chicken (Ron), and crepes with ice cream and Belgian chocolate (shared). (We were much happier than our photo implies!) Our helper at the house surprised us with a cake.
One Sunday afternoon we attended MishMash again—an informal monthly arts festival. Again there were professional artists/ photographers/sculptors, local crafts, professional dancers and musicians, and good food. It’s also a place to learn to know other local and foreign NGO’s and local professionals. We spoke with a local journalist whose articles we had been reading. The following day we sat down at another event and the Ugandan next to us said “MishMash?” It was the photographer whose photos we had admired. A couple of days later at a guest house in Kotido (12 hours from Kampala) the man in the adjoining bungalow said “MishMash?” It was the Irish man from UNICEF with whom we had talked at length.
One evening we attended a dance theatre at the National Theatre. “Myth of the Night Dancers.” A Ugandan professional dance troupe combined break-dance and traditional dance to enact a local myth. An amazing/energetic performance.
A couple from the U.S. had earlier written to us asking us to introduce them to Mengo Hospital HIV AIDS clinic and MCC work in Uganda when they came through Kampala on a mission trip with another church. They knew the family of the woman in whose memory the clinic was expanded. It turned out that Ron had had both of them in class at Goshen College in the 90’s. Small world!
That afternoon we left by car for Lira and Kotido in a downpour. But that is the next entry!
