BeBop Posted September 12, 2009 Report Share Posted September 12, 2009 (edited) Continuing with my self-indulgence, I plant another breadcrumb. (There are other threads out there - also of no value - posted during my "Night in Tunisia" and time in Ruwenzori.) Not my first trip to Uganda, but my first to Katanga. Hard not to think of the album/song with the name of this place. Unfortunately, not on my portable music player, and a high-speed connection in Uganda is but a dream. Pretty hard-scrabble place. I guess that goes without saying, or I wouldn't be here. But the people fall squarely in the "asset" column. (This certainly isn't always the case - plenty of human liabilities out there, often in government positions.) Somehow, I can't shake the idea that someone sharing this 'net connection is - at this very moment! - e-mailing one of you about the now-deceased prime minister with 8,000,000,000 Ugandan Schillings (about a buck and a half, U.S.) in his account that he needs your help to expatriate... Coming here directly from South Africa, it's hard to miss the contrasts. No jazz. No electricity (aside from diesel generators and such.) Edited September 13, 2009 by BeBop Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Big Wheel Posted September 12, 2009 Report Share Posted September 12, 2009 I might be wrong, but my hunch is that the Katanga on the Curtis Amy record actually isn't the town in Uganda but the former breakaway state in the Congo. Given the chronology of the Congo Crisis and when Amy made the album, seems like the most likely candidate. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JohnS Posted September 12, 2009 Report Share Posted September 12, 2009 I might be wrong, but my hunch is that the Katanga on the Curtis Amy record actually isn't the town in Uganda but the former breakaway state in the Congo. Given the chronology of the Congo Crisis and when Amy made the album, seems like the most likely candidate. I'm sure that's right. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BeBop Posted September 12, 2009 Author Report Share Posted September 12, 2009 Thank you. Learn something new every day. I've been to both of the "Congos" (Republic of...and Democratic Republic of...) without realizing this bit of history. I suppose I find myself more attuned to today's crises than those of even a short while ago, historically speaking. But it's important not to lose history. So I appreciate the edification. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Joe G Posted September 12, 2009 Report Share Posted September 12, 2009 Zero value? No - the "asset column" comment made it for me. Thanks. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BeBop Posted September 13, 2009 Author Report Share Posted September 13, 2009 As I left the internet cafe yesterday, the counterman joined me out the door. I wasn't sure why, other than, perhaps to talk. As it turned out, he wanted to make sure that I reached a safe place; it was clear that the riots of the past few days were coming to life again. As it turned out, I was safe before the violence re-erupted. News Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BeBop Posted September 13, 2009 Author Report Share Posted September 13, 2009 Apparently more news here, but the site is blocked inside Uganda. If anyone stumbles across anything of interest and could send a PM or post something, I'm trying to be a bit better informed. Thanks. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Matthew Posted September 13, 2009 Report Share Posted September 13, 2009 (edited) It really is a sticky situation in Kampala right now. When I was there last September, an Indian was involved in a traffic accident that either seriously injured or killed an Ugandan, and the crowd beat him to death. A lot of trouble between people from India and Ugandans. I've been to Uganda three times this year, and mainly deal with people from the Buganda tribe, who are very touchy over any perceived slight. The cities I frequent are Kyengeza (which is in the middle of the Buganda area) and Jinja (source of the Nile), sometimes Kampala, but I try to get out of there as fast as possible! It is the craziest place I've ever been to. You're right though, the people are great, and it's been an eye-opening experience to live with no electricity, no hot water, and every meal involves matoke. Now,the tribes from the north are a whole different story, kind of infamous as they make up the vast majority of the private security forces that everyone hires. Edited September 13, 2009 by Matthew Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BeBop Posted September 13, 2009 Author Report Share Posted September 13, 2009 Looking out the window. .... From Monitor Online News: At least 550 people have so far been arrested in connection to the riots that have, for three days, affected business in Kampala city and claimed 14 lives, police announced yesterday. Police also warned that the arrest the hunt for the ring leaders was still ongoing. “I can tell you that we are still arresting, this is not all, we are going to arrest more,” the Inspector General of Police Gen. Kale Kayihura told journalist yesterday at the CID headquarters in Kampala, adding that 83 of the suspects have been charged in court. The Police chief also said that the rioters had retreated to the suburbs describing the mayhem as pre-planned by ill intentioned and malicious characters. “There has been orchestrated violence and lawlessness in the suburbs of Kampala this (Saturday) morning; surburbs like Nateete,Kyengera,Kamwokya and Kireka have experienced sporadic incidents of hooliganism and brief episodes of disturbances,”Mr Kayihura said. Whole Story Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BeBop Posted September 13, 2009 Author Report Share Posted September 13, 2009 Maybe funny in retrospect: I'd posted this thread under non-political. Oops. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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