We survived the UCU Guild elections (and Intrepid Joan passed through (won one of the seats)), with the most votes to boot! Now we move on to Ugandan elections.
Like in the US, one must vote where one is registered. However, few people in urban settings are from there; even if you live in the town or in Kampala (also called a town, which makes NO sense to me), you’re from somewhere else. So, most folks in the urban areas must travel to their rural polling places to vote. Which means there’s gonna be a whole lot of travelin’ going on this week, mostly on Thursday, then again on Sunday.
Many of my Kenyan friends have gone home for this week; I suspect that they remember the riots in Nairobi last year and wish to be out of Dodge were anything to erupt here, but since it’s a public holiday on Friday, and the University is closing at one on Thursday to allow for travel, I suspect it’s a convenient holiday as well. Honestly, if I were them, I’d be more concerned about getting back into Mukono.
I’m all set to be hunkered down here. I’ve got coffee, sugar, powdered milk (can get real milk on campus), milk biscuits (more like cookie/crackers; I drown them in milk. YUM.), drinking chocolate (hot chocolate milk), toilet paper, laundry soap, and my laptop. I’m set. You noticed the priority on the items, there, didn’t you?
There was a rumor floating that the University was closing on Wednesday, and the lecturer that we have for two classes was going to travel to monitor elections. Except that he’s here, and the school closes Thursday. I was really coveting that time to get stuff done. Yes, coveting is one of the Big Ten, and I repent, but it was a fabulous opportunity, yes? And I might try to see if that lecturer still wants to go monitor elections…
But please pray for peace and order. There’s no reason to think things will be anything other than peaceful. I think current polls put President Museveni with 69% of the vote, so that bodes well. But as we’ve learned lately, events can turn on a dime.
Thanks, Kae and Dave. I think there's a candidate running on a platform touting federalism, though I don't know what the campaign promises are.
Your priorities seem just right to me! Stay safe, Kae
Stay safe Jessica. Having been in a foriegn land in a time of political discourse gave me more respect for what we have in the US. I hope the Ugandans vote for whomever will allow for a limited republican (small "r") government and more individual liberty.