Juancho in Uganda

So... Who is Salifa Nabirie? First of all in Uganda most people say their last name first and the first name second. It was difficult for us to understand, but one of our Ugandan interns told us that this was her full name. Salifa Nabirie lives very close to the entrance of the water well path and everyday that we walk or pass by on the bike she storms out of her compound and meet us. She is very assertive and as soon as she sees us she asks... What is my name? She really means to ask What is your name? but we haven't been able to change this yet. We have even answered her with her name directly and she always responds with My name is Salifa Nabirie. I am sure we will be able to change the question to What is your name? eventually.

The week with UVP has been excellent with lots of things done including a presentation regarding Malaria at the Christian school where we announce the sale of long lasting insecticide sprayed mosquito nets (they lasts up to 5 years) for just UGX 3000 (about USD 1.50). They seem to be very interested in purchasing and we should have a number of nets by tomorrow. We had a nice sketch of a person sleeping with and without mosquito nets and how they are supposed to be tucked in under the mats they normally sleep in. After this we had a general meeting with the community on Thursday where there were elections for mosquito net distributors and WaterGuard (treatment of water based on chlorine that sells for UGX 500 per bottle when subsidized by us and can clean up to 40 large jerry cans that hold 20 liters).

The week has also been the one of religious visits with one last Sunday at a Christian church, one to the mosque on Friday, and another Christian church today in Busembatia. They were all very nice to welcome us and allowed us some time to discuss what UVP is doing and how to contact us. I believe that these have been great opportunities to meet important leaders of the larger area of Namalemba-Busembatia that contains Bunio and also to show respect for their culture and beliefs. On this note, it has been very interesting to see how the dynamics between all religions play out since the sense of community seems to overcome any problems that may arise due to different faiths. The committees selected by the village have representatives from all faiths and they work together for the well being of all inhabitants without preference. I am really proud to have visited them and to know that they are an example for the rest of the world.

Interesting day yesterday... First of all it started with PANCAKES. We visited a Peace Corps volunteer who teaches biology and math at a secondary school (Kisiki College in Namatumba). We were able to reach there by 9:15 and we were treated to pancakes, ginger cake, and fresh squeezed orange juice. We also stayed for some music presentations of singing groups at her school but we had to leave early to see the traditional songs or dances. After this we went to a wedding introduction (not a wedding but the stage before), where the families meet and the dowry is brought. The dowry had among other things a couple of chickens, a cow, some goats, and a dinner table. They even made us (the bazungu) stand up and have a couple of words with the general congregation.

I am now in Iganga town for the rest of the day and will hope to see some soccer after hearing most of the games in Swahili through our short wave radio (I don't really understand anything but the BBC mostly changes languages once the games start)