Starting off the Year with a BANG!

Perhaps there is no more endorsement of the need to do good than the current state of economic affairs in Uganda. The vibrancy of the 9^th Uganda Parliament also adds to the justification to “do good”. After all, they put themselves out there to finally tackle the “war on corruption” in Uganda’s public sector. Far too long, politicians have colluded with private entities to rob the state of all its resources from big tracks of land, schools, medicines, to chalk and even seemingly unimportant things like bicycles! What do people who get free new 4WDs need bicycles for? Don’t ask me; you tell me?

In many of these incidents, the President of Uganda has been implicated either as an active authority or by directives issued from his office. Remember the order to pay Burundi an exorbitant amount of money, for aiding National Resistance Army (NRA) –NOT UGANDA- war ventures to capture power against the then ruling government of Uganda in 1986. Questions were asked, “Why should the Ugandan tax payer have to foot the bill of a private guerilla group?” not democratically constituted as a representative of the people of Uganda? But it is just mere questions, and for the most part, that is where it all ends in Uganda! Not enough? Even when the Burundi government forgave the NRA the interest accrued on the debt, Mr. Museveni is said to have reinstated the debt, arguably because, “Burundi is a poor country that should not be allowed to “debt-forgive” Uganda!” Surprised there? Well, this is the same president that gifts UGX300 to Rwanda education when Universal Primary Education in Uganda is stinking. Or perhaps he is reminding us that we should give, no matter how big our immediate problems, right?

Even more telling is the recently rumored impending talks between archenemies, Mr. Museveni and Mr. Besigye. The President and his arch-rival Besigye, are willing to give of their time to restore peace and trust in Uganda; yeah right! Perhaps the human has a larger heart than we give them credit for, uhm! So why not make this year a giving year.

In my immediate family, we started off this year with a BANG! In giving spirits. We collected all clothing and household items that we no longer use at home, and reached out to friends to join our “Giving to the People of Busabala” end of year donation drive. On Tuesday January 3, 2012, we delivered our donation to Busabala. It was a fabulous moment for us. The day, Tuesday, January 3, also happened to be my one-year anniversary of surviving getting killed by a matatu driver as I was jogging in the morning at 6:25a around Rubaga. What a beautiful way to celebrate my life! Of course, my son was with me, as we delivered our gifts to the people of Busabala!!

While the event organizing was wanting (the LC Chair had not informed everybody, plus there was a death and burial in the village that day), we were able to put on a show and left many people excited. With the help of the area Local Council, we delivered and distributed  shoes, clothes for women and children, beddings, table clothes and a few goodies for men. Men also collected clothes and shoes for their daughters and wives. I admit we did not have plenty for men, but they stayed around and shared in the fun. Interestingly though, boys partook in some of the clothing we had assumed was for women. That is the village for you; anything goes!  Another interesting incident is when a woman who had previously kept away from claiming her share of the clothing donation, supposedly because”she does not wear dead people’s clothes, turned around and began hustling with the others for a share! My brother, who runs a “soccer for education” academy for abandoned children and children off the streets brought his soccer team for a game with the Busabala team, which we (the visiting team) won 2:1. It was a funEx and added flavor. My brother also promised to follow up with future donations to the Busabala soccer team, including training, balls and jerseys.

It was such a wonderful opportunity joining my mother to give back, and give the people of Busabala. My mother has been doing this for over five years while I was not in Uganda, as a token of appreciation to the people who look out for her property while she is not on site. She is a giving person, and teaches us to continue giving.

So, let us spread the spirit and heart of giving. Let us give to those who are less fortunate. Let us give because it is a better way to spend that extra penny we would have spent on a beer, another iPad, airtime, at Javas at a pork joint or some unnecessary car accessory.

Because we are Wholesome Communitarians

What is that Holy Grail, PRINCIPLES!

Principles, like beauty are subject to the eyes and interpretation of its undresser. And obviously, we partake with varied expressions on our faces. So, when somebody recently responded to my request with, “I cannot do that as a matter of principle”, I was taken aback. Was this person implying that I had no principles, moralizing principles or telling me that we fall in different camps, regarding my request?

I am very sure that each one of us takes different approaches in our life engagements. There are certain things we welcome wholly, while cringing at others. But do we do so “as a matter of principle” or are we moralizing our actions while immoralizing the actions of those who do not believe in what we do? If you asked me to drive after I have had a drink and I choose to abstain from driving, am I doing this “as a matter of principle” or because it is morally right? Or I am protecting my life and the life of the would-be passenger? Is a doctor, who has sworn the professional code to save life terminates a life to save another, is s/he acting without principle? How about a lawyer defending high profile capital offense, whose professional oath is to pursue truth and justice through the courts of law?

What is that “holy grail principles”, anyway? You see, I started graduate school in Boston in the fall 2003, following the US government attack on Iraq. I had left my home in Atlanta, Georgia, where we paraded the streets with placards saying, “No war on Iraq!”, “Make Love Not War!”, “War is not the answer!”, against those with “Support our Troops”, “Protect our Borders”. Georgia also happens to lie within the Bible belt and (neo)conservative region of the American South.

On the contrary, my graduate school is located within that elite belt of colleges and universities in Boston, with all pomp of hosting the “intellectual liberal” population of students and professors. It is at these campuses that you will find the “anti-war lot” including the Quakers, the Mennonites, the Hippies, the humanists and the humanitarians.  So, I sort of found my lot amidst these, as we talked about how wrong Bush’s post 9/11 foreign policy of pre-emptive attack had become and was more likely to bring danger than security to America!

Yet, I found out quickly that my class also had those who believed in “we’ll smoke them out”, including those who had just dropped bombs on Iraq, as service men and women in the US military. Quickly, I found out that there was a larger group among us who believed in “The Role of Force (in International Politics)” and in fact, an oversubscribed graduate class dedicated to the topic. Enrolment for the class included the “usual suspects” –those who had dropped bombs on Iraq, as well as others whom in my thinking, “cared for humanity” and were also enrolled in my Humanitarian Assistance class! But who said they did not care for humanity? Did I have a monopoly on humanitarianism?

Since then, I have learned that different people adopt different strategies in their search for understanding and knowledge, and to participate in making this world a better place. My grad school of “liberals” was in many ways also a neo-con school, whose prestigious security studies program, won it many contracts from the US Department of Defense. I quickly learned to peek at “what those ‘crazy’  security studies people were doing”, by participating in some of their activities. I became a regular participant in the Security Studies Lunch Hour Seminars, not only for the opportunity to eat “real food” –a three course meal with proper table setting of a flower vase, cutlery, napkins and glass! Oh!  How I loved the Security Studies Lunches! You know, “real food” is extraterrestrial in the life of a US grad student.

While I kept my mouth close to my plate, I also kept my ears wide open and listen to career diplomats, security studies scholars, US military officers, defense contractors and soldiers serving in several of US military engagements. I gained entrance into “the mind of war markers or planners”, as well as the tools to confront them in negotiating humanitarian access during war.

As controversial as that might sound, I find myself, six years post-graduation utilizing those skills I gained interacting (not confronting) security studies majors in my graduate school, but to forge a livelihood for civilians caught up in over a decade of protracted conflict in Somalia. With an open mind, I am now sitting at the same table with my formerly sworn “archenemies” –the military- to mobilize support for Somali civilians under the care of the Uganda Contingent to the AU Mission in Somalia (AMISOM). I have allowed myself to learn that AMISOM is not only bombing the shit out of Somalia, but also lending their humanitarian hand, sharing their health facilities in Mogadishu to treat the sick, malnourished and wounded Somalis. My mission is to use every opportunity of on-the ground knowledge, access, and easy transportation of donations we collect to save lives in Somalia. And I am doing this, “as a matter of principle”:)

What if you find someone who believes in your dream, but not as fast as you want to move it?

I am going through the moments. I celebrate the fact that I found somebody not hard to convince to believe in my dream. In fact, so readily, was the offer to carry my dream along. Perhaps there is a professional investment there, but this person is also humanitarian.

But that is one-and-a-half weeks ago, when I thought my dream was gonna fade away into “just another dream”. My dream co-catcher is a very credible face and profile on the “who is who” of Kampala, and the entire Uganda. Can bring in contacts both local and foreign, and has a profile of humanitarian work in the servicing of Uganda, as well as medical treatment of urban and rural Ugandans, emergency situations, dire need and where there is absence of public medical services.

The problem I am experience now is fitting into the schedule. OK, let’s cut the chase. It’s a HE! He’s a very busy man with many hats and locations –politician, humanitarian, doctor, father, husband, guardian and writer. All those he has to fulfill, alongside trying to fit in mine. He was so enthusiastic when I broke my idea to him. In fact, he did not wait for me to ask, if he would partner with me. (I actually my plan was not to ask him “if he could” but instead “how he carries out his”), Readily, he offered to give a face to my dream of launching a fundraising initiative among Ugandans.

Now, I am beginning to wonder whether he is ready to move my dream as fast as I want it? True, we met the day after he agreed to dream with me just after I thought I had hit a stalemate, when my first potential donor said –I needed “street cred” that I thought I had! To my amazement and excitement, he jumped onto my idea and when we met the next day, I found him in the company of four other potential volunteers to see through this initiative.

I had all the paperwork already drafted out that I had emailed him to look at and give feedback. Alas! He had not read it. But it was not hard for me to explain to him what the idea was, my progress thus far, and the “to do list”. The six of us brainstormed on how to proceed, the people we need to meet, the permissions we need to secure, and the activities that would work to boost this fundraising initiative.  So, I went back home and continued with my homework, of amending the initial documents I had drafted for our initial partner to reflect our new partner. Two days of no power cut at home threw us back to nothing done. Although, there are things we could do without the documents, like, meeting some people with expertise on the kind of activities we wanted to do.

I did my part and met up with two of such people who have both worked in Somalia but also donated aid to the Uganda –AMISOM contingent, and therefore know the terrain and the nature of relationships we need to build. The challenge right now is, we cannot proceed with official fundraising, until he approves the fundraising letter, we agree on MoA and terms of operations and secure those initial donors that we need. All this need his face, but most importantly, need his approve of the guiding documents for this activity –the fundraising package is ready…but waiting for his big-self to make it happen. Mr. DREAM MAKER, PLEASE TURN MY DREAM WHEELS ROLLING!

How Do You Cultivate Trust? And Convince Others to Take the Risk in You?

My personality is that I often take things for granted, wade into waters with fears of danger sealed or should I say contained, and often come out successful. So, I refuse to be inhibited with the cult of “who are you”. BECAUSE I AM! I am Doreen Lwanga, born on the 28^th Day of April in the year of the dragon.  Well, I prefer Doreen Naka, because when I introduce myself as Doreen Lwanga, everybody asks, “WHICH LWANGA”? or “Lwanga owawa”? No! not any Lwanga, just “LWANGA, period! So, to avoid the “oli mwana wani” (whose child are you) kind of questions, I would prefer to be known as NAKA. The problem though is that, America and my official life conquered me already. Because all my official documents have LWANGA as my last name. Because American could not pronounce my name –NAKA without massacring it, LWANGA seemed a better escape for me. This is not to say that LWANGA is an easy ride for them, which they would rather pronounce LA-WANGA! So, that is a mouthful of me – I AM! And I do not allow anybody to think I AM NOT!

But now I have been hit in the face again with that, “WHO ARE YOU”, that my attitude is not enough to cover my crazied up face! I am reminded that I can be a nobody in some places like Kampala, never mind that I was born here. That, I need to clothe myself in “who is who” clothes, mine are too obscure to notice and trust. How do I handle this? How do I paint myself, “I AM SOMEBODY”, and achieve the recognition and trust that I need, just for being a beautiful dream catcher?

You see, I am trying to organize a fundraiser for Somali famine relief, and I thought I could just walk up to individuals, offices and the public, using the contacts I know to say, hey! I am a dreamer, a smart dreamer with a big big heart. Give me your money and everything and trust that I will deliver it to Somalia, just like that, using my exceptional networking skills. You see, I have done things like that before, just dreaming about reaching out to something and raising money from anywhere, anything. Through my usual,

“Hi! I am Doreen Lwanga, and I am raising money for XXX organization, pse let me know where I can pick up your donation or you can send it to my paypal account no. XXX.” OR “Hi! I am Doreen Lwanga, and I am running a marathon in support of the Leukemia foundation. Pse contribute to this worthy cause by sending your donation to my account at…” OR “Hi! I am organizing a bake sale and online fundraiser to purchase books for a Women and Gender Studies Library at Makerere University, pse donate to buy a book.” OR going around to corporate entities in Uganda to fundraise, back then as a little college student for building a primary school for TOKA Farmers in Kaliiro, Iganga district of rural Uganda.

While the last initiative reminds me that I had the backing of an institutional introduction letter, I have achieved all my other fundraising initiatives  through personal trust and confidence. I am aware that we live in a gangsta’s paradise, where dogs eat dogs and other people’s dogs too! But I also recall every second of my life that, “Karma is a female dog! Its bite stings so deep, and not once! Therefore, you steal, it comes back to bite you. I would, therefore not wish to cross Karma’s path; I like to stay in her good books. That way, we nurture lifelong relationships and save lives and feel good doing it and making the world a more beautiful shared space for us all. We do not have to be too rich or too poor to help. We can all chip in, because we have different resources that we can pool together –money, hands, heads, contacts, clothes, time, you name it.

I like to taste the waters; if they are virgin, I will mature them.  I do not think Ugandans cannot give or trust “strangers”. First of all, I am not a stranger, but perhaps I can concede that I am not in the “who is who books” of Uganda. My strengths is that I am a super-fabulous networker and I run my mouth around to get into the “rich and famous”. So, I can start with that. If I cannot do this on my own, I will use my ever-revolving brains to recruit a “Face of Doreen’s Initiatives”. I will use my persuasive tongue to sell my idea –sure I can sell myself, how tough is selling an idea! I will persevere, toil to achieve this dream, make this happen and make me proud.

My dream is to break into the Ugandan corporate and public, build their trust in interfacing with a stranger, convince them to take a risk in reaching out to those in dire need in Somali and mobilize them to recall their world-renown spirit of giving and sharing as we make Africa the better place. Through my dream, Uganda is going to reach to Somalia and give to save lives. I have the trust in me, and your trust in me will have matured by the end of this venture. Never doubt that a small group of committed people can change the world. TAKE THE RISK WITH ME!

UGANDA’s Humanitarian Hand to Somalia

I have the good fortune of being both a dreamer, and an awake dreamer. That way, I make my dreams come true! And it seems the trend is gonna continue on this one.

Now I am getting my hands soiled by invading the pockets of Ugandans to donate toward Somali Famine Relief

I always dream of helping people and surprising them. I have been able to do a lot of that. I surprise myself too. This year might have started out on a good path for me. Was it because I met James Long, from UCSD, who have me a temp job with a big fat check? I spent a lot of my check on building my momma’s house. It is not yet complete but we’re still gonna do it. That is my giving out.

Then, I celebrated my momma’s 2011 birthday by raising money in just three days, UGX240,000 from a few individuals toward Sanyu Babies Home, the oldest children’s home in Uganda. We delivered amidst media coverage.

In July, I put out a fundraiser via paypal in celebration of my little baby’s turning three years toward uNight: For Children of Uganda,  and Kigwanya ECD: For Young Women and Teen Mothers of Uganda. That was close to UGX1,000,000. Great job Doreen!

Now, I am embarking Uganda Aids Somali Famine Relief. Those who say, Ugandans do not give to strangers because they give to many relatives and family are surely mistaken.

1. Have they forgotten that the spirit of giving and sharing is a key defining characteristic of Ugandans the world over?

2. Have they forgotten that we are our nation’s keepers? We have kept the peace in Sudan, DR, Congo and now Somalia?

3. Have they forgotten that Uganda People Defense Forces are one of ONLY two AU member states in Somalia, and in fact the lead force?

4. Have they forgotten how much Ugandans spend in bars, grocery stores, restaurants, you name it…that are not only owned by Ugandans but even foreigners.

Surely, we can make it happen, and we are gonna make it happen. And now that we have AMISOM endorsement, let the mind games begin. We are putting all limbs, open brains, eyes, ears and guts into this…Whooha!

We are Africans! Let Ubuntu Shine

It is true that I keep a blog already, where I write about each and everything personal and private. However, I have always wanted to start a professional blog; where I can share some of work accomplished, and work in progress. I also wanted to create a blog that has wider and diverse audience, not limited to my intimate friends. So, welcome to my public blog!

I am an African! And We are Africans! Since human origin started in Africa, each one of us in an African in many ways. For me the concept resonates even more, in the spirit of Thabo Mbeki’s I am An African poem, whom I respect dearly. Yet my experience living in different African countries and living with different Africans strengthens my commitment to Africa and PanAfricanism. I am also connected to the African in the Diaspora, not only through the culture we share but personally through parenting, as a mother of a child born out of a union with the continental-born African and the Diaspora African.

We as Africans pride ourselves as the emblems of Ubuntu, that spirit of communitarianism and the cradle of  humanity. The question is, can we still uphold that? Are we committed to remaining our neighbor’s keeper? Will I scratch your back? And will you scratch mine, back too? This is my call to attention for all of us, as we embark on a journey of upholding the glory of Africa, the prestige of Africans, the spirit of PanAfricanism and the commitment to our humanity.

Let us share with one another, reach out to one another and look out for one another. The boundaries that demarcate our geographical space in present day African states are as elusive and porous as the flow of water. If lakes can run through and connect across these boundaries, why not us? Of course we do this, our cultures are located across these fixtures, and many of us living in border communities have families across, and do cross very often non-stop. Let us not stop to light the neighbor’s fire, to share in our produce, to keep our watchful eye on the neighbor’s household and to embrace the spirit of giving. Because WE ARE AFRICANS!