Yes, the walk-to-work protests in Uganda are predominantly political. I'm quite intrigued by this: the opposition didn't manage to excite anyone before the elections, which was a bit disappointing - but then, I thought, perhaps just as well: Museveni had clearly taken a long, hard look at Kenya and understood that any election would have to show a distinct victory, not an ambiguous two percentage point lead or so. And he made sure that it was clear. Cost Uganda a bomb, but hey, that's of limited interest to a president for life. <br>
<br>Except high costs of living are of course a legitimate concern, and the walk-to-work gimmick is quite inspired: Museveni needs to do something about it to prevent mass dynamics from getting out of control, but there's no way he can do anything that won't make him look cruel and silly. I mean - how can you forbid people from walking to work, and teargas and shoot them for it?? <br>
<br>On a related note, yes, I understand that throwing stones won't get me power, but I'm writing this in a power cut. Power has been off all day, and just went off again. I have a deadline. Sure, solar lamps are great, but I think this argument partly distracts from the fact that there is, both in Uganda and in Kenya, systemic failure behind what people protest about: there is little a government can do about the price of oil on global markets, but *plenty* of other inefficiencies in the system that drive the costs of living up: inefficiencies in the fuel transport, the fact that there is a barely crawling railway and all goods transports are via road, the lack of a competent agricultural extension service and irrigation, the fact that KPLC are allowed to charge me an arm and a leg, but don't deliver, ..... Like many people in this economy, I would be able to work to my full capacity if I weren't constantly fighting all those breakdowns - being stuck in traffic, evading power cuts etc. And that's nothing life threatening - if price increases mean you have to cut back on meals, or decide between doctor and food, then it's a whole different story, and my little niggles really fade in significance. . <br>
<br>This has little to do with ICT, though. But if you have power and a functioning internet connection, here's an amusing contribution from Urban Legend Kampala - digital content and stuff, you know, just to get us back on track :) <br>
<br><a href="http://urbanlegendkampala.com/2011/04/26/kayihura-commends-jesus-for-not-walking-to-heaven/">http://urbanlegendkampala.com/2011/04/26/kayihura-commends-jesus-for-not-walking-to-heaven/</a><br><br><div class="gmail_quote">
On 26 April 2011 20:37, <span dir="ltr"><<a href="mailto:bitange@jambo.co.ke">bitange@jambo.co.ke</a>></span> wrote:<br><blockquote class="gmail_quote" style="margin: 0pt 0pt 0pt 0.8ex; border-left: 1px solid rgb(204, 204, 204); padding-left: 1ex;">
Washington,<br>
The Ugandans are simply using inflation as a proxy to fight President<br>
Museveni. We went through this in the 90's.<br>
<br>
Our consumer activists are acting selectively on the issue of inflation.<br>
I wish we spend more time on acting positively in such difficult times.<br>
Let me explain: A young man by the name Evans Wandago invents a Solar<br>
Powered LED Lantern and wins the Gorbachev Innovation Award along with Ted<br>
Turner and Sir Berns Lee. This Lantern is a sabsititute to some of our<br>
Energy requirements.<br>
<br>
I had hoped the consumer association will educate Kenyans to boycot fuel<br>
and support the Kenyan Innovation. This will have meant that the entire<br>
Africa will follow. Making a billion lanterns will mean an industry that<br>
will create as much as 100,000 jobs. We should have lobied Kenyans to<br>
invest in this new venture instead of buying plots and in the process. We<br>
failed on this and blamed the Government on a global crisis. Soon the<br>
Chinese would mass produce the Lantern and give us concetional credit to<br>
purchase our invention. Let us think positive and make our land a better<br>
place to live in. There is no Government that is not gribbed in this<br>
inflation mess. We have a chance to lead the world.<br>
<br>
<br>
Regards<br>
<br>
<br>
Ndemo.<br>
<div><div></div><div class="h5"><br>
<br>
<br>
<br>
<br>
<br>
<br>
<br>
<br>
<br>
> On Tue, Apr 26, 2011 at 14:05, Rad! <<a href="mailto:conradakunga@gmail.com">conradakunga@gmail.com</a>> wrote:<br>
><br>
>> I think it is a very pertinent issue.<br>
>><br>
>> What is to stop the Kenyan government doing the same thing?<br>
>><br>
>><br>
> Actually, Kenya is very likely headed towards the protests if the govt<br>
> doesn't do something on inflation. So let's wait and see how it will deal<br>
> with the situation when the time comes.<br>
><br>
><br>
> --<br>
> Best regards,<br>
> Odhiambo WASHINGTON,<br>
> Nairobi,KE<br>
> +254733744121/+254722743223<br>
> _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _<br>
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