More on African leadership
On the news today, Uganda’s President says that there will be no demonstration on the streets of Kampala in response to the rising fuel prices and the consequent rise in the cost of living. The opposition leader is arrested for having organised a demonstration, or of being in the process of organising one. He is shown on TV being accosted as he comes out of his house. There are a few words of exchange between him and those who accost him. He has one hand in a sling but it doesn’t stop them from half carrying him and half pushing him into the back of a pickup truck. He kicks helplessly. I feel sorry for him, and for those who arrest him. It’s ridiculous and I feel embarrassed even. It’s unnecessary aggression for a non-crime. I wonder how long leaders think they can suppress their own people until it erupts into something rather unpleasant.
And some good news on leadership
But with every bad news, there’s good news. A soldier in Kenya has walked 250 km to raise awareness on the importance of donating blood. He made the journey in about a week and on his walk he spoke to people who came out to see him. With my weekend just gone, and bearing in mind all the conversations I have had about development initiatives, I am beginning to think that regardless of the lack of resources in Kenya, there is a huge willingness and keenness to give back to one’s community in this part of the world.
Also, in the news, there is a story about a woman who struggles to raise children with disabilities. While her predicament is televised, there is also educative information for people in her position. Issues to do with disabilities, both physical and mental, are rarely spoken about in a significant number of African communities. So I find this programme not only educative, but current.
No comments:
Post a Comment