Letter to Rishi Sunak-No need to apologize

Dear Prime Minister, 

First I want to thank you for taking the lead and stepping up to the plate. In my eyes you did a great job. Both you and Mr. Macron took great risk and decided to present your complex political challenges to a vote. Commendations on this. 

I must say that I was excited when you took your position in 10 Downing Street and were even able to celebrate your ancestral culture and religion. Like many before, in what some of us call the minority, you view represented us all. Those who came from the Caribbean with big dreams and hopes of helping Queen and Country to rebuild after the Great War as well as those who had come decades before and served in previous wars with great acts of service and valor. 

In the US and some parts of South Africa, there are those who rejoice at any progress made by people of color and I think that I am one of them. While we may have differences between us a ‘lesser’ races, your victory was indeed our victory. Even as India launched into space with their first lunar mission we here in Africa also thought about the possibilities. 

When you won the election in the UK, I had just published a piece about why Indians make great CEOs (a piece by Avi Patchava that I found on LinkedIn). It was something I came across online and thought was quite inspiring and I was trying to find ways in which we too on this side of the racial divide would benefit from similar traits. Leadership is great as it often accords you a sense of visibility which allows those who share your ethnicity to see the possibilities and perhaps even step up to the plate. It is a sort of pyramid from which those at the base can also seek to rise. 

While I watched you lead I also saw some of the challenges including a sad scene when you were taking a jog and were verbally accosted by a fellow citizen with some nasty unrepeatable phrases. 

Some of my fears were laid bare when a mix of emotions overcame me a few months ago as almost all the penalty kicks that were handled by my color mates in the English team of the European Championship failed to hit the net. I guess I was a little concerned at the optics of a ‘sacrifice’ that placed black people at such critical points in time only for ‘us’ to fail. 

There was some exhaustion at the prospect or idea that some of us were not really British that even after so many years of giving and losing, there was something missing. Our contribution to the overall culture notwithstanding. 

Maybe my fears about a rising India were overplayed a few weeks ago when I stated what I stated about OSS and Nationalism in India. My hope though is that you will get another opportunity to shine through your party. 

There was a little unease when you called forth someone from the past to help you run government (Mr. Cameron). Maybe it was optics maybe it was just that little piece of inadequacy that troubles all minorities when we find ourselves in positions of power. I don’t know. Imposter syndrome? 

Image above from axios site

As we step into the future your greatest ally is also readying herself for an election in the next few months. 

The crowds that were present when PM Modi the now famous ‘Chaiwalla’ visited the US and filled a stadium with excited crowds showed me what is possible. I just hope that we will not have to deal with an election and later on a withdrawal from the forefront by another Enterprising American of Asian (Indian) descent in the likes of former Candidate Nikki Haley (who for a while had my support-South Carolina) or VP Kamala Harris (although both would be emerging from different camps). Both potentially great picks but whose attachment to Hindustan at least in their heritage might cause them to sink back even when so many are rooting for them. 

Image above from politico site

Social Media Summary for 2023 with a Focus on Education and Entertainment-Social Commentary.

Story One: Pretty Nicole

The year that was presented some interesting challenges and insights into our country. I think that there are three or four stories that illustrate these complexities. The first story is one of a young girl who calls herself Pretty Nicole. She came to the attention of Ugandans on Twitter when someone filmed her being beaten by a ‘rival’ female who had found out that she was involved with her boy friend. Netizens shared this video and as a result a measure of justice was served to the angry young lady.  Then a flurry of events took place where Nicole was placed into a school which she promptly escaped. A few scandals about some leaked videos followed. Desperate pleas from her mother to get her back into school. She responded but what was notable was her concern about the system and her request that she join the music industry as an entertainer. The young girl is barely fourteen. But at that age you are really starting to feel like you have an effect on the world. Your bust and your curves are being noticed and you are starting to make a dent on a largely skewed male population. All things considered, you are in your prime in your teens but with little guidance. 

Many of those who have gone before you and succeeded or not with their degrees often complain about the education system and Pretty Nicole is no different. She is having trouble seeing how valuable what she is being taught is while at the same time realising that quite a number of not so educated youth are making a killing in the Entertainment Scene. 

As we speak the numbers reveal that the number of students who registered for Primary Exams has decreased drastically. So you really cannot blame her. 

Here is where social media comes in. As we speak it seems the young girl has amassed quite a following. I recently looked at her page and found that she had landed an influencer deal. Not bad for a kid who wanted to drop out. Maybe she will have a chance to finance her own education or entrance into the entertainment world. 

Story Two: Alien Skin

This young man is built different. His music has taken the country by storm. He even has the guts to take on Bobby Wine (this is a no go area just ask some famous Pastors). You see the Ghetto President as he is affectionately known has a following that does not take criticism of the principle lightly. But when someone rises to the level where they can take jabs at the GP, then you know something is cooking. In the bigger picture of the Ugandan political scene, the playbook that is being used is similar to what happened in Kenya in the late nineties and frankly to this day is the same strategy. At the height of the democratization of Kenya or some could argue from its very begining, the two party system was exploited through its leaders by creating tribal alliances and factions which later led to the blossoming of personalities and later parties galore. So the Democratic Party of Uganda, Forum for Democratic Change as well as UPC have all had some sort of split or struggle as to who serves as flag bearer with internal coup d’etats being normalized. 

Back to the music. Alien skin has emerged as a breath of fresh air for an industry that some could argue was suffering from a hernia. There was a sesne in which some of those who felt like they helped pave the way for others were feeling entitled and expecting the upcoming artists to kiss the proverbial ring and pledge allegiance. The ability to appreciate those who have come before you goes without saying but there are many ways to do that. Some have chosen to redo music done by those long gone while others have decided to use monetary gifts. All this helps. But this struggle for dominance is real and permeates the Radio Stations as well as the ecosystem of event cordinators and promoters and MCees. 

His music is different. He seems to be having a conversation with his audience and this suits his style. But there is no mistaking the fact that the young people are taking in his stuff and dancing to it. And that is all it takes really. In the bigger picture we struggled to find a universal voice or a defining tune for the country, but my guess is that we are pretty close. 

Story three: Champion Gudo

A few years ago a young boy called Fresh Boy hit the scene with his music. He made an impact and was quickly snatched by one of the leading Primary Education Institutions for a scholarship. This was about two or three years ago but it set a precedent. Ofcourse the school saw this as a marketing win but others also saw an opportunity. The young boy excelled and continued to pursue his career in music but he seemed to be guaranteed a pretty successful future. Enter Alien Skin and champion Gudo. As already described, Alien skin was making waves but as is the nature of our culture in which Kings often invited promising young people into the court to raise them as leaders, Champion Gudo was taken on to learn the ropes at least by association. There was a back and forth where many said that the young boy needed to be left alone to study while others called it a publicity stunt. If memory serves me right, the young one was offered a place in a school? What followed was interesting. Some parents shared a letter with the school’s management stating that they preferred that their children study in a safe space independent of ‘these other children’ (my words). Maybe this is really the way of our society. Classify and separate by wealth or color and manage the distribution of wealth and power by these groupings? 

What are your thoughts? 

PS these photos are taken from Social Media Accounts. 

On the Brink by Yosiya Lwanga

It is very difficult to write or review a book written by someone else about such personal struggles especially when it is written in such an honest manner. 

The author is trained as a creative writer and is well versed in American (read the book and you will figure out what i mean) law but his education in quite a number of countries and in varied languages put him in a unique position to write and describe his experiences. 

The first thing i thought about after reading a few pages of the book was access to rights to a movie. It is written in very descriptive lanugage and Yosiya’s skill in this regard is unmatched. It is a mixture of several ideas and has you moving from Uganda to West Africa to Europe as well as the United States. It is an exploration of deep pain and the work it takes to navigate through this pain into recovery. It is a book about the struggle to get it right and the battle to learn as you grow. It is a lecture about American life in high school and college from parties to clubs to life in the city to wrong turns. It is a glimpse into race, education, bits and pieces of incarceration and more. It even gives you some insights into the law and how it works and the justice system. The book is also about relating to God and understanding human behavior. It is groundbreaking in that it also captures some of the most modern media tools into a three in one. 

While there are many different tools that can help readers who are struggling with addiction the book is also a great resource for those who want to explore the human mind and some of the theories that exist about this area…at least those that Mr. Lwanga has chosen to share with us. 

Mental Health Day.

This article is in four parts first a story, second explanation, third the technical ideas, fourth implications and applications. 

THE STORY 

Recently, in one of our hotels in Uganda, there was a story about a tourist who lost his temper and then decided to descend upon one of the people at the front desk where he assaulted him physically as well verbally. The whole incident was recorded in video. It is said that the culprit was an American born, Christian, Vietnam war veteran that was in Uganda for a holiday whose outburst was diagnosed as bipolar disorder. 

This upset many people who wondered why he was allowed to travel in the first place. 

THE EXPLANATION 

As one who has been through the grind and who knows a thing or two about that thin line between Sanity and Madness I was concerned primarily because on the spectrum or continuum of illnesses, many of us are really not too far for a range of conditions that could place us equally in the same position as him. 

TECHNICALLY SPEAKING 

His story carries weight because he illustrates a few important ideas that need to be referenced. First, his experiences, and his service. The Vietnam War Veteran is bound to have scars and there should at least be some method of recognizing and therefore anticipating some effects from this. Experts therefore often split between experiences and environmental effects on one hand and the effects of ageing and genetics on another (neurodegenrative illnesses). Inbetween though there exists a catergory that is a mash up between the age, genetics and environment. Sometimes these can be triggers that 'release' previously undetected conditions. The war and it's effects would in our Days be described as PTSD (post traumatic stress disorder). The restlessness of children could be a mix of diet, environment and life stressors that we call ADHD (Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder). 

On the spectrum that I mentioned previously, you have restlessness, stress, depression, a moment of excesses (mania), bipolar disorder (which is a mix of manic and depressive),schizophrenia and then psychosis. 

From what we see in the treatment, the blood tests are used to check on the release of certain action or flight controllers which are responsible for the mania and or the depressive tendencies that accompany these illnesses. Bringing the body back into equilibrium is therefore the goal. This can be achieved by rest which is why most medication makes you lethargic. The counseling also helps bring the mind to the place where it can sort itself out vocally. 

APPLICATIONS

To date there have been quite a number of discussion that have been centered around health where some experts have sought to create a "tell all" policy for diseases such as HIV. This is troubling given the stigma and discrimination that is still attached to the disease. Even if quite a lot of progress has been made, there still a lot of work to be done in workplaces where people have been denied jobs or even fired on account of testing positive. We see a situation where for example if one disclosed a mental illness, the same could happen. 

We also see the need to adopt models such as that developed by Basic Needs In Uganda and Basic Needs U.K where there is focus not just on the people with illness but also their families and duty bearers. The office space thus comes fully equipped to deal with stressors and to help prevent situations that can bring about unnecessary distress. 

The disclosure of illness would in some situations be appropriate where we have for example heard of cases where people with mental illness were wrongfully arrested and shot in cities in the U.S.A. Clearly in the case above the signals should be read and clear when dealing with War Veterans both internationally and locally. We also while not aiming at being critical see the need to create room for a future that is sensitive to present and past change pressures such as the Northern Uganda Conflict, Land Disputes and Evictions or other unexpected changes that are bound to affect the manner in which people think and therefore act. 

The Presidential Debates in Kenya-an attempt to find the issues.

Transition, Transformation and Radical Thinking. 

Entertaining other possibilities.

So the day came and passed by swiftly. After a consultation with the debate organizers, the decision was made to have it only between two of the top candidates. Few of us have entertained the idea or possibility of the loss of both men maybe because it is so far fetched. But what would happen if the two most popular leaders ceased to exist. My guess is that the whole process would go into a tail spin and all of a sudden we would have no option but to listen and make space for the rest of them. 

The task of two and the role of one. 

From what we are told there was some expectation that Uhuru Muigai Kenyatta was going to be present but that was not the case. Instead Raila Odinga faced the crowds on his own. We were told that the numbers were impressive (in the age of digitization this process of monitoring is made much simpler). What the result of this was that Baba (as those who hold him in their affections refer to him) took on the role of both candidates. 

A question that was presented helped bring this idea to the fore. The moderators were wondering if both candidates were simply extensions of their fathers both of whom were political giants in the history of the nation. 

Were the two families holding the nation hostage? 

Characteristic tribal affiliations.

Kenya has some similarity with Zimbabwe in the sense that those who were at the forefront of the fight of resistance against the British in this case the MAU MAU (Mzungu Arudi Ulaya Mwafrika Apate Uhuru) have always felt a sense of ownership over the country. In Zimbabwe the liberation fighters are still at the heart if the leadership of the nation and part of Robert Mugabe's unpopularity stems from his unwillingness to negotiate with the white settlers. A similar vein appears in South Africa with Julius Mlema whose attitude towards the white South Africans has drawn him quite a lot of ire. More recently in Kenya we have seen some of these ideas re-awakened with challenges against the ownership of precious tracts of land in the highlands as well as issues of land for pasture. What you have as a result of this is the creation of a historic few whose hold on the reins of power is now being questioned. I argue that the emergence of the Mungiki in the last few years in Kenya was probably a manifestation of this rift in thinking at least in the ranks of hard core Kikuyu resident. The battles against the British would have characteristically involved more Kikuyus especially because back in the day the territories that were being fought for were tribal lands. 

The question regarding an entrenched core (or what is referred to as Mafia) stems from this period which merged the idea of oath taking and silence (OMERTÀ as it is known in the Italian language-the vow of silence). 

Closer home too, we have seen the rise of this type of thinking especially as regards the removal of Idi Amin and Milton Obote. Those who were more prominent in the liberation struggle or at least those who made sure they were seen as being prominent have created a sense of entitlement. 

The question regarding youth and employment. 

The rise of the Mungiki was probably was manifestation of a problem regarding change within the youth who on one hand were close to their parents but distant with regards to experience. But this was unique to the Kikuyu as a core group at least in terms of population in Kenya. Maybe the same can be said of Somalia which survived for so long without a government but whose youth feel a sense of loyalty towards their faith and their territory. In the latter case, here has also been a merger of two rivers that represent the local youth and the young people that have grown up outside of Somalia, perhaps in places like the United Kingdom whose educations system is good at generating forward thinking graduates. 

An export of western models in eastern contexts. 

The debate format is probably an export from the west that is proving popular in our days. I think that the success of this method varies and depends heavily on the caliber of citizenry and the level of interest in these types of engagements. On the whole it seems as though the debates are have a larger audience abroad than locally. From what we saw similarities were drawn between the incumbent and our very own both of whom were not present at critical moments of the debate. The difference is that there was not too much of a reference to the empty chair as was the case in Uganda. The other difference is that on the local scene the hard of state got a chance to make up for the no show. What has emerged in the last few days is the use of FB live by Uhuru Kenyatta probably as a means to further engage his audience. It will be difficult to tell if there will be repercussions for the no show. 

The polls, news items and social media. 

2016/2017 was the year in which the poll was supposed of have fallen out of favor. No one saw or called the Rise of DJT. As things stand now, the pollsters are calling it even. There are no others on the radar unless they are flying low. But what is changing now is the extensive use of tools that seem to have affected the elections in the U.S such as false news. 

The question of land, rents and landlords. 

Historical Problems. 

Probably the most telling moment for candidate was when he used the opportunity to remind the audience about his experience in Prison. The lights were affecting him and this helped serve as a reminder of the Moi years and the difficulties that many leaders faced when the stood in opposition to the KANU. What is interesting is the almost impossible task of figuring out the political party history of the country. From the FORD days (Forum for the Restoration of Democracy) and the split that created FORD Kenya, FORD ASILI to what we have now. Which is really the rise of those who were at the heard of the resistance movement of the day and who to this day can be trusted (at least in the eyes of the populace) with the political future of the Country. 

The double edge sword of women emancipation.

Transition, Transformation and Radical Thinking. 

There is a popular debate on the radio regarding the new change in the corporate circles that has brought about an increase in participation of women in traditionally male dominated spaces. 

The dynamics are changing the way we do business and the manner in which we relate. 

These developments have drawn my attention to the U.S and the battle for liberation with specific regards to the black movement. At a very critical point in the fight, the adversary (whoever this is) made a strategic move that in my view was disguised as the women's liberation. There were some great leaps made in this regard to bring the issues that were troubling women to the fore but something else changed. It was a deliberate master stroke the draw women into the fight in a sense that destabilized the men. The women was thrilled at the chance to get equal and rightly so, but it also brought about a fundamental change in the psyche of the men who inadvertently found themselves withdrawing for their traditional roles.

Not wanting to be seen as the opposition, many simply drew back. Yes they were glad to have women fighting beside them and engaging with the ideas of the age but they now had to settle for few or no jobs and a system that began to skew in favor of their counterparts. 

Maybe this is why we also saw a increase in effeminate men. 

LXB and BXL

 LXB and BXL

Transition, Transformation and Radical Thinking.

The last few months have been momentous for Asia Watchers. The economist run a article in which they asked if China had lost its conscience. The piece was written in reference to Liu Xia Bo or LXB as he came to be know on social media. China and it's citizens and those who follow the scene in a heavily restrictive environment had created a set of initials to get past the world's most stable and impenetrable firewall. 

This was done after the state chose to restrict coverage of the controversial Nobel prize winner especially after his illness became , known. This activist and social commenter had become a thorn in the flesh for the ruling class with his calls to end one party rule. As is often the case, the the rebel became a darling of the west while managing to alienate himself in the site of his own leadership. 

In the meantime, another promising political voice Bo Xi Lai (BXL) presents an extreme on the other end of the spectrum for a country that needs to find its conscience. He was a party insider who Father was once part of a core group. He grew up in the system and was even seen by some to be readying for the top job. He quickly fell out of favor when some scandals emerged that were to grave to ignore. 

So where is China 's middle ground? 

This week and on another platform, two key voices were pitted against each other for their role in Modern China. The first Chang Kai Shek, the second Mao Tse Tung. 

One a champion of the revolution and therefore an advocate of the communist movements, the other an anti-communist. 

Both men tied to history and the need to preserve the status quo but both confronted by the forces of change. 

What is most interesting about the emergence of both men is that the age that proceeded after the end of Kingdoms necessitated or seems to require large chunks of time. These large periods of time both created a cult sense around these two leaders and resulted in a monarchy re-imagined. A study of china's history therefore has to be done with regards to those who gained prominence on one hand and those who fell victim to the forces of change both controlled and uncontrolled. A study of Mao Tse Tung involves as can be expected a look at his history. His relationship with his father, his peasant background, his love for literature, his exploration of the ideas that furnished the revolution in Russia, his marriages, University life and work life, role in the major systems that governed a post revolution china, ideas he presented once he came into power and then relationships with foreign nations. 

The possibility of a collapse of the union as it stands in China is still a long way away. But it is a possibility. Thinkers that watched the collapse of the soviet union have to think about those that functioned under the ideology in the past and that still cling on to it. While the new head of state is still holding the fort and for all intents and purposes trying to revive the glories of Russia sans Czar this reality is should be dealt with by Chinese thought leaders. The trouble is there is no counterbalance of forces. At the moment the state is strong and it has successfully merged its power with its extensive purse. 

Meanwhile In Uganda we are troubled why a few CEOs by passed our territories in favor of Kenya and Rwanda. Maybe God covered us with a kisubi (to cover one with grass as a protection measure). For it is going to prove increasingly difficult to split between the function of China as a government and those of China and it's influential business people. Should the business people rise as they should they might end up being on a collision course with a state that has its hands firmly on the state. 

Seem have argued that much of the development on the local scene has been good for the region especially because China has taken no meddling position. But what the Dragon has demonstrated in her territories is a thirst and hunger that is unquenchable and a willingness to use force in the acquisition of additional territory and resource. 

Update from the British Isles

Damned if she does and damned if she does not

So the long awaited poll took place and from what we gather has left many speechless. It has helped clarify
quite a number of things for Theresa May. The experts tell us that she was damned from the start if she did hold
the poll and damned if she did not hold the poll. Either way she needed to make sure she had some kind
of mandate. Had she soldiered on, she would have been questioned and challenged.
There was a sense of Deja Vu at least on this side of the activity and all i could think about was the confident
Sri Lankan head of state who called a snap election only to be ousted by his prime (http://www.aljazeera.com/news/2015/08/sri-lanka-elections-150818133605788.html).
Democracy Sometimes sucks

The former Home Office head needed and still needs some kind of mandate for this is no simple
task as the Brits seek to respond to the needs of their populace. Here is where Democracy sucks. To have to make
such grave decision when the gap between two opposed parties is so slim. One of the issues that has emerged post
poll is the idea of experience. The same experts have wondered if one needs a little more than just an
office in the Home Office with some additional skill from say the Exchequer or the Foreign Office. So they have ploughed into her in this regard. But to be clear there is nothing comfortable about this divorce.
The Europeans are under pressure to deal harshly with the Brits lest they loose their momentum and the few
enthusiastic members they still have left in the Union. So the Brits need to unite under one banner. What this means
is that there is really not going to be any thing soft about the Brexit. The best that the Brits can hope for is
an extension that drags the process on and ends up causing a sense of fatigue. In addition to this a deliberate
attempt to ruin the process of May can prove fruitful if it manages to earn them time and compassion from the
European Union.
Not so gentle response from the Economist

The age old publisher has not been very kind with regard to this new leadership core. According to the magazine,
this has not been the best team in a long while (http://www.economist.com/news/britain/21723101-country-will-soon-go-bat-against-brussels-one-its-weakest-teams-decades).
They argue that the British have not had the best of choices.
And they may be some truth in this. Firstly, one should not expect great leaders unless they rise in the background of
tough times. This maybe the very thing that causes them to be great. The circumstances under which they rise
tend to form the leaders. Secondly, the same seems to be the case in the now more experimental France
as well as Holland and the U.S where the populace has not really sat down to chose with ease but have been
forced to chose between the better of two evils.
A response to circumstance

It is not easy to understand what drove the response from the British but there is some evidence that a major split
is increasing between the young and the aged. The former were more responsive this time around and may
have been responsible for Mr. Corbyn's success. The generational split is therefore symptomatic of more to come
and of a handover between the generations that is not taking place. All eyes are on the French and Macron who is
re-writing French history as a one year old party "marches" on to victory. Why these kinds of movements have failed in duopolies like the U.S is a story for another day. Additional troubles have arisen in Conservative strongholds (extremely wealthy) which have voted for Labour (traditionally working class party).
The Americans

There is a possibility that the Americans saw this coming and the relationship between the two will strengthen. The Brits need to have an economic relationship that can fill in an gaps that they may appear after the exit. The challenge will be in making deals with the great 'deal maker' who at this point still has a soft spot for the English. While for some its seems like a descent into madness in slow motion, there are reasons to be hopeful. This side of the hemisphere we had visits from more contrite colonial masters who were looking to revive old deals as well as revive commonwealth sentiments.
Skapegoats
 
Taking the blame for the troubles in the party and jettisoning staff members may work for now but what the party needs more that anything is unity for the whole. There is some nobility in falling on your sword and this is even sounding like a page out of an Asian Playbook. Contrition is great but this latest appeal to party-mates seems like a frightening return to a strategy that failed during the elections when the whole fight was turned into a personal fight and not a broader fight for the party. This was no presidential election they said so refusing her from making it about her should also apply this side of the broader election loss. The electorate is no longer the same passive group of 'hoodwinkable-knownothings' that can be lulled into passivity. They will respond with the vote and reject all those who are perceived as not having Britain at heart. There is a revolution in the first world and it has everything to do with the ballot box.

45 and his "I told you so" moment

So as we expected the events on London's Bridge and the subsequent attacks have drawn us back to pre-election time and to DJT's "what the hell is going on?" comment. This is interesting because right before the British go for a significant poll, the PM is beginning to sound a little like her American Colleague (whose handshake and welcome was much more warm!). Critics of the Home Secretary as she was then have been at her heels saddened at the references and allusions to these recent events as 'pivotal' as though the previous attacks have had no effect. They have also pointed to some notable reforms made during her tenure which significantly brought down the numbers of men in Uniform in a fight that looks like will continue to involve the police. The numbers are not in her favour with the odds stacked against law enforcement in a fight that is becoming more like a internal guerilla war of attrition that is depending heavily on media and copy cat crimes sourced from all over Europe (France and Germany). Experts are even calling for the return of previous more experienced recruits to help strengthen the British Force.
Given the extent at which the American President was fought and the manner in which the Legislative branch fought his actions we see an extended and re-awakened push for tougher reform from a president who does not like to look bad. Already the blame game has been up and the tech industry is refusing to get involved with those who misuse its spaces. In the meantime privacy will again be compromised on the alter of security and the tech giants will find themselves forced to lean closer to governments whose level of trust with local citizenry has been eroded over the years. Both Islam and Judaism have managed to engage so deeply with their adherents to the point where it is often difficult to split between religion and culture (way of life). This thin line will continue to cause challenges for both with some of the mainstream faiths such as Christianity taking on a mediator role. We see no immediate upsets in the electoral process although off course security is going to be central in the thoughts of the electorate. We also see a sense of exhaustion with the Brexit challenges and a populace that really just want the government to get on with it. If there is a key word that can summarize the days to come it would be uncertainty. In addition to this i expect to see some surprises as the characteristically cool and stiff upper lip of the Englishman begins to shake. Maybe the reported hail of bullets (50 rounds in three men) that was pumped into the assailants is already evidence this.

Kiyini kibi kijjukirwa Malima-The DP Dilemma

The Ganda have a saying that basically translates to the idea that the only way you realise that something is wrong with your digging implement is when the time to dig comes. Then you more easily think about fixing the
stick.

In Uganda this means many things but first and most important of all is that as far as symbolism goes, the Democratic party made some great choices with regards to icons. This being a agrarian community
and all. As did Bidandi Saali with the choice of
a lantern and later on FDC with the key.

You have to go quite a distance before you run into a bus...and a yellow one at that. The best you can do is maybe find your way into an American public school.

For the parties on the local scene, and for the democratic party, digging time came in 2016. And after a terrible
and maybe unavoidable set of circumstances, the party fell
short. They like the UPC were unable to field a candidate. 2011 deprived UPC of any significant plays in the political space while 2016 was the year that DP suffered. All of this took place under hopes that the emergence John Patrick Amama Mbabazi would prove to be a formidable for the president but the ambitions of the older players were too difficult to calm. Talk of a coalition soon failed with each prospective candidate perceiving himself to be the right replacement for the presidency.

So this was the time when DP and its 'Kiyini' were tested. 'Malima' came and does come every five years but as far as parties go, the loss of life can serve as a great opportunity to win a seat in the
constituency.
A war of attrition against all political parties of significance had Al Hajji Nasser Sebagala lose to Mao, in a move that had some maybe tribal minded people viewed as a coup deta. But no none with a knowledge of history was really going to buy into the idea that DP was
really a ganda party. If anything, the party is more Catholic and needs to depend on its links to the Mother Church.
The same plague has man thinking of the UPC in terms of the Acholi who have been at the helm for a while while forgetting its Protestant roots. In our view, UPC needs to lean into its mother church at Nakasero or Namirembe.

One of the major criticisms that has emerged in the current battle for spots, which some are seeing more as a succession debate has to do with party structure and thus membership which have both been articulated well by the Buganda regional head.

Historical considerations have brought about a series of challenges that have had us feeling as though we were back in the sixties
dealing with a King, Prime Minister, an Army general and a state at war with itself.

The regional head for Buganda has called for a come comprehensive
resturcturing program that will make membership of political parties more costly and therefore more important and beneficial. This is a
call that makes sense accross all parties and that reveals a flaw that needs fixing. It is also useful in creating a democratic system that
favors institutions as opposed to personalities.

Dens, Leaks, English Monarchs and Southern States.

Transition, Transformation and Radical Thinking. 

There are some changes in Ecuador that may bring in a new leader. 

Is there going to be a new strategy and response to the Wikileaks questions? Is the new government going to continue sticking it to the British by harboring the Whistle Blower? Rafael Corera is clearly an outlier. He is an eccentric. He loves the attention that he received from serving up the west with a fair measure of their own medicine. He probably falls into the same category as Ceaser Chavez and the current Nicholas Maduro, as well as Christina Fernandez Of Argentina, and naturally their great mentor of Cuba. 

So there is a southern front but it is weakened and threatened by some of the overtures from the new U.S administration which is using Mexico (the gateway into the U.S) to find a new way of dealing with the southern states. Memories of Reagan are still fresh the minds of historians and so is U.S involvement and support of paramilitary groups. 

The drug wars are important and may be used in the U.S as they were in China (opium wars) where they were responsible at least in part for wearing down the existing aristocracy (the middle class in the U.S can be equated to the monarchs of the day in China). 

The additional strain exists in trade as the current head of state begins to think about a rethink of the agreements that favor business between the Americas and Canada. 

Does the U.K still care given their current state of challenges with like Brexit? 

Also how does the case against the whistleblower stand given the amount of unsolicited support that he has received from none other that POTUS himself? Should the words of the president be seen as a pardon of sorts or should be separate between the case against him in the U.S and the charges that are set against him in Europe and Australia? How can you judge fairly someone who had been praised by the fountain of Honor? 

Russia has probably won the Hegemony wars that have characterized the post cold war era. At least her footprint in the middle east will prove difficult to replace. 

Does Edward Snowden have have enough room to play and does he know enough to sink the current administration? Did he already exhaust those who were listening with enough info? 

If he is still an enemy of state, is it fair to separate between his acts and those of the wikileaks founder? 

The business of intelligence has changed and now instead of favoring states, in the conventional sense the system favors corporations. And now we are seeing more of those that have stood at the helm of these groups come to the forefront of leadership so that the are negotiating for their countries yes but also for their businesses and personal interests across continents. 

This is resulting in a more important fourth estate as well as a fifth which given its freedom has found itself benefiting from the machinery its more constrained neighbor. The whistleblowers found the Information but had to depend of the larger media companies for distribution and to some extent protection. 

So instead of focusing too deeply on traditional states, we will find ourselves paying close attention to commodities and the men that manage and control access to these commodities. 

While still benefitting from the work and sacrifice of the whistleblower he will become increasingly isolated unless he is able to find a territory whose devotion to truth exceeds its concern for its global agreements. 

2017 as it shall be and 2016 as it was.

You are pretty safe watching the Ugandan space and making all your predictions based on what you see here.
Politics.
Yes we made it through an election of sorts which some thought better to refer to as a selection. There was a crescendo of sorts as we edged steadily to the precipice. The only difference was that this time around a podium was used to serve as trading post from which the slaves (ok civil servants) who sort to serve the country would be examined. I would watch this carefully because there is a resurgence of global race issues that will bring about an export of values in a manner never before seen. You will for example see ancient arab slave traders revived and old trades come to the surface. There will be a return of the ancients (although if you watch carefully enough you will realize that they never really left in the first place). You will come across borders and nations whose functions will be reduced to the production of commodities much like the Islands of old. Some Heads of state will be see as caretakers of massive plantation Nations.
Preachers.
As has been the case for a while now, we saw an increase in influence from the pastoral group. The same has remain silent on the presidency and the duration in office. If you want an example of the power of the church you need to visit the far east and examine the manner in which the priests in the Catholic Church in Nations like the Philippines managed political change. The election process was interesting also or really because of the participation of old school Resistance Movement People but because of the rise or involvement of a preacher/engineer...actually two. But these two were not the same as the other about four who fill stadia and can easily command a following in the tens of thousands. That we live in a religious nations is one thing. That we have the ability to harness this religious belief into a force for political change is a question for another day. In the meantime there are two or three major camps. The Christians are struggling to find a unifying body. What exists is one that unites Balokole. This group is made up of a thriving spiritual folk that still has wounds from the Amin Days. He struggled to rein them in as he attempted to deal with American Involvement and the fall out from Accusations He leveled against Israel. The Balokole at the moment are split into groups that are worried about being clustered and registered under a group that places them in the same category as NGOs and CSOs. There are fears that this kind of registrations will place the divine in the hands of the secular. Then there are traditional churches and religious groups most of which still have historical seats on the strategic seven Hills of the country. The Catholics and the Protestants and the Muslims are safe at the moment but the head of state has a penchant for bypassing them and heading straight to the source to say the Vatican or Windsor or maybe distributing air-conditioned SUVs.
Prophets.
An important office that has re-emerged and that could stall the progress of the major centers of power. Should this office seek access to the main seats of power we will see the confrontation of the ages. Think Mt. Carmel. The most important character you will find in our day would be the Shepard and his relations to his flock. For some reason the maker seems to have restricted his conversations to working men who he found in their particular trades and then helped translate their experiences into messages that would transcend time. There will be a strange encounter between a 'shepherd' and an 'embassy official' both prominent personalities.
Pastors
The previous reference to shepherd is really about Pastor.. This is the most important group. I see it come to the fore in a new way. Calling those who are functions of the five fold back into the fold. I do not celebrate the successes of the right over the left (in U.S Elections). That is not my job. Your democracy is supposed to way above all that. If you have to wait until the next election cycle to express yourself and to promote new agenda over another then there is something wrong. What this will result in will be a distortion in immigration and a drawn out war between both sides. The American people will only end up loosing. What is better or preferable is to ensure the best Education system and a major investment into citizens so that they can think and be critical and creative again.
Press.
There is going to be a force against the press that will bring about a different sense of expression. Maybe the press will be emboldened maybe some member of the core will be 'turned' the bough will break and the dam will burst. Years of watching and saying nothing will explode in prominent personalities that have graced our living rooms and it will become impossible to say nothing and remain objective. Traditional points of reference and places of vulnerability will cease as many will take up positions in political spaces blurring the lines between presenter and politician and puppet.

Two major players in a complex and diverse country.

Transition, Transformation and Radical Thinking.

There are two hemispheres in the brain. In a strange way they control what happens in opposite sides of the human body. So the right side of he brain can be responsible for all the activities on the left side of the body and so on. But sometimes there is a disconnect between the two halves. The arbiter sometimes goes out to lunch. What happens when this takes place is that the work done but the right side is not recorded log book of current activities the result is the undoing of stuff that one side has just done. A patient was seen buttoning his shirt with his right hand only to unbutton the same shirt with the left hand.
As we progress and shift gears into the next phase of ours Iives whether that is four or eight years, let us hope for a quick diagnosis of this problem so that we can help the two hemispheres of our political life function better. Currently, we only have two major ones (the debates about increasing them will be reserved for another day) the Democrats and the Republicans. We desperately need to find a middle ground of sensible actions that benefit all Americans. If we fail to do this, the presidency will be reduced to executive orders. In addition to this we will find ourselves going through cycles of doing and undoing. Which will be governed by who we elect and how long we elect them for.
In addition to this, the first term will become much harder for freshly elected presidents who as is the case today will spend time working through the projects of previous presidents as opposed to delivering on their own promises.

Defining the Presidency.

Transition, Transformation and Radical Thinking.

There are few things that are going to define the presidency. The first will take place around mid year or much later depending what states you are in. It is called Hurricane Season. For that reason, you need to pick your disaster management team with caution. If you look back to the Bush years (Walker-The Texas Ranger not Herbert) you will notice that everything was going great until Katrina Happened. Then some fissures appeared in the teams that had been put in place. But to be fair that was a disaster unlike any other but it still define a good part of the second term for that president and in a sense managed to fix the change message with the democrats picked up with glee. Al Gore who has also just recently lost a significant fight was also able to continue his march and message toward the effect on the Environment. In what could become a two term presidency therefore FEMA needs to be revisited. The second challenge will be about external pressure to engage with foreign military groups. Pulling back is good and helps focus energies on local challenges but your predecessor (The Texas Ranger) was very insistent on the need to take the battle to them as a means of preventing attack on local soil. Finding a balance for this strategic move will be important. My guess is that you will also need to revive the Faith Based Initiatives which i believe cover all bases and religions and were designed to simplify the relationship between people of faith and the practice of that faith. The next challenge will come (God forbid) should there be another incident in a school and will continue to challenge your belief and relationship with the Second Amendment. There was a brief scuffle in the midwest but this was not covered well by the media and in my view was probably the closest we came to applying the right to bear arms-which is mainly in my view supposed to apply to the need to create a militia should there be failures in government. The NRA will come to the fore again but your earlier position regarding gun control and background checks should help you in silencing of Ghosts of Presidencies Past. The manner in which the process of selecting a new head of state was altered in many ways and DJT did not seem to need to courtesy around the traditional lobby groups as did other presidents but the presence of a son in law will take this battle to anther level. If there are any deals (or past confrontations) that took place in NY (a heartland for Jewish thinkers) these could come back to haunt you. We already see this playing out with the media but we are almost certain that you are well placed to handle any fist fights from that section of the big apple. The press will start by hating you but later on they will come around and up their game.

The Supreme Court.

Transition, Transformation and Radical Thinking.

We've covered what transition means for the two Major players in the U.S government. We have also tackled what it means for the presidency (seeming to talk directly to the new leader). Now we will look at another Branch of Government. The Supreme Court.
When Clarence Thomas joined the Elite Group of judges the process by which he was selected was very rough. You could say it was a decade of scandals in Washington. But he was a pivotal conservative African American figure. What he went through had such a numbing effect on him that he often regrets accepting the call to the Court.
The next major hurdle that brought the Highest court to our attention was the Battle for Florida and the questions regarding 'chads'. Little marking on ballot papers that were used in deciding the closeness of the pole results. Visibly shaken members of the court were later seen also looking visibly shaken by the ordeal of having to decide on a very close race.
In my view this was one step that led to the changes (10 years or so later) that we saw in the key state of Florida which incidentally was being run Jeb Bush. Florida was always going to be controversial because of its closeness to Cuba and the presence of so many dissidents. The same group was very vocal in the past government's monumental decisions to restore diplomatic relations with the long time foe.
We are going to see much more tension with other governments and the dissidents that have stood against them now that the one hundred and twenty day freeze on immigration has been enacted. The result is that those that have once opposed their governments and spoken against them will find fewer peaceful options favoring violence as a means of gaining power. This will be played out in Syria, Egypt, Somalia, Iraq, Iran and many more. Many who have in the past spoken against hostile governments have often found solace in American Universities as lecturers and professors of literature and politics. This ban changes this or at least makes it harder to benefit from the gifts that amnesty provides.
There are others who have had to bear the brunt of these massive changes in policy that will speak again or wait for 'I told you so moments'. In addition we will see and have already seen a resurgent Russia which in all fairness we were unable to tame except when it came to the creations of missile Defence systems which we deployed in lands that were partners in NATO. There is a feeling that the Oligarchs that supported the regime are being rewarded or replicated with some of the cabinet positions but bigger changes in the highest court of the land will bring the Nation back to a system that will resemble that of the Patriarch and his successor both of whom created and took over a system that was working to weaken Russia. Remember it was during Ronald Reagan's presidency with his trio of power brokers (Thatcher, Kohl and Gorbachev) when the Iron Curtain began to fall with repercussions in most of Eastern Europe.

Generational Challenges for the Black Caucus and the NAACP?

Transition, Transformation and Radical Thinking.

There is a man in the bible whose origins and life have often been disputed because of the vast array of skills that he seems it have had. His name was Samuel and He came onto the scene when the people of God needed a King. Because he was a transitional figure he was a mix of many things (and many people of this kind often are). He was prophet and priest and had the privilege of being raised in the house of an older priest (Eli). As part of his priestly arsenal, he has a vial of oil that he would use to pour over the man God would anoint and King. The magic potion was a much sought over collection of secret herbs and oils whose distinct scent would mark a man or woman for the Kingship.
The first one to have had this privilege was Saul. But then there was a need for a change in the system and so Samuel went in search of a successor. It is said that he visited the sons of Jesse. And went through the whole lot of them but was dissatisfied until they mentioned a forgotten teenager who was out there taking care of the flock.
So we have searched for a link to the future of a people whose history is peppered with tragic experiences. We went through the dark phase when two possible spokespersons for this move were gunned down in a time that probably altered the manner in which Americans viewed their governments. They were it seems two extreme opposites of each other Malcolm X on one hand and Martin Luther King on another. They both spawned movements of their own which were carried along by those whom they held closest but it seems as though, no visible successor apart from some prominent family members came to the fore.
I held my breathe as a son of a modern day Jesse demonstrated in some regards leanings toward leadership but our hopes were dashed when he faded into the background. So where then is the proverbial 'shepherd boy'? Was it BHO? I do not think so. There was the right mix of Oration and charm but there was a missing ingredient. Maybe we need to look further. There have been some who have made the amazing shift into alternative places of influence top of which has been in entertainment. Others have made a name for themselves using the Practice of the law. Others have used sports but there has been a difficulty in finding access to the streams that bubbled in the sixties.
I am pleased for example with leaders such as Rev. Sharpton who have managed to live seamlessly through different setting from Law to Media and even Church blending their skills in activism and community building. What I think there has been difficulty in is passing on the torch and translating sixties challenges into 21 century efforts. I think that we have had some expressions of this with the black lives matter movement. But like the Tea party and the Occupy movement there has been some trouble summarizing these gatherings into political forces that can gather under a single idea.
Maybe the results of the election and the ideas that it has brought to the surface will help expose 'the unknown son'. We wait to see.

Supreme Courts, Monarchies, Democracies and A longing for days past.

Transition, Transformation and Radical Thinking

There is a vast difference between the forces that drove and inspired the Brexit and those that brought about the election of Donald John Trump. Firstly the difference between the two voting groups was not even that noticeable. No avalanches here! Secondly, there was an election in one country and all the fanfare that goes with it while in the Isles, there was a referendum (directing a political question to the direct vote of the electorate). Experts say that the results split Britain in many ways but the English were in many ways not really subscribed the this European thingy anyway. For a long time they were enjoying the benefits of colonial triumphs even if the Kingdom was going through withdrawal symptoms. Their Economy was much better placed and for a long time they held on to their currency. In addition to this they still have a large group of commonwealth countries that share language and major parts of culture-and some affection for the crown. Involving the highest court in the U.K was therefore also just a formality to demonstrate that the system still works even if you get the sense that its stratified society wants to remind the populace that it is still firmly in charge. But there are rifts here that expose the underbelly of a system that says it listens to the people (democracy) but that places certain institutions and their leaders at the top of its courts (and rightly so) even when this call to serve is administered not by vote but by selection. The referendum therefore upsets many in that it hails the people as supreme but still places them at the mercy of those they elect. The U.K is different in structure as well because it combines monarchy with constitution. the crown still leads although only in name but is still a very integral part of the structured and layered society. So we the people does apply in only a limited sense here. The speech is therefore only more relevant in the U.S than it is in the U.K unless of course the British were to choose to undo the fetters of blue blood like their french counter parts resorting to pruning forks instead. So even when the Supreme court steps in and recognizes the necessity of the law and the system of parliament (upper and lower) it only comes in to state the obvious and maybe stick in to the people a little more to remind them that there are levels. The broader debate which would include Russia therefore is about the larger stream of change which would call for a return of the older order. Somewhere where George is still in charge and the pioneers are still thinking about the Mayflower and having visions of autonomy. The same ancient order is what drives the leaders in Russia toward those nostalgic days when the Union was in competition with the west also commanding vast chunks of territory. The only difference is that this time around the Russians have China, North Korea and Cuba as underlings. This is why one would worry about the loss of NATO, the only force that can check the advances of a resurgent Russia. This is why DJTs words are so troubling when for example the U.S is loosing bases in the Philipines even as it gains some in Djibouti and West Africa. It still needs to have the ability to deploy its troops with speed if not for war for deterrence. The sense of exhaustion is plain for all to see and DJTs major case is to at least spend less money policing the world. This off course places him on a collision course with the U.N and the aforementioned NATO. But at the moment no one has been able to check the Russians instead being rather grateful for their success in Syria. So you could say the Russians have stolen America's thunder. This scenario will probably bring about a increase in British influence but will probably bring about a regurgitation of older post independence sentiments. This is why in some respects, the Tea Party was so relevant and why the constitution has seemed to enjoy a comeback. But so will the Saint and his escapades with the Dragon. The Reagan years and the decades that preceded those were really in my view about a western front led by George Senior (battle trained and battle ready) dealing with curtains of iron and walls splitting in East and West Germany and redefining imperial power but in a strange way reclaiming the long lost rebellious American son in his own turf.