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.