The Gettysburg Address Gettysburg, Pennsylvania November 19, 1863 Four score and seven years ago our fathers brought forth on this continent, a new nation, conceived in Liberty, and dedicated to the proposition that all men are created equal. Now we are engaged in a great civil war, testing whether that nation, or any nation so conceived and so dedicated, can long endure. We are met on a great battle-field of that war. We have come to dedicate a portion of that field, as a final resting place for those who here gave their lives that that nation might live. It i [View Full Entry]

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We had a fun weekend though, went to Jinja, saw the Nile. Very cool. My parents are coming in two weeks. Andy in three and a half. These things are so exciting! Jinja: A bigger town than Mbale. In fact, the second largest town in Uganda, after Kampala. It is true what an acquaintance in D.C. said, that it is amazing how Kampala is the only city in Uganda, and the rest of the country is so small and rural. Jinja has many nice features…A nice Main Street with about 50 craft shops and The Source Café, where you are supposed [View Full Entry]

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On Friday, we had an amazing day at the Outreach Clinic in Bukedea, Uganda. Most of the staff of TASO goes to "outreaches" on Wednesdays and Fridays to various locations around the catchment area of Mbale. It is quite amazing. The counselors, doctors, clinical officers (like physician assistants), lab technicians, pharmacy staff, and more pile in to minibuses and cars and drive between half an hour and an hour to a Ministry of Health clinic (usually), where the outreach is held. The systematic way that clients are greeted, given a health talk, and then triaged into different stations is impres [View Full Entry]

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There are goats all around us, all the time, especially walking home. Occaisionally we meet a goat herder with his goats (and some cows) trying to herd them down the street... here are some cute ones, as well as some other photos that I like (if I can get them to upload). [View Full Entry]

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On Monday, we went to Tororo, where there is another TASO center. We traveled in a truck with two rows of seats and a flat bed over a bumpy road. It was bumpy, a bit like a wooden roller coaster. On the way we got to see the hills between Mbale and Tororo, which are dotted with banana trees and cassava plants. People live in small, round, thatched-roof huts or boxier versions, both made out of a wood frame and clay, usually. Some houses are made from cement or red bricks, which are made, piled high, and fired in interesting towers [View Full Entry]

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On Wednesday last week, our friend and colleague at GWU was forced to flee from Kisumu, Kenya to Uganda. The escalating violence following the election there has now spread into general tribal warfare between the Kikuyu and the Luo people. The President, Kibaki, is Kikuyu, while the opposition leader, Reila Odinga, is Luo. According to one friend, the issue of circumcision underlies the conflict, as the Kikuyu and most tribes in Kenya circumcise, while the Luo do not. The Luo are seen as unfit to lead the country, since you are not a man if you are not circumsized. The violence [View Full Entry]

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Here are some great photos from Mbale town, which still reminds me of a town in the Wild West, can you see the resemblance? [View Full Entry]

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Demons hit school Monday, 4th February, 2008 By Amlan Tumusiime, New Vision Newspaper, www.newvision.co.ug . OVER 100 pupils of Sir Tito Winyi Primary School Kiziranfumbi sub-county in Hoima district became “hysterical” yesterday, forcing the school to close, in what the authorities described as a demonic attack. Some victims had undressed. Hundreds of parents flocked to the school and took their children away. As the situation seemed to run out of hand, the Rev. Geoffrey Matata of Kiziranfumbi Church took the children for s [View Full Entry]

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Besides care, treatment, and testing of family members, and home visits, and all the other great work TASO does, they also have a class per semester that does "skills development" for 6 months, 3 days a week! These are members who apply and are accepted. They must read and write English, I believe, and have good iniative and energy. Then they come to Jayley, who teaches them sewing, basket weaving (which is dead serious, not like in college), and other types of crafts and skills that they can then use to earn income and support their families. These women (most are [View Full Entry]

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Just want to add some more of Belinda's photos that I haven't had a chance to get to until now... [View Full Entry]

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