Give us this day, our daily bread

It is 1:00pm. The ‘bench and the bar’ at Uganda’s Temple of Justice, take a break from the petition hearing. It is lunch time!

At, Kololo Independence grounds, the sight of our gallant soldiers, in multiple immaculate cues, with their white plates sharply contrasting from their green army uniform, is a sight to behold. It is lunch time!

I make a stopover at Forest Mall, to send my mother her weekly allowance. Just before I drove away, a young man of about 27 years old comes to me and makes a sign requesting for some conversation. I oblige and ask how I can be of help.

“Madam, my name is Kasule. I’m a casual laborer at a construction site but I did not have work today because my boss lost his wife. “I’m so hungry, please help me with some money so that I can buy something to eat.” It is lunch time but…..

I shared some of my money with him, he said thank you and walked away.

And then my mind went through my country’s long scroll of lamentations:

1. The specter of a botched election, on which most of our learned friends-whose white shirts are a cause of great amusement for my daughter as she can’t imagine adult men wearing bibs, will spend hours regurgitating.

2. The anticipated civil activism that has had our gallant solders camped at Kololo all these days.

3. The cry for freedom from Kizza Besigye’s camp.

4. The many friends we have lost to Cancer in the past few weeks

5.


6.


But I guess nothing compares to the hunger that makes the stomach growl in longing for some activity. The Judges and soldiers are assured of a meal every day. My 61 year old mother and her cohorts, have survived three wars and adolescent children, their fears have waned and they too are assured of a meal.

The politicians, who many of our young people followed during the election campaign, at the expense of their time and youthful energy and often times, their few material possesions will be assured of a meal today.

But that 27 year old young man, with his dreams begging for a launch pad and his desires to impress that beautiful girl devouring his soul, but without a meal, even though he recited the Lord’s Prayer, is Uganda’s biggest threat. NO! It is not the election.