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Children's Rights Vs. The Rod.
Related to country: Uganda

Translations available in: English (original) | French | Spanish | Italian | German | Portuguese | Swedish | Russian | Dutch | Arabic

Spare the rod and spoil an African Child.

The new breed of African children has emerged with its own understanding of issues and privileges.
Children can now advocate for their rights. Africa has always been identified as a continent with many short comings, countries each with its own cultures, tribes and norms.
But now, looks like there is an immense transition as Africans set off through thick and thin on the road to civilization! Here some one will ask what civilization is and what the final stage of civilization is. This is a mystery! Considering even the nations we consider civilized believe they need more evolution, face challenges every other day of their life and need to learn from time to time. Take an example of Europe or the Americas. Most of the people describe civilization in reference to the western nations and cultures; good infrastructure, high standards of living, political stability, and a high income per capita are some of the assessments.
Regardless of our origins, tribes, cultures or opinion, I assume we pretty much have the same objectives and goals in life: a good family, good paying white collar job, politically stable Nations and maybe an eternal life (if its in your belief). However I should furthermore note that we have different attitudes which when combined with one’s background (maybe memories) create a big difference in people’s opinions on issues at hand all around the world.
However this whole fixation is not about cultures or tribes not even opinions. But it is just about “the way forward for an African child”.
The Baganda culture (one of the famous cultures in Uganda) had a centralized system of governance. The King (Kabaka) on top, parish chiefs, and then men elders as law enforcers on the community level and women and children at the bottom. It had landlord and tenant. Elders were some of the most important people and these did not have to be chiefs but whenever some one was older than you, you would have to recognize them as elders. Though formally term elder was a title given to the most important and successful “men” in the community. Following from this social organization, the children were not allowed to sit on chair while elders address them, not supposed to listen to or contribute on conversations between old people. Not supposed to describe elders by their name but rather by title. The elders were recognized by everyone in the community. Girls were not allowed to put on short skirts or trousers. Boys were supposed to put on shorts not until they were “18”. However an 18 year old was not an elder and would still be considered a child. The community members or an elder had the right to punish a child whenever he or she did wrong. Punishing in this sense meant beating or an option to perform a physical task maybe dig up on a samba. In the same sense, a father was known as the head of the family so this meant that he had the right to punish any one in his family his wife inclusive whenever they wronged. Women were very obedient to their husbands. The primary role of women was house work and working on the family plantation (sambas). And like I said the men were the family head so they spent most of their time in drinking groups, less time on the sambas and organizing community activities.
Children were supposed to help the women regards of their gender. And then when the missionaries introduced the first schools in Uganda then some of the parents who had realized education was “important” would send their children to primary and vocational schools.
In the African tradition therefore, it has always been an obligation of the whole community to discipline the children and teach them how to be responsible. And the major tool here has always been the rod.
In schools the rod is one of the “scholastic materials” that must be there for the pupils and students to learn! On different occasions, our class teachers used to command as to bring rods (sticks) that they would use to punish us when we did not perform well in class, spoke vernacular at school (any language that is not English), skipped a class, had fights with school mates or not respected the school rules and regulations. Under such circumstances, the teacher would give you a minimum of 5 strokes before you had to explain your “fault”. And once you were found guilty, the punishment would often be severe and “non-negotiable”. Did I mention that failure to bring a rod was punishable? Or that bringing a weak rod was punishable as well? Well, it was.
In those days it was essential for a student to be more careful on whatever they did. Not only around the school compass but also on their way home. For example if students had a misunderstanding on their way back home, and one reported the issue to the school administration, they would be punished as this was regarded as portraying an unfortunate image of their school.
I remember one teacher who would slap us in the face when he asked random questions about his subject and we could not answer. Some would pull your ears or pinch your checks until you scream and then weep!
The head mistress of my Primary school was a very good friend of mine and hence my family’s. She called me by my surname “Ssozi”, she was so proud of me. First of all I was one of the brightest students, one of the school’s pioneer students and one of the most active school choir members which at the time gave our school an incredible reputation to the district level. When I joined her school the year she established it as a pre primary student, I was leftie; even though this seems natural, it was trouble to me. When she realized I was leftie, she asked me to change and use my right hand for writing claiming that using the left hand was a sign of being lazy and literally improper. It was so hard for me adjust immediately. So, occasionally I would forget and use my left hand in class. That’s when she would bang my left hand and eventually I would realize I needed to switch to using the right. Little by little with sudden bangs I grasped that “right was proper and left improper” though it took me a while I must admit. At one point in time I hated her and her subject (English) but there was no chance that I would skip her lessons. And if any one was to skip, it had better not be me because I used to steak out a lot as I was supposed to take a front sit during her lesson and by all means she would recognize if I skipped. Yet whenever I missed her class, she would not wait for me to turn up the next day or so; she would pass by my home, during a lunch break or after classes to seek for an explanation for my absence. So, if I was ever to skip school, I would make sure there is a good reason for that, and that way my mom would back me up.
She was so proud of me. And I was so proud of her. But I was intimidated of her because she was strict, be very mad if wronged and worked by the book (school rules).
She passed away in 1997, it was a sudden death. Some people said she had contracted HIV/AIDs 10 years back before she graduated in a Primary Teachers College (P.T.C). It was terrible for me; the memories and agony.
After a few years I realized that all the punishments she gave me were worth it. I had good scored on my Primary Leaving Exams and many pupils in my school were proud of me.
From my punishment I got to learn to use my right hand which I still use up to now though I am still leftie!
These days a teacher cant command a pupil to bring a rod. And it is a crime for a teacher to use a rod on a pupil even when they have wronged as it is a violation of children’s rights. Children’s rights are however mainly recognized in city schools where pupils are from rich families, have back up from their studied parents, and have been sensitized about their rights.
In Uganda, Raising Voices Africa is one of the organizations that are advocating for and sensitizing children about their rights (Children’s Rights). It identifies some of the most common acts of violence against children as; beating with a stick (rod) or caning, slapping and pinching, overworking children at home or even at school, shouting or looking at children with angry eyes all the time, forcing children to have sex, refusing to pay for school fees, uniform or medicine, when they can afford it.
Now that implies that using a rod is a violation of children’s rights and then Uganda or Africa might have to reconsider its means of grooming and disciplining the children!
What is the forward for an African child?
 Should we preserve the culture and violate children’s rights?
 Spare the rod and wait for the aftermath?
 Or is there an alternative to the rod?

I will welcome your comments and the way forward.
Thanks.

Ssozi Javie
Citizen – Kampala Uganda.





July 24, 2008 | 9:57 AM Comments  6 comments



Circumcision Circumcision Circumcision!!!
Related to country: Uganda

Translations available in: English (original) | French | Spanish | Italian | German | Portuguese | Swedish | Russian | Dutch | Arabic

I took a trip to Mbale which is a district of Uganda located eastern Uganda on 28th/ June with friend to visit an orphanage which is deep in one of the villages surrounded by mountains. One of these mountains turns out to be Mountain Elgon which is quite know.
It was a long trip, probably the longest I have ever had on road. It was like 4 hours or so.
The tribe from this region is known as the Bagishu. One of the many tribes in Uganda.
Thats when I had a chance to get to know more about circumcision.
Apparently its their tribal policy that a man must be circumcised after the age of 19.
The policy is more of a rule and if any man tries to avoid it for any reason, his tribe mates will use force to circumcised!
Recently there was a case of one Mujoroto ( 60 years old living in Kampala the capital city of Uganda) who happens of the Bagishu origin who tried to run away from the policy. Guess what happened? He was mugged and circumcised in the public!

Now this is where my concern comes in. Isn't that humiliation?
A 60 year old Mujoroto appears on the front page of New vision newspaper being mugged. And the next day with his pants down with blood all over his trousers?
I mean this is sick.

I will criticize this with or without permission. I know the whole culture and tribe thing, but then, this seems to be primitivism of the highest order.
I was talking to one o the old people in Mbale and was asking him what his opinion was about this whole circumcision thing. He was not that open but I think he thinks there is a better way this can be done.

I was suggesting that if it must go on, why not seek to do it in a more modern way?
Like hospitals can help this using their qualified surgeons. You know?
For God's sake the Bagishu if you are hearing me now, you honestly need to reconsider your policy whatever the aim of issuing this policy was!

I mean people dont really give a damn about things that endanger their lives.
In the process of this kind of circumcision, some one can get hurt, or be exposed to diseases like cancer and HIV Aids itself.
I wonder whether you have considered this as well.

In todays news papers (New vision) still, there is a report reading, " soldiers in the Rwanda Defence Force will be the first men to benefit from a government policy to use male circumcision in the fight against HIV."
I dont think the government of Rwanda has considered what it means to circumcise a man! Apparently a man needs at least 48 days to recover once he has been circumcised.
And that means that he will have to take a break from work as he heals.
And then that means that their national security will be at sort of a stake. If you know what I mean.
But I dont think it is in the best interest of the soldiers to be circumcised considered they have to protect their country as well.
I will keep you guys posted on this.
You can leave me comments and let me know what your opinion is about this..
To be continued...

By Ssozi Javie.

And my next coverage will be on FEMALE GENITAL MITULATION.

July 9, 2008 | 8:44 AM Comments  1 comments

Tags:


Iguana
Related to country: Uganda

Translations available in: English (original) | French | Spanish | Italian | German | Portuguese | Swedish | Russian | Dutch | Arabic


My past few days have been really great.
Hanging out pretty much with my workmate, her boyfriend, and a couple of other friends.
Going to bars every other night towards the weekend. Not many people happening but had fun anyways.
Some of the things that I love doing is watching people.
As in see how different people behave and things like that.
I keep my eye open pretty much all the time so I can look around. People drinking, smoking, friends having a good time, lovers chilling…. You know?
With this loud music in the back ground. A lot of soft rock, and African music..
Bunch of white girls, and guys probably on vacation.
And then Ugandan boys trying to go after the white girls. Bar tenders, both young men and women.
At Iguana it was a little different though. Apparently Iguana is a noun for an American Lizard. I dont know of any Iguanas in my country.
There was this white bartender! Its rare to find a white bartender in a low developing country like Uganda. However many whites do own bars here. She was quite impressive. She doubles as the DJ and cashier and serving some drinks across the counter.
Smoked a stick of cigarette every10 minutes. Jolly indeed from her looks I could estimate how old she was but maybe late 20’s I would assume. And then some guy who was her assistant looked more like a boy friend to her, looked early 30s.
That’s when I started wondering whether cigarette smoking does not contribute to global warming. This last bit may sound like criticism. Sorry.
But this question is been crossing my mind from time to time. Everyone is coming up against global warming. A few people have come up against smoking. Pretty amazing.
Smoking is bad to be straight forward, we all know that.
And global warming is affecting us all. The sooner we realize we are miss using our beautiful countries or world, the better cause to me it feels like its getting late.
Remember: everyday counts!
We don’t want to make the world, weather, nature and life itself complicated.
So why not stand up now and get rid of things we can get rid of for a better of tomorrow?

Well, I know you will not get rid of your car though it emits a lot of carbon dioxide to the atmosphere which is not healthy since you need it pretty much.
But for God’s sake where does smoking take you? Nowhere!
Lets learn to live by the most important things in life.
My mom once told me: “cigarette smoking leaves you with nothing.”
I mean you pay for the cigarette, but in the end what do you get? Nothing at all!

You would say I am mean but trust me I am not. How much time do you take on smoking per day? Start from when you feel you need a smoke, look it up, get a much, smoke it.
Like in my course (computer science) we study a course unit called “Artificial Intelligence” in this course we get to learn many thing basically how robots perform their tasks. There is a part which measures time and in this one every action counts. So from that experience I have learnt to calculate my time not by minutes or second but by number of actions I need to do putting the feeling itself in mind as time consuming.

Otherwise my past few days have been really great.

July 9, 2008 | 3:40 AM Comments  0 comments

Tags:


Iguana
Related to country: Uganda

Translations available in: English (original) | French | Spanish | Italian | German | Portuguese | Swedish | Russian | Dutch | Arabic

My past few days have been really great.
Hanging out pretty much with my workmate, her boyfriend, and a couple of other friends.
Going to bars every other night towards the weekend. Not many people happening but had fun anyways.
Some of the things that I love doing is watching people.
As in see how different people behave and things like that.
I keep my eye open pretty much all the time so I can look around. People drinking, smoking, friends having a good time, lovers chilling…. You know?
With this loud music in the back ground. A lot of soft rock, and African music..
Bunch of white girls, and guys probably on vacation.
And then Ugandan boys trying to go after the white girls. Bar tenders, both young men and women.
At Iguana it was a little different though. Apparently Iguana is a noun for an American Lizard. I dont know of any Iguanas in my country.
There was this white bartender! Its rare to find a white bartender in a low developing country like Uganda. However many whites do own bars here. She was quite impressive. She doubles as the DJ and cashier and serving some drinks across the counter.
Smoked a stick of cigarette every10 minutes. Jolly indeed from her looks I could estimate how old she was but maybe late 20’s I would assume. And then some guy who was her assistant looked more like a boy friend to her, looked early 30s.
That’s when I started wondering whether cigarette smoking does not contribute to global warming. This last bit may sound like criticism. Sorry.
But this question is been crossing my mind from time to time. Everyone is coming up against global warming. A few people have come up against smoking. Pretty amazing.
Smoking is bad to be straight forward, we all know that.
And global warming is affecting us all. The sooner we realize we are miss using our beautiful countries or world, the better cause to me it feels like its getting late.
Remember: everyday counts!
We don’t want to make the world, weather, nature and life itself complicated.
So why not stand up now and get rid of things we can get rid of for a better of tomorrow?

Well, I know you will not get rid of your car though it emits a lot of carbon dioxide to the atmosphere which is not healthy since you need it pretty much.
But for God’s sake where does smoking take you? Nowhere!
Lets learn to live by the most important things in life.
My mom once told me: “cigarette smoking leaves you with nothing.”
I mean you pay for the cigarette, but in the end what do you get? Nothing at all!

You would say I am mean but trust me I am not. How much time do you take on smoking per day? Start from when you feel you need a smoke, look it up, get a much, smoke it.
Like in my course (computer science) we study a course unit called “Artificial Intelligence” in this course we get to learn many thing basically how robots perform their tasks. There is a part which measures time and in this one every action counts. So from that experience I have learnt to calculate my time not by minutes or second but by the number of actions I need to do putting the feeling itself in mind as time consuming.

Otherwise my past few days have been really great.



July 9, 2008 | 3:07 AM Comments  0 comments

Tags:


FOR GOD AND MY COUNTRY!
Related to country: Uganda

Translations available in: English (original) | French | Spanish | Italian | German | Portuguese | Swedish | Russian | Dutch | Arabic

He is a man.

He has two eyes and a smile as big as ours.

He eats, sleep, goes on walks and watches tv.

He gets upset when his superbowl team loses, and

over flows with joy of watching the younger generation in a park.

He is a man.



He is a leader.

He stands before us, lets us know as one

where we should head

as a nation

to be successful in goals

and new ones to overcome

He leads us into security

to enjoy a free country

and a warm blanket to come home to.

He’s the one in control and stands still

when the ground quakes.

He is a Leader.



He is our President.

He puts a dent in our country with lies

and dead soldiers.

To kill and make the green grass grow

with blood and greed

Needs and wants

hard to tell them apart

crime or justice?

same story

He is our President.



We are the People.

We have opinions

but do not speak loudly enough

or is it...

the tv is too loud for us to hear,

closed text books stacked about

dont know nothing but the present

We know all this

yet We still sit and watch

We let a deadman walk on our US soil

who has killed not ONE, but millions of us

but yet we still sing the national anthem with heart

We hand down wings to those who sin and lie

we sing with tongue but no soul

which one of us is next?

How many more people are going to die by the bombs we make?

how many more people are WE going to kill?

Suffer and die because of one Man and his repeated lies.

Do all the bad things knowing we have a plea?

Promised to be there for our country but all we do is shut our country out when it need us most.

Question is, Who is a good man?

One who does bad things and then says sorry, "For God and My Country"?

Or one who seeks to make the world better?

Hatred, corruption and betrayal are his major characteristics!

We have all the potential we need. So, choice is our:

WE shut out freedom and ourselves. Or try to leave some footprints on the sand by making the world a better place.

Walking ghost.

We are the people.

FOR GOD AND MY COUNTRY.

June 25, 2008 | 5:54 AM Comments  0 comments

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