EX- Dutch based Ugandan Promoting Education

Ali Balunywa in Namayumba, Uganda

During the burial of Paul Luzinda A.K.A Puffman, at his ancestral place near Matugga in Uganda, I met many Ugandans who live or lived in the Netherlands. Puffman was a friend to all. He was found dead one morning in his bed. The Ugandan community in Holland fundraised and ensured that his body was returned home for burial.

I was fortunate to participate in the send off ceremonies as I was in Uganda at that time. Many Ugandans who live in the Netherlands and were in Uganda on holiday also attended the burial. Other Ugandans who had lived in Netherlands before were also part of the mourners. Among them was Jackson Muyanja.

Jackson had previously sent to us some documents explaining what he was doing in Uganda. The burial ceremony was an opportune moment to invite me to attend the graduation of his students at Namayumba, Kakiri a few kilometers from Kampala on 20^th August 2009. It was the day I was originally supposed to travel back, but I promised to attend even for a few moments.

At around 11.00 am on 20nAugust 2010, I asked my nephew to give a lift to and fro Namayumba to attend the graduation ceremony. We arrived at around 12.00noon and I was promptly whisked off to the high table. I felt like a scarecrow with my jeans, sneakers and generally easy wear amidst suits and ties!

I came to learn that the organization was called; Development Initiatives and Self Improvement Program (DISIP). It is a community-based non-profit making organization registered in Wakiso district. It started as a self-help programme for individuals who were caught in a dilemma of losing a loved one to AIDS/HIV.

The current programmes of DISIP are:

o HIV/AIDS prevention, care and support

o Vocational Skills training and production centre

o Education support to schools and OVC (Orphans and vulnerable children)

Achievements to date:

o The HIV/AIDS programme has reached 6,000 people through sensitization, meetings, seminars and workshops

o The vocational training centre has trained 15 people in Computer applications and 6 people in garment design and tailoring.

o The education support programme has so far distributed over 1,000 textbooks to primary schools

Partners:

o Stichting Bibionef, Holland

o Amster International

o GTL of USA

o Tools with a mission

o The Buganda Kingdom

o Lawrence Kyeswa

o Market Vendors Association

o Local Namayumba leadership

Challenges:

o Lack of Finance

o Dependency Syndrome of clients

Requirements:

o Construct own premises

o Rent premises in centre for showcasing tailoring products

o Staffing

o Other resources

Namayumba Resource Centre
Products of the tailoring class
Ali Balunywa and a graduand
Jackson Muyanja and Ali Balunywa
Children of a local school entertaining guests

Namayumba Resource Centre

A cross section of guests who turned up for the graduation

The ultimate ‘inburgering’ tool: dog or kid? (page 1) < Blogs & photos | Expatica The Netherlands

The ultimate inburgering tool: dog or kid? (page 1) < Blogs & photos | Expatica The Netherlands

Tennis Elbow

Bob complained to his friend "My elbow really hurts. I guess I should see a doctor."

His friend offered, "Don't do that!!! There's a computer at the drug store that can diagnose anything, quicker and cheaper than a doctor. Simply put in a sample of your urine and the computer will diagnose your problem and tell you what you can do about it. It only costs $10.00."

Bob figured he had nothing to lose, so he filled a jar with a urine sample and went to the drug store. Finding the computer, he poured in the sample and deposited the $10.00. The computer started making some noises and the various lights started flashing. After a brief pause out popped a small slip of paper on which was printed:

You have tennis elbow
Soak your arm in warm water.
Avoid heavy labor
It will be better in two weeks.

Late that evening while thinking how amazing this new technology was and how it would change medical science forever, he began to wonder if this machine could be fooled. He decided to give it a try. He mixed together some tap water, a stool sample from his dog and urine samples from his wife and daughter. To top it off, he masturbated into the concoction. He went back to the drug store, located the machine, poured in the sample and deposited the $10.00. The machine again made the usual noise and printed out the following analysis:

Your tap water is too hard,
Get a water softener.

Your dog has worms,
Give him vitamins.

Your daughter's on drugs,
Put her in rehab.

Your wife’s pregnant,
It ain't yours - get a lawyer.

And if you don't stop jerking off, your tennis elbow will never get better.

Are you fast with spellings?

Happinness

The Music Of The Tree

While walking through Golden Gate Park in San Francisco, John came upon another man hugging a tree with his ear firmly against the trunk.

Seeing this John inquired: 'Just out of curiosity, what the heck are you doing?'

'I'm listening to the music of the tree,' the stranger replied.

'You've gotta be kiddin' me!'

'No, would you like to give it a try?'

Understandably curious, John decided to give it a go.

So he wrapped his arms around the tree and gently pressed his ear up against the rough bark.

Quick as a flash the stranger slapped a pair of handcuffs on John, took his wallet, jewelry, car keys and cell phone before stripping him naked and leaving him securely cuffed to the tree.

Two hours later another nature lover strolled by, saw John handcuffed to the tree stark naked, and asked, 'What the hell happened to you?'

Shaking with cold John proceeded to tell the guy the whole terrible story about how he got there.

At the end of John's sorry tale, the other guy shook his head in sympathy, walked around behind him, kissed him gently behind the ear and said, as he unzipped his pants: 'This just isn’t your day, cupcake...

Photography is a matter of timing