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Letters from Bukoba

Subject: Bukoba #24: Kampala Capers

Tuesday, October 22, 2002

Since my last letter I have been to Kampala twice, and much of my time has been spent preparing for (and recovering from) the trips. The first trip was a disappointment; an offer to be a lecturer in the Department of Education at Makerere University was rescinded merely because I had not submitted transcripts for my first degree, and I was so exhausted from the previous day's gruelling 12-hour journey in overcrowded and overheated daladalas and exasperated that they hadn't simply asked me to bring the transcripts that I made a poor impression. I faxed them and even brought the originals the second visit, but they were evasive, said they were too busy to meet, the department was now full and I would have to find opportunities in other departments. Also, a vague but promising e-mail about my application to the Computer Science department (which would be my first choice) was actually just a reconfirmation that my application had been forwarded to the Vice Chancellor. I was not shortlisted for an interview at Kampala International University. Kampala University wanted me only at their Masaka campus, a two-hour drive from Kampala; they already had four part-time lecturers to teach the eight computer science courses for this term. Uganda Christian University expressed a need for a computer lecturer but the Mukono campus is perhaps an hour to the east of Kampala. In Uganda there are relatively few computer science courses or lecturers; there seems to be no shortage of education lecturers, and the pay is probably low except at Makerere. In my next Kampala trip I think I will start exploring IT work with businesses and ex-pat organisations and seek some information about job opportunities from the VSO office and the American and British embassies.

Joanitha left her secretarial work at the University of Bukoba and enrolled last week for a Bachelor's Degree at Kampala International University. She had applied and received admission for Business Administration in the post, but when last time I went to Kampala I asked for a copy of the admission letter and they gave me a letter for admission to Computer Science. She chose Computer Science because fewer people here have Computer Science degrees and she already has some computer background from UoB. (Also, she knows someone with a M. Sc. in Computer Science who is trying to move to Kampala.) I helped her enrol, find accommodation, set up a bank account, shop for essential items, and get oriented. KIU is still undergoing construction, and they have admitted many more students, so the place is in a state of chaos right now. One man said that there will be 500 computers for the students, but I only saw one almost ready lab of about 50 computers, and the teaching was just chalk and talk when the teachers actually showed up. I also heard that there are about 200 computer science degree students and 250 computer science diploma and certificate students, and 7000 students total, much more than I had expected. Joanitha is staying in a girls' hostel which is nice but overcrowded; over 50 students in a house probably originally built as an estate for a wealthy businessman. Joanitha's room is at the top of a stairwell next to a garage. She is worried about the security of her old portable computer; she is leaving it with her Kampala friends Fritz and Stella for now. She was originally at the bottom of the stairwell but was lucky to move into a room for only two people. She may find another place, but she already paid for the entire semester and would probably have to lose the entire amount.

The University of Bukoba is still in an interim dormant state, and there is little news. Professor Katoke returns from Karagwe in a week; Mr. Mutasa is still in Dar es Salaam. Both had indicated that they might not continue working with UoB. Without Joanitha I may have to do some typing for Professor Katoke. Joanitha did so many things for the university and knows so much about how it operated that I wonder if they will be able to find a replacement or how they will manage to continue without her. I will continue to look into temporary income-generating work opportunities at Ihungo, Hekima, the Open University, KAEMP, KCU, RAS, and other places, but my heart is not in it. I have wasted too much effort in the past with too little positive results, and I am tired of the waiting, uncertainties, lack of peer respect, and resulting low self-esteem. A person with my education and skills deserves to be better employed.

My VSO programme officer Ludovicka was here yesterday and I discussed my work with VSO, including the possibility of leaving VSO very soon. I told her I would probably not be a good replacement for Tony at Ihungo, as I cannot teach biology, I would quickly become bored teaching only computer basics to slow learners, UoB would be unwilling to accept the small pay from Ihungo when I could be generating a lot through training in town, etc. Ludovicka will continue to process my extension request in case the situation at UoB improves, but I will probably take any available opportunity in Kampala long before then.

The KAEMP database project has been on hold as the facilitator and monitoring and evaluation officer are both in Nairobi for a couple weeks. When they get back I have a feeling they will want to delay training further. They agreed verbally to change the contract but I think they are still waiting for me to demonstrate the database to be convinced it is worth the increasing costs. I proposed they increase the amount from 2.4 million to 4 million. Successful information systems projects require in-depth needs analysis and careful planning to avoid unanticipated cost increases; I think I didn't do enough work to communicate with them, convince them how much work I have had to do, test at every stage, etc. I was hoping I would be able to finish the project quickly, but it might require continual maintenance and updating. Maybe Laurence, the new IT volunteer in Karagwe, will be able to help out if/when I leave.

It has been raining a lot in Bukoba lately, which is nice. I had a bout of what I think was giardia which I treated myself without being tested. I also sprained a finger on each hand during my arduous Kampala journeys, and the pain in each is refusing to go away. The tennis tournament was postponed until February, partly because the organisers and potential champions Tim and Erin are the proud parents of a baby boy. The Bukoba Ball has not yet been announced.

My desk is suddenly piled with interesting things to read. I bought a New African and BBC Focus on Africa magazine with articles on Namibia, Tanzanian music, and the usual politics. I received a box of computers for dummies and other books and several newspaper articles from Mom. I borrowed five books from Tony at his party. I reread a nice book on East African poetry. I have almost finished reading a humorous but depressing and still very relevant novel exploring the socio-economic causes of society-wide corruption in Ghana in the 1960s titled The Beautyful Ones Are Not Yet Born. I have also started reading an autobiographical novel of a Senegalese woman whose talk I attended in Bloomington just before I left. She was chosen to receive a Western education but her time in Europe messed up her life and it took her time to recover her identity and self-worth. Her pseudonym is Ken Bugul, her real name is Mari?tou M'Baye, and the translated title of the book is The Abandoned Baobab.