Happy Liberation Day

Editor - Sally arrived back in Uganda a few days ago and put together the outline of a blog post. She emailed it to me and asked me to take a look. It was – in the most loving way – incredibly boring. I blame the jet lag, she just got in a couple of days ago. So, I took some liberties.

We are back in Uganda and together again after a few weeks apart. The best news though is that Uganda is also back. Last night (Tuesday, January 25, 2021) was the “official reopening” of normal life in Uganda. Curfew was lifted and resturants, street vendors, concert venues, bars and clubs were allowed to open and the streets were alive well into the night.

What is so special about January 25? It is the night before Uganda's “Liberation Day,” January 26.

Liberation Day is when the governing party of Uganda celebrates … itself … and the 1986 overthrow of the Idi Amin regime. January 26 is a public holiday in Uganda and the government/military gathers for speeches and inspections at a large parade ground a few miles from our apartment.

But the real celebration this year was for regular life returning. No more curfew. Every restaurant, bar and business was open and packed with people well into the night.

Ugandans have tossed away their masks, people were out, the bass was bumping until the 5 am call to prayer and street vendors were finally able to make a living after 2 years.

While allowing bars and clubs to fully reopen, the government also encouraged them to continue to follow the “SOP”s (standard operating procedures) including masking and handwashing. But even the President seemed a bit divided on the issue, stating “Drunkards are a danger to themselves and cannot follow SOPs.”

OK then. We want people to go out at night and spend money and also wear masks and distance but when they drink at bars, we know they can’t … follow … wait …

Never mind.

(Note the photo above of non-drunkards assiduously following the SOPs)

Liberation Day also marks our one-year anniversary in Kampala. We boarded a flight out of Seattle on January 25, 2021 to begin an adventure in a country in the midst of lockdown and disarray.

For our entire year in Kampala, we have been subject to a COVID curfew. When we arrived, it was 9:00 pm. But in June it moved to 7:00 pm. Travel was restricted. Many businesses, including schools, were closed. It was difficult to find and build community.

But hope springs eternal.

Scott arrived back in Kampala on January 5th and work has ramped up for the Pepperdine project. I arrived on the 23rd after getting Anna back off to school. I did get to spend a couple of extra days in the US unexpectedly because of 5G flight delays.

But after a great time in the U.S. over the holidays with friends and family, a road trip to deliver Bingo the Beagle and Maggie back to her new home in Michigan, lots of snow in Seattle and a few extra holiday pounds, we are excited to be back and enjoying the perpetual Ugandan 82 degree January.

We are grateful for friends and the opportunity to experience the richness of life in Uganda. And Scott looks forward to when I stop waking up – and waking him up – at 1:30 am. And 2:50. And 3:25.

And when I can write a good blog post without some VERY heavy editing.