SNAKE IN A POT

Some of my friends claim that I complain a lot or make a lot of fuss about nothing, but then that’s what has made me. I hold myself to high standards and inevitably hold those I work with or who serve me to the same standards. So folks, give me an opportunity (will you) to let off another rant. Long-term relationships are usually very hard to end. You think about the good times you had together, the fun you shared and usually one finds comfort in reminiscing about the good times rather than go through the heartache of ending a relationship. Relationships can elevate you to new heights or drag you down into the dumps. Most people who find themselves in bad relationships almost end them as soon as they figure out that it is no good for them. However there are times when people put up with a bad relationship. Sometimes you are not sure if you will find anything better, in some cases, the good side of the relationship outweighs the ugly side – you are in a state of ambivalence. So ...

On a number of occasions, friends and relatives have approached me to help them wade through the intricate matters of getting married in Buganda.   Overtime, I have noticed that many are not even aware of the simplest and obvious steps like initiating contact with the girl’s family.   I write this commentary to try and explain the simple but lengthy process of getting married in Buganda.    My post is not based on extensive research or study but rather on what I know and have learnt over the years.   A few years ago,   I used to officiate at Baganda traditional marriage ceremonies (okwanjula).  I wish to declare that I am not an expert on Buganda culture, nor am I a specialist in Buganda traditional marriages; my involvement at such a high level (omwogezi) was at best accidental, although we shall keep that story for another day. Initiating Contact Getting married in Buganda is seemingly easy but folks complicate it for unknown reasons.   Ye...

Before the Euro2012 final match, there were heated arguments on television and online whether Spain is a boring team. My son and I engaged in the same discussion, he with those who don’t agree and I with those who agree. Spain is indeed a boring team. How can a team hit around the ball in the centre of the pitch. They are reputed to have made more than 200 passes in the centre of the pitch in one match before they actually ventured into the opponent’s 18-yard box. Spain argues that opponents who park buses (putting more than 8 men behind the ball) make them play boring football. I beg to differ. Let’s look at Spain’s argument. What do they want their opponent’s to do? Attack them and leave their back door open so that they can get access easily? Teams that ‘park buses’ start from a position that they wont be able to outplay Spain and they use the most effective tool available to them – PARK A BUS. To try and play an attacking or open game against Spain is to commit suicide ...

Diplomacy has never been my strongest attribute, my passion and enthusiasm normally take over and sometimes before I know it, I have both feet wading through the murky waters of a very controversial subject. On the other hand, there have been plenty of times when I have struggled but successfully managed to keep my sentiments to myself especially if I am aware that my opinion may not be culturally welcome. I never say what I would like to say, I hold back out of respect for the others. While reading a brief profile of the late Apple founder Steve Jobs online, I learnt that he was never diplomatic, he just said it how it appeared to him. Most times he was right. In a professional environment, where we are all expected to behave or perform in the same way, that may be a great attitude. I however doubt if the same should be adopted when it comes to cultural matters. For starters, most if not all of us, had no hand in choosing the cultures we find ourselves in. We adopted these ...

I have written about queuing before and everybody who knows me, is probably aware of my lack of patience for queue jumpers and people who cannot stand in an orderly queue while receiving a service – in our old schools days, we used to call it ‘short fat queue’. There are characteristics some of them unkind that are normally attributed to the British (and the English in particular). In the language that they were so kind to share with the rest of the world, it is called stereotyping. For instance my uncle insists to this day that the majority of the British people are very condescending and behave like the Empire still exists. Of course, they, like people of any country have some behaviours or characteristics that are only common to them, although it would be wise not to lump people together based on the conduct of one or two of their kin. During my brief stay on the isles in the last decade, I found that many things which are considered to be typically British are picked from songs,...