May We Survive This!

For some reason that I absolutely don’t know, I spent a big part of last year’s last quarter waiting for 31^st December. This was after I had spent a big part of the time before that convinced that we were going die.

I didn’t die, but many people did. And are still dying because though we are trying to pick up the pieces and hold brave faces, we are still in a global pandemic.

I didn’t understand my obsession with counting down to New Year’s Eve – as if a reliable source had informed me that things would miraculously get fixed at the clock of midnight.

As if life is a reverse Cinderella movie ☹

In hindsight, I can’t even begin to imagine what I was inhaling because the presidential elections were scheduled for January. Why would any Ugandan look forward to THAT? Long story short, there were no rainbows come 1^st January.

We are still in a global pandemic.

The elections were a mess. I mean, the results haven’t been published but the winner was announced. Huh?

We had an internet shutdown, and while it has been lifted, the connections are about as enthusiastic to do their job as I am about walking – it only happens once in a blue moon. To add salt to injury, we still need a VPN to access internet, there is limited access to tools like Google Drive, and word is we are going to be arrested for using VPN. Oh, and we are supposed to host MAMA? Using what, sheer will and determination?

State sanctioned violence continues.

Government has requested for 7 billion shillings for the swearing-in ceremony for a president who has been in power for over 3 decades. Surely, at this point, grabbing drinks at The Meat Guy should be more than adequate?

When the Minister for Presidency (SMH. What is that even?) shared the 7 billion swearing-in ceremony budget request, he also said that government needs 924 million shillings to procure medals to be awarded to various individuals with distinguished services to the country. He added and I quote, “We have run out of stock for medals and if there is a foreign head of state to visit Uganda, we don’t have a medal befitting of him. There is a risk put to the president to untold embarrassment should he fail to decorate an invited head of state with appropriate honor.”

With all the healthcare, education, infrastructure, poverty, unemployment, water, housing, I REALLY could go on and on…, problems that we have, that lack of medals are what is going to cause the president UNTOLD EMBARRASSMENT is devastating.

Meanwhile, someone will argue you to death about choosing peace, and how it’s not that bad – truth is, it’s even worse than it looks because imagine how many things we don’t know about?

Add work/school/social obligations to the mix and it is a wonder we can wake up and life, let alone do it every day.

It’s disgusting that we have to be strong.

That we have to put on brave faces.

That we have no choice but carry on because capitalism.

Because we have bills to pay.

Because what is the alternative?

But Lord, I pray we survive this!

Until then, may pockets of sunshine sprinkle our lives, because God knows we need them.

Image Source.