The Uganda Society has been unusually active in the last few months. We have increased our number of lectures, co-sponsored events, and hosted group library tours. We have also purchased new equipment and updated software. The increased activity appears to be paying off. Memberships have increased, more people are using the library, and we are drawing a greater number and diversity of people to our lectures. We expect the next few months to be just as busy. In addition to the usual monthly lectures, the Uganda Society plans to hold at least one daytime workshop, participate in three holiday bazaars, open the library to Makerere student tours, and present a journal launch to round out the year. Thanks to the dedicated work of a volunteer staff, both in Uganda and abroad, and supportive members, we can all be proud of the enhanced profile of the Uganda Society.
We would especially like to thank Beverly Usher, Linda McIntyre, Margaret MacPhearson, Tom Ofcansky and Henry Osmaston for their continued work on Uganda Society business in the UK and USA.
In 1937, the Uganda Society held a competition amongst its members to design an official journal cover. According to the sub-committee elected to judge the entries, choosing the winner was exceedingly difficult. In the end, the Uganda Journal's first official cover was designed by Sister Felicity O.S.F. of the Lwala Convent, Mill Hill Mission. The Uganda Society awarded Sister Felicity 100 shillings for her pen and ink drawing shown at left. Volume 5, 1938 of the Uganda Journal proudly displayed the new design. It appears that members' opinions varied on the new cover, but as the editor wrote in Volume 6, 1938, "previously adverse [opinion] has now veered round to the favorable". Unfortunately, we have yet to discover why Sister Felicity's design was discontinued. Find out more about the Uganda Journal's changing cover designs in the upcoming millennium journal.
We are pleased to announce that we are in the final editing phase of Volume 46 of the Uganda Journal. As in previous years, " there is a reasonably steady supply of good strong meat, and we are duly grateful to those who expend so much of their time and labor in supplying it. But of a lighter fare there is a deficiency, and we would stress the fact that it takes a variety of dishes to make a meal attractive, and that there is succulence for somebody in the smallest of them" (editor's note;UJ; Vol 7:1; 1939). In our case, there are more than 200 critical guests to feed at least once every year. Thus, we are still accepting short notes and book reviews in the next few weeks. If you'd like to learn more about distilling in Bunyoro, environmental issues in Kampala, marabou storks, Ugandan orchids, violence in Ugandan novels, Uganda's art deco scene, etc. be sure and order a copy of Volume 46. We expect to have the journal ready for sale by the end of December. Contact Nanny Carder at ncid@infocom.co.ug or the Editor, Dent Ocaya-Lakidi at olakidi@africaonline.co.ug if you have any short submissions or questions concerning the upcoming journal.
Since our last newsletter, we have had a full lecture schedule, including special presentations. With enhanced publicity, a variety of topics, and distinguished speakers, each lecture has drawn at least fifty people. On August 31, HE Martin Brennan, American Ambassador to Uganda presented "The Design and Purpose of the New US Embassy in Kampala". Ambassador Brennan is a witty and accomplished speaker, and his presentation delighted the audience. Brennan's offers to facilitate audience members' requests for information on visas, absentee voting from the States, architectural workshops, etc. were most welcome.
On September 4, Dr. Andrew Reid, Institute of Archaeology, University College London, discussed "Are You Interested in Saving Uganda's Heritage?". Dr. Reid's presentation highlighted the dire plight of Uganda's cultural and environmental heritage, the urgent need for effective legislation to protect resources, and considered ways in which heritage can facilitate income generation. The lecture and the accompanying display of artifacts from the Uganda National Museum generated a lively discussion.
On September 21, the Uganda Society and the Mountain Club of Uganda co-sponsored "Climbing Kenya's Most Remote Mountain"; a visual presentation by Paul Clarke, former chairman of the Mountain Club of Kenya. Both active climbers and those of us more inclined to gentler slopes thoroughly enjoyed Mr. Clarke's lecture and slide presentation. Paul's adventures have apparently bolstered many area enthusiasts' plans to embark on a December climb in the Rwenzori Mountains.
On September 28, Ambassador Justin Lokwiya, Head of Forestry Secretariat and Mr. Bill Farmer, Technical Advisor for Forestry Secretariat presented, "Forestry: Hope for the Future". Ambassador Lokwiya is a dynamic speaker, and Mr. Farmer's power point presentation was a real change from the usual overhead projector. The audience particularly enjoyed Lokwiya's collection of forest products from around the world.
Finally, on October 26, Mayor John Ssebana Kizito presented, "Kampala's Future as a Model City". Before his lecture, the Mayor and his entourage visited the Uganda Society library. In addition to an informative lecture, Mayor Kizito and Town Planners displayed planning and zoning maps for the audience. The audience expressed their concern to the mayor about sanitation issues, lack of residents' participation in the planning process, flooding problems, completion of the ring road, and street children. Chairwoman, Mrs. Sarah Ntiro, handled the flood of questions well, and wrapped things up when the Mayor suggested the Uganda Society may have some ideas on how to deal with the city's prostitution problems. An apt ending to an interesting evening.
Join us at 5:30 PM the last Thursday of the month for our lecture series.November 30: Aquaculture in Uganda; Rick Gregory, Project Advisor for Aquaculture, DFID.
Notice anything familiar in the speakers or topics in the 1956 lecture series and those of this year? Some things seem to be of perpetual interest to Society members.
April 6: Heredity and Human Nature; Dr. D. Rife
April 11: Thomas Mann's Place in German Literature; Mrs. Welter
May 23: Negro Universities in the States; Miss Jean Fairfax
June 15: The Problems of Disease in the Tropics and the Remedies; Prof. T.H.
Davey
July 15: Relation of the Soul with the Supreme; Dr. Radhakrishnan, VP of India
August 10: Indonesia: Some Economic Problems; Prof. Newmark
August 31: Negro Education in the United States; Prof. Lucas
Sept 6: British Expansion in Tropical Africa; Dr. Robinson
Sept19: Some Problems of Bible Translation; Rev. W.J. Bradnock
Oct 17: Book Exhibition
Oct 29: Social Problems in Sierra Leone and the Gold Coast; J.T. Roberts and
J. Ridy-Williams
Oct 31: Taking Things for Granted - Working in the Kampala Municipality; Mayor
C. Lewis
Nov 7: World Guilding; Lady BadenPowell
Nov 14: Forestry for the Future of Uganda; Mr. G. Webster
Nov 20: Uganda at the Industrial Conference at London; Mr. D.S. Kigozi
Nov 28: Prospects of Archaeological Research in Uganda; Mr. P. L. Shinnie and
The Archaeology of Musical Instruments with Reference to Uganda; Dr. K. P. Wachsmann
Dec 6: The Y.M.C.A. as a World Movement; Hon. Isobel Katto
Dec 12: Social and Economic Problems of Ruanda Urundi; H.E. M. Harroy (Vice
Gov. of Belgian Congo, Gov. of Ruanda Urundi)
The Uganda Society Library now has purchased a laser printer and installed
a donated scanner. The printer is a special treat and has greatly helped in
meeting the library staff's printing needs. We have also installed an anti-virus
program on the computer, a much-needed addition as our workload and use of diskettes
increase toward the end of the year. We are also very pleased to have a working
slide projector, as well as an overhead projector. While these are not new machines,
they work perfectly, and we now are in the enviable position of having other
organizations call us for use of the machines. We call this "progress".
We are pleased to report that the Uganda Society has hired Dick Kawooya as a temporary consultant to undertake many library tasks. Dick is a Library Information graduate of Makerere University and is enrolled in the Library Sciences Masters program. Dick will help the library install UNESCO software, upgrade our library database, research applicable library grants, and streamline some of our more cumbersome systems. Dick has arranged a library visit with a prominent American Library Sciences scholar in mid-November and a meeting with UNESCO staff concerning potential grants.
We are also pleased to announce that three new library volunteers have joined our staff: Ms. Beth Heck, Mrs. Joan Mahalanobis, and Ms. Debbie Hill. Beth Heck has contributed a great deal in the past few weeks, designing posters for publicity displays and information for membership packets. Beth also introduced the library and Uganda Society to thirty visitors from the International Women's Organization "Pearl of Africa" course in late October. Ms. Debbie Hill has prompted us to produce a brochure and membership form that may be transmitted via e-mail for a number of potential members. We are very grateful for their enthusiasm and help.
Finally, we are sad to report that Ms. Kayaga Mulindwa will be leaving the library to take a full time position as Head of Uganda Martyrs University Library on Masaka Road. Kayaga has been of great service to the library and Society since joining the Board. However, Ms. Mulindwa is a city girl and finds life a little too quiet in Masaka. We expect to see her often, and she will remain an active member of the board.
With the addition of new volunteers and a consultant, the Uganda Society Library may be open to the public more days during the week. Look for announcements in upcoming newsletters concerning expanded hours.
As we approach the end of the year 2000, it is time to begin thinking about renewing your membership to the Uganda Society. We are very excited about the year 2001, with many new projects planned. Members will be able to enjoy enhanced lecture schedules with a more diverse range of topics, special daytime workshops and presentations, historic films, and activities with other area organizations. We encourage current members to renew their membership and with the increased activities, we hope to entice new individuals or organizations to join the Society. Remember those members who joined in September 2000, or later, do not need to renew.
When renewing, use the membership application for 2001 in the newsletter. Post it with a cheque, or drop your application off at the library during opening hours.
Alan Forward's "You Have Been Allocated Uganda", the story of a young British
colonial officer's tour of duty in Uganda makes a lovely addition to any bookshelf.
We have limited copies available, until our next shipment arrives. (We expect
the new shipment to arrive mid November.) Do your holiday shopping early and
stop by the library for a copy. All copies are autographed by the author, and
sell for only 50,000 Ug. Shillings.
Thanks to the initiative, expertise, and diligent work of Society member Laura Tindimubona, the Uganda Society greeting card series is now on sale. The cards depict a variety of images: ethnographic, colonial, historical, humorous, etc. We are currently experimenting with different types, textures, and colors of paper, so prices will vary according to paper quality. The cards will sell for 1500 to 3000 Ug. Shillings, or a discounted price for a series of cards.
You may purchase the greeting cards at all Uganda Society events and lectures,
the Uganda Society Library, the National Museum, and several local holiday bazaars.
We hope the sale of the cards will not only add to the Uganda Society's bank
account but also initiate memberships and invigorate interest from the public
in the Uganda Society. For information, contact Nanny Carder at ncid@infocom.co.ug
or 077-200-332 or Jan Gregory at 222-568.
To see more cards and images, check out Items for Sale.
The Food and Drink Association of Uganda (FDAU): Meets the first Tuesday
of each month at the Rock Garden Restaurant in the Speke Hotel, 5:30-7:30 PM.
The Historic Buildings Conservation Group of Uganda: Meets the first
Thursday of every month at the National Museum in Kampala, 5:30-7:70 PM.
The Mountain Club of Uganda: Meets the second Thursday of every month
at the Athina Club, Andy the Greeks on Windsor Crescent, 5:30 PM.
The International Women's Organization: Meets the first Thursday of
every month at the Kampala Institute on Buganda Road at 10:00 am.
We are ready to start gathering articles for the next volume of the journal. For our millennium issue, the editor has developed a special format: a once in a millennium issue, with lots of short articles looking back to the past and forward to the new millennium. Do you have an interesting bit of information about Uganda? Read on and contribute!
The Uganda Journal is the flagship publication of the Uganda Society; an open members association interested in all aspects of Ugandan society and its natural and physical environment. At its inception in 1923, the journal's main objectives were to publish research findings and information, which could add to knowledge of Uganda, and to record for posterity that which in the course of time might be lost. These remain important aims of the journal.
Over time, the Journal has grown to embrace other objectives, so that it has become the society's forum for broader intellectual exchanges and debate on and about Uganda. The emphasis has always been for the journal, as for the society, to maintain a strong organic linkage with the larger Ugandan society in all its diversity and in the context of its physical and natural environment.
A special millennium issue of the journal is planned for publication in early December 2000. Instead of the traditional full-length articles and book reviews, the Issue will publish numerous short pieces and notes, of between 250 to 2500 words, on any topic of interest concerning Uganda from time immemorial to 2000 and beyond. Do you have a graphic description of that preying mantis in a bush in Kisoro? The story of an unforgettable sporting moment ? A reported or not fully reported scientific discovery? A technological invention? The day TV was introduced in Uganda? A special geographical formation? A biography or notoriety? The origin of a name or label? A joke one will never tire of? A saying? A peculiar dish with its recipe? The ugliest wild animal in Uganda? We encourage submissions from as many lifestyles as possible. Photographs and other illustrations are welcome.
Contributions should be to Dent Ocaya-Lakidi, Samuel Vivian Matagi or Nanny Carder to reach the Editorial Board of the Uganda Journal by 30 September 2000. They may be posted to Box 4980, Kampala or left at the library, which is located at the National Museum. They may also be e-mailed to NCID@infocom.co.ug.
We have a full lecture schedule, including special presentations for the rest of the year, with lots of exciting topics.
August 31: Topic to be Announced; HE Martin Brennan, American Ambassador
to Uganda
September 4: Are You Interested in Saving Uganda’s Heritage?; Dr. Andrew
Reid, Institute of Archaeology, University College of London
September 21: Climbing Kenya’s Most Remote Mountain; Visual Presentation
by Paul Clarke, Head of East African Wildlife Society, Nairobi
September 28: Forestry: Hope for the Future; A Joint Presentation by
Ambassador Justin Lokwiya, Head of Forestry Secretariat and Mr. Bill Farmer,
Technical Advisor for Forestry Secretariat
October 26: Kampala’s Future as a Model City; The Hon John Ssebana-Kizito,
Mayor
November 30: Aquaculture in Uganda; Dr. Rick Gregory, Project Advisor
for Aquaculture, DFID
In organizing the library documents during renovations, we came across annual schedules of the Uganda Society Lectures. While some of you may remember attending these lectures, we thought it would be of interest to members to see a review of presentations from thirty years ago.
January: Education of Uganda’s Elite 1900-1924; Dr. T. Watson
February: Some Aspects of the Snakes of Kampala Area; Mr. J.G. Matthews
March: Features of Birds of the Kampala Area; Mr. M. Prentice and Mr.
R. Frankum Makerere’s Crash Programme to Save Uganda’s History; Dr. J.B. Webster
The Relations of the Bairu and the Bahima in the Pre-Colonial Kingdom of Nkore;
Mr. S. Karugire
April: Preliminary Thoughts on Divination and Symbolism in Peri-Urban
Kampala; Dr. P. Rigby Botanizing in Uganda; Dr. K. Lye
May: The Lawyer in Society; Mr. Nkambo Mugerwa Pre-Colonial Africa-the
Case of Madagascar; Dr. P. Mutibwa
June: The Early African Press in Uganda; J.F. Scotton Ugandan Fishing
Industry; Mr. Kanyike Language Loyalties and Nation Building in Uganda; Carol
Scotton
July: Iron Cows and Copper Spears: the Royal Insignia of Karagwe South
of Ankole; Mr. Hamo Sassoon Black Gold from the Forests of Uganda in World Prospective;
Mr. D.E. Earl
August: Mimicry in Uganda’s Butterflies; Mr. P.H. Davis Past, Present,
and Future Contributions of Archaeology to the Study of African History; Mr.
S. Lwanga-Lunyiigo
September: The Lugbra of Northwestern Uganda: Immigrants and Early Settlements;
Dr. Okete Shiroya
October: Some Parasites and Diseases Occurring in Wild Animals in Queen
Elizabeth Park; Mr. Michael Woodford Art in Bars in Kampala; Mr. George Kakooza
November: Insect Life in the Fig Tree; Mr. H.R. German Youth in Uganda:
A Discussion; Dr. Sheldon Weeks
Library Hours: Tuesday from 10-12 a.m. Thursday from 2-4:30 p.m. Or by appointment (236-833)
Come join us for a few hours to read or do research. If you have not visited, we have a comfortable reading room with armchairs as well as tables for serious work. In addition to nearly 2000 titles, we have a number of journals, maps and photographs. Visit during our regular hours, or call Nanny Carder at 236-833 for an appointment.
The library has received a number of interesting titles lately. Both Fountain and Macmillan donated books, and we have purchased new books as well. Macmillan’s titles are on major issues including democracy, health care, human rights, third world politics and sustainable rural development. Fountain Publishers has provided a valuable update to our collection of their books. New titles include Tiberondwa’s book on missionary teachers and colonialism, When Hens Begin to Crow, Kasozi’s Social Origins of Violence, Steinhart’s The Kingdoms of Western Uganda, and Kyemba’s A State of Blood. Fountain Publishers’ new fiction is also included, along with a number of other books covering a variety of important topics in Uganda.
Thomas Ofcansky has contributed some important volumes of the historical dictionary series from Scarecrow Press. In addition to his book on Tanzania, he has sent us volumes on South Africa, Gambia and Kenya. The Historical Dictionary of Uganda is currently being updated but we look forward to seeing a copy of it when it is reprinted. He also sent us White Nile Black Blood from Red Sea Press, a volume on Somalia From Barre to Aideed, and a volume on music in history in Africa.
We also purchased some books recently. Older books acquired include Anstey, King Leopold’s Legacy, The Long Walks, which summarizes the trips of many early explorers, often using their own words, and The Devil Drives, a of Sibiographyr Richard Burton. New titles include Cohen, The Combing of History, Middleton, The Lugbara of Uganda, and other titles ranging from The Elusive Promise of NGOs in Uganda to Manhood and Morality. Ingham’s Obote: A Political Biography and a new printing of Ham Mukasa’s Uganda’s Katikiro in England are now on our shelves.
A real treasure we have acquired is Alan Forward’s You Have Been Allocated Uganda. Forward describes the time he spent in Uganda as an Assistant District Commissioner. It is full of wonderful stories of Uganda’s beauty and her people, and is complemented by lovely photographs. We hope to sell the book from the library by September. Look for more news on this book in our next newsletter.
As many of you may know, Ms. Beverly Usher left Uganda at the end of July. After many years of work in Uganda, she and her husband, Phil will relocate to England. Beverly has worked with the Society as Librarian Coordinator and Head Librarian since 1997. Beverly’s work for the library has been invaluable and her contributions to the Society will be greatly missed. Beverly has promised to keep in touch with us, and will work for the Uganda Society from the UK. We all wish the very best in her new venture.
Ms. Jan Gregory has graciously agreed to become the new Librarian for the Uganda Society. Jan has worked as assistant Secretary since January and opens the library to the public every Thursday afternoon. The library is also very lucky to have Ms. Kayaga Mulindwa join the group of library volunteers. Kayaga comes to the Uganda Society from Botswana where she was Director of National Library Service. She has had much experience with special libraries when she was head of the Division of Special Libraries and the National Reference Library of Botswana. Many of us know Kayaga’s brother, Professor D. Kiyaga Mulindwa, an active member of the Uganda Society Executive Committee. Kayaga has proven to be an excellent addition to the library staff in only a few short weeks.
Not only are there changes in library personnel; many of you will notice there are big changes in the look of the library. Thanks to the hard work of Beverly and Phil Usher, Mrs. Shahina Jaffer and her staff, and a group of volunteers, the library has undergone quite a face-lift. Researchers and visitors now enjoy a much improved reading environment with the library’s fresh coat of paint, relocation of shelves and work space, and general cleaning and reorganization of collections.
The Uganda Society plans to present a “library launch” in the near future. If you have not been to the library in the past few months, be sure to drop by and enjoy the renovation.
Due to very low evening attendance, as of August 1, the library will no longer be open Thursday evenings. In addition, two of the library staff volunteers will be taking their vacations during the months of August and September. While we hope to cover the usual opening hours, it may not be possible for other volunteers to cover each opening day. We sincerely hope to keep the library running on its regular schedule. Please excuse any inconvenience if the library is closed on a particular day.
Thanks to the initiative of Society member and volunteer librarian, Ms. Laura Tindimubona, the Uganda Society plans to reproduce some of the library’s maps, book illustrations, and photographs. Ms. Tindimubona currently works as Art Director for MCL McCann Uganda. She has taken time from her busy schedule to find etchings, illustrations and old photographs from the library’s collection to reproduce as greeting cards. Many of these images capture rare moments in Uganda’s history and often tell us as much about the person creating the image as the product itself. The Society plans to sell the greeting cards at the Uganda Society Library, National Museum, and local bazaars. We hope that the sale of the cards will not only add to the Uganda Society’s bank account but also initiate memberships and invigorate interest from the public in the Uganda Society. Several postcards will be ready for display and sale by September 1.
The Uganda Society currently has over 100 individual local and international members. If you know of anyone or any organizations that are not currently members, and may be interested, please pass this newsletter on. Prospective members may drop by the Uganda Society library, or fill in the form on the back of the newsletter and post it to “The Uganda Society” with a cheque. Annual membership dues are 10,000 /=, while students pay only 3000/=. Life memberships are 100,000 /=. For more information on joining, click join.
The Food and Drink Association of Uganda (FDAU): Meets the first Tuesday of each month at the Rock Garden Restaurant in the Speke Hotel, 5:30-7:30 p.m.
The Historic Buildings Conservation Group of Uganda: Meets the first Thursday of every month at the National Museum in Kampala, 5:30-7:70 p.m.
This month’s lecture: Captains, Colonels and Colonialism: Early attempts at community conservation 1952-1962 by Lee Alexander Risby, a visiting scholar from Emmanuel College, Cambridge University. Join us on the 27th of April at 5:30 p.m. for what will certainly be a fascinating lecture!
If you want to know the title of the next lecture, drop by the museum where it is advertised or watch The New Vision for an advertisement on the Tuesday or Wednesday before the lecture. And if you listen to Capitol Radio, you should be able to hear an announcement of the next lecture, too! Many thanks to The New Vision and Capitol Radio, who kindly provide us with this publicity free of charge.
The Smithsonian Institution’s African Art Museum has sent us a large number of interesting publications and documents. There are National Geographic magazines from the 1980’s which include articles on Uganda, East Africa and the Nile basin. One book describes 100 masterworks from the National Musuem of Congo, with photos of each of the pieces, many in color. The collection includes annual report from the Elvehjem Museum of Art featuring a 1993 travelling exhibition of art from Zaire with a detailed article on the cut pile raffia textiles of the Kuba people, which have been shown and sold recently in Kampala. There are also a variety of articles including a study of Banyarwanda proverbs, penis sheaths, female circumcision, Bantu shields, symbols of material life in Orommo society, Tanzanian sea shells, and the mbira, an African musical instrument, as it occurs in Brazil.
15 Jan: Sunday walk to Kiseru, off the Mubende Road.
13 Feb: Sunday walk to Kisenyi.
12 Mar: Sunday walk to Mukono.
18-19 Mar: Camping weekend at Kumi Rock Shelters. Attend the March 9th
meeting if you want to participate.
16 Apr: Sunday walk to Entebbe Peninsula.
20-25 Apr: Easter climb of Mt. Elgon. Attend the 13th April meeting
to participate in planning and celebrate 50 years for the club in Uganda.
14 May: Sunday walk beyond the Bukasa wetland.
9-11 June: Camping weekend at Boma Hill, Mubende.
16Jul: Sunday walk in the Mpanga Forest.
12-13 Aug: Camping weekend on the Nile at Kalagala.
15/16 Aug: Camping weekend at Boma Hill, Mubende.
Back issues: We also have back issues available for volumes 42-44. These are only 6,000/= each, or you can buy the whole set for 10,000/=. For those with almost complete collections of the journal, we can provide photocopies of any issues you are missing. Please contact the librarian if you are interested in back copies. In addition, we offer some interesting reprints from old issues. These were printed some years ago. Stop by the library for a complete list, or get pricing information by clicking BuyJournals..
January 27-Annual General Meeting. Come and get involved in your society!
February 24-Gill Fowler will present a lecture on mental health issues in Uganda.
Our next project is to paint our floors with floor paint that was generously donated by Sadolin Paints. MAKSS Packaging has promised to help us arrange for painters and workers to move the furniture while we are painting. This project should be completed in January. Note: the library will be closed for the week in January when we are painting. Sorry for any inconvenience.
We also received donations of a variety of guides to places in East Africa, and the second volume of The Letters of Gertrude Bell from Linda McIntyre. If you have guide books and maps you are no longer using, please consider donating them to us. A guide book that is five years out of date and has been updated may not seem of any use, but think of how interesting it could be in 50 years.
Not only did the festival give us a chance to see these films, but it raised substantial money for the society from sponsorship and sales of tickets to the gala opening. This money will be used to continue the functions of the society and, especially, to provide library supplies for preserving our books and to purchase books to extend our collection.
Many thanks to the film festival committee, and especially Shahina Jaffer, Linda McIntyre and Beverly Usher who put numerous hours into making sure it would happen, and to our wonderful sponsors, British American Tobacco Uganda, MAKSS Packaging Ltd., M-Net, and MCL McCann Uganda Ltd, Delmira, New Vision, Cineplex, DHL, Kenya Airways, International Distillers, Uganda Breweries, Coca-Cola and the Uganda Museum. The festival would not have been possible without the assistance of the French Embassy, who provided us with Le Ballon d'Or.
We are already starting work on next year's festival, lining up films that we will all want to see. If anyone is interested in helping with this great event, please contact Shahina Jaffer at 077-220090, or drop a note off to the Hon. Secretary at the library or at P.O. Box 4980, Kampala.
For the half century from 1933 to 1983, the Uganda Society played a prominent role as an innovative multi-disciplinary organization. It fostered and facilitated scientific, literary, social, economic and cultural pursuits of various sorts. The Uganda Society publication, The Uganda Journal, earned an excellent reputation throughout the world. Within Africa, it inspired publication of other such academic journals in other countries. The society's library, founded in the 1930's, offered readers and researchers a collection of volumes, maps, periodicals and photographs many of which were otherwise unavailable elsewhere in Uganda.
In 1983 the Uganda Society lost its battle with declining membership and financial resources and was closed. Only the library was maintained and preserved on a severely restricted basis. The society was reborn in 1994. The first Annual General Meeting in over a decade was held in early 1994 and an executive committee headed by Prof. Herbert K. Nsubuga began the process of bringing the society and its offshoots back into the public eye. Since then, the society has been presenting monthly lectures, printing journals and making the library's collection available to the public.
We also have news of the upcoming journal, volume 45. We are about to publish the next journal, so we are already looking for funding for the one to follow. Volume 46 will be a special millenium edition. If you would like to be a sponsor to the volume or advertise in it, please contact us at lectures or through the library, or email the editor at Olakidi@ infocom.co.ug.
September 23-The Importance of Wetlands for Fish in Ugandan Lakes, Dr. John Balirwa
October 28-Film (this is the closing night of the film festival)
November 25-at present unconfirmed. Look for either "The Impact of Weevils on the Control of Water Hyacinth and Associated Environmental Concern in Uganda" by Dr. James Ogwange and Mr. Malo of Namulonge Agricultural Research Institute, or Dr. Abidi on "Research Co-ordination."
We have had several fascinating lectures over the summer. In June we featured a lecture on literature. Given by Austin Bukenya of the Department of Literature at Makerere University, it was entitled "An Idiom of Blood: Pragmatic Interpretations of Terror and Violence in the Modern Ugandan Novel." and it was attended by some of the authors of books featured in the lecture, leading to a lively discussion during the question period. Our July lecture was" The Role of Religion in Ugandan Politics" presented by Prof. Badru Kateregga. August featured the first of two lectures on Uganda's water resources. The lecture was entitled "Fishing Villages and Other Shoreline Settlements on Lake Victoria: Pollution, a Preliminary Assessment," and was presented by our Vice President, Samuel Vivian Matagi, who works in the Industrial, Urban Runoff and Municipal Waste Management Component for National Water and Sewerage Corporation. Dr. Orach-Meza, National Head of Lake Victoria Environmental Management Project provided introductory remarks.
Remember, we hold a lecture on the fourth Thursday of every month.
Watch the newspapers for further details. See you at the movies!!
There is, on the one hand, in many of the contributions, a sense of Uganda's good luck and blessedness, so well-captured by Francis Musango in just seven words: " . . . Uganda is a land rich and beautiful." At the same time there is the widespread feeling that Uganda has failed to realize her enormous potential (economically, politically, socially and culturally) and seems most of the time to display the more ugly side of her face. The lead article by A.B.K. Kasozi highlights the fundamental tension well. His basic argument is that Uganda has been failed by politics and political economy, as reflected in unequal economic and social development between the northern and southern regions of the country. He places the imperative for more uniform development throughout the country as the most urgent item on the national agenda if we are to avoid continued serious political conflicts and civil wars. This thesis has been repeatedly advanced before, but in arguing it by blaming the failure of politics and political economy largely on one leader, Dr. Kasozi is bound to generate controversy.
A major obstacle to Uganda's economic growth and development is clearly the burden of external debt. Ulrike Wilson succeeds admirably in laying bare for the non-expert what is a terribly complex subject. Her piece is a good starting point of entry into what is happening to Uganda's debt burden.
Arsene M. Balihuta discussed education as both a social service and a vital social capital for economic development, thereby complementing the previous two articles.
Both Herbert S. Kanabi Nsubuga and William Gombya-Ssembajjwe are concerned with sustainable development; the former focuses on what he considers the hitherto neglected field of animal industry, the latter on forestry. In both cases Uganda's potential is shown to be enormous. And in both cases the country has a long way to go to begin to realize this potential. The gap between the potential and its realization in resource utilization widens further when considered in the context of the present land law. In a brief note, Jossy R Bibangambah explains clearly where the land law now stands and what needs to be done if land is to assume its rightful place as the primary capital for sustainable economic development. The theme of "celebration and agony" is sharply dramatized in two short reflections on art. Gamaliel Mugumbya strongly argues for a role for art in overall development. Francis Musango, echoing a line from the musical Camelot urges Ugandan artists and Ugandans at large to "do look around" us. We would, he says, find that Uganda's landscape is unique. His piece "wakes up" our landscape to display its beauty and at the same time wakes us up to notice that " . . . Uganda is a land rich and beautiful."
The journal also features Cato Lund discussing the urban nature of the sites of Uganda's kingdoms before the colonial era and an obituary of Guy Yeoman by Henry Osmaston.
Dr. A. W. Williams wrote to us from Cumbria (U.K.) about papers belonging to Frederick Spire left with his nephew and past member of the Uganda Society, Allan Robert Lodge, who died two months ago. Mr. Lodge's widow wants to carry out her late husband's wishes and get the Spire papers back to us even though an approach has been made to her from Oxford University, who also want the papers. Frederick Spire was one of the early pioneers; Dr. Williams reminds us that Frederick Spire is mentioned twice in Cook's Uganda Memories-on page 18, on the expedition to Bunyoro against Kabarega in 1893; and on page 38 meeting the Cook Safari from the coast at Kapsabet in 1897. Also, in an unfinished letter to Dr. Williams, Allan Lodge refers to a John Lindsall who was District Commissioner in Mbale. When he was on a visit to UK in the early 1950's, his car was broken into and material was stolen that he was taking to Uganda for the society from Mrs. Spire. Mr. Lodge's daughter, Mrs. Taylor (great niece of Spire) is the one who contacted Dr. Williams and said when her mother had had time to sort through her late husband's papers she would get in touch again with Dr. Williams. Our Honorary Secretary contacted Mrs. Lodge in July.
The Uganda Society Library is a perfect place to deposit past records and those of a personal nature are fascinating to the society and the research workers who use our library. If anyone else has similar documents, do please get in touch with us. We would love to hear from you.Come join us for a morning to read or to do research. If you haven't visited us, we have a comfortable reading room with armchairs as well as tables for serious work. In addition to our nearly 2000 titles, we have a periodical section and we house the library of the East African Wildlife Society. Visit us during our regular hours, or before a lecture. Our current project in the library is to put glass doors on our bookshelves to protect our books. A set of glass panes costs only 65,000/=, and we have managed to put glass in eight shelves thus far. We have only five left and all our books will have years added to their lives. If you want to save a book, this is your chance. For only 65,000/= donation, you can save a whole shelf (some one hundred books!) from dust and bugs. Please call the librarian at 269-165 if you want to help with this important activity.
Andrew Cavell has kindly donated a copy of The New Shorter Oxford English Dictionary on Historical Principles, edited by Lesley Brown, in two volumes. This will augment our current volumes, which date from the 1930s. The dictionary will prove invaluable in our editorial work and be much appreciated by all our readers. We offer many, many thanks to Mr. Cavell for this generous donation.
Many thanks to our wonderful sponsors who keep the Society running. Prime General Supplies assisted the library with a donation for upgrading shelving, Alam Group/Econo Homes are upgrading our rare book shelving, MAKSS Industries brought us this year's End of Year party while Gold Trust Bank underwrote last year's party, CalTex provided us with a computer to the library that has become an essential part of the functioning of the entire Society and will be used to typeset the next issue of the Journal, and Fountain Publishers has donated large numbers of their excellent publications to help keep our library up to date. Please support these organizations which support your Society.
February 25, 1999 - Mr. Cato Lund will present a lecture entitled The Royal Capitals of the Interlacustrine Kingdoms - an Urban Legacy of Uganda. Mr. Lund spent much time in Uganda last year doing field research on the subject he is to present to us. Join us for what certainly must be a fascinating lecture.
March 25, 1999 - Mr. Justin Willis will deliver an address entitled Alcoholism in the Region and In History, a topic of immediate concern as well as of historic interest.
April 22, 1999 -Mr. D. Mhalaba, South African High Commissioner, will speak on Uganda and South Africa (title to be confirmed).
May 27, 1999 - Uganda, The Spiritual Heart of Africa, will be presented by Mr. Olanga of the Bahai Faith. Find out about this fascinating religion and how Uganda came to be chosen for its African center.
Remember, we hold a lecture on the fourth Thursday of every month.
Anyone with ideas for articles or notes should contact the Hon. Editor, Mr. Dent Ocaya-Lakidi at 531-499 or the assistant editor, Sheena Carey at 267-080, or leave a note at the library. The Journal is also seeking funding to help support the cost of printing. If you have ideas for fund raising, please let us know.
We recently received copies of The Uganda Journal volumes 1 through 3 (bound), volume 6, numbers 2, 3 and 4, and volume 7 (bound). These volumes nearly complete our collection of Uganda Journals. We are now missing only number 1 of volume 6. If you have a copy of this volume you would be willing to donate or sell, or if you know the whereabouts of a copy which might be available, please let us know. The Journals are the highlight of our library and much used by visitors to the library from all over the world.
Azania - We now have a full set of this fascinating journal from the British Institute in East Africa. Azania has appeared annually since 1966, covering the history, archaeology and related studies of eastern Africa. The journal documents, through original articles, notes and reviews, new research in its field. We have every issue and an index to all the issues from 1966-1990 to aid researchers in using this valuable work. We also have a copy of A Thousand Years of East Africa, published by BIEA.
Thomas Ofcansky, a renowned scholar on Uganda, has kindly donated copies some of his books to us. He sent us copies of Uganda: the Tarnished Pearl of Africa and the Historical Dictionary of Tanzania, as well as recently reprinted Gold Coast Regiment in the East African Campaign, with an introduction by Mr. Ofcansky.
Carolyn Colvin (has sent us a variety of books purchased in the United States, mostly focusing on Kenya. The new selection includes several issues of Kenya Past & Present, published by the Kenya Museum Society. These journals present articles ranging from wildlife to archaeology. The titles include everything from novels by famous Kenyan authors to Kenyan history, books about Kenyatta and Nyerere, the war in Sudan, and Kenyan and African politics and history. The star of the collection is a sumptuously illustrated large format photo book combining Peter Matthiessen's "The Tree Where Man Was Born" with Eliot Porter's photo book "The African Experience." This is certainly one of the most beautiful books published on East Africa.
Fountain Publishers has donated copies of their recent titles to us. Fountain is currently publishing some of the most interesting work printed on Uganda. Courtesy of Fountain, we now offer Museveni's Long March, Mamdani's Citizen and Subject, Decentralization and Civil Society, Developing Uganda, Kampala Women Getting By, Kigezi and its People, Reflections on the Muslim Leadership Question in Uganda, and a number of other important works covering history, social studies and fiction.
With money raised for expanding the collection, the library has also acquired many important books focusing on Africa as a whole. We now have several volumes by on the history of Africa by Basil Davidson, who was a founder in the field of African history. We have acquired copies of V.Y. Mudimbe's The Idea of Africa and The Invention of Africa, covering the meaning of Africa, African thought, being African, and Africa as it is seen from outside Africa. We also have copies of new books on the history and social situation of East Africa, and several of the acclaimed novels and poetry published by Femwrite, including the new volume by Susan Kiguli, who read to us so beautifully at Professor Wangusa's lecture last year.
The library has also acquired several important new books published in the U.S. and the U.K., including new volumes of Ashe's Two Kings of Buganda and Chronicles of Uganda, David Apter's The Political Kingdom in Uganda, Conflict Resolution in Uganda, Kingdom and State, The Roots of Ethnicity: The Origins of the Acholi of Uganda before 1800, and The Social Origins of Violence.
The Food and Drink Association of Uganda meets always on the first Tuesday of the month at the Lion Bar & Restaurant, Sheraton Hotel, Kampala 5:30 - 7:30 p.m. The Association is open to anyone interested in Ugandan food and drink.
17 Jan: Sunday walk to Wamala Tomb
14 Feb: Sunday Walk to Tende Hill
6/8 Mar: Camping Weekend on Mount Napak
14 Mar: Sunday Walk to Namugongo
11 Apr: Sunday Walk to Bendegere
1/2 May: Camping Weekend at Lake Mburo
3/6 Jun: Camping trip toLake Bunyonyi
13 Jun: Sunday Walk to Luziku Hill. Development experts are welcome.
11 Jul: Sunday walk to Kisenyi. Buy and take back fresh fish.
15/16 Aug: Camping weekend at Boma Hill, Mubende
12 Sep: Sunday Walk to Ziranumbu/Kiira.
9/10 Oct: Camping weekend on Mgahinga
14 Nov: Sunday walk to Kiulwe Point.
9 Dec: MCU annual general meeting.
The Mountain club meets on the second Thursday of every month at the Athina Clubhouse, Windsor Crescent, Kampala from 5:30 - 7:30 p.m. Sunday walks rendezvous at 10:30 a.m. at Ministry of Tourism. Walks end in Kampala at about 4 p.m. Bring a picnic on all Sunday walks. Children are welcome with their parents.
Also, the Annual General Meeting is coming up on January 28, 1999. This is your chance to shape your Society. If you are interested in getting more involved with the Society, join us and find out about some of our sub-committees. You definitely have a skill that can help move the Society forward. We're always looking for people with ideas and energy to contribute to the Society.
Are you doing research we might be interested in? Do you know anyone who is? We are always looking for lecture ideas.....bring yours along to the next lecture! Also, if you have small items of information you have discovered, or things you have wondered about that someone in the Society might have the answer to, drop a note at the library for the "Newsletter Editor" and we will put your item in the next newsletter.
Note: Committee members should contact the Hon. Secretary if they wish to stand for reelection.
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Eibanja tirihiira mu nju.
A debt doesn't burn when a hut catches fire.
When you die, your heirs will have to repay your debts, one way or the other.
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Join us at the museum at 5:30 p.m. and save a few minutes afterward to enjoy a soda or a beer and discuss what you've heard.
We will not have a lecture in December, as usual. Instead we will have a party for members at the museum. Please see the next item for information about the End of Year Party!
Tentative schedule for the new year (these are not yet confirmed):
January 28, 1999 - Annual General Meeting, 6 p.m.
February 25, 1999 - Mr. Cato Lund on palaces of Ugandan kingdoms.
March 25, 1999 - South African High Commissioner, Mr. D. Mhalaba
April 22, 1999 - Mr. Justin Willis on Alcoholism in the region and in history
May 27, 1999 - Mr. Olanga on the history of the Bahai
Remember, we hold a lecture every month on the fourth Thursday.
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Ejuga ezaara eborooga.
A cow lowing every minute produces cows which low every second.
The bad behavior of parents is repeated and increased in their children.
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Kanyaamunyu eti: "Abatariire tibenanuura".
"One who hasn't eaten cannot stretch himself out" (to rest and digest) said
the pied wagtail.
If one is restless it means that he has not found what he needs.
"Who goes to bed supperless, all night tumbles and tosses"
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Work begins shortly on volume 45 of the Uganda Journal. Anyone with ideas for articles or notes should contact the Hon. Editor, Mr. Dent Ocaya-Lakidi at 531-499 or the assistant editor, Sheena Carey at 267-080. The Journal is also seeking funding to help support the cost of printing. If you have ideas for fund raising, please let us know.
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Akagambo karungi kakaraaza empitsi aha rwigi.
Kind words make the hyena remain quietly at the door.
Kind words soothe anger and abusiveness.
"Honey catches more flies than vinegar"
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The Proverbs of Kigezi and Ankole, and Deogratias: An African Experience, from Dr. James Kigongo
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Enkoko ku eburwa amahuri tebaasa kubiika amara.
The hen that has no eggs incubates her own claws.
Failure in one field does not mean failure in another; so try again.
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"Tinkafiire" ebyaza emitooma.
"I am not yet dead," says father; and keeps planting bark-cloth trees.
He who has little strength, but much love, keeps planting for his future generations.
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Are you doing research we might be interested in? Do you know anyone who is? We are always looking for lecture ideas.....bring yours along to the next lecture!
If you have any thoughts on activities for the Society, or if you are interested in becoming active, please contact us. We're always looking for people with ideas and energy to contribute to the Society.
Join us at the museum at 5:30 p.m. and save a few minutes afterward to enjoy a soda or a beer and discuss what you've heard.
Remember, we hold a lecture every month on the fourth Thursday.
Come join us for a morning to read or to do research. If you haven't visited us, we have a comfortable reading room with arm chairs as well as tables for serious work. In addition to our nearly 1800 titles, we have a periodical section and we house the library of the East African Wildlife Society. Visit us during our regular hours, or before a lecture.
Prof. Rowe of Northwestern University in the USA has donated Volume 2 of the Uganda Journal, which arrived recently.
Volumes 1-3 of the Journal are on their way from Australia, courtesy of Peter Wilkins. He received them from J.D. Gotch, who was a District Commissioner in Uganda from 1939-61. Mr. Wilkins knew him from the time he spent in the Uganda Police (1952-65).
The HBGC meetings are held on the second Wednesday of every month at 5:30 p.m. at the National Museum. The group has identified a number of buildings that warrant conservation. They are working with Kampala City Council to increase awareness of Kampala's most interesting and worthwhile buildings as well as to increase compliance with basic planning laws. Come join the group and help preserve the fine buildings that give Kampala its special character.
If last year's course is representative of this event, it is something not to be missed. Many new lectures will be offered by new and returning lecturers, including our own Prof. Pinycwa. Prices for the entire course are 30,000/= for non-members of FUNMA, 25,000/= for members, 20,000/= for persons involved in tourism, and 10,000/= for students. Day passes for individual mornings can be purchased for 6,000/= per day for regular passes, 4,000/= per day for tourism participants and 2,000/= per day for students. The evening event at the Lion Bar will cost 15,000/=; buy tickets or make reservations in advance, please. Tickets for the full course, individual days and the evening event at the Lion Bar are now being sold at our library (see Library Hours for times and days).
FUNMA Calendar:
September 17, 6:30 p.m.: a lecture by Rose Mwanja, Uganda National Museums'
Education Officer on Traditional Dress in Uganda
October 22: a grand finale to the UPAC course but open to all: An evening of
Uganda's best food and music at the Lion Bar (Sheraton)
Remember, if you have any thoughts on activities for the Society, or if you are interested in becoming active, please contact us. We're always looking for people with ideas and energy to contribute to the Society.
Dr. Kwesiga's field of expertise is in gender, education, women studies and
management. She earned her Ph.D. in Gender and Education at the University of
London, where she also earned a Master of Arts in Higher and Further Education.
She additionally holds degrees from Makerere, Kianda College, Kenya and a diploma
in public administration from the Uganda Institute of Public Administration.
In addition to her activities in the Society, she supervises students, teaches
courses, conducts research in women's education, women and politics and other
areas, and participates in numerous workshops and seminars as a presenter and
facilitator. She is also a member of several important professional associations
in Uganda, East Africa and internationally.
April 24: The Ugandan Reaction to European Painting: a joint meeting of the Uganda Society and the Uganda Artists Association
May 28: Multi-Lateral Debt Relief for Low Income Countries: Uganda's Case, by Ulrike Wilson, Resident Representative of the IMF
Don't miss them!
Holding the audience enthralled for over an hour, Dr. Fouts described his pivotal research conversing with chimpanzees. Yes, I learned, the chimps continue to use ASL and they teach other chimps to use it. The first chimpanzee he taught ASL, Washoe, taught her adopted infant ASL. His team filmed chimps with no people present and discovered that they actively use ASL between themselves, even in situations where they are agitated. They even sign to themselves when they are alone! And seeing is believing - he brought with him video clips of a variety of situations with the chimps, translating what they were talking about for those of us who don't know ASL.
If you missed this fascinating lecture, do not despair. We will present another lecture when Dr. Fouts returns next year and we will feature Dr. Fouts' book, The Next of Kin, in our library very soon.
The next issue is being typeset now and will be out shortly. Readers can look
forward to articles on a wide variety of topics. Here is a preview of some of
the articles in Volume 44:
Colonial Treaties and the Legal Regime of the Nile Valley, by John Ntambirweki
Notes in this issue will cover topics as diverse as Northern Uganda, Land Ownership in Uganda, the Fourth World Conference on Women held in Beijing, and NGO and donor activities. There will also be four book reviews and the second installment of the Uganda Bibliography compiled for us by Thomas Ofcansky.
The library is staffed by volunteers. If you are interested in volunteering on a regular basis or as a backup, please contact Beverly Usher by fax to 231-134 or leave a note in the library.
6 Jan: Sodas, our daily bread (bakery award), banana balti
3 Feb: Home made vinegar, mango nuts, mango cake
3 Mar: Sugar, beans & matoke variations, Ugandan food exhibition
7 Apr: Sun-dried & crystallized fruits, cocoa bean to chocolate, Reko products
5 May: Ugandan snacks, South African wines and desert grapes from Karamoja
2 Jun: Ugandan beers, and Ugandan hors d'oeuvres
7 Jul: The second potato crisp Olympics, tamarind refresher drink and sugar
confectionery
4 Aug: Food technologists in Uganda, FDAU coffee bar & coffee tasting, Madi
millet porridge
8 Sep: Indian spices grown in Uganda, nutritional standards, introducing the
ground bean
6 Oct: The Ugandan food exhibition
3 Nov: Groundnut recipes, pickling fish and Ugandan food exports review
8 Dec: Christmas spirits, Guinness and Christmas puddings, the Ugandan cracker
To get involved, just contact any member of the Executive Committee or the Chairman of the committee you would like to join. The Lecture Committee (Linda McIntyre, Chair) plans the schedule of monthly lectures. The Library Committee (Beverly Usher, Coordinator) staffs and administers affairs of the library. Membership Committee (Dr. Joy Kwesiga, Chair) encourages new memberships and cooperation with other service groups. The Publicity Committee (Samuel Matagi, Chair) organizes publicity for Society. The Journal Committee (Dent Ocaya-Lakidi, Editor) publishes The Uganda Journal; and welcomes all with editorial and marketing skills. The Social Events Committee (Prof. E.H.K. Nsubuga, Chair) plans excursions, activities, & events to give members opportunities to socialize. If you are interested, contact us through the library.