Riotous Living

On Thursday, the Riot Police came to the Cathedral. About 15 police complete with helmets, shields and batons lined up outside our offices. What had we done? Are Irene’s students revolting? Has Malcolm become violent over a missing paper clip? There has been violence in Kampala. Because of problems in Egypt, Yemen, Libya etc the Government has banned groups of people forming to protest. This has angered the opposition parties. They therefore arranged, on Monday and Thursday, a ‘Walk to Work’ day to protest about rising prices, such as petrol. The argument being that they are not breaking the law as they are not meeting but moving. However, the police have taken a firm line, including the use of rubber bullets, managing to ‘shoot’ the main opposition leader, Dr Besigye, in the hand. (Photo from Daily Monitor,Uganda).

So why Riot Police in Kisoro? Our guess is that because young people tend to support the opposition to the Government, the Police wanted to show the neighbouring (all girl) secondary school that they are prepared to take serious action if necessary.




The week had its own tragedy here. Sadly another baby died at Potters Village. Last week we mentioned that one of the babies may go for eye surgery in a month’s time. It would have actually been Moses, a 9 month old baby. However, he had been poorly and on Saturday he deteriorated rapidly and was diagnosed with a hole in the heart. He died that night. To make it even more traumatic for Jenny, when she took the body to a distant village for burial alongside his mother, the grandparents wanted to include pagan ritual within a Christian Service, which is not acceptable. As the child was legally in the care of the Potters Village eventually it was agreed that the pagan rituals would not be carried out. Meanwhile, we looked after her children, taking them out for lunch and then teaching Hannah how to play chess.

Malcolm made his last visit to audit Parish churches when he went to Kabindi, at the foot of the tallest nearby volcano, Muhabura (after which the Diocese is named) and next to the local secondary school. Irene set an end of year test for her computer students who have now gone home for Easter to recover.

PS. Readers will realise how deprived we are here in the wilds of darkest Africa, suffering hardships beyond description!!! We have become accustomed to daily eating fresh scones (which Malcolm makes) with clotted cream (which Irene skims from the top of our milk). No chance of losing weight then!!!

PPS We had a bit of excitement on Friday – 3 parcels from England. 2 were posted at the start of March, and 1 on 24th January – so that only took almost 3 months. Irene has received her Mother’s Day cards – and we have some Easter cards!!!!!