In the second part of our epic interview with Amos Wekesa of Great Lakes Safaris/Uganda Lodges we start with the promise made by Sylvia from The World Bank. Click for more…

Here we are: 47 minutes of The Studio Edirisa radio show #5 (click to download), 11MB of:

- the weekly news wrap
- challenges & competitions: what you love/what you hate competition, short-story writing competition
- role models & bad models: Amos Wekesa (article)
- career guidance: Ambrose Kibuuka and how to think critically and positively
- local talent: Ssalongo Mubiru (article)
- tribal secrets: Banyankole (article)
- agony aunt panel (problem)

The previous shows: one, two, three, four

If you are in Uganda, you can hear us every Saturday at 11am on Best FM and at 5pm on Voice of Kigezi.

Frequencies:
- 106.5 Best FM: Kampala; reaching Jinja, Entebbe, Luweero
- 91 Best FM: Masaka; covering central and western Uganda
- 89.5 VOK FM: Kabale; covering southwestern and western Uganda

Our radio show has just been played on Voice of Kigezi, some 300 kilometres away from our base. It would not be there without the devotion of Edirisa’s Oscar Kavuma and Fred Beinomugisha. Late by night Oscar found a lorry to take him to Masaka, waited for any bus to Kabale and passed the CD to a conductor. That was the easy part. Click for more…

The people of Ankole (western Uganda) used to have an interesting marriage process.

The elderly first chose a family to marry from. Some nights before the marriage ceremony they went to the female courtyard to listen for farts. The girl with the loudest fart was supposed to be the healthiest and was selected to be the bride.

An extreme act followed. Before the groom met the bride, he was obliged to have sex with the eldest of his maternal aunts. This was to train him for his night duties.

On the wedding night, the maternal aunt was required to watch and listen to the freshly married couple’s first intercourse. If the groom didn’t do a good job, he was prone to ridicule and more lessons from the aunt.
A white sheet was used for the beddings; blood on it would prove the girl was a virgin. No blood would mean abomination and hence becoming an outcast.

Omukeikuru Nyakairima
(as told to her grandchild Roderick Atuhaire)
illustrations: Martin Aijuka Depories

Amos Wekesa is somebody who has built a lot from absolutely nothing. He is now a major player in Ugandan tourism, but how he got there is a remarkable story. Click for more…

One more shift, and we may beat Slim…

Rwanda is displaying her international strength by sending police officers to keep peace in Haiti.

The World Health Organization has approved antiretroviral drugs made in Uganda for export to the rest of East Africa at a cheaper price.

East Africa has been worried about dwindling water levels of Africa’s biggest lake. Lake Victoria has now received 500 billion Uganda shillings for conservation and fisheries protection.

Forbes have just announced their annual rich list and surprisingly, Mexican telecommunications billionaire Carlos Slim has beaten Bill Gates! Pretty good for someone in a third world country - when will we get an East African billionaire of a similar calibre?! (Doing respectful business, if possible…)

Martha Ndiritu, Pheonah Aboli, Dorothy Ashabe, Cissy Mangeni, Laurie May, Solomon Akugizibwe,  Miha Logar

Ssalongo Mubiru is a well-known local musician from our Nkozi area. He will display his guitar and singing skills in the Saturday radio show (make sure you tune in) but today we are going to present him in more detail. Click for more…

Dear Studio Edirisa,

I am an S2 dropout who left the village after losing my father, to look for work in town because life was becoming difficult for me in the village. Unfortunately I couldn’t find work and decided to stay at my father’s friend’s place. They are a young married couple with no children or housemaid and own a stationery shop in town. They always come back after 1am with their food and wake me up in the middle of my sleep to cook for them. The loss of my father is still fresh in my mind, waking up at night to cook reminds me of him and causes me more stress. I am always tempted to refuse but fear being thrown out of the house because I have no where to go. Besides, I don’t want to be a bad person to the people who offered me a helping hand in times of need. What should I do?

Sad Harriet

Please leave your advice for Harriert in the comments below…

No more lies for mobile phone users! A new technology has been developed which tracks user’s activities including walking, climbing and cleaning.

Climate change has made the life of Kenyan traditional rainmakers complicated because they no longer predict weather changes to guide farming activities. Now, a UK–Canadian is helping them out by linking them with meteorologists.

The World Health Organization introduces new guidelines for the treatment of East Africa’s leading killer – malaria. It emphasises better drugs and testing.

Kenya has received credit from the United Nations for reforms empowering women in decision making. Congratulations!

Solomon Akugizibwe

To Studio Edirisa, one thing is obvious: in a couple of years, a touch-screen phone with decent internet will be in (almost) everyone’s pocket. Yes, in East Africa too! Click for more…