For many Ugandans, Christmas has turned into a day when they exercise their canines by devouring plates of food and washing it down with numerous tribes of alcohol. For the devout Christians half of the day is spent in church but there is nothing worth taking like a trip to the upcountry by Kampala city dwellers. Christmas is always a getaway from the rush and dusty city life to the peaceful environs of the village. What do you plan to do this time round? Studio Edirisa’s David Tumusiime writes about his plans for the season.

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Did you know that some people feel attracted to trees? Or that some use their armpits for sex? Again others get a kick out of being buried alive. Check here for a list from Infrequently Asked Questions of very weird sexual practices and their scientific names. (Illustration by Martin Aijuka Depories).

Have you ever wondered whether praying for somebody sick can actually help him? Do you think going to church regularly makes your life better? Scientists around the world are trying to find answers to these questions. But it seems God’s influence is difficult to prove. Studio Edirisa’s Angelika Manhart has more. (Photo by Bernarda Nemec)

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A demand for scrap metal by China is causing a huge rate of crime in Kenya and vandalism of key installations. Electricity, phone cables and railway lines have been vandalized as the Chinese importers continue to pay premium prices for metal. It seems just the start for Chinese trade drive in Africa.

After years of suffering silently, Tanzanian teachers put down their tools to protest government neglect. A note in the one of the schools exclaimed ‘IF YOU WANT TO KILL A NATION, KILL EDUCATION’. The strike which is nationwide has been dominated by teacher’s demands for promotion and payment of arrears. “We will stop striking only after the last teacher has actually been paid the last cent due,” Habeiba Seif, a primary school teacher said. Read more from IPP MEDIA

When he was young he had fun putting on make-up on his sisters and his mother. Today he is a successful fashion designer, trying to promote Africa’s richness and diversity through his breathtaking designs. Alphadi, despite his father’s wish to work in business followed his passion. Today he is the chairman of the Federation of African fashion designers, organizes exhibitions all over the world and has his own label. Read more about his views in an article published in The New African Woman or check his homepage for pictures of his creations. (Photo from www.alphadi.net)

Ever considered just going to a gallery and soak yourself in some art? For relaxation and inspiration? This is a great chance: since yesterday, Ahmed Abushariaa exhibits his works at Tulifanya Gallery in Kampala (Hannington Road, opposite Crested Towers). He studied art in Sudan, stayed in Kenya and Germany before making Uganda his home.
People from around the world have admired his works (Danes and Gemans this year) - but will you? You can give them a try till 10 December.

There is nothing like being hit by a coin thrown by a fan when you are celebrating a goal. Chelsea’s Didier Drogba could not take it and threw it back after he had shown the Burnley fans the middle finger in a Carling cup game they lost. Now the hot tempered player is up for a possible ban from the English FA. Its true Drogba puts the game into disrepute but for the hooligans who take pride in hitting players, there is need to tame them. BBC SPORTS has more. (Photo by Timesonline)

You can imagine the exam fever being worsened by the presence of mean looking Mugabe’s army men. Pupils in Zimbabwe have had to sit their exam papers under strict supervision from army men after headmasters failed to get teachers and resorted to the clan chiefs, youth and army personnel. Too bad for the long necked students who did not read their books. AllAfrica has more

Listen to this interview of the former UN Secretary General Kofi Annan. He talks about current African leaders and conflicts including the events in Kenya and Zimbabwe. He also condemns African leaders who rewrite their country’s constitiutions to prolong their stay in power. Does that sound like a familiar move to Ugandans? Listen to the whole interview on BBC Africa. (Photo from BBC)