Things about Uganda. Part 3.

People

Ugandan's (especially the people of Buganda) have quite noticibly small ears...

People are extremely homophobic. However the culture is very friendly and touchy amongst same sex friends. Men walk with interlocked fingers down the street all the time. Or stand and talk holding hands or wrists. It is very rare to see a couple touching though and guys hanging around on the street will stare and sometimes whoop if Tim holds my hand or puts his arm around me.

Every child everywhere knows "Muzungu owareyou" and "imfine" from the tiniest babe and up.

Foreigners are novel to about 95% of the population. Agape staring, pointing and waving is common outside of Kampala and the various tourist destinations.

Ugandans don't shout at each other in conflict.  Arguments seem to be conducted with smiles and problems conveyed with a hint of irritation rather than anger.

Handshaking is a long process here (like an uncomfortable amount of time to have your hand held by a stranger) and formal greetings are essential to get along.

Young Ugandans seem to be aware of their need for education to better themselves and to think of the future.

That said I have seen and met far too many young girls with babies and no partner. Condoms are evidently still not being used and Aids is still on the rise here.

Most people have at least 8 children and are very shocked when they find out Tim and I don't have any. They are still more shocked when they hear that 2 children is the norm where we come from.

Most kids have huge sticky out belly buttons. (I haven't had the opportunity to see any adults tummys!)

Ugandan's love and often laugh when you use some of their language. I am surprised not more Muzungu's take the trouble to learn the few words we did as it is not a hard language and it makes peoples day.

Most people are Christian (80%), but there is also a significant Muslim population. Strangely there is more animosity between Catholics and Protestants than there are between Muslims and Christians here.

A huge mosque stands on top of a hill in Kampala (and one in most towns throughout the country too) with loud speakers blarring out the call to prayer five times a day, the first of which starts at 5am. It can be heard for at least 2 - 5kms all round. The sound of it is, to my ear, horribly discordant and eery and it drives me nuts been woken up by it so early. As intolerant as I may sound, at least church bells are only once a week and at a decent time of day!

People love pool and we have seen some absolute pro's playing in tiny villages.

T.v's and sound systems are always on really really really loudly. I now hate football. Especially at 1am, full volume, heard from 3 streets away.

Most people never travel out of their county.

There are no detectable sub-cultures or alternative view points. All the different radio stations play the same kind of music, all the clothes are either traditional garb or plain western popular fashion (a couple of years behind).  You couldn’t split people up into categories like: goth, hippy, new age, trendy etc. Similarly, everyone is religious either Christian or Muslim (and of course some traditional beliefs remain - but we didn’t meet any). Atheist's or agnostics don't seem to exist here.

Vaseline (petroleum jelly) is sold as a hair product here!