And we're back! So is Museveni...

I'm back in Kampala after nearly 2 weeks of laying low. Things seem to be back to normal today, business as usual and with the presidential elections over Museveni, who won with 68% of the votes, will be starting his 6th term as President of Uganda. Maybe when his term ends in 2016 he will finally be ready to hand over those presidential keys. What's more, apparently Museveni has his sights set on becoming the first president of the East African Community (in 2017), should the position be established that is. Seems this may very well be a wicked case of self preservation, indeed.

The elections themselves though were interesting to witness, despite the fact we couldn't really go far from our home because of the uneasiness surrounding it all. I watched from outside the polling stations where voters sat at picnic-like tables, reading booklets of information after which they went to cast their ballot. Even in our usually sleepy Ndejje, the police, military and election officials were out in full force. Their message was clear: this was going to be a fair election (with a footnote that when Museveni ultimately won, there would be no tolerance for any violence or protests). And until the results were announced 48 hours later, Ndejje was quite the ghost town; it was obvious that their message was received. Rumor has it though, that the opposition is planning to stage a demonstration in the upcoming weeks in protest of........................ ahem. I'm not sure how to finish that sentence...in protest of something. But not to worry, our neighbor is a Major in the military and we haven't heard any such news from him. FYI we have the US Embassy's # on speed dial...Mom.

All day while elections were happening, I was asked "When will you vote?" or "Did you vote already?" In trying time & time again to contain my astonishment at the question and mask my confused, blank stare, I could only respond that it was not possible for me to vote, I was an American, as if I needed to inform them of this news. I found it ironic that every other day we've been here we are the mzungus, far and away the outsiders, yet on election day, we're apparently Ugandan-at least as far as the polls were concerned (I did get one suggestion that I obtain Ugandan citizenship so that I could vote). But in watching this election unfold made me very thankful for the USA's take on democracy and my American citizenship. Say what you will about our system, but after witnessing Uganda's election campaigns, voting process and somewhat lackluster desire for change yet willingness to do nothing for it, I think we've got it pretty good...

Dad, you can hang the buntings when I return in a few months! ;)