Norah Owaraga

Protecting and implementing my loved ones’ real last wishes

How does death change your perspective? Slightly over two years ago, on 1st November 2020, my papa died. I am kicking myself for not having used modern technology, my smart phone, to record some of our conversations which I now know were very important conversations. For some of them I was dismissive and thought it…

Uganda’s ‘modernisation’ theory is the more problematic than EACOP

In a October 2015 Ministry of Water and Environment report titled: “Uganda’s intended nationally determined contribution”, which I read in 2017, I learnt: “Uganda has contributed least to the potentially catastrophic build up of the human-derived greenhouse gases (GHGs) in the atmosphere and yet the country is most vulnerable to global warming and climate change…

I feel a powerful connection with the now famous Benin bronzes

Among my favourite events last year, was learning of the existence of the Benin bronzes in museums and art collections in Europe. It confirmed that our black African ancestors were a civilized people. And it significantly debunked the rhetoric of the “uncivilized black African who needed or needs civilizing by the white European.” Of course,…

Lessons from the Opiio family on how to nurture teens during school holidays

Last week, I got to spend some quality time with some of my favourite people, the family of smallholder farmer Simon Opiio. As we lazed around after lunch, at their home in Komolo Village in Pallisa, his daughter, Tereza, named after her grandmother, got her hair done by her mother, Norah Mukebezi. It reminded me…