Norah Owaraga

Getting Directions in Uganda

“When you get to a big mango tree you turn left and you will see an anthill. After that anthill …” Now, imagine a scenario when the one who is giving you directions has not been back to the area in a while. Yes, chances that the big mango tree was cut and is no…

Sights of the Entebbe that I love

Nearly 53 years ago, I was born at Entebbe Grade B Hospital, now renamed, Entebbe Regional Referral Hospital. Yes, pretty much, Entebbe is my home. Anyway, recently, I took a walk in the previously not so posh area of Entebbe, but has now truly become the poshest area me thinks. You see, at first, I…

Uganda’s Advertising scene is crazy funny

On a evening stroll recently, around our neighborhood in Entebbe, I came across adverts that entertained me, but also left me questioning. Take for instance this one that combined “pork” and “shalom”. Really? My research finds that technically the authors of the signpost are right to use the word Shalom. However, sensitivity to Jewish beliefs,…

Pandemic management task forces need cultural anthropologists

The ‘medical doctors plus military command strategy’ has its limits. There is a need now for a skills-set of social scientists, the likes of cultural anthropologists, to defeat the pandemic. That skill-set that will calm people down, while at the same time gets them to appreciate the severity of the pandemic. Otherwise, the status…