Category Archives: Conversations

My favourite pre-election policies – from the parties you love and hate!

Posted on September 15, 2023 by ntlaing

Every year I get less politically aligned. Rather than thinking in a “left vs right” paradigm, I like to analyse individual policies, based where possible on evidence of whether they have work or not in other countries rather than whether … Continue reading →

Posted in Conversations, Politics | Tagged , , , | 2 Comments

Museveni pair of buttocks?

Posted on April 13, 2017 by ntlaing

Stella Nyanzi, a women’s rights activist has been arrested and taken to court for calling the president a “pair of buttocks”. The guardian has written a great article on it. Never be fooled that Uganda is anything more than an … Continue reading →

Posted in Conversations | 3 Comments

No money, no goats.

Posted on August 20, 2014 by ntlaing

Wakonye Kenwa Part 2 After one of the first meetings of our farmers co-op, several members asked me accusingly, where was the bottled water? Our group Wakonye Kenwa asked the local football club, what community problems do you care about, … Continue reading →

Posted in community organizing, Conversations | 11 Comments

Give me Money

Posted on February 12, 2014 by ntlaing

We’re now largely spared random requests as people get to know us, but the children persist. “Mornu, Mornu!, give me sweet, give me money”.  Amusingly some of the lovely little ones even do it in Acoli, our local language “Mia … Continue reading →

Posted in Conversations, Frivolity, Interpersonal | 2 Comments

Girlfriend more difficult than Ebola?

Posted on September 27, 2013 by ntlaing

I’m now nearly finished the Tanzanian section of this amazing medical course. One of the highlights is the Ugandan doctors on the course, one of them even speaks Acholi! The banter is always pure quality. Me: “What do you mean … Continue reading →

Posted in Conversations, Frivolity | 4 Comments

Sometimes things are the same

Posted on September 4, 2013 by ntlaing

In (broken) Acholi after initial greetings Me: I’m going to Kampala for a work Visa, why are you travelling to Kampala? Lady: I’m going to buy ‘Waa’ Me: Sorry I don’t understand, your going to buy what? (thinking I’ve heard wrong) … Continue reading →

Posted in Conversations, Frivolity, Interpersonal | 1 Comment

Nick Laing = Jean Claude Van Damme?

Posted on August 17, 2013 by ntlaing

I was the last man standing in the torrential rain on the main street, but the rain decided to go to the next level and forced me into one of many tiny roadside shops, which manage to sell everything you … Continue reading →

Posted in Conversations, Frivolity, Language | 4 Comments

Disturbing insight

Posted on July 31, 2013 by ntlaing

We’ve loved learning about the way things work around here, and much of it has been really positive. Today though we were studying household chores with our wonderful language helper, when we received a disturbing insight. I hope this isn’t … Continue reading →

Posted in Conversations, Culture | 2 Comments

British corruption and Golden Wood

Posted on July 17, 2013 by ntlaing

The 6 hour bus trip to Gulu was absorbed by discussion with a fantastic British-Ugandan man. This was great as the time flew by nearly as fast as the semi-suicidal-runaway-train-bus. 120km an hour is not ideal when approaching a pothole. … Continue reading →

Posted in Conversations, Culture | 1 Comment