It's intriguing that people who brought civilization to the world, and more so to Africa, are the ones who are resorting to uncivilized and backward practices, such as superstition.

The use of octopuses to predict the outcomes of the World Cup is nothing but pure superstition and a sign that they've not crossed any borders of civilization. What is the difference between this and myths such as it being a bad omen if one met a cat in the morning?

Not only this but the bazungu now move naked! When they first came to Africa, they reproved us for wearing skins, leaves and backcloths.

They gave us clothes as a sign of civilization. It is ironical that the people who gave us clothes now move naked on their own streets.

Even their belief in octopuses is not different from the people who believe in witchcraft yet they always reproach Africans as people who believe in witchcraft.

 What is shocking is the fact that they organize social events such as swimming competitions and discos where they swim and dance naked, men and women alike! How different is this from the African night dancers?

Sophie Nakibuuka
Makerere University

Screen foreigners

What happened at the beginning of the week took us by surprise. But to the police, it wasn't surprise since the terrorists had sent warning that they would hit Uganda.

 I remember there was an attempt by police and other security organs to alert Ugandans about these threats, but we took it as business as usual.

Instead of waiting for another surprise attack, our security system should be beefed-up. Crowded areas like Churches, mosques, taxi and bus parks should be filled up with security personnel.

Security personnel should be on board of public buses and taxis- just in case suicide bombers happened to be in there.

In light of these attacks, it becomes imperative, in the interest of national security, that security screens all foreigners entering Uganda at various border posts and the airport.

They should be followed to ascertain what they do at various times. After all they monitor us whenever we go to their countries.

This is also the time for us to have surveillance cameras at all street corners.

We had them just for Chogm and as soon as Chogm ended, they were all stolen.

Morgan Opi
Kampala

Is Uganda paying the price for Somalia involvement?

That day will forever be imprinted on our minds. It will forever be called "Black Sunday".

That as Ugandans and other nationals were jubilating over the World Cup finals in open grounds and popular hang-out places, some demented elements, who thought it worthwhile to blast bombs and kill innocent people, brought doom and gloom on this nation.
When the al-shabaab terrorists first warned us, that they would attack us for getting involved in Somalia, we couldn't take their threats as anything to go by.

 They threatened to hit Kampala and then Bujumbura, the capital of Burundi. Uganda was the first African country to send in peace-keeping troops under the African Mission in Somalia (AMISOM). Other AU countries dragged their feet while others completely reneged on their pledges to contribute troops to Somalia.

Their argument was that there was no peace to keep in Somalia, and that they first wanted to see real peace created before they could send in their troops. This was at least Ghana's philosophy.
 
On her part, Uganda hurried to answer that patriotic call to help our brothers and sisters in Somalia live a decent life; life in a peaceful, tranquil and democratic setting under the Transitional Federal Government (TFG). This was the time Ethiopian forces were battling with the fundamentalists.

Soon after our gesture of goodwill, al-shabaab terrorists warned us to back-off or face severe consequences.

We kept on, until recently when the unexpected happened.
Should we now bow to al-shabaab's demands and pool out of Somalia? Already President Museveni has expressed that we won't be cowed.

Various voices suggest that it's time we reviewed our foreign policy in Somalia, since there is nothing much we stand to gain in Somalia. US is in Iraq and Afghanistan because of oil. I think these voices have a point.

Dan Siminyu
Mukono

World Cup has done Africa proud

Certainly there is no better way to say that Africa is blessed (contrary to what we have always been told) than the successful World Cup that was held for the first time here in Africa, in our history.

This comes after the lection of Barack Obama as the first black President of America. Although we did not win the title, we shall forever remain proud.

This is something we shall tell our children and generations to follow. I know for sure that we shall win the trophy at any one time, even if it may not be on African soil this time round.

Ben Wamala
Seeta, Mukono

Thanks for raising teachers' pay

My praise goes to government for having, for once, considered the plight of teachers in this country.

That government has raised the salary of teachers by 30% is indeed good news.

We only pray thatthis is not the usual fiction we are subjected to year-in and year-out.

Getrude Mella,
Teacher in Tororo
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