Uganda Presidential Elections

Hello, February has been quite a month! First I want to wish everyone a Happy Valentine's Day and St. Patrick's Day!!! I started off the month of February getting back into my routine. When I arrived home from IST in January my home had about an inch of dust everywhere and that took me a while to clean it up. We were told at IST that we were expected to have the a drill of the emergency activation plan the first of February and that one region would actually evacuate during the drill. We had the drill the end of January and the first of February. My region did not have to evacute and the drill went well as planned. So we were on Standfast in an alert situation from February 11th to the 25th. Elections were held on February 18th. During elections all text and some phone communication was cut off, but not much violence. The opinion poll suggested that President Museveni was the favourite candidate with Kizza Besigye in second. Ugandans felt like they could not talk reely about politics. Museveni hired alot of Police to cover the elections. TNS Research International, a polling firm with vast local and international experience did a survey and 65% stated that they always and often have to be careful about what they say about politics. The fear factor is has spread across all four regions of the country but the highest in the central region. 65% say they fear becoming victims of political violence or intimidation. The fear was highest in northern Ugand, which is only emerging from two decades of the LRA insurgency, and was lowest in Western Uganda. What was interesting was that after all the voting...the votes were counted right at the polling stations and the totals were then called in. However, some of the polling stations could not communicate there scores because the phones were blocked. So they said that President Museveni had the majority of votes and won, until they found out about Kizza Besigye and the polls that finally reported when the lines were opened back up. Then Kizza Besigye had the most votes, so now it has to be decided in the court system. The county is really on hold right now until the courts make a decision. Depending on the decision, we may or may not have violence. It is said that Museveni has 45% of the votes and Besigye has 47% of the votes. So maybe in a year when it is finally heard in court, we will find out. Until then Museveni will be President. But elections were very interesting to be present for! So we were on Standfast for 2 weeks, which meant that we were not allowed to leave our sites and travel. But right before standfast, the volunteers in the North went to Loro to meet up with other volunteers for an overnight visit. Don't know what happened to me, but I got a stomach virus or something and laid on the sofa all night..Oh the joys of Life! I have been very busy working on the action plan at Iceme. I was told during IST that my Supervisor was going to be transferred to a Health Center IV outside of Kampala and that I will be getting a new Supervisor. Sr. Gretrude will be missed alot, she pretty much ran Iceme Health Center III. Before she left I was able to teach 2 classes at the HC to the staff in Healing Touch International Level 1 classes! The first for Northern Africa and the first in Uganda! They LOVED learning Healing Touch and I think that they will really use it frequently. I want to Thank Healing Touch International for all their support, energy and prayers in getting HTI started in Uganda. South Africa has taught alot of people already in Healing Touch International. This is going to be great for the staff, they will be able to assist with pain management as well as many other problems. I also taught a Basic Life Skills class at Iceme Secondary Girls School with Thomas on STD's. There was about 100 plus girls and they were all so interested in the power point. I know that they got alot out of that class. Later in March I will be going to Entebbe for a meeting to organize a Boy's Camp and a Girl's Camp. We are also organizing a Peace Camp in the North, which I will go to Gulu for. I am still teaching basic computer skills to some of the staff at Iceme. I have set up a date for the War and HIV/AIDS support groups and Sr. announce it at the Church. That is the main communication for the community. I will start that the first of April. I have worked really hard cleaning the room I will be using for my office and the support groups and I am having the carpenter make a desk for me. Also, I met up with one of the community workers and we have set up times to go out into the community for HIV testing and counseling. So everything is in the planning stages, so I am excited to get started with alot of the projects. Well, I think that I have updated you in all I know so far and hopefully I will be able to upload pictures soon. Take Care and Stay Safe, Love & Light, Mari