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Uganda, November 17, 2008

Ugandan Engagement and Wedding Ring Traditions

Worldwide, women want engagement rings

wedding rings
Does Vicky want bling?
Vicky, a middle class Ugandan, is about to get engaged to her beau and I wondered if Ugandans had different traditions than Americans when it came to showing love for your spouse.

I noticed that some women had rings on different fingers and I asked Vicky to explain. Listen to her explain the Ugandan traditions for engagement parties and rings, and how they wear wedding rings after the big day.

We kept talking after this interview about the general courtship rituals for the Kampala middle class, and it's interesting to note that they're pretty similar to ours. People generally live apart until very near or after the wedding ceremony, and then they move into their own, often rented home.

Funny enough, that home doesn't come with appliances we deem basic. You have to bring your own stove, refrigerator, and the like.

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Uganda, November 15, 2008

Ugandan Opinions on Barak Obama


Obama opinions in Uganda
Crossing the border into Uganda, I was greeted by cheers of "Obama! Obama!" so I expected there to be universal love for Barak Obama here, as I found in Kenya's endless Obama party.

Surprisingly, that was not the case. Ugandans had pretty divergent and contradictory opinions on the President-elect, from fanboys to skeptics, that I explored one night in Kampala.

First, let's hear from two Ugandan women, one who says she has "no good feelings about Obama":

Continue reading "Ugandan Opinions on Barak Obama"

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Uganda, November 14, 2008

Boda Boda Motorcycle Taxi Driver Interview


Ugandan boda boda driver
I love the boda boda motorcycle taxis of Kampala, Uganda. Fast, cheap, and fun to ride, they get you where you need to go with the speed and style unmatched by any other African transport.

While going between business meetings, I had the opportunity to interview a boda boda driver about his ride, his job, and making a living as a taxi on the streets of Kampala:

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