Kanyindo's Random Ramblings

  A few days ago, I joined a group of pretty cool people to learn more about the work National Environment Management Authority (NEMA) does when it comes to protecting and preserving Uganda’s biodiversity. I was super excited because, ROAD TRIP! Also, I knew I was guaranteed a fun time with this crew.                        <l-r Telma, Laura, Lilian, Uncle Mo, The Mith, Me, Kwizera and Edward>** We were off to visit the Kalagala-Itanda Offset (no relation to the rapper), which was recently declared a Special Conservation Area. This means that it shall be protected and conserved as a natural habitat and water catchment for the Nile system to provide environmental, ecological, social, spiritual, cultural and economic values.  Kalagala-Itanda Offset*                                         Of all the values mentioned, the environmental, ecological, economic and even social values were all pretty obvious to me. But I had never given the spiritual and cultural values much thought, un

8th March is my father’s birthday. Up until 7 years ago, it was always a celebration in our home, especially because he always took time to celebrate the women in his life: his wife and his three daughters.  It is a much less celebratory day, now, as each year is a harsh reminder that he is no longer with us. This year, I am determined to do something different with this day, which usually throws me into a pit of grief and despair. (Along with Christmas, my parents’ wedding anniversary, family birthdays, etc. The list is endless. The emptiness he left is vast and wide and infinite. Ugh. I miss him so damn much.) Our family, like so many others around the world, has dealt with so much grief recently. I can’t tell you the number of funerals, church services, burials I have attended, or not been able to attend in the past few months. It is exhausting. It can break you. Especially when the one person who would comfort you, or help you make sense of the madness, or tell you that everything