My second visit to Uganda is very impressive. I was in Uganda in 2006 for a conference and I could not see beyond the walls of Africana Hotel, Kampala where we stayed. This second visit for 3 weeks gave me an opportunity to see beyond the Star hotels. Selected medical scientists across the globe attended ‘Genes and Genomes in the Tropics 2008’ workshop hosted by Makerere University, Kampala, Uganda. Travelling across a number of cities, one could see the degree of need. Uganda is one of the poorest nations on earth but that is changing based on the concerted efforts of the indigenes.

Our base was Makerere University and Mulago Hospital, Kamapla. Bridging the gap between the north and south has been decried for years in Nigeria. In Uganda, one could glimpse the importance of collaboration with other universities and research institutions. Perhaps, because they are poor, haven’t tasted the real world or inexperienced but the quality of human life services speaks for itself. Universities are citadels of learning, where information is disseminated. Our institutions have somehow become an instrument of torture, pain, ego, misery and agony to many students. Upcoming professionals have struggled and still struggling to set a good pace for a meaningful development in all our institutional settings. These efforts are constantly being opposed by the sit-tight non-progressive persons in the authorities. Foreign researchers, grant firms, NGOs, etc often find it difficult networking with our institutions. Special thanks to our fore-fathers/mothers who have labeled us all as ‘fraudsters’. Grants to Nigerians for meaning research is a very fast way of buying a beautiful car, building a mansion and a memorable all night party only to tell stories of the grant outcome. As I walk through the pediatric clinic, Institute for Infectious Diseases at Mulago Hospital, IAVI and Uganda Virus Research Institute Entebbe, I was astonished by the standard that has been raised over the years. I always meet Ugandans, Kenyans, and Tanzanians in conferences/workshops across Africa and Europe. These are all products of good collaborations and networks by their supervisors bridging the gap between north and south. I often do ask questions; why don’t you network with Nigerians? The answers are always straight, Nigerians are too smart. They seem to know it all, but they keep on doing the wrong thing. I leave you to judge as I am sick of our besmirched institutions.

For good 3 weeks, I lived at Makerere University Guest House. Power supply was not erratic. I never saw a stand-by generator. Maybe because the temperature do not often go beyond 30^oc (18-28^oc normally). Even when there was a power failure, which was restored after about 15-30 minutes, I never slept for one night without power supply. At IAVI and Uganda Virus Research Institute Entebbe, operated by Ugandans with only few foreigners, I felt like I was not in Africa. They have two stand-by generators. I was curious to know how many times they are used each day. Surprisingly, the operator had a record of the last time he operated the generators February 22, 2008. This means that for about 3 months, there has not been any power failure within the institute. I asked questions on the frequency of power shortages in Kampala and Entebbe. It is startling to know that it is not very often. This is a country ravished with poverty but she can comfortably supply power to her general public all day. What a shame to us Nigerians? I could count how many hours light went off despite their poverty status. For good two weeks, I never saw epileptic power supply at Makerere University. In 2005, I was in Cameroon for 15 days, for 13 days there was no power failure.

My Nigerian colleague whom I met in Kampala was very ashamed of the status of our power supply in Nigeria. Interestingly, solar panels are already installed on the streets through Entebbe from Kampala. What a beauty to witness the energy-driven lights? Despite our resources, man-power, intelligence, abilities, etc, we cannot boost of just three hours of constant power supply in Nigeria. Again, what a shame? The change from NEPA to PHCN was to improve the management of our resources and to build a good trust between Nigerians and our government. The outcome we read on papers today of the degree of mismanagement and atrocity. The NEPA/PHCN officials only send bills from their offices irrespective of your meter readings. They hardly step out of their offices. Even if they do, they only check the kind of cars within your premises, the kind of cloths/shoes you wear or how comfortable you sound, then they bill you based on that.

We will continue to be in this mess. I don’t see major changes with the caliber of persons we have in authority in our land today. One good year is gone, nothing has changed. It is the same old story upon story and new stories on why we need to wait. I once watched a documentary of a remote family in Morocco about 9 or 10 years. They generated their energy through solar panels. They could manage their energy consumption based on their battery reservoir. I thought then that this would be a better option for most of us living in tropical settings. Today, it is no more story about solar energy as many are familiar with this eco-friendly source of power. Solar energy seems much better because you can control your energy consumption but the big question remains: who amongst the average Nigerians can afford its exorbitant price?

Robot  # 1 | 21.05.2008 00:28

My second visit to Uganda is very impressive. I was in Uganda in 2006 for a conference and...Read the full article.

Adeola Aderounmu  # 2 | 21.05.2008 02:37

Emeka, Welcome to NVS. Thank you for sharing your African experience(s) with the rest of us. You know, every night as I watch AIT News, I get really mad with those thieves called leaders and politicians. I am so sad that things are not getting better for the ordinary people. Look at the roads, the schools, the hospitals, the environment, the houses/ structures called houses and so on and so forth. It's crazy. Forget those flashes from reserved/ selected places in Abuja and elsewhere... What you listen to as NEWS are stale expressions of woes and calamities, poverty and failures, deceits and fabrications....and other irrelevant issues like launching of pure water by UAC...Nonesense! Last night on the news, one madam Fatima told Nigerians that by the end of 2009, Nigeria will generate 6000 MW, 10 000 MW by 2011 and 100, 000 by 2020. Imagine that kind of nonsense and very useless speech from the Minister of Power. By 2020, someone else will come and tell those that are still alive that the 100 000 MW will be achieved by 2050..and another person will come in 2050 to suggest 2100. Is it a curse??? There are professionals and private enterpreneurs who have expressed their willingness to solve Nigeria's Power problem in a shorter time. The government is acting deaf and dump while the corruption, looting and sabotage in the Ministry spread like a wild fire. Anyway sha, I am bracing up for the answers that I will give my children and grandchildren in the future. It is saddening that Nigeria is ruled by really mad people. Nigeria and Nigerians need HELP and DELIVERANCE...