In Washington, the fabled Clinton State Department rock star on Africa John Prendergast writes 'Blowing the Horn' in the new Foreign Affairs, an important new piece connecting the dots on the conflicts in Uganda, Sudan, CAR, Chad, Somalia, Ethiopia and Eritrea.

In New Haven, Americans for Informed Democracy, the leading globalist student organization in the US, launches a great new Mobile (Phone) Action Network Opt-In.

In London, Madrid 11 is a sharp new sight that 'encourages global dialogue about how the threat from terrorism can be confronted through democratic means.'

In Kampala, our friend Ben Moses Ilakut at the East African Business Week covers the Global Youth Partnership for Africa Kimeeza II.

In a measure of self promotion, my writing was picked up this week by Africa-News, Africa Path, and Madrid11.

Labels: east africa

Dear Uganda:

This is snow. Saturday night the roads were clear and I was taking in the happy sounds of Aphrodizia at an intimate space in DC. When I woke up Sunday morning, the Washington Post and New York Times Sunday editions were buried under six inches of fluffy fun. The snow was light and wet, perfect for crafting snowballs and building snowmen. We even saw an eight foot tall igloo in a neighbor's front yard.
Missing you all. Josh

Labels: East Coast, life in Washington

My friend and colleague, Peter Quaranto, coordinator of Uganda-CAN, responds to my post supporting the decision to send Ugandan troops to help lead a peace keeping force in Somalia:

"I think you're right that a stable Somalia is good for the region, but I disagree with the rest of your analysis. The decision in Kampala to send peacekeepers seems to me less about achieving stability and more about geopolitics, especially US-driven geopolitics. The US is interested less in a stable Somalia and more in a Somalia in which political power is not consolidated by Islamists unfavorable to US interests.

Further, the peacekeeping mission as currently designed has a nearly impossible task and will likely face guerrilla tactics of the Courts who see them as invaders and foot soldiers for US-Ethiopian interests. Unless EU recommendations for an open, transparent political process are incorporated, I think the PKO is likely to fail. Kampala is eager to play a role to solidify its relationship with Ethiopia and the US (and as a growing regional leader), not primarily for the good of Somalia.

Finally, I agree with you that the 'military solution' has failed northern Uganda, but what about the UPDF being deployed to provide security for IDPs to begin to return home? The reason IDPs are remaining in the camps is that they don't trust the GoU to protect them (for good reason given the history). What sort of gesture is it to northerners when Museveni is sending peacekeepers across the continent but seems unwilling to fully commit necessary UPDF needed to secure the north?"

First, I agree with Peter that geopolitical posturing was a major part of the Ugandan decision to send troops to Somalia. In the month leading up to the decision, the Uganda Minister of Foreign Affairs met with Secretary of State Rice in Washington and President Museveni received a call from President Bush. However, a realist foreign policy approach can have several merits. In this case, its clear that an unstable Mogadishu will help continue the steady flow of small arms to the conflict areas in East Africa.

The more frightening theory says the Bush administration looked the other way on northern Uganda in order to give incentive to the Ugandan Government to help in Somalia. If this is the case (and it is only one theory, the State Department has been mute on this point), I am deeply distressed and disappointed because the Americans could have made a serious impact on the stalled northern Uganda peace talks in Juba.

I disagree with Peter that the peacekeeping mission is designed as a nearly impossible task. A coalition of African nations will surely be met with more civilian support in Mogadishu compared to the Ethiopians, who are seen as imperialist, Christian crusaders. Yet I do believe that the AU force will fail if it begins with inadequate troop levels. The force, which now has contributions from Uganda, Malawi, Nigeria, Ghana and Burundi, is still only at half its UN-mandated 8,000 troop level. We all know what happens when a counter insurgency force does not have enough troops to keep the peace. One analyst even said it out loud: "We have a Baghdad in Somalia, and it's only the beginning."

Regarding Peter's last point, I continue to argue that the UPDF should be fazed out of the picture in northern Uganda. The relationship between the UPDF and the people of northern Uganda is not going to be fixed over night. In the short term, I believe the emphasis should be on the Uganda Police to fulfill their duty to ensure domestic security in northern Uganda, encouraging the region to return to normal livelihood. At this point, an increased UPDF presence will decrease, not increase, the prospects for peace.

Note: This week Peter moderated a Washington Post Global Blog on Achieving Peace in Uganda. Debates like this are crucial because none of the NGO reports or books out there really address the situation as it has developed in the last six months. Good work, Peter.

Labels: east africa, post-conflict development, somalia

My latest piece for Global Voices, with an overview of the Uganda Best of Blog nominees for Best Blog. My hope is that this post would tune in some more international readers. Cross-posted here.

Last week, Uganda bloggers descended on Mateo’s bar in Kampala for the second Uganda Bloggers Happy Hour. In addition to catching up with friends and discussing the main challenges facing the nation, the group made nominations for the first Uganda Best of Blog Awards. In a way, 2006 was the year that the Ugandan blogosphere woke up, with a massive increase in quality of writing and the addressing of public issues. The Best of Blog Awards, the brain child of Jackfruity, is an excellent way of recognizing both communal improvement as well as specific blogs and their content.

For Global Voices readers who haven’t been following the Ugandan blogosphere closely, below you will find a brief review of the 8 nominees for ‘Uganda Blog of the Year.’ Think of this as akin to those slick video montages at major award ceremonies. This quick review is intended to show the incredible diversity of writing style, topics and personalities in the Ugandan blogosphere.

(more…)

Labels: east africa, global voices, life in kampala

Are you an undergraduate student interested in exploring the world in a meaningful way? Have you wanted an opportunity to travel to Africa and network with the youth leaders who are leading their countries towards the Millenium Development Goals (MDG's) or participating in post-conflict development? Think you might be interested in a career in international development but don't know how to get started?

Global Youth Partnership for Africa (GYPA) just published our summer 2007 catalogue of programs. Its been a banner year for us, expanding our travel programs for undergraduate students to three countries. After leading four trips to Uganda in 2006, I'll leave the program to fresher faces and head to Cameroon, where we have put together an innovative program and great team.

Our full catalogue of programs is here, and I've posted the Cameroon trip I'm leading below. I've made the case here why I think GYPA travel programs are central to addressing the challenges of creating innovative ways of transcending endemic challenges and creating cross-cultural exchange.

Also, if you want to get a sense of what our programs are like, definitely check out the blog from our January 2007 Kimeeza II program in Uganda. Applications for all trips are due Tuesday, April 3rd. Email me at goldstein dot joshua (at ) gmail dot com with questions.

Cameroon Immersion: Youth, Development and the MDGs (June 10-26, 2007)

Cameroon has largely existed under the radar of the international community since achieving independence because it remains one of the most peaceful and prosperous countries in West Africa. However, Cameroon also demonstrates many of the same challenges as its neighbors; every day its population faces complex issues such as poverty, HIV/AIDS, poor infrastructure, and corruption. In September 2000, world leaders came together to establish a global commitment to achieving responsible, sustainable change. The UN’s Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) set standards regarding education, health, and the environment, among others, that Cameroon is working to achieve. This Immersion will explore how Cameroonian youth are at the forefront of development efforts, and are utilizing creative, pragmatic, and innovative tools to achieve the MDGs and improve their country.

Fifteen American students will be selected to participate in the Cameroon Immersion. They will meet with their counterparts to explore the political, economic, and social successes as well as challenges facing Cameroon. Participants will meet with leaders in government, civil society, and the international NGOs who are experts in West African development. Additionally, participants will engage in community service projects alongside Cameroon's Youths and Students Forum for Peace (CAMYOSFOP), a group dedicated to educating youth and the general public about human rights and conflict resolution. Students will also have the incredibly unique opportunity to interact with delegates to the first African Youth Forum for Peace, a conference in Yaoundé that will mobilize youth leaders from across the continent as peace-builders.

Program Description (DOC)
Application (DOC)

Labels: east africa, Travel

In Kampala, a New York Times journalist (certainly not the Kampala correspondent because they don't have one) embarrasses himself by describing Uganda as one of Africa's 'most stable and safe countries' without the small nuance of mentioning that Uganda is home to some of the worlds worst human rights violations and a 20 year conflict conflict that displaced over 90% of the population.

In Vermont, an English professor describes the strategies of choosing books for traveling.

In New York, a Public Health students critiques the stereotypical Westerner who can only teach, but not learn, from Africans.

In California, Oso, Moreno, Abogado writes about how Digital DJ's are replacing foreign correspondents.

In Maryland, Peter Levine examines the true barriers to social mobility in America, and how a middle class culture prepares students for white collar work in a way that schools and other institutions can't correct.

Labels: east africa

an important note: Come one, come all, and vote for the Uganda Best of Blogs 2006! If you've enjoyed the thoughtful commentary and irreverance coming from everyone's favorite land locked East African nation, take a few minutes to review the nominees in categories like Uganda Blog of the Year, Best Design and and Best Writing. I'm honored to be nominated in the Best Photography category for my picture of the adorable Tashfanish of Kabalagala fame. Also, kudos to my good friend Jackfruity, who with formidable organizational force, put together both the latest Uganda Bloggers Happy Hour (see below) and the Best of Blogs Awards. Now to the post...

Who knew the titanic ideological struggle between capitalism and communism that dominated the second half of the 20th century would again rear its ugly head last week at a bar in downtown Kampala. Two wily bloggers with sharp writing skills, opposed in both disposition of wit and ideology, emerged at the second Uganda Bloggers Happy Hour as the new court jesters of Uganda blogging.

I'm speaking of none other than Dennis Matanda and the 27th Comrade. Dennis is a provocateur in a suit. He is the charming and witty marketeer turned banking consultant who introduced himself by reciting a limerick at the first Ugandan Blogger's Happy Hour. Neither Dennis or I remembered this when I saw him at our first happy hour, but we had met two years ago when he worked for Uganda's premier marketing outfit. While he works with Kampala's well-educated elite, his writings are akin to a fire-bell in the night, surely to wake the well fed members of Uganda's political class.

In the other corner is the 27th Comrade. Known more for his withdrawn and dry humor, 27th is probably the only communist in Uganda. He's a web designer and artist whose preferred medium seems to be Microsoft Paint (see left). I get the sense that 27th is a loner in the tradition of Nietzsche: brilliance muddled by madness. I'm not sure if anyone in this day and age can seriously espouse communism as a political ethos, and just to put it out there as a theory, maybe 27th is not a real communist but a guy who wants to both express the perils of conformity in a country where conformity is valued and the failure of the Washington Consensus to do more to lift his country out of poverty. Maybe one day we'll do an interview and get to the bottom of this mysterious character.

I love these guys. 27th and Dennis both had post-UBHH 2.0 comments taking gentle pot shots at each other. But we can all be comforted that despite their vast differences, they can find common ground in announcing their attraction to Jackfruity.

Labels: east africa, life in kampala

As the Washington D.C. streets turn from snow and sheets of ice to dirty slush, I'm comforted by the fact that I'm planning a return trip to Africa in June, this time to the West African nation of Cameroon. To beat the winter blues, I was kicking around looking for anything coming from the Cameroonian blogosphere.

So far, I've found a few gems: Dibussi Tande: Scribbles from the Den and Another Day in Shrimpistan. I was instantly drawn to Dibussi this week when I found his site and the first thing I saw was this, a short documentary video on the 'Mount Cameroon Volcanic Sprint'.

Wow. This race is badass. I knew from cursory investigations into my guidebook that Mount Cameroon was the largest mountain in West Africa, so this seemed to be no mere footrace. It's highest peak is 13,000 feet above sea level, and if that wasn't enough, it is an active volcano which last exploded in May 2000. Further, the race is a marathon: 26 miles (42km) from the start of the race in a nearby town of Buea to the peak and back down.

The last time I did a marathon in Africa I ran into a meat truck, so I'm happy this race took place in January when I was no where near West Africa. But when I get to Cameroon I'll definitely have to slap on a pair of trail runners and take a little jog up this imposing hill.

Labels: off the grid, running and cycling

Last week, the Ugandan Parliament approved President Museveni's request to send 1,500 Ugandan troops to Somalia for peacekeeping, food aid distribution and supporting the transitional government. There are several reasons why this was in the best interest of Uganda and the region, and why those who oppose the troop move are misguided.

First, its important to recognize how unfortunate it is that the interest of most Somali people is different from the majority of the international community. The Islamic Courts Union (ICU) managed to stabilize Mogadishu for the first time in well over a decade. While their rule was harsh and final, they took the first difficult steps of curbing lawlessness that most the Ethiopian-installed warlords have been unable to do. Unfortunately, the moderate elements of the ICU made a strategic error in not distancing themselves from the Islamic extremists, making the entire international community (sans countries like Iran, Saudi Araba, Yemen and Libya) nervous about turning Somalia into a vast terrorist training camp. Thus, the American backed Ethiopian invasion.

First and foremost, it is important to recognize that all of East Africa benefits from a stable Somalia. It is commonly assumed that most of the weapons for some of the world's worst conflicts, including southern Sudan, northern Uganda and eastern DRC come from the Somali ports of Ogaden and Kismayo. A governable Somalia, as difficult as that is to achieve, would help manage these regional conflicts. This rings especially true in Uganda this week as fighting continues in the Karamojong region, a perfect example of how rampant small arms proliferation can devastate a region.

Second, it is good policy for African countries with (relatively) good governance to help stabalize African countries with poor rule of law. The African Union (AU) excursion in Somalia will give the organization an opportunity to recover from its inept misadventure in Sudan. Uganda's move would also sync with new and interesting proposals for global governance, such as Frank Fukuyama's Concert of Democracies, where countries with good reputations work together on international intervention.

The common rejoinder heard in Kampala about Uganda's intervention in Somalia is that Uganda needs to first keep their own house in order. The talks in Juba are stalled, people in northern Uganda are getting nervous about scattered LRA attacks, and Karamojong continues to be on fire. This is a legitimate concern. However, looking at the last 25 years of Ugandan history doesn't support the notion that increased military intervention is an effective means of ending conflict. Many people I've talked to in northern Uganda say that the UPDF (Uganda People's Defence Forces) are more of a daily threat and fear than the sporadic LRA attacks. As difficult as it is, continuing to focus on reconciliation and negotiation between the LRA and the Government will be more effective than an increased troop presence in northern Uganda.

Sending Ugandan troops to stabilize a neighboring African country is in the best interest of Uganda, the region and the broader international community.

Labels: east africa, post-conflict development

In New York, an NYT article argues that even in a global collaborative environment, place still plays a signifigant role in the success of innovation.

In Chicago, Pitchfork columnist Chris Dalen writes about Americans and their access to information on the rest of the world. The article talks alot about the Global Voices concept of bridgeblogging. I really like Ethan Zuckerman's response to a quote from the article:

Chris used a quote from Rebecca MacKinnon that’s stuck with me since she wrote it a few weeks back: “My last three years living back in the U.S. really brought home to me just how unreal the rest of the world seems to most Americans.” If there’s a single topic I’m most interested in, it’s trying to figure out how to break down that sense of unreality.

I agree.

In Washington, Michael Silberman of Echoditto asks "how the big enviros are going to have a chance of surviving this new wave or stay relevant. These grassroots, internet-enabled efforts have so much more heart and potential." Check out the video if you want to see the future of student movements.

Today I'm starting a new job at the University of Maryland. For the spring semester, I'm working with several different offices in Campus Affairs who are broadly charged with increasing the level of civic engagement at the University, both inside and outside the classroom. I'll be mostly working on ensuring that the web space for these projects is relevant and helpful to accomplishing these goals.

Since ultimately I'd like to be working (vaguely) with how IT can help communities in the developing world, it should be an interesting few months exploring how local communities (in the US) are using the internet to promote (both local and global) civic engagement. Maryland is providing some snappy leadership in this field, most notably the J-Lab: Institute for Interactive Journalism, whose work I have been following closely. U. of Maryland is also home to Peter Levine, one of my favorite bloggers, who writes alot on youth civic engagement and occasionally internet related projects.

Speaking of good things in the DC area, I have been pleased with the development of the local music scene since I've been gone. Rob Garza, from the legendary DC based Thievery Corporation, has a stellar new group called Dust Galaxy. They have a fantastic mix of the classic Thievery downtempo sound and indie rock glamour. Playing keys for the group, also from the DC scene, the lovely and charming aphrodizia, who lends the group some sultry, ambient sound. I heard about them too late to catch their Thursday night show at 9:30 Club, but surely they will be back.

Labels: East Coast, life in Washington

My latest Global Voices post, also available here.

If the activity in January and early February is a sign of things to come, 2007 promises to be a banner year for relevancy, engagement and quality of content in the Ugandan blogosphere.

Labels: east africa, global voices, ICT4D, IT for development, post-conflict development

In the Fall, I'm heading to grad school for a Masters in International Affairs. I've been accepted to the Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy in Boston and I was there on Monday for an open house for accepted students. I gave myself a very specific investigative task: find out what is available academically and professionally in the space where post-conflict development and IT intersect.

The answer is that very little is established, but the potential is huge. I saw from my experience with working in post-conflict development in northern Uganda that in the next decade IT is going to play a defining (if not re-defining) role in how the development community thinks about reconciliation, rebuilding and transitional justice. The proliferation of access to technology will allow people to connect better and easier and transcend the normal boundaries of economic development and communication.

I have a feeling that investigating this from an academic perspective can lead to opportunities in business, governance, and of course international development. I also got the sense that out of all top programs in International Affairs (including SAIS, Columbia and Princeton), Fletcher is the place that most encourages entrepreneurship, crossing traditional fields and creativity. I had two great conversations while I was there. The first was with Drew Bennett, a current student, who is looking at this same phenomenon, but from more of a governance and regulatory perspective. I also talked with Professor Eileen Babbitt who teaches conflict negotiation. Both agreed that the Boston area is the best place to engage in this new field. Fletcher students can cross-register with Harvard's Kennedy School (which is primarily a domestic program but has a few stellar IR classes), as well as connect with Harvard Law School's Berkman Center for Internet and Society.

My investigation was well times with some interesting pieces on increasing Internet access in rural Africa. Andy's Global View tells us about using WiMax as a catalyst for growth in northern Uganda, and Startups in Kenya tells the story of trying to make internet accessible in rural Kenya by using EDGE technology.

Labels: east africa, ICT4D, IT for development

Running in Uganda may have had its share of hazards: horrific carcinogenic air, traffic with no qualms of taking up both lanes and any curb space, waist deep potholes and the occasional maniacal meat truck. All the same, the extremity freezing, grey skies, North Polesque weather I just ran in in Washington D.C. makes me miss my Kampala runs.

Labels: east africa, East Coast, life in Washington

On my way back from Entebbe to Washington, I stopped in Amsterdam for a quick layover chat with BicycleMark. This is becoming a nice little tradition: meeting up with Mark during layovers on the way too or from Africa. I love chatting with Mark because he's literally all over the place; he was in Berlin the week before we met and was leaving for the Balkans the day after. He has incredible passion for promoting innovation and collaboration in the podcasting and vlogging worlds.

This time we did a podcast on the role (and potential role) of blogging and personal media in Uganda. But listener be warned! I was just off a flight from Uganda in which 6 of the 8 hours were bumpy and where a (failed) determination to sleep led me to pop 3 Tylenol PM's and drink two of those little dinky bottles of KLM red wine only hours before we met!

Click here for the show.

Labels: east africa, ICT4D, IT for development

Two days before I left Uganda, I was walking to check my mail in town and saw a mass of boda boda drivers, mashed up against the fence of the Speke Hotel trying to snatch a view of the Arsenal game. Their bikes where haphazardly strewn across the sidewalk and much of the road, enough to halt traffic. Knowing I was soon leaving, this provoked a onslaught of memories from the past year, which were now embedded in my mind as characteristics of Uganda.

The women running up to my bus where the Gulu Road splits off to Murchison Falls, selling cassava, chapati, and unrecognizable charred meat. Feeling something touch my feet on the bus, looking down that a live chicken had nestled up to my leg for warmth. Watching Nick Cage movies throughout several bouts of fake malaria, or the determination, through a prescribed drug induced haze, to carry out a planned trip to Zanzibar, even though I was severely infected by a venom spitting Nairobi eye. Hearing stories from Ethiopian dissident journalists hyped up on chat while dining on delicious $1 Ethiopian food at Rehobot. Spending the week at NisiColin's house fighting the goateed rat and eating matoke with the family. The sunsets on the cliffs overlooking the Nile in Jinja or sunrises spotted while running through Gulu. Goat races with Egyptians in Kampala, and rowing Lake Victoria in a fishing boat.

I'm leaving Uganda after spending much of 2006 here. This was my third time to come to the country, and I worked in fields ranging from microfinance to grassroots social work to tourism/education to transitional justice. In the middle of my third year working on Uganda issues, I'll continue to focus this blog on the issues facing the country. While the 'IT for development' and 'post-conflict development' sections will remain, in the next few weeks I will experiment with several themes to replace the 'Life in Kampala' section. I don't have plans to be back in Uganda in the next 6 months, but I know I'll get back there before long.

Thanks to everyone in Uganda, whether they know it or not, who made my experience memorable.

Labels: east africa, life in kampala