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In Conversation with Mugasha, the Aerial Photographer Showcasing Uganda in New Spectacular Views

By
Astone Miya
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0

Arnold Mugasha, a Ugandan aerial photographer, is one of the very few talented dronists in the country. He’s known on Instagram as shotbymu. His aerial captures are just stunning, and we, like many, remain completely blown away by his unique drone views of Uganda. We spent an evening with him to know more about his passion for aerial photography.

How Arnold started

It started about 3 years ago when Arnold was watching BBC Planet Earth, a nature documentary TV series by the British Broadcasting Corporation. Two episodes specifically inspired him. The first being the one that captured hyenas chasing wildebeests and the second which went globally viral, where newly-hatched marine iguana made its way to the sea, after a gauntlet race with over 20 snakes.

“The way these scenes were being shot, looked movie-like yet they were actually real life scenes. This cinematic shooting of everyday animal life got me thinking and that’s when I decided to go to YouTube and started learning about drones as well as the camera crew photographers of BBC Planet Earth.” Arnold recalls.

Arnold then started saving some money to purchase his first drone a DJI Mavic Pro, one of the first bold moves he made at a young age of 24. This cost him UGX 4.7 million (about USD$ 1300). He bought it in December 2016.

Tukikole neera #tbt . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . #africa #travel #4tographyea #travelgram #travelphotography #earthpix #thisisuganda #vscouganda #vsco #uganda #wanderlust #aov #aerial #fromwhereidrone #instatravel #dronephotography #sunrise #dynamicafrica #aerial #agameoftones #moodygrams #afriquette #drone #adventure #traveldiary #worldplaces #dji #mavicpro #dronestagram

A post shared by Arnold M (@shotbymu) on

 

The first challenges he countered

Possession of a drone back in 2016 was not the same as possessing a normal camera to use for photography. It involved a lot of clearing with customs, understanding recognized fly zones and no fly zones which failure to understand, could result into indefinite confiscation of the drone by the Civil Aviation Authority, intelligence and Police for security reasons.

“When I got my first drone, I was very cautious. I did a lot of research that involved moving to police stations and Civil Aviation Authority to understand the fly zones and laws governing drones. Lucky enough as I established later, there are no laws restricting ownership of a drone by a citizen if you are using it in unrestricted fly zones like private establishments.” Arnold explains.

The Baha’i House of Worship, Kampala one of 8 around the world and the only one in Africa . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . #africa #travel #4tographyea #travelgram #travelphotography #earthpix #thisisuganda #sunset #vscouganda #vsco #uganda #wanderlust #aov #aerial #fromwhereidrone #instatravel #dronephotography #dynamicafrica #aerial #agameoftones #moodygrams #afriquette #drone #adventure #traveldiary #worldplaces #dji #mavicpro #dronestagram

A post shared by Arnold M (@shotbymu) on

 

The real trouble he has encountered

It happened at the Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary, the only place in Uganda where you can see rhinos in the wild. Arnold had arrived late the previous night and had not gotten acquainted with the rules of the sanctuary. When he started flying the drone early the next morning, all hell broke loose.

“All of a sudden, I saw game rangers come running to me (with guns). I was very scared. At first, they thought I was a poacher ready to take me down since rhinos being listed as among the most threatened species, are highly protected. It took hours of explanations and showing them my identifications proving that am not a poacher that they finally let me go and warned me not to do that again.” He remembers.

His best highlights as an aerial photographer

At first, he fails to pick his best, a thing that proves he puts in a lot everytime he decides to be behind the drone remote. After about 15 seconds of thinking however, he zeroes down to a few.

“I think Kabale is one of my best highlights. When I visited Lake Bunyonyi, it was one of the most breathtaking scenes I have ever seen and taken. The second I can point out is Murchison Falls along River Nile where I also shot Chobe Safari Lodge. These scenes are very magnificent.” Arnold says.

Lakeside chills . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . #KoiKoiNY #ShellDoMore #africa #travel #4tographyea #travelgram #travelphotography #earthpix #thisisuganda #vscouganda #vsco #uganda #wanderlust #aov #aerial #fromwhereidrone #instatravel #dronephotography #dynamicafrica #aerial #agameoftones #moodygrams #afriquette #drone #adventure #traveldiary #worldplaces #dji #mavicpro #dronestagram

A post shared by Arnold M (@shotbymu) on

 

Turning passion into business.

At first, Arnold used to fly drones out of passion. When people started recognizing his amazing aerial shots, they started hiring him to shoot their projects providing rare opportunities to travel across the country.

“My drone is now attached to my company registered as Shot by Mu Ltd. One of my first paid jobs was in June 2017 when a team flew in from India to do a documentary about Bidi Bidi refugee settlement in West Nile. They were looking for a dronist and that is when I met them and tagged along.” Arnold explains.

Arnold now established a website (shotby.mu) where he documents all his works that support him in sharing his work to potential clients. In future, he plans on building a team and move beyond just a one person team.

Highlander . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . #africa #travel #4tographyea #travelgram #chobexperience #travelphotography #earthpix #thisisuganda #sunset #vscouganda #vsco #uganda #wanderlust #aov #aerial #fromwhereidrone #instatravel #dronephotography #dynamicafrica #aerial #agameoftones #moodygrams #afriquette #drone #adventure #traveldiary #worldplaces #dji #mavicpro #dronestagram

A post shared by Arnold M (@shotbymu) on

 

Looking ahead

Arnold has over 8 years experience in the creative industry working as a multimedia designer dabbling in graphic design, animation and illustration, so camera work is the latest addition to his skills. He is not about to let this end. 4 years from now, he plans on big things for the Shot by Mu brand.

“3 or 4 years from now I don’t want to have a typical day time job. I want to focus on Shot by Mu and make it a fully fledged production house that will be shooting on movie sets, documentaries and telling nature stories about Uganda that you rarely see on TV. In short, I want to be living life doing what I am passionate about.” Arnold explains.

The photographers he looks up to in Uganda and beyond

To be good at anything, you have to learn what your peers in that field are doing and be inspired. Besides his liking for BBC Planet Earth photographers, Arnold has learnt how to be a better photographer through mastering what his peers are doing in Uganda and East Africa.

“ In Uganda, I look up to William Kane, Aaron Kajumba and Kreativ Adikt. In Africa and beyond, I look up to Truthslinger, Tobi Shinobi and Osborne Macharia. These keep me pushing forward.” He says.

“You miss one hundred percent of the shots you don’t take”- he concludes

Arnold (middle) demonstrating how to fly a drone to the thisisuganda team during the interview

This startup is promoting energy access to rural farming communities in Uganda

By
Astone Miya
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0

Innovation is a manifestation of creative strategic and tactical thought. That said, the novelty of a product, service, or business, alone, is fleeting, and isn’t a hallmark of ‘disruptive innovation’.

So, what is Disruptive Innovation?

In entrepreneurship, the term disruptive innovation tends to be almost automatically attributed to software startups, and/or the impact that their innovation has in the lives of people or in the ways that businesses operate.

Typically, the “apply chappy startups” as I call them, the Ubers of this world, are instantaneously considered to be disruptive innovators. However, the Harvard Professor, Clayton Christensen, who authored “The Innovator’s Dilemma” and invented the term “disruptive innovation”, recently weighed in with the view that Uber, despite its immense successes, is not technically a “disruptor” in the classical sense of the term, because it did not “create an entirely new market”, nor did it gain its “initial foothold in a low-end market ignored in favor of more profitable customers”. Commenting on the role of innovation in the prolific international expansion of Uber, at an FT Innovate conference in London, Michael Mandel, the chief economic strategist at the Progressive Policy Institute in Washington DC, suggested that “Uber’s real innovation has been in working with governments around the world”.

Steve Jobs and Henry Ford on the other hand, are names that are undeniably synonymous with disruptive innovation. With the introduction of affordable cars for the masses, Ford permanently transformed the automobile industry. Meanwhile Jobs created new markets with innovations that significantly disrupted the music, telecoms and technology industries at large, and he is said to have won a further 141 patents since his death in 2011.

Software Doesn’t Always Enable Innovation

In an article published in the Harvard Business Review, ‘IT doesn’t matter’ Nicholas Carr suggested that “What makes a resource truly strategic –what gives it the capacity to be the basis for a sustained competitive advantage –is not ubiquity but scarcity. You only gain an edge over rivals by having or doing something that they can’t have or do”. Along this vein of thinking, one could argue that by providing all businesses across an industry, a single standardized way of doing things (i.e. testing candidates, training employees, revenue generation, or indeed any critical operational process etc.), the vendors of software that introduce ubiquity, to make ‘life easier’ in the short-term, also have the ultimate effect of stifling innovation and consequently diminishing differentiation within their customers’ businesses…

But Software is a Powerful Tool

More broadly, the technology industry is undoubtedly firmly at the forefront of innovation. However, its value creation strategy has notably shifted over time, from an initial focus on hardware in 1980s, to software in the 2000s, and the past decade has ushered an age, in which software is increasingly, no longer considered significant innovation in itself, but a tool to create value and impact. As we progress into an increasingly digitized world, with even more software developers, the current abundance of software that’s largely free to use, can only increase, as aptly demonstrated by the dominance of the likes of Facebook/Twitter (no pun intended), which are evidently disruptive innovators.

Disruptive Innovation in Uganda’s Energy Access Market

Based on Christensen’s definition, one example of a truly disruptive innovator in the energy access market, is Mandulis Energy, an enterprise developing software-enabled renewable energy microgrids. The company is working in partnership with French NGO, ACTED, to deliver affordable, reliable and productive rural electrification to off-grid rural farming communities in Uganda.

1.3 billion people in the world lack access to electricity, including 80% of Uganda’s population of 39 million. “We use biomass power to deliver an integrated solution to the perennial global challenges: energy security, food security, climate resilience and poverty alleviation” said Elizabeth Nyeko, Co-Founder of Mandulis Energy. The company couples its proprietary software with an innovative business model that delivers a ‘triple bottom line’ –of economic, social and environmental returns, and has the potential to transform the world’s approach to rural economic development. At COP21, Emilie Poisson, the ACTED Director for Africa, referred to the venture, as an exemplar model of “how governments, private sector and NGOs, can join forces and work effectively to deliver climate resilience and poverty alleviation”.

Launched in Northern Uganda, where a pilot project is operational, the social enterprise is currently developing an 8MW (500kW x 16 sites) prototype for the Practitioners Dialogue Climate Initiative program supported by the German government’s international development entity, GIZ GmBH, which consumes biomass supplied by 15,000 farmers. The startup has ambitions to scale across Uganda and internationally, in countries with similar fundamentals. “We go wherever rural communities lack access to electricity. As long as there are farmers to provide a sustainable and renewable source of biomass, which in our case is simply agricultural waste”, said Peter Nyeko, Co-Founder of Mandulis Energy. A study by Uganda’s Ministry of Energy, found that agricultural waste aggregated at agro-processing centers across Uganda can power 1650MW –nearly double the country’s current power generation capacity.

Tugende Design: A social Enterprise Uplifting Communities Through Selling Jewelry, Crafts & Bags

By
Astone Miya
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0

Meet Tugende Design, a social enterprise committed to act, and to help vulnerable children and women in  Uganda by designing and selling unique, colorful and bold products for women on the go. The entreprise also provides sustainable income to women in poverty and uses fair trade practices in order to uplift communities. This Is Uganda team caught up with Dr. Monica Swahn, the Executive Director and Creative Designer at Tugende Design for a chat.

What is Tugende Design?

Tugende Design is a social enterprise business. We want to uplift communities by creating, buying and selling beautiful jewelry, crafts and bags made by talented but vulnerable women who are seeking to support themselves and their families. We use fair trade practices and also plan to reinvest funds by supporting community projects. This business is an extension of my work as a professor of global health and fulbright scholar, trying to understand and prevent high risk behaviors such as alcohol and drug use and HIV transmission, primarily in the slums of Kampala.

I love the word “Tugende” and use it as a way to encourage us all to “let’s go”, let us make a difference, let us help people in need. We can all do something, we can all have an impact. I feel very blessed to support these creative, talented and hardworking vulnerable women, mostly in the slums of Kampala. We design jewelry such as necklaces and earrings and different types of bags to sell primarily in the US.

What are the items that you sell on Tugende Design?

We have focused mostly on jewelry and bags. In terms of our jewelry, we use the traditional paper beads in new and creative ways to make necklaces and earrings. As an example, we make beads out of old medical textbooks to link these beaded necklaces to my work as a global health professor. We also have many colorful bags including purses and shopping bags made out of the traditional African prints including kitenge and dashik

How did you come up with the Tugende Design idea

As a global health professor, I have worked in Uganda for 7 years. My research on alcohol, drug use, violence and HIV in Uganda seek to strengthen communities and improve the health in vulnerable populations. However, this research takes a long time so I have been looking for other ways to support communities. When I discussed these ideas with my collaborators and women across Uganda they have told me they want to find a market for the products they make. They tell me they try to sell their crafts, jewelry and bags at various markets but that the demand is low and prices have decreased because of increased supply. So I have worked with many of these women to create new designs, and to use paper beads and African fabrics in new creative ways. The idea is to sell these new products in the larger American market and to expand to Europe when we gain momentum.

What were some of your motivations for starting your business?

The motivation is to give back to the communities where we work. My goal is to find ways to uplift and empower women who are creative, talented and hardworking but have difficulties providing for their families. But, I am also very excited about the beautiful jewelry and bags we have made. I hope people will buy them because they are unique, colorful and beautiful. However, because we are a social enterprise business, people will also buy our things because we support a larger cause.

How long has Tugende Design been around?

We started the concept and began designing products a little less than a year ago, fall 2016. And, while we have sold products online since then through shared sites, we just started our own TugendeDesign.com website a few weeks ago.

How long has Tugende Design been around?

We started the concept and began designing products a little less than a year ago, fall 2016. And, while we have sold products online since then through shared sites, we just started our own TugendeDesign.com website a few weeks ago.

e-commerce is still a growing trend in Uganda and Africa. How do you get customers into your online Tugende Design shop?

Because we just started our own online shop a few weeks ago, we are still strategizing for how to find buyers and how to best identify our target groups. We have been fairly active on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram and are seeing results. But, we are still exploring and learning.

What were some of the ways that you dealt with the unique technical challenges of your target market?

I can’t say that we have figured this out yet. We spend a lot of time looking at other websites and social media of other businesses to get ideas, define target population and how to best present our products.

How often do you get offers by people who want to buy items on Tugende Design shop?

We have had a few sales since launching the website last month but anticipate getting new customers and steady growth over the next couple of months.

If you could give one piece of advice to Ugandan online shop owners, what would it be?

It takes a lot of work to get products listed and photographed to make a beautiful website that conveys confidence in the business and its products. Beautiful photographs and great texts that highlight the products well is the key to inspire potential customers to make a purchase.

If someone wants to get in touch with you in Uganda, where do you they find you?

I spend time both in Uganda and the US, so it is easiest to reach me by email TugendeDesign@gmail.com

Like this story? Or have something to share? Write to us: info@thisisuganda.org, or connect with us on Facebook and Twitter.

Betty Ogiel’s story of Resilience and HopeBetty Ogiel’s story of Resilience and Hope

By
Astone Miya
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0

Betty Ogiel Rubanga is an author, a mother, a wife and award-winning Human Resource Practitioner. Hers is classic tale of a life that was transformed by God from being needy to being needed, from selling illicit local gin at a tender age to an international motivational speaker. She is as an inverse paranoid person who believes there is good behind every bad thing.

“I was called to inspire and bring hope into people’s lives… I wrote this book to positively impact and change someone’s life.”

The death of her father marked the end of education for her and six siblings. “My mother was an illiterate woman who had been blessed to marry an educated man, so when he died, that was the end of everything… the end of school for my brothers.” Betty was 6 years when her uncle took her from Teso to Karamoja. Growing up, she was charged with household chores and making a local brew.

“Sometimes I woke up as early as 5:00 am to do all the work so I don’t get late for school… My uncle’s wife made Malwa so she would involve me in the distilling process. I used to do so much work that I was nicknamed Donkey by people in Amudat.” Abandoned by her uncle, she started making local brew which she sold to raise school fees for the next term. At fourteen, she was brewing and selling local gin as far as across the border.

She gets her drive to succeed from her sports background. Having represented her school on a national level, she attained success and fame as the best runner in Karamoja. “I always wanted to be at the top of my game. When you are in sports, your desire is to be the best. My endurance was ignited through sports. To win. Not to win someone else, but to be at the top of my game.”

Betty Ogiel Rubanda has made a remarkable mark in communities

Betty transferred to Kangole Girls School after completing Senior One. It was at this school that the Sacred Heart Sisters took her under their wing until she finished secondary school. “I was bitten by a snake in my second term at the school. No one came to visit me in hospital, and the school did not know who to call since I had no next of kin” she says.

“I was the best runner in Karamoja, so one of the nuns picked keen interest in me and when I told her my story, she decided to put me on the needy student’s scheme.” When the term would break, Betty and other homeless students would stay in the school and work. “That shaped my life. If you give people things for free, they don’t value them. I valued my education because I worked for it.”

She pursued Social Sciences at Makerere University with the help of Professor Opio who paid her tuition, and went on to become the Senior Human Resource Officer at Total Uganda, an international petroleum company. On 9th October 2006, she was involved in a car accident that left her paralyzed for six months, mute and immobile.

Because of her impeccable performance and employment record, she was welcomed back to her job after she had recovered. “When Total bought Gapco in March, I was transferred to Gapco as the HR and Admin Manager”. Now, Betty uses her story to inspire and build hope in people’s lives, locally and internationally.

Betty is passionate about transforming lives through community engagement. She offers support to orphans, widows and needy people through a group called Noble Women.

Betty is passionate about transforming lives through community engagement. She offers support to orphans, widows and needy people through a group called Noble Women. “We seek to restore their hope. We have been there and we overcame the obstacles through hard work, hope and resilience.”

She calls upon all young people who are looking for jobs to create their own work through developing their talents and passions. “We all have our work caged in us, it is our passions and gifts… Jobs have a time limit, but your work does not stop at 55 years.” Betty cites the lack of mentorship and coaching as the biggest challenge to talent development in Uganda. “It takes be a deliberate effort to look out for people who can help you become better person in your chosen area.”

She created the Betty Ogiel Foundation to support girl child education at a higher level in memory of her best friend Akello, who committed suicide after her father failed to raise school fees for her to join Senior Five. All proceeds from her book will go towards this foundation.

Against all odds can be found at your favorite bookshop and online at amazon.com. Call 0706477376 for to get a copy of this transformational book and change a life.

Maxima Nsimenta: She quit a UGX28M job to pursue her dreams- And she’s winning!

By
Astone Miya
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0

Ever since her childhood, Maxima has been a trendsetter and leader with a keen eye for detail. Having passed her exams with flying colors Maxima joined Makerere University to pursue a Degree in Electrical Engineering, which she excelled at – graduating with a First Class. She was on the Premier team that built Uganda’s first hybrid car – the Kiira EV.

She then joined the Petroleum industry first as a Joint Ventures Coordinator with Total E&P Uganda and shortly after as field engineer with Schlumberger where she went to work in Pointe Noire, Congo. However, despite all this seemingly successful career, Maxima’s true passion was elsewhere – in the Cosmetics industry. And after three years of working at Tullow Oil where she was working as an expatriate and traveling the world, she quit her USD 8000 a month to follow her dream. She first created a comprehensive business plan which she shared with her grandmother for strategic guidance from an experienced and successful entrepreneur. Livara was then officially birthed in May 2015.

Livara is the first brand in East and Central Africa to manufacture natural and organic lipsticks in the region. Livara lipsticks are made using Ugandan Shea Butter, Castor Oil, beeswax and Brazilian Carnauba Wax. Since their releases in June 2016, the lipsticks have sold more than 2000 units.

livara focuses on extracting shea butter from the shea nuts collected by local farmers and processing the butter into different hair and body products and lipsticks. Livara products are sold both locally and internationally. All Livara products are retailed in Livara stores which are the first of their kind in Uganda. A one brand, one stop shopping center for 100% Ugandan manufactured natural and organic cosmetic products. The products are manufactured, stored and branded with international standards. The first store was opened on the first floor of The Cube in Kisementi and eight months later, a second and franchised store was opened at Kampala Boulevard. Livara is already implementing a franchise business model right here in Uganda. Talk about trendsetting with international standards

To date, the Company employs 11 people 8 of whom are women and it has developed a network of well over 2000 farmers on the outskirts of Soroti organized in smaller groups. Because the shea tree is cut down for charcoal, it is important to sensitize the communities about the financial value of not cutting down trees. Shea butter is a $3 Billion industry as of November 2015. The communities are also sensitized about alternative means of revenue acquisition, such as farming other oilseeds like sunflower.

Maxima plans to set up a Shea Butter and oilseed processing factory soon. This will create employment directly and also increase the demand for nuts and seeds. Through the Livara foundation, some children of the impoverished farmers are sponsored in good schools in Soroti. The plan is to have at least 250 children sponsored academically within the next 10 years

Uganda set to host the East African festival- JAMAFEST 2017

By
Astone Miya
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0

Uganda is set to host the third edition of Jumuiya Ya Afrika Mashariki Uamaduni Festival (JAMAFEST) in a bid to promote social economic ties, tourism, and trade among the East African Community  Member states.

The Festival is slated for a week starting on 7th September and ending on 15th September which will incorporate a cultural fashion show that’s expected to attract over 3,000 people on the 14th. The festival will be hosted at three venues; Kololo Independence grounds (main event grounds), The Pearl Of Africa Hotel (Fashion Show and closing dinner gala), and at the National Theater (film festival, comedy, and drama).

The festival will also have a carnival that will be running through select parts of Kampala city. Other activities to run during the festival include; live musical performances, theatre/comedy, arts and craft exhibitions, literary works, film shows, poetry, storytelling, acrobatics, workshop/symposium, culinary art, fashion show, and children’s theatre. There will also be a cultural marketplace where cultural goods will be sold.

The JAMAFEST 2017, will run under the theme, “ Culture and creative industries: An Engine for unity and Employment Creation”. A theme Song has been composed and will be played throughout the festival period as part of the publicity campaign of creating awareness of the role of arts and culture in regional integration.

The East African Community (EAC) Partner States under Article 119 of the EAC treaty, undertook to promote close co-operation among themselves in culture and sports, with respect to the promotion of cultural activities, including the fine arts, literature, music and performing arts and other artistic creations as one way of creating an East African as one Community.

JAMAFEST was instituted by the 20th Meeting of the East African Community Council of Ministers held on 20th March 2010 and subsequent Council of Ministers’ Meeting held in September 2011, which directed the EAC Secretariat to organize regular EAC Arts and Culture Festival in the EAC Partner States on a rotational basis. The first edition was held in February 2013 in Kigali Rwanda and attracted an audience of over 17,500 people, the second edition was held in Kenya in 2015 and it also attracted a significant number of people.

The Crested Crane, Uganda’s Chosen Crest

By
Astone Miya
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0

It walks with grace and serenity, as though the life of the country it symbolizes, depends on its every step. The Crested Crane – chosen as Uganda’s Crest (national symbol) nearly 100 years ago, is one of the most cherished birds in the country.

Commonly called the Crested Crane, it is a bird of national significance to Uganda, occupying a prime position on the country’s national flag and coat of arms.

The Grey Crowned Crane, scientifically known as Balearica regulorum gibbericeps, inhabited Uganda’s swamps and fields long before the coming of tribes in our territory.

The unusual gracefulness of the elegant Crowned Crane, aptly typifying the country and its people, attracted then Governor of Uganda -Sir Frederick Jackson who, in 1893, chose it to embellish the Union Jack with its exquisite form and heraldic dignity.

With a crown of stiff gold-colored feathers on its head, a bright red gular sac and body made of gray, brown, gold and white patches, the grey crowned crane stands out for its striking features.

The Crane is definitely an object of great beauty. It is a tall bird standing well over three feet, on long-slender black legs. Its neck is almost as long as its legs and towards the base, pointed pearl-grey feathers are elongated to form an ornamental fringe.

The tail feathers, comparatively short, are the color of dried straw. When at rest, the Crowned Crane seems to be enveloped in a cape of exquisite delicacy with its multi-colored head where the three colors of the Uganda’s Flag (Black, Yellow, Red) seem to be represented. The conspicuous velvety black forehead, yellowish crest and the vivid bright red wattles, make the Crested Crane an elegant creature, befitting its emblematic role.

There are 16 different species of Cranes in the world, four of which are found in Africa, including the ‘great’ Grey Crowned Crane, the Uganda national symbol. All these willowy creatures in the world are in one way or another, facing unfavourable conditions brought about by their ‘greatest friend’, Man, who works for their ‘survival and protection’.

Crowned Cranes generally inhabit dry and wet open areas including marshes, damp fields, and open margins of lakes and rivers, but rarely associated with open waters. In Uganda, the Crowned Cranes prefer freshly-ploughed fields to grasslands and short to tall grass.

Lifestyle: Courtship, feeding and Breeding

The grey crowned crane has a breeding display involving dancing, bowing, and jumping. It has a booming call which involves inflation of the red gular sac. It also makes a honking sound quite different from the trumpeting of other crane species. Both sexes dance, and immature birds join the adults. Dancing is an integral part of courtship, but also may be done at any time of
Their food consists of plant and animal matter including grass and sedge seeds, millet, rice, peas, corn, mollusks, crustaceans, insects (grasshoppers and flies), fish, amphibians and reptiles. They feed by rapidly pecking at food but they sometime uproot plants and rarely dig. They prefer seed heads of grasses and sedges.

Crowned Cranes are monogamous and pair for life. Though they may appear in flocks at a breeding area, they separate in pairs and nest singly controlling territories of about 1-1.5km2 defended by both sexes. They perform a series of courtship displays and excel in dancing, displaying their grace and beauty to the fullest. They twirl and curtsy to one another, with their wings wide open and held high above their backs. In this strange position, with the bill pointed skywards, it gives out a deep, booming love-call delivered from a fully inflated throat.

Man and the Crested Crane

To the many different tribes of Africa, the call of the Crowned Crane suggests many word variations and the sounds are varied and full. Thus to a Muganda the call is Ng’aali; to a Swahili M’waari; to an Acholi, O’welo; to Zulu of South Africa, the sound is Maahem and the same sound is Muraaho to a Munyarwanda.

Different tribes and people have learnt through time how to interact with the Crane, and in most areas, the Crane helps to tell people the time of the day through their calls which are done at specific times of the day. They are regarded as the birds of joy and relaxation in most parts of the country. For instance, when people clap and sing a particular song, the Cranes dance by nodding their heads. This happens in all places where Cranes exist.

It is estimated that number of Grey Crowned Cranes in Uganda has reduced from more than 70,000 in 1970s to less than 10,000 in 2011. The global threat status declined from near-threatened to vulnerable to endangered in less than five years, and indication of global concern on the survival of Cranes in the region.

It is also estimated that the large number of the Cranes we see today are old individuals who may not survive beyond 15-20 years.

Habitats

Most crested cranes live in mixed wetland habitats, on riverbanks, around dams and open grassland. As a result, they often forage on agricultural lands, which are close to wetlands or riverbanks, feeding on grass seeds, small toads, frogs, insects and other invertebrates.

It is this easy co-existence with humans that is putting the cranes’ survival at risk.

Crested cranes breed in wetlands and this is a good reason for us to see that the environment is conserved.

Crowned Cranes are known to breed in swamps but a combination of increasing human population has tasked these beautiful birds to leave with man due to the demand for wetlands. Eastern and south-western Uganda are the major critical areas for the survival of the Crane.

The level of human activity in swamps influences the ability of Cranes to care for the young and successful breeding. The loss of habitat, therefore, combined with the species low reproductive rate and frequent capture of young, raises concern about the Crane’s survival.

Conclusion

There is no bird more truly representative of Uganda with its meadowlands and sparking green grass, than the Grey Crowned Crane. Throughout the country, there is not a natural sound more typical than the trumpeting of the Crested Cranes as they move to their feeding grounds or fly to the roosting sites in the dimming light of evening.

13 Ugandan artists We Met on #DrawingWhileBlack Who Will Inspire You

By
Astone Miya
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if you’ve spent any time on Twitter over the last few days, you might have noticed a lot of really cool art from around the world taking over your feed.

Black artists, graphic designers, and illustrators from all over the world are introducing themselves and showcasing their art to the timeline and to the world, using the hashtag.

You can thank Annabelle Hayford (@sparklyfawn), a 19-year-old, a gender artist studying animation and illustration at the Maryland Institute College of Art (MICA) for rallying others in their field to share their work.

Some EXTREMELY TALENTED Ugandans across the globe did not sit down. From New York, to London, Kampala and across the globe, Ugandans took to Twitter to also engage in the challenge and boy oh boy, they are proving that Uganda has got talent.

Let’s not talk too much. Here they are. Enjoy!

1. Here’s Solomon W. Jagwe

I am Solomon W. Jagwe a Ugandan Artist, I love modeling, painting, Illustration and animating Children’s stories #Uganda #drawingwhileblack pic.twitter.com/6OJLPEMdb0

— Solomon W. Jagwe (@soreel) September 19, 2017

 

2. And then JNK

3. Say hello to Franco Mpagi who-wait-for-it uses black ink to create his murals

#drawingwhileblack Hey…I am an artist from Uganda. I use black ink to create my murals. pic.twitter.com/1tdp3U1Fdl

— Franco Mpagi (@FrancoMpagi) September 18, 2017

 

4. It seems we won’t get enough of Solomon W. Jagwe

I am a concept artist, 3d modeler and animator born in #uganda currently working as an Art Director for a VR game studio #drawingwhileblack pic.twitter.com/lpWb5jQx5K

— Solomon W. Jagwe (@soreel) September 17, 2017

 

5. Enter the super talented Neema Lyer

Sending love from Uganda/ East Africa ❤️❤️❤️ #drawingwhileblack pic.twitter.com/qit8B8no0g

— Neema Iyer (@NeemaIyer) September 17, 2017

 

6. Here comes Andrew Mamawi. He’s not at all affiliated to Game of Thrones

https://twitter.com/andrewmamawi/status/909773450138484737

7. Introducing Elise aka Seiishin who does character design and story-boarding in animation

ey! i’m Elise aka Seiishin, a pansexual artist from Uganda hoping to do character design or storyboarding in animation! #drawingwhileblack pic.twitter.com/d9Padqtagx

— Seiishin (@fox_seiishin) September 15, 2017

 

8. Dorothy had to introduce Xenson because a multi-media artist needs some respect!

Let me introduce to you @XensonXpression a multi media artist from #Uganda #drawingwhileblack pic.twitter.com/Tv4xu5UD74

— Dorothy Nabunjo (@redroseflow) September 19, 2017

 

9. The only ballpaint artist on the hashtag- so far. Say hi to Michael Dungu

Halo…my name is Michael Ddungu a ballpoint pen artist from Uganda #drawingwhileblack pic.twitter.com/pPXhsjafwj

— MiKaiyiLi (@Dungumichael1) September 19, 2017

 

10. Everyone stand up for Jonas Rayme. This guy is a gem!

I am Jonas Rayme, a Digital painter,…. from Kampala, Uganda! 😉#drawingwhileblack pic.twitter.com/T8256ddpMO

— Mbaleka Jonás Rayme™ (@jonas_rayme) September 19, 2017

 

11. Darsan Aine is a super talented chap!

This is my friend Darsan Aine from Uganda 🇺🇬. I believe he is one of the most talented artists in Uganda. RT to give him some market! pic.twitter.com/LDEKOaurO0

— Musonera Joshua Ntale (@NtaleJoshua) September 18, 2017

 

12. EZI (not Mr. Eazi) the vector artist also came through!

https://twitter.com/eziwear/status/909640051470061569

13. Daniel the low key chef made a plot twist!

Hello, I’m Daniel from Uganda 🇺🇬. I’m an artist and low key chef. These are some of my works. Hope you like them. #drawingwhileblack pic.twitter.com/3OCOMd3f8M

— Busingye the Artisté (@nsdannie) September 18, 2017

 

Absolutely amazing art!

If you’re an artist and want to talk to us about your art, we’re eager to say hello! Send us an email on info@thisisuganda.org and let’s talk!

 

Meet the youth connecting Ugandans worldwide through SnapChat.

By
Astone Miya
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Before, they started showcasing different Ugandans in the diaspora and back at home, we only met most of these folks on Instagram and Facebook- we didn’t really know what their day was like, the things that made them happy. We judged them thinking they didn’t love Uganda (home) but after Code256 and their baby, “Ugandans on SnapChat,” we now know better.

This Is Uganda caught up with Levie Davis one of the awesome youths behind “Ugandans on SnapChat”;

What inspired the start of Ugandans on Snapchat?

What inspired us was the fact that we (in the Diaspora) were actually missing home and that made us want to connect with friends and family back in Uganda… And snap chat is the best platform to do so.

Is this a case of patriotism?

Yes it is a big case of patriotism because we feel being away from Uganda doesn’t detach us from our country but should rather bring us all together regardless of where we are.

How do you vet who hosts the show on Code256?

We don’t really vet anyone according to anything because we want to give everyone a chance to take us through their daily lives and day-to-day activities.

What is the goal behind Code256 “Ugandans on Snapchat”?

Our goal is to connect many people; mainly Ugandans from all over the world so that it doesn’t feel like someone has to wait till summer or December to see them. Now, it’s easier for anyone to ask any host anything they would like to  know. I believe it also builds connections to some people who would want to know more about different places and different people.

Where do you envision Code256 in 3 years?

In the next three years, we think Code256 will be quite more informative and bigger a platform not only on snapchat since we will probably be done with the campus. We hope to portray that Ugandans should not feel inferior or shy about themselves and they should know that they represent something substantial!! #Ugsnapper ✊🏿

The ‘Ugandans on SnapChat’ team;

  1. Levie Davis am studying in South Africa
  2. Ainomigisha Alex is studying in China
  3. Theo Esther in flying school in South Africa
  4. Joseph Maloba  in Uganda
  5. Linah Nanziri in Uganda

You too can join the trend and follow the awesome stories told by Ugandans all around the world by adding @code256-ug on Snapchat or Twitter.

Entebbe Emerges as a Dazzling Snare for Tourists

By
admin
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Entebbe City

Entebbe. It’s a town of civility and bright reflections. A town of dazzling history and paradoxes. A town of both old and new. A town that evokes genuine, small-town charm.

Well, this incredibly scenic town, which is set on a peninsula stretching into the mighty Lake Victoria, some 37 kilometres southwest of the Ugandan capital Kampala, doesn’t really need a comprehensive introduction – but perhaps its emerging tourism scene does.

See, just a few years ago, Entebbe was on a few international tourists’ bucket lists. Even though a big number of travellers to Uganda enter the country through Entebbe International Airport, in the past years just a tiny fraction would stick around to see this town in all its awesome glory.

Nexus of change

But now Entebbe presents a nexus of change. Over the past few years, Entebbe-ans have slowly but surely learnt how to promote what this perennially chic town has to offer.

Uganda’s former capital city and the scene of the 1976 Operation Thunderbolt – one of the most daring military operations in world history – Entebbe comes across as an improbable contender for the honour of the most beautiful town in Uganda. And yet that’s exactly what it is, thanks principally to its strategic location.

To draw in tourists, Entebbe has been newly invigorated with high-end hotels and cool restaurants and bars, as well as one hell of a modern shopping mall, the Victoria Mall. Ah, and the new four-lane Entebbe-Kampala Expressway!

Hotspots                                

A bit of a showpiece, the Victoria Mall is the perfect modern hangout that is of late luring hordes of local and foreign tourists alike with its sleek cafes, bars, supermarkets and restaurants.

From the Victoria Mall, you can stroll just a few minutes up the street, where you’ll find several restaurants and bars serving up a variety of foods and drinks. A typical lunch at Faze 3, which has a sweeping view of the lake, might include the pot pie, great Ugandan coffee and fruit shakes. Fans of Chinese food can try the China Garden while those interested in good pizza by the lakeside are catered for by the nearby Goretties Pizza.

For accommodation, there are several options in Entebbe, catering to both the high-end and budget traveller. Options for the latter include, among many others, Boma Guesthouse, which is located on Julia Sebutinde Road; the Banana Village Eco Resort, located off Garuga Road (12 Kilometers from Entebbe town); and Entebbe Travellers Inn, located on Portal Road right in the town centre.

Entebbe Backpackers, located on Church Road, is the perfect anchor point for international travellers to Entebbe, grounding them with the gift of new connections. This one offers hostel-style accommodation facilities and camping options for budget travellers.

For the high-end traveller, we recommend the 4-star Imperial Botanical Beach Hotel on Lugard Avenue, which is known for attracting a jet-set and star-studded crowd. The hotel offers the option of spending a night in the same room in which former US President Bill Clinton slept when he visited Uganda about two decades ago. The price for this room is $1,750, while others go for as low as $100 per night.

The Laico Lake Victoria Hotel, located strategically on the Kampala-Entebbe Airport Road, is another high-end facility set near the golf course. Describing itself as the “true oasis of tranquility”, this 4-star hotel overlooks Lake Victoria and is only a five-minute drive from the airport. However, as luxurious as the hotel might be, many might find its rates a tad exorbitant for an urban Ugandan hotel with the entry-level rooms staring at $143 per night.

For those who are not interested in the restaurants, hotels and bars, there are several fun, exciting and inviting things to do in Entebbe, no matter what kind of experience you prefer…

Uganda Wildlife Education Centre

For many years, the main tourist focus in Entebbe was the Uganda Wildlife Education Centre (UWEC). Originally known as Entebbe Zoo, this is a sanctuary for a wide range of wildlife. Ideal for a family day out, a visit to UWEC rewards visitors with up-close encounters with wild animals such as giraffes, rhinos, lions, elephants, leopards, buffalos, zebras, antelopes, etc… In fact, you’ll get to see Africa’s Big Five – all in this 72-hectare sanctuary. And in-house guides are always on hand to help you unlock UWEC’s hidden secrets.

Golfing

If you are an avid golfer, Entebbe has you covered. Located just opposite State House and on the shores of Lake Victoria, Entebbe Golf Club also offers classes for those who want to make a foray into this elegant game. It also has two tennis courts, one basketball court and a cricket oval. And for history buffs, this is said to be the oldest golf course in East Africa!

Botanical Gardens

Another highlight in Entebbe is the National Botanical Gardens of Uganda, established way back in 1898. The gardens are ideal for strolling in the afternoons and are of special interest for wildlife, including the black and white colobus and tree squirrels. For birdwatchers, the gardens are said to be home to more than 100 bird species and if you are lucky you might spot the verreaux’s eagle owl, Africa’s largest owl. Plants species here are said to be over 2,500, mostly tropical and sub-tropical.

Ssese Islands, Reptile Village & the Chimpanzee Sanctuary

The Ssese Islands is an archipelago floating on Lake Victoria. Just three hours by ferry from the mainland, the islands offer several leisure activities, including nature walks, fishing, kayaking and quad biking.

Those interested in reptiles can visit the Uganda Reptile Village, which is located about one kilometer from the town centre on the Entebbe-Kampala highway. This facility was established to teach locals how to co-exist with reptiles safely. You’ll find here all types of chameleons, snakes, crocodiles, etc.

And then there is the Chimpanzee Sanctuary on Ngamba Island, just a few kilometres offshore from Entebbe, where you’ll be rewarded with up-close encounters with our closest cousins.

In Entebbe, life is a beach

Even though the aforementioned activities are rated high among what most tourists enjoy in Entebbe, natural beauty remains the main motivator for travel to this town. Because it’s on a peninsular, Entebbe provides visitors with numerous unspoiled beaches catering to people from all walks of life. For those seeking rest and relaxation, few places in Uganda can match Entebbe’s beach life. However, Lido Beach and Aero Beach can sometimes get chaotic, especially during public holidays when Kampalans export their disorderliness to Entebbe.

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