When I first arrived in Uganda and was picked up from the airport late at night, we were overtaken by the President's motorcade traveling at high speed from Entebbe to Kampala. The Ugandan First Lady is Janet Museveni so my name is easy to remember for Ugandans!
There are election posters everywhere with pictures of President Museveni and messages about health, employment and oil. While Museveni has introduced a multi-party democracy in Uganda he remains very popular after 25 years in power.
Ugandans love US President Obama - a local joke goes that OBAMA stands for Original Black African Managing America. I couldn't resist buying this kitenge fabric and am having it made into an African-style dress.
Watch out - here comes Obama's campaign vehicle at the Vintage and Classic Auto Show...
It seems that Uganda is not immune from dirty tricks and smear campaigns to discredit one's opponents at election time. I learned from some missionary friends about "Night Dancers" who are reputed to (variously) strip naked, paint their bodies white, eat human flesh and blood. smear excrement on the gateposts of their clients' enemies and conjure evil spirits to bring them misfortune. Apparently business is brisk among politicians at election time. the night dancers are feared just as werewolves / vampires / zombies are in western cultures.
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