A bit of eco-tourism and some facts on Uganda

My friend Samuel and his brother are putting the finishing touches on their eco-village on Lake Victoria in Uganda. A place for tourists and marine biologists. They're growing their own organic food and it sounds like this "village" will be sustainable. Very cool.

Arriving in Entebbe and then onto Nabagoye. Stopping in Jinja for some white water rafting in the White Nile on the way back and then onto Kampala to enjoy a bit of their famous nightlife!

Some Facts about Uganda

Government
The colonial boundaries created by Britain to delimit Uganda grouped together a wide range of ethnic groups with different political systems and cultures. These differences prevented the establishment of a working political community after independence was achieved in 1962. The dictatorial regime of Idi AMIN (1971-79) was responsible for the deaths of some 300,000 opponents; guerrilla war and human rights abuses under Milton OBOTE (1980-85) claimed at least another 100,000 lives. The rule of Yoweri MUSEVENI since 1986 has brought relative stability and economic growth to Uganda. During the 1990s, the government promulgated non-party presidential and legislative elections. In January 2009, Uganda assumed a nonpermanent seat on the UN Security Council for the 2009-10 term.

Flag description
Six equal horizontal bands of black (top), yellow, red, black, yellow, and red; a white disk is superimposed at the center and depicts a red-crested crane (the national symbol) facing the hoist side; black symbolizes the African people, yellow sunshine and vitality, red African brotherhood; the crane was the military badge of Ugandan soldiers under the UK.

Abayudaya Jewish Community of Uganda

The Abayudaya Jewish Community is a growing 100-year old community of over 1,000 Jews living among 10,000 Christians and Muslims. They live in scattered villages in the rolling, green hills of Eastern Uganda. The largest village, Nabagoye, is near Mbale.

The Abayudaya, whose tribal name means "people of Judah," trace their Jewish origins to the turn of the 20th century. According to Rabbi Gershom Sizomu, the Abayudaya began their journey to Judaism under the leadership of Semei Kakungulu, a great warrior was to be a missionary for the British, converting the people of Mbale to Christianity. However, Kakungulu favored the Hebrew Bible. In 1919, the community began practicing the biblical Judaism they maintain to this day.

After Kakungulu’s death in 1928, many members drifted away. In 1971, Idi Amin Dada came to power, banning Jewish practice. Many in the community were forced to convert to other religions. After the fall of Amin in 1979, the remnants of the Abayudaya community gathered to begin rebuild the community.