On Thursday Uganda celebrated Independence Day! I was invited to come and see the celebrations along with the first year students.
We loaded up the mini bus traveled off to the sub county headquarters in Vurra. As we arrived the heavens opened, we took shelter on the porch of a building there! When the rain eased and the rivers returned to the resemblance of roads we ventured to a field where things were to take place! Things were rather squelchy underfoot and sandals were definitely the wrong choice of foot wear that morning.
As we stood watching people begin to gather around the field, drumming started up and songs were begun. Groups took turns in parading round and demonstrating what they had practiced for this special day! The groups were representatives of the primary and secondary schools and projects in the area such as a deaf school, health promotion team, scouts and guides, Group living with HIV, and Women Farmers. Altogether there were about 40 groups, which had 8 to 100+ people in each!
At one end of the field a shelter was set up and seats were arranged under the shelter. We were invited to sit in the front row (to enable photo taking), where we had a great view of all that went on and as the hours passed we were grateful to be sitting in shade (and our feet resting in the water)!
The event officially started when the guest of honor arrived, a councilor from the region. Initially each group had to march past the guest of honor in time with the beat of drums, sound of bugles and announce who they were. The groups were attired in their various uniforms – blue, pink, maroon, yellow, white, purple and green. They held up banners declaring who they represented and many waved the Ugandan flag.
Then speeches were made by various dignitaries, mostly taking place in Lugbara. After the speeches the groups were invited to parade again this time presenting their songs as they came by. It was an impressive display.
Food was to follow all of this, however the clouds grew dark and once the last group of student had paraded past the heavens opened once again! Our student took this as their cue to leave as by now it was 4.30pm as they were tired and hungry having left home at 11am!
We loaded up the mini bus traveled off to the sub county headquarters in Vurra. As we arrived the heavens opened, we took shelter on the porch of a building there! When the rain eased and the rivers returned to the resemblance of roads we ventured to a field where things were to take place! Things were rather squelchy underfoot and sandals were definitely the wrong choice of foot wear that morning.
As we stood watching people begin to gather around the field, drumming started up and songs were begun. Groups took turns in parading round and demonstrating what they had practiced for this special day! The groups were representatives of the primary and secondary schools and projects in the area such as a deaf school, health promotion team, scouts and guides, Group living with HIV, and Women Farmers. Altogether there were about 40 groups, which had 8 to 100+ people in each!
At one end of the field a shelter was set up and seats were arranged under the shelter. We were invited to sit in the front row (to enable photo taking), where we had a great view of all that went on and as the hours passed we were grateful to be sitting in shade (and our feet resting in the water)!
The event officially started when the guest of honor arrived, a councilor from the region. Initially each group had to march past the guest of honor in time with the beat of drums, sound of bugles and announce who they were. The groups were attired in their various uniforms – blue, pink, maroon, yellow, white, purple and green. They held up banners declaring who they represented and many waved the Ugandan flag.
Then speeches were made by various dignitaries, mostly taking place in Lugbara. After the speeches the groups were invited to parade again this time presenting their songs as they came by. It was an impressive display.
Food was to follow all of this, however the clouds grew dark and once the last group of student had paraded past the heavens opened once again! Our student took this as their cue to leave as by now it was 4.30pm as they were tired and hungry having left home at 11am!
1 comment:
Hi Laura!
I have finally caught up with your blog, sounds like you are having a great time. Keep writing and put more photos on if possible, its really interesting! Almost like Im out there with you... well maybe not!I had to work in Obstetrics recovery the other day and you were not there!
Take care,
Ruth
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