UnRest

Unrest
= a distrubed or uneasy state (Miriam Webster)
= a state of agitation or turbulent change or development (Free Dictionary)


96 hours to go. I am trying to tie up loose ends, spend quality time with family, practice my Lugandan birth words, review emergency skills and read up on qualitative research methodologies and I am on Fir Square at BC Women's Hospital until Friday! 


Lyanne is dropping off even more medical supplies today and on Friday we will try to consolidate the two extra bags of medical supplies that have materialized. We are grateful to have had so many donations, both of medical supplies and money to purchase medical supplies! Re-packing is a very positive dilemma!


While I try to remain mindful and grounded I feel restless, with anticipation but also a lack of rest as I tackle my to do list. As I contemplate this I reflect on how another kind of unrest is happening in Uganda and I wonder how that will play out when we arrive. 


For the past week Kampala's streets have been packed with demonstrators protesting rising food prices and President Museveni's swearing-in for a fourth term. Museveni's has dismissed rioters as drug addicts, or crony's hired by the opposition. He has also warned that media outlets (including Al Jazeera & BBC) covering the unrest in a pro-opposition light will be viewed as enemies to Uganda's recovery.  Uganda has recently fallen under international scrutiny planned debate of a bill that would institute the death penalty for gay men (discussion of the bill was postponed for the indefinite future). Despite public dismissal of protestors and international media, Museveni has expanded his cabinet and placed several opposition leaders in key posts in an effort to defuse the unrest. 


Our fearless leader, Cathy Ellis (RM and UBC Midwifery faculty), landed in Entebbe last Wednesday and chose to remain there until the unrest in Kampala had died down after the swearing-in ceremony last Thursday. She has since been able to resume her travels as planned. 


On top of all this news recently broke that a 12 year old girl living in a village 45 miles outside of Kampala died from Ebola on May 6. Thankfully, none of the 30 people exposed to her have fallen ill yet and authorities are hoping this is an isolated incident. 


How trifle my loose ends feel! 


Posted by Alix