Umwaka mwiza? (2)

Although we have had a good start to the new year, there is trouble of various kinds on every side. Life in this part of Africa is lived against the background of instability and uncertainty about the future.
To the west, there is continuing unrest in the DRC as the government army and the militia of General Nkunda meet to discuss peace terms. This is what gets reported on the BBBC website, but of course locally there are all the issues of refugees, fear, inter-tribal suspicions and rumours.
The Kenyan political situation has also hit the world news and there is a particular Rwandan twist as the 2 sides have accused each other of “genocide”. It’s a bit of political hyperbole which is very painful in this country. The impact on Rwanda is potentially very serious, because we are landlocked and completely dependent for fuel and other necessities on a supply line which starts at Mombasa and passes through Kenya and Uganda. Already fuel is rationed here and things may get worse before they get better.
As we left Uganda we were asked abut our travel there and given a leaflet about Ebola. Fortunately, contrary to earlier reports, the recent outbreak of this deadly fever was limited to Bundibugyo, one district very near to the Congo border in the north-west of Uganda. It still cost 40 lives, however and Rwandan caution remains.
This is not to paint a bleak picture : at this time of year most people here are much more concerned about finding school fees for the new year than they are about wider issues. There is such fortitude, too, in the face of very serious problems, personal, national and international.
And we do genuinely wish each other a happy new year with the greeting “Umwaka mwiza!”.