Muraho (hello)!  My husband, Tyler, and I arrived safely in Kisoro late on the 23^rd.  This is my third time here, and Tyler’s second.  Upon arrival, we were introduced to our one bedroom unit in a lovely little neighborhood near Mutolere Hospital some 5k outside of Kisoro proper that’s surrounded by mature eucalyptus trees, and flowering bushes and gardens.  Needless to say, our place is much more than we expected.  We have a living room, and bedroom/kitchen with a small refrigerator, hot plate, sink and, perhaps most importantly, a French Press with which to make coffee in the mornings (hallelujah!!!!).  And the water from the taps in our place is drinkable because the volcanic rock here filters it, and the pipes to the house are sound, so no need to buy endless bottled water.  How nice is that?

Tyler will be substitute teaching for Chris’ wife, Heather, while she visits family and friends in Scotland and Canada.  She, like Tyler, is a high school literature and composition teacher, so that works out amazingly well.  We immediately started to learn the new ropes of our life here, with me starting work at UOBDU the day after arrival, and Ty getting a feel for class subject matter, and meeting some of the staff and students at the schools (a high school, and a primary school) he’ll be teaching at.

At UOBDU, I’m helping their new Land Rights Officer, Winfred, organize and categorize documents and materials on the Batwa and their struggle for land.  UOBDU itself has been busy, not just with land rights issues, but also mapping the Batwa’s knowledge of forest features and characteristics onto a 3-D topographical map they made out of layers of cardboard (e.g., locations of flora and fauna, areas of worship, areas they used to consider taboo for hunting, etc.).  The map is huge, and covers Bwindi Impenetrable National Park, and the surrounding area.  I’ll give more detail and post pictures soon.

All in all, it’s really good to be back.  More very soon…

The "Welcome to Uganda" large spider, and a caterpillar that gives you prickers if you pick it up, in our shower

UOBDU Office (I'll get a better photo up later)

Taken this last Dec. Muhuvura volcano (Kisoro is somewhere down there in the distance).

Hello!  Since my last post back in August 2010,  a fortuitous set of events has me returning, again as an AP Peace Fellow, this time to work with the United Organisation for Batwa Developement in Uganda (UOBDU)   If you click on the link, it will lead you to a description of the organization on the UK-based Forest Peoples Programme’s (FPP) website.  FPP has supported UOBDU since its inception in 2000, and the organization has made incredible gains in the past 11 years, which I will, no doubt, be blogging about this summer.

I’ve mentioned in a prior entry (the amazing) Dr. Chris Kidd, one of FPP’s Project Officers, who has lived in Uganda, and worked with the Batwa communities and UOBDU for the past decade.  He and AP’s director, Iain Guest, both play a big role in this opportunity I am undertaking.  This past winter, with the generosity of Dr. Kidd, I was able to  participate in some of UOBDU’s activities, learning more about the Batwa’s situation in Uganda through  community visits, and attending a community stakeholder’s meeting where Batwa community representatives, and local NGOs collected to discuss efforts to forward Batwa land ownership and rights.  It was both educational, and inspiring, to say the least.

For now, I am finishing up final exams (yes, the quarter system ends much later than the semester system), so will close for now.  I’ll be back in Kisoro on June 22nd, so stay tuned!