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THE PEARL OF AFRICA

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19 OCTOBER 2025 An Ancient Map of Uganda “For magnificence, for variety of form and colour, for profusion of brilliant life – bird, reptile, beast and for vast scale’ Uganda is truly the Pearl of Africa” Sir Winston Churchill 19  October 2025. 1130am Samson the Bolt driver is prompt. It’s a Sunday. So the roads are clear. Besides, everyone who owns a car is in Bondo ---- burying Baba! So thankfully the roads are clear. 1415 hrs JKIA Long queues at Terminal 1A. The order lasts but a few precious minutes. Then a stewardess asks for Juba passengers. There is a scurry for the new queue which has totally caused chaos amongst the other passengers. After some arguments and jostling, 2 uneven queues develop. We trudge painfully slowly towards the two counters where the not-bothered stewardesses are trying their best to slow down. As though defiantly and silently daring you, "You can do nothing to me!” Eventually I get my boarding pass. And head into the duty-free areas after a brief pi...
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Between Queues and Chaos: Finding Peace in Mogadishu

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  Between Queues and Chaos: Finding Peace in Mogadishu Pre-War Buildings in CBD - Mogadishu Some districts within the city escaped unscathed from the ravages of war. Many remain in the same condition they were in since 1990 - more than 35 years ago Today am headed back to Mogadishu. Early morning flight. I set the alarm for 340am but my sleep disappears at 230pm. From thence onwards it’s a tossing night for an hour. I give up trying to sleep. No need to struggle.   I am disturbing Muna with my tossing. So I get up, take my stuff to the study to get ready from there so as not to disturb her. By 4am I am ready. John is the Bolt driver. A chatty man. We talk politics. He is rather surprised at my political awareness. We reach JKIA Terminal 2 in good time. There is a long snaking queue of mostly Somali travelllers. The elderly man behind me is going to Mandera whilst the younger one next to him is accompanying him. They attempt to jump me. A few telling stares k...
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