Thank God for the rain
SIR — At last God has heard our prayers and sent us some rain because we have been roasted enough by the scorching sun.
SIR — At last God has heard our prayers and sent us some rain because we have been roasted enough by the scorching sun. Looking through my office window in Nsambya, I saw the clouds begin to darken, then some cold breeze found its way through the windows and in a moment, drops of rain started wetting the ground. For those who prayed, God has started responding to your cries. However, the recurrent dry spell must be a lesson for Ugandans from today. We have over the years been having very fair weather and took it for granted. It is now time for us to start planning effectively for change of weather just like people in Europe. We must make cooling provisions in our offices, and construct water reservoirs to avoid being caught unawares.
Recently, I heard the Minister of Water, Lands and Environment, Lt. Gen. Kahinda Otafiire saying he had made a submission to the finance minister for the purchase of water tanks. I hope he will not withdraw it now that he has seen some raindrops because we cannot be sure what the future holds. Let us not also just plan for the dry spell because next time might be torrential rains and then we might need some warming facilities. This is what we call compound planning, an aspect that all Ugandans must develop if the changes of nature must be countered.
We should however not look at the options as very expensive. For example, Ugandans can start just from the kind of clothes we wear. Most of us wear the same clothes come rain, come shine forgetting that we need thick clothes in cold weather and light ones when it is hot. Ugandans are so ‘official’ unlike Europeans and our level of adjustment is very low. For example, very few people think of wearing shorts and hats during hot weather or carrying a bottle of water to one’s workplace. Many of us have been swallowed up by the silly notion of “How will people see me!†Who says you must live your life according to what people want to see of you? Let us be ourselves and enjoy life by doing what we feel comfortable doing. unless our actions interfere with someone’s freedom, I see no problem living life the way one feels comfortable with it. I know those who have been praying will claim responsibility for the rain and try to convince people how their prayers have worked in order to justify their faith in God or gods, but one thing should be clear, God does things He considers them appropriate. He can not be compromised because when he made this world it was perfect. It is we its sinful inhabitants who spoil it by our actions of witchcraft, cutting down trees unnecessarily and draining swamps, then when dry spells set in, we blame God for the scorching sun. The sun will always come as God has scheduled it because after all, he created it to shine. So when it does, let us thank Him for it because, yes, some politicians in Seeta, Mukono took advantage of it to distribute water to the residents in exchange for their votes! So you can’t say the sun was totally bad. For some yes, for others it was a blessing in disguise. Either way, it’s good we finally got some rain.
Tumusiime D. Kabwende
Kampala
Recently, I heard the Minister of Water, Lands and Environment, Lt. Gen. Kahinda Otafiire saying he had made a submission to the finance minister for the purchase of water tanks. I hope he will not withdraw it now that he has seen some raindrops because we cannot be sure what the future holds. Let us not also just plan for the dry spell because next time might be torrential rains and then we might need some warming facilities. This is what we call compound planning, an aspect that all Ugandans must develop if the changes of nature must be countered.
We should however not look at the options as very expensive. For example, Ugandans can start just from the kind of clothes we wear. Most of us wear the same clothes come rain, come shine forgetting that we need thick clothes in cold weather and light ones when it is hot. Ugandans are so ‘official’ unlike Europeans and our level of adjustment is very low. For example, very few people think of wearing shorts and hats during hot weather or carrying a bottle of water to one’s workplace. Many of us have been swallowed up by the silly notion of “How will people see me!†Who says you must live your life according to what people want to see of you? Let us be ourselves and enjoy life by doing what we feel comfortable doing. unless our actions interfere with someone’s freedom, I see no problem living life the way one feels comfortable with it. I know those who have been praying will claim responsibility for the rain and try to convince people how their prayers have worked in order to justify their faith in God or gods, but one thing should be clear, God does things He considers them appropriate. He can not be compromised because when he made this world it was perfect. It is we its sinful inhabitants who spoil it by our actions of witchcraft, cutting down trees unnecessarily and draining swamps, then when dry spells set in, we blame God for the scorching sun. The sun will always come as God has scheduled it because after all, he created it to shine. So when it does, let us thank Him for it because, yes, some politicians in Seeta, Mukono took advantage of it to distribute water to the residents in exchange for their votes! So you can’t say the sun was totally bad. For some yes, for others it was a blessing in disguise. Either way, it’s good we finally got some rain.
Tumusiime D. Kabwende
Kampala