Looking at this image alone potentially causes a loss of over 100 calories for any Ugandan, especially if they carried their phone. Image source: globalpressjournal
I was born in a remote area in Uganda. We used to ride car tires with sticks erected from the sides. We would use very ripe bananas or cow dung to reduce the friction between the tires and the sticks. In cases we didn't have either, we would use water though it was not the best lubricant. This tradition has been passed on, and nearly the biggest population of Uganda can agree that their childhood was characterized by such activities. We would go fetch water and carry 20-liter jerry cans of water through hill slopes and valleys. I first ate pizza when I was around thirteen years of age and had moved to a school in the capital. Otherwise, every day, we would have emondi, ebihiiba, esweega, and ebitakuli. Eating meat was like a party in my family. We reared some chicken and had a pig sty. My grandparents reared cattle. Slaughtering one of those meant a special guest was visiting; otherwise, we ate diverse vegetables. I even ate a tickling plant (ekishuliganya). The most I ever got spoilt as a kid was the days my father would buy us roasted maize by the roadside; otherwise, the other times, we would have to go through the joys of roasting the maize over a metal mesh as we blew through the firewood flaming between three blocks of brick. Did you know that most Ugandan families experience that? Just asking, how does that natural way of living lead to obesity?
While in school, 90% of my meals comprised posho and beans. Some days we would have rice grains, cassava, and matooke. Generally, it was still food straight out of the garden. We had school canteens, but how unhealthy can I get eating dip-fried irish potato, sausage, Rolex, meatballs, and chaps occasionally? Mind you; I attended one of the best traditional schools in the country. In short, if 90% of my meals were posho and beans, nearly the rest of the schools have a 98% posho and beans policy. While in school, we are thoroughly ironed out, and the stress levels cannot favorably compete against the weight gain. For every calorie we consumed, we banned five of those calories.
Have you heard of kiboko? If not, some punishments like scrubbing the whole student block will teach you what it means to respect your teachers. Morning preps as early as 4:00 am, followed by one bun as small as a baby's fist at 7:00 am, jumpstart most kids' school day. I was in a boarding school, and accessibility to any building was by walking. No elevators or escalators. I am shocked I could still stretch a bit of my cheeks while smiling. Literally, with all the physical activity one involves in barely, we have no calories left for storage. I can't tell you how many kilometers school children cover daily walking to enlighten themselves with the English man's education. And the meals they have, tsk, they are barely enough to compensate for the energy they will lose as they walk back home that evening. Our education can be legally termed modern-day hard labor; it strains you mentally and physically. Some schools start a day as early as 4:00 am, as stated earlier on, but class ends at 4:30 pm, and by 7:00 pm, we are already self-studying again. My friend, where are the calories for obesity coming from?
Have you visited Mary Stuart in Makerere (the Harvard of Africa)? You will understand why this research can't be justifiable to university students.
After school, our youthful population spends months walking on the streets from office to office until a pair of shoes is worn out in search of a job.
The working class in Uganda is confused by how they are termed obese. Did you know that we had the longest lockdown? Did you know lovers and workers walked across the city from Entebbe to Mukono? Did you know that most of the work activities in Uganda are not automated? It's all hard labor, my guy! Forget the U.S.A., where I say I will do laundry, place my clothes in the washing machine, and retreat to lying on the couch eating microwave popcorn as I watch the local news channel talking about Trump's arrest. Doing laundry in Uganda, we bend and have a beautiful systematic hand movement to remove all the dirt. Our offices have stairs, and most white-collar individuals work out without prior knowledge. The stress level at our workplaces is enough to keep most calories burned. While at work, we order local organic food; ntakako akamonde, no muceeli, oba mele yoona. If we really spoil ourselves while at work, we eat a rolex with three eggs and five chapatis.
Sometimes I stand in front of the mirror and try to tilt my hips to see if I have any. Unfortunately, in my family's genetics, we were not blessed to have natural African healthiness. Those curves and heavy planets are either on the chests or at the back. I think you confused African beauty with obesity. Have you visited the Banyankole? While carrying out your research, did you come across the Baganda women? Woah! There is a difference between obesity and African blessings. When Trey Songs said, "Your booty like two planets'' he was referring to Ugandan women. Our men were equally built to match the African beauty you confused for obesity.
Those obese people you saw have nothing to do with the local man's issues. Uganda's wealth is well distributed amongst the top government officials. That's the only time we can equate obesity to money. Inversely, you should have stated how the wealthy minority have seen a significant increase in obesity cases in their families. There is no way poverty and obesity can be on the same page.
Otherwise, I noticed you kept emphasizing the words "poorest countries.” This is undeniable since world data seems to have a metric system for calculating a country's wealth. It is a handful of Ugandans having those problems. Just for emphasis, "it's a rich man's" problem. Otherwise, the majority of "poor" Ugandans (as you referred to us) will patiently cook their dry beans on the stove and make some karo to have dinner. I don't want to go down this drain, but did you know that nearly every household in Uganda can afford to at least eat a well-cooked home meal every day rather than drive through K.F.C. and eat one chicken nugget piled with calories? Even if it's one meal daily, it will still be a well-cooked home meal. Assumingly, I bet you mistakenly used some other countries' statistics, which I would rather not say.
Right from birth, a child in Uganda is set up with a lifestyle that barely supports their body to reserve calories to give room for obesity. Those are basically "rich" people's problems. Cafe Javas has an aura of some social class that has been achieved by a small number of Ugandans. K.F.C. is a treat like when spoiling oneself. Ice cream, sweets, cookies, and nebilala are not everyday delicacies. There must have been misinformation about the whole obesity issue in Uganda. You talked about the transport system accommodating this obesity trend. My friend, have you used a boda boda? You arrive at your destination with three-quarters of your calories burned from riding under trucks and exchanging with taxi drivers. Even if you drive, the potholes exercise your brain, and if you don't consume enough sugar, you will most likely get home dizzy. Apparently, the human brain burns 320 calories per day, but for any Ugandan, our brains burn approximately 640 calories per day. In 2021, the Daily Monitor, our local newspaper, reported that over 50% walk to work. Next time you conduct research in Uganda, spend some time in the community. Take evening walks on the street (don't move with your phone) and observe how busy the streets are. Children, men, women, cows, dogs, and goats are all heading back home. Using a taxi every day is a luxury. Even in retirement, you still have so much going on. Either you go and set up a farm like our president and graze your cows, or you spend hours walking to and from the Social Security Funds office, stressed about your delayed pension.
I laughed and rolled when I read your article. I helped share it across social media platforms with friends and family sick of single-sided stories about Africa, Uganda. I sent it to my million U.G.X. money lender and asked how many people he has given a loan to based on their obesity. He said you sold caps in your article.
Practically, every Ugandan homestead should be swimming in loan money and getting wealthier each day because our people are naturally blessed. Obesity doesn't equate to African beauty. We have systems that guide the process of getting loans. Why am I educating you? Take your time and learn about African countries beyond the constructs of the media that have shadowed what is on the ground.
Cereal for breakfast. MacDonald for brunch. Starbucks for a drink. Hot dog for lunch. Burger for an evening snack. Medium rare chunk for dinner. Pie for dessert. Ice cream for a bedtime snack. Coke for sleep time, thirst quencher.
On the other hand,
Cassava for breakfast. Rolex for brunch. Mele yoona for lunch. Roasted maize for an evening snack. Matooke and beans for dinner. Water for dessert. And a Nilo for the day.
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