A day out with a Radio & Television Technician!

Happy mid-month to you all.

Yes! The silence was due to increased work load on my desk and more sites to monitor. During the past week my home theater system got a fault. I sat down all sad with no clue on where I would take it for repair. I have the warranty cards but the thought of transporting it back to Kampala just made my hope for my darling to recover fade the more.

Two days after the half death of my darling home theater system as I walked out of my apartment, I bumped into my neighbor. "I miss the ABBA music that I have been waking to up these days what happened?" she asked. "My system got a fault and I don't know where to take it for repair" I sadly replied. She quickly told me about a technician around the trading center who repair all kinds of electronics. "This guy is the one who fixes all my gadgets once they are faulty." she emphasized.

I went back inside the house and packed my system ready to go to the techinician. She helped me with her car so I could transport it easily to the place. With her directions to the place I got there. There I was all panting to get my system into this guy's kafunda. "Officer nakwakyiira(Officer you are welcome)" he said.

After presenting him with my faulty system I started to look around his workshop. I saw a range of devices from flash disks to flat irons. etc the list is endless. In this town, this technician repairs computers, mobile phones, radios, sub-hoofer systems, DVD players, flat irons, keyboards, motorcycle wiring systems, plus many other things I could not even easily identify.

After seeing all this, my question was, How on earth is this guys able to have knowledge to get all these devices fixed?. I was so worried for my device. I decided to cancel all my plans and see how this guy would fix my system. 

One, he looked so unsettled attending to several things at once, opening all sorts devices and fixing spares with so much energy. My heart started to pump faster, I was so worried it would be the last time to see my darling. "Officer, I don't want to waste much of your time, please leave me with your contact I will call you when your system is fixed." He humbly suggested. I said I would not leave until my device is repaired.

He did repair it. I it was clear he was not sure of the fault but it got fixed. 

Me: What is the Fee? I asked as I packed it again. 

Techinician: 55,000/= only.

Me: For what expenses?

Technician: Your system is big sir it took alot of my space here.

Me: I told him I will only give 20,000/= for your service after all you did not install any spare. Did you?

Techician: You can give me want sir but that is I my fee.

I paid and left but I really want to know which technical school trains students to be experts in fixing all these devices or else this technician is just conning people of their small savings me inclusive.

Til next time.!!!

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Zipping and Unzipping: How could I have known?

Today 11:33am, I was reading from Collins D. Mugume's blog and I remembered something that I need to share. Like earlier mentioned by Albert Mucunguzi in one of his blogs, the year 1999 was a year most of us got to know that some of the things actually existed and were of some interest.

That year in Ntare School I think Computers had just been brought to the school and some of us really wanted to have a feel of the TV and deck(VCR) like devices which displayed somethings we did not understand. I hope  the use of the word we will be accepted by all who get the matter in this story. Am talking to you Albert!

Albert Mucunguzi, Josh Twin, Timothy Matsiko, Matthew Rubatsimbira, Samson(residing in Africa House), Davis Arinaitwe, Sam Kacungira, Osbert Twikirize, Micheal Babigumira and Patrick Amwiine were some of the few common figures in that tiny room. I remember we would crowd at the entrance of that room but Albert and Josh had the best skills of being inside first even if they were at the back of the group crowded at the 1 meter wide entrance. Their struggles are evident today, one of the young ICT Entrepreneurs that we have in Uganda today. Well done Ms Mwebaza Winfred you did a job.

So, One day(It must have been a Saturday) I sat down to use one of the computers. I clicked, clicked and clicked in an effort to explore and see any interesting thing I could find. I right-clicked on a  folder and saw an option "Zip Folder".

Please take note of the word "ZIP". On seeing zip, I was trying to relate that zip with the zipper on our jackets. Ha ha ha ha!!! I went ahead and selected the option, off it went zipping the folder. It must have been a big folder coz it showed a slow progress of zipping and in the due course, Ms Mwebaza appeared. She took time to see what was going on the screen."Who has done that?" she asked. All eyes went my in my direction.

"Do you know what you are doing?"

"What is Zipping?"

"Do you understand what you are doing?"

No answer was given to any of those questions. The worse was yet to come. She asked me get up and ordered me out of the Computer Room. I was red carded. "I should never see you here anymore" she emphasized as I marched out.

From that time I learnt that it was not good to just click anything without learning what it could do. The expulsion from the Computer Room created a lapse in my interaction with computer.

One year down the road, during my form four vacation I attended a computer class and the first question I asked was the meaning of zipping. I got the explanation. The tutor also advised me to always read and use the help section of any application that I would ever use. The following week I did not go back for computer class. I have learnt almost all the computer I know through reading tutorials and help sections of applications.

Surprisingly, I was in University for 3years but there is no single tutor or lecturer who ever stood to advise us to use the help sections. Maureen Agena is witness to this. The tutors for some programming courses may be advised to use tutorials.

My question is! Are the help sections of applications relevant to usage of an application or not necessary to most us who love clicking to see what will happen. "Kuteera Omukishaka kureeba ekiraarugemu"

See you all after the Cranes Win!!!!

We Gooo We Go!!!

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Radio Stations! Are they doing any better?

Okay!!.

So how has everyone been? Am back after some bit of silence. I took time to read all my fellow IT geeks' posts and blogs especially Albert Mucunguzi, Maureen Agena, Josh Twin, Stone Atwine, Simon Kaheru, Evelyn Namara to mention but a few. I like your posts Evelyn by the way especially the Tweets. *wink*

Straight to our topic today, Radio Stations. Are they doing any better? I woke up this morning, unusual time (3am) and for the first time in around 12months my bed room had radios station sounds escalating from there. Tuned into a radio station(name reserved), there was great music being played. The DJ really took his time to keep the Insomniacs awake but to my shock there were people calling in to say hello to there friends and loved ones and then there was this one which made me laugh my head off "Nindamusya n'omukyaara wangye owunyin' aha" literally meaning "Am also saying hello to my wife who is just next to me". For some reason I wondered, did this man call only to say hello to someone next to him? Okay! Let's call that too much Love.

Time check 6:30am, Announcements started. The anchor read, read and read lots of announcements but most of them were death announcements, performing last funeral rights, thanking people who were there for them when they lost their dear one plus others in that line. To my dismay, there was no announcement that may be announced that today is for example a market day in a certain place, traders in cereal will be at a certain collecting center so whoever has cereal could move there and sell off his or her harvest. After the announcements, they played a song by Eminem ft Lil Wayne - No Love then, an advert of Eddie Kenzo being in the area over the weekend killed my ears with a shout from the other end, "Abaaaaannntu be Mmbararaaaaaaaaaaa kye mwaasaba embaazzi kibuyag' asudde. Anti tubaletedde Eddie Kenzo ......blah blah" meaning "People of Mbrarara, your prayers have been answered. We are bringing you an Eddie Kenzo concert... "

I thought these radio stations in the rural areas are set up to target the interests of the audiences that they serve. How was my Grand mother supposed to get the lyrics of No Love? Playing rare music was not bad but my point here is, are the many radio stations in Uganda addressing the interests of the community? These radios are not only supposed to be there to broadcast Walk to Work Demos, Kayunga riots etc but also address the key issues that will make the rural person earn some income not an Eddie Kenzo concert that will make him spend even more on watching someone who is singing lyrics that we do not understand. Stamina, Super Power, My Miss .....zig gigigig gid gid.....!!!!

Access to Radio, one of the easiest ICT tool to-date has been made so cheap that even the cheapest mobile phone has radio so my thinking is that access to media tools is no longer a problem. The remaining task remains to disseminate the relevant information to the rural people to improve their livelihoods.

So, who should make sure that the relevant information is passed on to the rural people? Is it Uganda Communications Commission (UCC) or Uganda Broadcasting Council (UBC)?

That is not to be answered by me. Am just a digital native putting out what I see and where I feel there is a gap.

Uganda today has the biggest number of radio stations in Africa. More radio stations than even in South Africa but I do not see them doing the best of what they are supposed to do in improving the livelihoods of  our people.  I think they are concentrating more on accumulating revenue and remitting to URA in form of Tax the money that is not being accounted for. If they have decided to be so business minded and putting aside the emphasis on service delivery then let us see medicine delivered to the health centers or the call rates being reduced further or even the cost of kerosene at that. Tax paid should may be translated to that and not buying a 2010 model Land cruiser for my MP who gave me a packet of salt to find his way to parliament. Mis-allocation of resources is what am talking about here.

2011 years down road after Christ, the information is more than enough, Communication channels & means are so present and for the Technology, I would say  it is appropriate. The question is where are we failing?

Til next time, I will see you on the next post.

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Fibre Optic Installation in Uganda.

Happy Easter to you all.
Feels good to be able to sit down and scribble a small blog for my readers. After a long huddle of work, I decided to run back home and relax, see my mother that I had not seen in quite sometime.

On my way to mbarara, as I drove home listening to some country music on a wet highway, I noticed some hardworking men were busy burying a black thick wire in a trench.
Being a digital native, I could easily notice they were installing fibre optic cable. From the time Telecom companies as well as government started embarking going fibre, I have taken keen interest in the development of this ICT advancement. 1km into the drive I stopped to greet these humble Ugandans who are greatly contributing to the development of the country.

My arrival at an installation point did not look unusual to these people. They looked to be used to numerous supervisors who stop over to see what kind of work they are doing.

I noticed that the trench in which they were busy burying the cable was as shallow as a gutter dug to give way to stagnant water.

Excited by my arrival, these humble citizens were very free to tell me which company they were working for and the owner company. of the cable. Hoping for much from a young an energetic "supervisor", they quickly started narrating to me how they are suffering. Hectic work, poor feeding, no drinking water, poor accommodation, lack of treatment and having little information on what they are entitled to as labourers.

It was so evident that these people who are playing a very big role in overturning the development of the country are "MISERABLE."

Having said that, people of Uganda should not expect a functional fibre optic network if the people installing it are that miserable. We shall have a miserable network as well. My call goes to the labour unions to intervene in such cases because it is not only about the cable but the people of Uganda. Suffering Ugandans at that.

For now I remain Cedric Anil. I need to catch some sleep now.

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My 100 Truths

Putting What ICT is today aside, I felt that should tell you the 100 truths about Cedric Anil. New year, new resolutions and new solutions as well as much to expect from "What is ICT Today?"
Here we go;-

1. Last beverage: Coke

2. Last phone call: Rhonah, was worth it

3. Last kiss: My mum.

4. Last song you listened to - Got to Luv - Sean Paul

5. Last time you cried: Been while Dont remember

HAVE YOU EVER:

6. Dated someone twice: Hell no. Ngenda Maaso

7. Been cheated on?: Yeah, not a good feeling. I no longer sign agreements in principle.

8. Kissed someone & regretted it ? : No.

9. Lost someone special?: Yeah, all people that have lost were so special.

10. Been depressed?: Yeah, after listening to story by one of my married clients.

11. Been high?: Of course. Next question

LIST THREE FAVORITE COLORS:

12.Brown

13.Red

14.Blue

THIS YEAR HAVE YOU:

15. Have you made new friends this year: Yeah, I make new friends each day

16. Fallen out of love: Yes...and it was really really bad.

17. Laughed until you cried: Yeah, I do that every time my friend Carol is around me.

18. Met someone who changed you:Jesus Christ but I wish I could see him physically that day.

19. Found out who your true friends were: True friends?? I don't know what that is supposed to mean. I can't be in my friends' hearts to see who the true one is.

20. Found out someone was talking about you: Yeah, but that doesn't matter.

21. Kissed anyone on your friends list: Yeah, plus enough of what follows.

TRUTH:

22. How many people on your friends list do you know in real life?: The ones who know me in real life

23. How many kids do you want to have: Enough kids to make my wife make as much noise that my mum made while bringing us up.

24. Do you have any pets: For what!

25. Do you want to change your name: Yeah, from Cedric Anil Muhebwa to Cedric Anil Muhebwa

26. What did you do for your last birthday: Slept all Day..

27. What time did you wake up today: 5am..Not a good feeling to be awake at that time each day.

28. What were you doing at midnight last night: Talking to Nicholus about Life

29. Name something you CANNOT wait for: Do I really need answer this.?

30. Last time you saw your father: Last Month

31. What is one thing you wish you could change about your life: Nothing.

32. What are you listening to right now: Love I miss

33. Have you ever talked to a person named Tom: Yeah, he talked alot of nonsense. 

34. What’s getting on your nerves right now?: Marriage & Divorce Bill

36. Whats your real name: ..Check out my profile. Mmssssttwww!

37. Relationship Status: In a relationship.

38. Zodiac sign: do you really need this??..Ok. Virgo

39. Nicknames? Ced, Cedek, Kyendes, and my GF calls me Kaswt

40. Most visited webpage? yesuahuriire.com

41. Nursery: Masaka Nursery
    Primary:  Blessed Sacrament, Hill Road, Kitunga to mention but.....
    Secondary: Ntare School, 4 memorable years

42. Hair color: Ofcourse Black

43. Long or short: what do you mean exactly. Next question

44. Height: Not sure but taller than 5'6

45. Do you have a crush on someone: Yeah. but only me can tell how hard I have crushed

46.Liked a friend that of the same sex? Yeah only Personality.

47. What do you like about yourself: The true me.

48. Piercings: Had an injection sometime back

49. Tattoos: Am dark  tatoos wouldn't look nice on me.

50. Righty or lefty: Lefty and very proud of it.

FIRSTS :

51. First surgery: Appendicitis.at 8years

52. First piercing: Injection at immunisation. am sure I cried.

53. First tattoo: On my thigh. used thorns way back 1996

54. First best friend: My mum. man that woman carried me for nine months. she still does carry me.

55. First Sport: Soccer 

56. First pet: Pet??...oh yah Simba R.I.P my dog. Villager killed it for biting a  neighbour.

57. First vacation: Not had one.. but I think I need one..to freshen up.

58. First concert: UB40 in Ug. Memorable

59. First crush: Oh..yeah!!! Joan I know u know this coz it was on you.

60. First alcohol drink: Uganda Waragi

RIGHT NOW:

61. Eating : No

62. Drinking: Nothing, but waiting for 5pm to catch a beer.

63. I’m about to: Run out of Office

64. Listening to: So, repetition is allowed?? . Next question

65. Waiting for: Climate Change in my Pocket, am broke.

WHICH IS BETTER WITH THE OTHER SEX?

69. Lips or eyes: Eyes, they tell everything u wanna know about someone.

70. Hugs or kisses: Hugs have always been my trademark. Marion Kevin knows this.

71. Shorter or taller: Short or Tall as long they get the job done.

72. Older or Younger: I have come to discover; A bit Older. Younger  need lots of time and emotional investment.

73. Romantic or spontaneous: Spontaneously Romantic

74. Nice stomach or nice arms: Nice stomach where a child will grow well once pregnant.

75. Tattoos or piercings: Tatoos. they look sexy depending on where they are put

76. Sensitive or loud: Sensitive. Have had enough of Loud I think.

77. Hook-up or relationship:Relationships. Hook-ups are dangerous

78. Trouble maker or hesitant: Trouble maker, its interesting to live such a Life

HAVE YOU EVER :

79. Kissed a stranger: Yeah!!..

80. Drank hard liquor: Yeah!!..and managed to stagger home.

81. Lost glasses/contacts: Dont wear any

82. Had sex on 1st date? That's personal, but whats the harm in it? ...yes i have.

83. Broken someone’s heart: Yeah!!..I was told I did although I hadn't noticed.

84. Had your own heart broken: I expect the worst in every situation including heart breaks. So, not an issue. but yes my heart was broken. I just remembered Julie did break my ka heart.

85. Been arrested: No. Hope to never be

86. Turned someone down: yap!..quite a number and I dont regret anything.

87. Cried when someone died: Yeah!..Princess Diana..was young but did cry for her.

88. Liked a friend that is a girl: I like all my girl friends.

DO YOU BELIEVE IN:

89. Yourself: Very much

90. Miracles: Sometimes

91. Love at first sight: Very much.

92. Heaven: Oh yeah..

93. Santa Clause: Santa Clause?...is it this guy they say puts on red with a white beard??..Hell NO.

94. Kissing on the first date: Why not!.. I Live one day at a time.Life is short

ANSWER TRUTHFULLY:

95. If you could go back in time, how far would you go? I would go back to Campus. The 3years in Nkozi still seem like a dream..memorable times just. 

96. Is there one person you want to be with right now: The one who wants to be with me Right now

97. Had more than one boyfriend/girlfriend at one time: No. Emotional Attachment is hard to divide.

98. Do you believe its possible to remain faithful forever: Forever?...only to God.

99. Wish you could change things in your past?..yah!!..quite a few but past is past..Life goes on.

100. Posting this as 100 Truths: Silly.. why would I waste my time to lie on 100 damn f***kin questions.

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