8:00 Arrive at CTC to check in on design class. Turns out we need 8 keyboards and 2 mice. We use these to keep students hands off the machines. Sent sparks who found them but then later found out we needed two more keyboards. $100 total. Ouch.
8:30 Head out with Jen to take Declan and classmates to school (carpool).
9:15 Back at keep. Plan to head out to Jaja Barb’s place. All alone, this 70-year old grandma is getting figuratively beat up trying to do good. Must read: http://jaajabarbshomeofangels.blogspot.ca/?m=1. Quick breakfast and some coffee.
10:00 To bank to get cash. The ATM takes my card, and doesn’t give me my money. The bank manager tells me it’s not her problem. “Visa will take care of it”. Translation: someone at the bank just got an early Christmas and I have to fight “Visa” for that $150.
11:00-2:30 Meet with Jaja barb to help her with this container mess. The stuff her donors sent is generous although some of it is laughably impractical including: 100-year-old antique (gorgeous) sewing machine and spinning wheel, warm gloves, fuzzy hats and fuzzy socks, and expensive furniture polish. We devise a plan to help distribute the worthwhile things to groups that need them. We are well placed for this job because of the keep. It’s a hub that connects us to practically everyone.
3:00-5:30 Declan and friends home and playing. To the workshop to stain and cut leather for the messenger bag. Hope to have it ready for lots of stitching during Kenya downtime. Spent time tutoring Jonah on PC hardware while I worked.
6:00-6:30 Prepare to head to Keep for Olympics. Our house guard Richard asks to speak with me. In essence he wants us to “forgive” the keep guard we fired for sleeping (twice) allowing the keep to be robbed while he was off watching football at a bar and for missing four days because he was in jail for fighting. He’s so adamant and clueless about why we won’t hire him back that I’m wondering about his trustworthiness.
6:30-7 Olympics with Jen and a packed Keep. Good time getting to know customers and fellow volunteers.
7:00-7:15 Meeting with new reliever keep guard and head guard. Discuss policies, schedule and payment.
7:30-8:30 We are due to leave for Kenya tomorrow. Our passports are in Kampala. This is the only time we can visit this school year. We are about to miss it. Summary: Brokered a deal with Uganda police for forensics equipment and training I exchange for a work permit. They agree to have it done by Feb 10 and sign. They are overdue, have the gear and our passports and not returning my calls. Spend an hour trying every conceivable angle to get an answer. Nothing. Stress doesn’t begin to describe this. What is the point of all our work in Uganda if the police show time and time again that they are corrupt and cannot be trusted. This is a dangerous game. I must protect the donated forensics gear. It was donated in exchange for my work permit. They didn’t hold up their end of the bargain. So now what? Ethically, I must call the vendors and have them cancel all the licenses because yet again, the police have shown at best irresponsibility or at worst that they are willing to steal LE-only forensics equipment. Either way, are these people that can be trusted with forensics gear? And what happens when I push? They have the power to create false charges, keep our passports and demand a ridiculous bribe (which we’ve seen done). And to make matters worse, the US Embassy won’t get involved when charges are filed. So, I have to do what’s right. So be prepared. All this might just happen.
8:30-9:00 Watching Olympics with Jen and Declan. Destroying purses while I’m watching to get the buckles for the leather bags I’m making. I’m distracted, obviously. Jen is a wreck. Looks like we won’t see our kids.
Since it’s inappropriate under any circumstances to show the exact equipment we donated to police I won’t. But here’s some pictures of Barb’s place and her chickens.
