By Alan Tacca
Because of its complexity, and so many expected and unexpected inconveniences, the evolving coronavirus situation opens a wide field to speculators, profiteers and false prophets.
President Museveni is seizing every opportunity to appear presidential and in control, even as the mafia tag attached to his government still dangles freely.Then, owners of our many churches are variously determined some absolutely desperate to appear relevant, although no serious nation, no serious leader, and no serious theologian believes that the virus can be cursed or prayed away.
Epidemiologists are worried that with Africas squalid living conditions, her chaotic administrations and limited healthcare facilities, the virus could hit parts of the continent very hard.The experts also worry that Africa has a large reservoir of faith, fatalism and superstition, which could block the more clear-headed approaches to dealing with the pandemic.
It may sound cynical, but President Museveni has got a kind of coronavirus dividend. As he talks and talks, many of his political opponents have lowered their swords in the spirit of a nation united by crisis. They are not in full combat mode.
However, if Ugandas advantage of having a relatively small number of jet-set globe trotters is negated by the incompetence and corruption that reportedly mark the management of incoming travellers at Entebbe airport and the quarantine regime, and if the under-resourced healthcare system gets overwhelmed by the resulting nightmare, then the President will probably have to battle his enemies again.
A tiny nuisance that is said to have started from China would have exposed the sloppiness of things under a Bush War general.About the generalised hardship; already, the Presidents anger with retail traders who have raised food prices is difficult to understand.
What is the correct price of anything in a vampire state whose old distortions have been further complicated by cumulative coronavirus effects?Has the government supplied retail-shops and market stores with free sanitisers and staple-foods at correct wholesale prices?
When the ruling clique wants parliamentary votes to serve its anti-citizen interests, the NRM Parliamentary Caucus constitutes itself into a den of mercenaries. The price of the MPs soars beyond their correct pay packet, removing money from the Treasury that could have helped in emergencies like coronavirus.When coronavirus imposes its distortions, why should the little traders absorb the shock as good citizens?
* * *The higher a monkey climbs An African proverb. Pastor Jackson Ssenyonga of Christian Life Church in Bwaise does not love his neighbour, Prophet Samuel Kakande, as Jesus commanded. There is no day when Ssenyonga does not castigate, or refer, or allude to Kakande as a false prophet.
For some weeks before coronavirus (officially) arrived, Ssenyonga advertised that God would descend from heaven and spend Good Friday, April 10, at his church. A mammoth congregation was assured. Apparently, God had not foreseen that Good Friday would find the church closed.
But not all is lost. Ssenyonga and all the other commercial preachers who own radio and television stations have a plan: to stage and film themselves leading prayers in their studios and broadcast the sessions to congregations in their sitting-rooms during the 32-day lockdown.
Individuals can call to make requests for special prayers and miracles. You can even relay self/family-at-prayer selfies and have them broadcast. Pure desperation.
Coronavirus must be interpreted to mean that you need God or your pastor more than ever!So, although virtually all the pastors have appealed to the government to reduce or waive some taxes and tariffs, they maintain that their 10 per cent tithe is still mandatory. Plus offertories. Use mobile money. Even coronavirus cannot be more cunning than a holy shirk.
Mr Tacca is a novelist, socio-political commentator.altaccaone@gmail.com
More here:
Now that coronavirus has reached our vampire state - Daily Monitor
- Is This a Real Photo of Vampire Queen 'Madam Violet,' Voted UK's Scariest Woman Alive in the 1880s? - Snopes.com - March 16th, 2024
- The erotic 70s horror where lechy men turn into bloody-hungry vampires - Dazed - March 16th, 2024
- The vampires ball is coming to an end - Meduza - March 16th, 2024
- Oregon son, 56, who is accused of killing his mom by shoving a huge makeshift stake through her throat claims - Daily Mail - March 16th, 2024
- Muni Bond Games and the IRS' Lurking Arbitrage Vampires - Governing - March 16th, 2024
- Ball of vampires', nuke warning: Key takeaways from Putins interview - The Times of India - March 16th, 2024
- Putin compares western elites to 'VAMPIRES' who 'fill their bellies with human flesh' - GB News - March 16th, 2024
- Every Time Alaric Died In The Vampire Diaries & Legacies - Screen Rant - March 16th, 2024
- V Rising declares a 1.0 release date, climbing from the grave of a years-long early access to become your next time ... - Yahoo Movies UK - March 16th, 2024
- 15 Actors That Could Play Edward Cullen in the Twilight TV Series - MovieWeb - March 16th, 2024
- BLOOD HUNT #1 Preview Releases A Horde Of Vampires On The Marvel Universe's Greatest Heroes - CBM (Comic Book Movie) - March 16th, 2024
- Man accused of killing mother in Siletz believed she was a vampire - Yahoo News - March 16th, 2024
- Stephen King approved 'Salem's Lot' movie to stream on Max this year - Yahoo Movies Canada - March 16th, 2024
- Empire of the Damned Review: A Wickedly Good Time | Arts - Harvard Crimson - March 8th, 2024
- The BLOODCOVEN: Marvel's Vampires Get Their Own Avengers With 6 "Supervampires Fed on the Blood of ... - Screen Rant - March 8th, 2024
- 17 fantasy and science fiction books to read in March 2024 - Winter is Coming - March 8th, 2024
- This MCU Hero Returns to Fight Vampires as Marvel's Massive BLOOD HUNT Begins - Screen Rant - February 28th, 2024
- These Vampons by 'Artisan Vampires' Will Make Your Period Goth AF - Loudwire - February 28th, 2024
- Bloodsuckers Through the Ages - A History of Vampires (Video) - Ancient Origins - February 28th, 2024
- 'Blood Hunt' #2 Cover Shows the Avengers Are Bloody, Battered, and Broken - Marvel.com - February 28th, 2024
- Vampires Invade the Marvel Universe in New Blood Hunt Trailer - Superherohype.com - February 28th, 2024
- 'Near Dark' Is the Acid-Soaked Vampire Western You Need to See - IMDb - February 19th, 2024
- In The Sci-Fi World I Created, Vampires And Werewolves Are Still A Huge Problem (20 New Pics) - Bored Panda - February 19th, 2024
- Kathryn Bigelow's 'Near Dark' Is the Acid-Soaked Vampire Western You Need to See - Collider - February 19th, 2024
- Interview With the Vampire review Tom Cruise and Brad Pitts brilliant bloodsucking bromance - The Guardian - February 19th, 2024
- Is This Too Niche: Vampires - The Post - The Post - February 19th, 2024
- ALEX VAN HELSING Novel Trilogy Being Adapted as a TV Series By Kit Williamson GeekTyrant - GeekTyrant - February 19th, 2024
- The Supernatural Romance Of Vampire: The Masquerade Blood-Stained Love - Forbes - February 19th, 2024
- Leaving the shadows for passion: Why vampires are classic monsters that best reflect our fears and desires - EL PAS USA - February 19th, 2024
- Vampire Weekend to Embark on 2024 Tour, Releases Two New Singles - Variety - February 19th, 2024
- Vampire Weekend adds second Austin show to 2024 tour - Laredo Morning Times - February 19th, 2024
- Vampire Weekend's summer 2024 tour will stop in Minneapolis - Bring Me The News - February 19th, 2024
- Vampire Weekend Announce Massive Tour in Support of New Album Only God Was Above Us - Rolling Stone - February 19th, 2024
- Harry Potter: Are There Vampires in the Wizarding World? - CBR - Comic Book Resources - February 19th, 2024
- The Midnight Sons return, Black Panther becomes a vampire, and much more in Marvel's Blood Hunt tie-ins - Gamesradar - February 19th, 2024
- Morbius is The Secret To Saving Marvel's Entire Universe (Yes, Seriously) - Screen Rant - February 19th, 2024
- Geometry Survivor is a little Geometry Wars and a bit Vampire Survivors - GamingOnLinux - February 19th, 2024
- The War with Angels Is On! SYFY's Reginald the Vampire Officially Returns for Season 2 in May - Yahoo Entertainment - February 19th, 2024
- BLOOD HUNT: Marvel Comics Reveals T'Challa/Black Panther Will Be Transformed Into A Vampire This May - CBM (Comic Book Movie) - February 19th, 2024
- Interview With The Vampire season 2 teaser reveals May 12 release date - Winter is Coming - February 11th, 2024
- Interview with the Vampire Season 2: Cast, Latest News, and Everything You Need to Know - TV Guide - February 11th, 2024
- 'Interview with the Vampire' Season 2 coming to AMC in May - Yahoo Lifestyle UK - February 11th, 2024
- Vampires Are Here to Spill Some Blood in the Newest Max Win Gaming Slot Release Midnight Thirst Deadspins - World Casino Directory - February 11th, 2024
- Everything We Know About INTERVIEW WITH THE VAMPIRE Season 2 - Yahoo Entertainment - February 11th, 2024
- Michael B. Jordan and Ryan Coogler's top secret vampire movie will be set in the 1930s and have anime influences - Gamesradar - February 11th, 2024
- Sean Strickland has weird altercation with 'vampire' Machine Gun Kelly, Dana White offers hilarious reaction | Video ... - MMA Mania - February 11th, 2024
- Interview With The Vampire Season 2's Claudia Recast Impact Explained By Star & Producer - Screen Rant - February 11th, 2024
- Interview With The Vampire Season 2 Book Accuracy Explained By EP - Screen Rant - February 11th, 2024
- Vampire Weekend Announced Their 'Only God Was Above Us' New Album - UPROXX - February 11th, 2024
- Interview with the Vampire - AMC Sets Season Two Premiere Date - Bloody Disgusting - February 11th, 2024
- Vampire Weekend announce new album 'Only God Was Above Us' & Austin total eclipse show - Brooklyn Vegan - February 11th, 2024
- Vampire Weekend tease new music with a cryptic video - NME - February 11th, 2024
- Louis and Lestat Are Coming Back: Interview With the Vampire Season 2 Has a New Trailer - Them - February 11th, 2024
- Expansion Of Anne Rices Immortal Universe In Development; Interview With The Vampire & Mayfair Witches Season 2 Updates From AMC - Deadline - February 11th, 2024
- 'Interview With the Vampire' season 2 is FINALLY on the horizonhere's when you can watch it - Out Magazine - February 11th, 2024
- Introducing the 'Vampire Virus' and What It Means for Connecticut and New York - i95rock.com - February 11th, 2024
- 'Interview With the Vampire' Season 2 Release Date, Cast, Plot, and More - The Mary Sue - February 11th, 2024
- Vampire: The Masquerade Bloodlines 2 Is Already Making One Big Mistake - Screen Rant - February 11th, 2024
- AMC's very good, very sexy Interview With The Vampire sets its return - Yahoo Entertainment - February 11th, 2024
- Man accused of burning down home said voices told him the place contained vampires - KOIN.com - February 3rd, 2024
- Dolly Parton on 'Buffy the Vampire Slayer' reboot: 'They're still working on that' - USA TODAY - February 3rd, 2024
- Become the ultimate vampire In V Rising, coming to PS5 this year - PlayStation - February 3rd, 2024
- Here's Your First Look At Vampire: The Masquerade Bloodlines 2 Gameplay From Its New Developer - Game Informer - February 3rd, 2024
- The Vampire Diaries: Be Transported To Mystic Falls With These Best Books For Fans - GameRant - February 3rd, 2024
- Our first look at Vampire: The Masquerade Bloodlines 2 shies away from what makes it a vampire RPG, and that has ... - Gamesradar - February 3rd, 2024
- Hulu's ACOTAR Show Could Kick Off The Next Early 2000s Vampire Craze - Screen Rant - February 3rd, 2024
- Dolly Parton On Potential Buffy The Vampire Slayer Revival: Theyre Still Working On That - Deadline - February 3rd, 2024
- Here's 15 minutes of The Chinese Room's Vampire: The Masquerade - Bloodlines 2 - Eurogamer.net - February 3rd, 2024
- Sink Your Fangs into This Extended Gameplay Reveal of Vampire: the Masquerade - Bloodlines 2 - MMORPG.com - February 3rd, 2024
- They're still working on it: Dolly Parton teases Buffy The Vampire Slayer revival - Gay Times Magazine - February 3rd, 2024
- 'Vampire: The Masquerade - Bloodlines 2' gameplay revealed in new trailer - NME - February 3rd, 2024
- Dolly Parton Hints At 'Buffy The Vampire Slayer' Reboot - Purple Sneakers - February 3rd, 2024
- All 8 The Vampire Diaries Seasons, Ranked Worst To Best - Screen Rant - February 3rd, 2024
- 10 BTS The Vampire Diaries Details That Will Change How You See The Show - Screen Rant - February 3rd, 2024
- Is Buffy the Vampire Slayer reboot still in the works? Here's what Dolly Parton says - Sportskeeda - February 3rd, 2024
- Buffy the Vampire Slayer reboot still in the works, says Dolly Parton - PinkNews - February 3rd, 2024
- Dolly Parton shares Buffy the Vampire Slayer reboot revelation - The Independent - February 3rd, 2024
- Dolly Parton Spills the Tea on Potential 'Buffy the Vampire Slayer' Reboot - American Songwriter - February 3rd, 2024
- Hit Vampire RPG V Rising Arrives on PS5 This Year - Push Square - February 3rd, 2024
- Blade Theory: Mahershala Ali isn't Hunting Vampires, He's Hunting Followers of Knull Planning an Incursion - FandomWire - January 26th, 2024
Reviewed and Recommended by Erik Baquero