By Ahmed Kateregga Musaazi.
This weekend most of the World will be celebrating new year’s festivals.
This is according to Pope Gregorian calendar that is mostly followed in Eurasia, Oceania and Easternia, to borrow George Orwell’s phrase in his novel , 1984.
So, the Gregorian calendar is popular in Roman Catholic and Protestant Central and Western Europe and their former and current colonies in Americas, Africa and parts of Asia and Australia.
But, strictly in Russia and most parts of Eastern Europe which are predominantly Greek Orthodox or Coptic, they still follow Julian Calendar that was started by Roman Emperor Julius Caesar.
Yet, in the Middle East and most parts of the Muslim World, they follow After Hejira (Prophet Muhammad’s migration from Mecca to Medina, which, in line Julian and Gregorian that are solar, is lunar.
According to the Islamic lunar calendar, it is now 1443 After Hijira (A.H.) By a local calendar published by Sheikh Zaid Mugenyasooka and Sons, months are listed as Muharram, Swafuru, Rabbol Awwal, Rabbol Akhiri, Janadal Awwali, Janadal Akhiri, Rajab, Shaban, Ramadhan, Shuwal, Zuli Kada and Zuli Hijja.
Ugandans are accustomed to Rabbol Awwal where they cerebrate birth of Prophet Muhammad (Mauled), Ramadhan, the month of fasting, Shuwal- the first day is Eid El Fitri, and Zuli Hijja, the month of major pilgrimage where Eid Al Adhuha is cerebrated with mass slaughter of animals and sharing meat.
The lunar calendar is important in life because that is what determines when women can be pregnant for reproduction or co-creation purposes.
There are other calendars; Ethiopia cerebrated its new year around October, and Japan, China, Korea also have their traditional calendars.
Among the Baganda, a case study of pre colonial Africans in the Great Lakes Region, they had 12 solar months just like ancient Romans and Greeks and they are named a. January – Gatonnya, February – Mukutulansanja, March – Mugulansigo, April – Kafuumuulampawu,,,May – Muzigo, June – Ssebaaseka, July – Kasambula, August – Muwakanya, September – Mutunda,October – Mukulukusabitungotungo, November – Museenene, and
December – Ntenvu.
The late Col. Muamar Al Qaddaffi attempted to rename months in the Gregorian calendar with great African names. For example, instead of July, he had named it Hannibal, the Carthegian general that defeated Italy.
The 1789-1799 French Revolution had also started its own calendar but it died with it and the French returned to the Gregorian Calendar.
Having said that, there are challenges we have faced in 2021 , some we inherited from 2020 like the Covid 19 pandemic, which we pray that God gets us a collective solution in 2022.
HIV-AIDS is also still killing us and without vaccine and cure other than ARVs. Young girls are reported to be fearing pregnancy more than acquiring HIV-AIDS. More sensitisation is needed. Malaria is also still killing us despite the fact that it is cured.
There has been a security problem especially panga men in Greater Masaka which evil plot was defused, thanks to security agencies and the people. The country also witnessed terrorism especially in Kampala which has prompted our forces to return to eastern DR Congo, where achievements are visible.
There was food security and we were exporting the surplus before Covid and we should grow and produce more and add value. We can use advantage of government programs like Emyoga based at constituencies, and Parish Development Model that has replaced Operation Wealth Creation, Youth Livelihood, Women Fund, etc..that were based at districts.
This will be achieved if mas evictions if customary tenants are stopped and the solution for this is the Land Fund that will enable bibanja holders to buy themselves off from pmPrivate Mailo , Freeholders and leaseholders.
The President and the Kabaka should also interface over Official Mailo estates.
2022 should end when Uganda is a corrupt free country and we should use institutions like Inspector General of Government, Public Accounts Committee, Auditor General, civil soviety and media to expose the culprits and bring them to book.
We also need political tolerance using Inter Party Committee of Dialogue for parties represented in parliament, and then the convention for registered political parties.
We are grateful for clerics to lead by example in religious tolerance under Inter Religious Council of Uganda, and lady week, we held one in Masaka to take collective security measures in the festive season.
Happy 2022.
Haji Ahmed Kateregga Musaazi is a veteran journalist and Deputy Resident City Commissioner Masaka City.
Contact 256-756/772-836537
Email:hajiahmedkateregga2016@gmail.com
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