Well I really have nothing better to do as the elections today means no school yesterday or today or probably tomorrow either. And I don't know how much school there will be next week either. Some of the people you speak to here are really scared of the elections and its outcome whilst others seem quite unperterbed by the whole thing. Thankfully the run up has been relatively peaceful although Marte and I have seemingly tried our best to get involved in any trouble that does happen. The other week we drove through a rather angry mob of men who were blocking the road and generally looking quite moody. The next day we found out that an hour before we were there two of the main opposition candidates supporters had been shot dead. Then on Sunday we came back from Jinja (again) only to find out the next day the Ugandan army 'Mambas' ran over six of the oppositions supporters along the road we travelled a few hours latter. This is quite an impressive record considering these have been the only two major events of the campaign. The Mambas are seriously scary as well as rather cool looking. On our way to school the day after the shootings we were sat somewhat sleepily in the matatu only to hear some high pitched sirens and for a prosession of about six huge army trucks roll past with soldiers in red caps and extremely cool red sun glasses surveying the population wih their guns. There was kind of a deathly hush when they drove by but I couldn't help think, 'They look so cool.' They are viscous though. A Kenyan truck driver crashed in to an army truck killing some soldiers about a month ago so his mates dusted themselves down and set about beating the truck driver to death. The moral 'Don't f*ck with the army'.

School has been coming along as normal. The adults are all a bit moody because their time is getting less and less but we will be buying some new benches with the money donated so they can be taught for longer. The most difficult aspect of the teaching of the last ten days though has been the teaches beating of the children. Now I know dad you think I'm soft but I just don't think it is right. They have days when they 'rule with an iron fist' and the male teachers simply walk round with a stick all day. Some of the kids were late and as I taught the adults all you could hear was the sound of the stick through the air and a slap on skin, followed by a teary looking kid walking by. I'm not against hitting the kids becuase I think it's wrong I just think it causes more problems than it solves. One of the girls who was beaten normally is the life of her class and truely has one of those smiles you get on African postcards. But after the beating she simply didn't seem the same person all day. Also I don't see the merits in hitting a five year old girl for doing something wrong when they have no concept of school. The teachers are not bad people, in fact they are very caring and passionate about the children, they just think beating is the best way to instill discipline.

Other than that we have been working on a grant proposal so the money donated will get doubled which has been a good experience. Marte vomited (yes, again) but this time at school which meant I spent the rest of the week doing all the teaching. We have one more week teaching here but we may stay a few days longer to tie up some loose ends and we also have plans to visit some of the HIV patients PEDRRU assists and also to a refugee camp. We then head off to Rwanda.

Well heres hoping the elections pass peacefully. For some reason when you register with the British embassy they take your phone number in England rather than Uganda so if they do tell us to leave they call your mum and dad and that way everyone panics! Great British logic! No need to worry though it is easy to leave if we have to.

Hope you are all well.

Go on the Wanderers and also go on the Arsenal and beat Real.

Pete