Kampla, Uganda is readying itself for the upcoming 2007 Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM). Today that meant the local council pulling down lots of roadside businesses in the Kansanga area, just south of Kampala. This all happened with zero notice. The local community took offence and resisted the arbitrary destruction. The result? Police gunshots could be heard echoing around the local area. People came out of the area with faces streaming from tear gas. The continued destruction of small shops (and I mean really small) is continuing at the moment on the Gabba Road all the way to the posh resorts at Munyono.

What’s this all for? A Commonwealth meeting next year. Our president, Museveni is worried that when the queen drives down our potholed street she may notice that most Ugandans are very poor. If she asks why, references will be made to money getting eaten (it means stolen) before it gets to the poor people.

Our president is getting jumpy about many things. Dodgy election results, Global Fund holding back money. On Saturday he tear gassed the opposition leader at membership card launch in constitution square in the center of Kampala. Let us hope that not so obsessed with CHOGM that he is forgetting the needs of his own people.