I have been in Uganda for four weeks in April and May 2008. I also was in Gulu and Kampala and worked for three weeks in IDP (Refugee) Camps. I'm quite sure Mary listened to stories, so cruel, so strange, so sad, she never heart before. I would not be surprised about her crying. One can only cry about that. But I hope for her that her Uganda trip will be as impressive as mine. The country is beautiful, so green with a very fertile soil. Unfortunately, a lot of people benefit from this poor country and are not really interested in the real well-being of Uganda.
To me it is not ridiculous that Ugandan people call her Princess Donaldson or similarly. Ugandan people have a completely different concepts for names. The country is so different, absolutely not comparable with Europe. Ugandans are extremely polite and nice to white people (of course not only to white people, but as a white person you are really eye-catching), they are really kind. Not only to a crown princess. I am quite sure that the most people Mary met do not know anything about crownprincesses. So what, it is not important if you struggle to survive.
For Mary I hope, she'll never forget how the people are suffering and that we are, as inhabitants of the rich countries, are involved. We have to invest in Uganda, we have to count on the people there!
Has anybody noticed that Mary is not wearing her engagement ring? Perhaps she knows that the value of the ring could save the life of thousand of Ugandan people.
When I came back in May, I told my financé that our wedding bands would not be cheap ;-) as fair traded gold is not easy to find.