Farewell Dinner with Center for the Study of the United States Staff and Researchers -- and -- an African name!

The Center threw me a lovely Farewell Dinner to celebrate our accomplishments and to look forward to our continued cooperation.

We enjoyed a delicious meal (including my last matoke and g-nut sauce while in Kampala) and exchanged small tokens of appreciation.

But for sure the most special part of the evening was when I was given an African name:

Nantumbwe

named for someone who was hard-working, energetic, well-intentioned, beautiful, composed, intelligent, lovely. 😍💞💓😁

And -- I acquired godparents! 

What a special evening!!

I will miss these scholars and our time collaborating in person at the Center -- but -- we have so many ongoing projects -- this isn't good bye.

Celebrating with the Center staff and researchers and the Dean of the School of Social Sciences

My wonderful host - Dr. Edward Kaweesi

My godparents! The Dean of Social Sciences Justus Twesigye and one of the Center's Researchers Dr. Charlotte Mafumbo 

finally tried the Ugandan waragi! (a local gin) 

Book Donations for the Great Lakes Center for the Study of the United States -- from University of South Florida to Makerere University

While packing my supplies for my work at the Great Lakes Center for the Study of the United States, I inquired whether I could bring some book donations for the Center. And, if so, what kinds of books would be most helpful to the Center's research and teaching interests.  The response was that books related to 

--US Foreign Policy Africa

--IR

--US Politics

--American Culture

--Terrorism--US History

would be especially appreciated.  

I had a good selection of American Politics books that could be shared, but I reached out to colleagues at the University of South Florida to address the other topics.  

Many thanks to my colleague Dr. Larissa Kopytoff (an expert in African History who contributed copies of Elizabeth Schmidt's Foreign Intervention in Africa: From the Cold War to the War on Terror) and my colleague in Political Science, Dr. Arturo Jimenez-Bacardi, who generously donated books related to IR, terrorism, and American Foreign Policy.   

Thank you Drs. Kopytoff and Jimenez-Bacardi for supporting the faculty and students at Makerere University!

with Center Director Dr Edward Kaweesi 

Dr. Christopher Isike, Professor and Director of the African Centre for the Study of the United States at the University of Pretoria in South Africa visits the Great Lakes Center for the Study of the United States (and IPSA - International Political Studies Association conference in Seoul)

In town for the ARUA conference (See this blog post:

Professor and Director of the African Centre for the Study of the United States at the University of Pretoria in South Africa - Dr. Christopher Isike - stopped by to meet with our Center for the Study of the United States at Makerere University.

For more about the Centre at the University of Pretoria, see https://www.up.ac.za/acsus

As soon as he left - I was thinking how familiar he seemed.  And then I remembered -- I attended his conference presentation at the International Political Science Association meeting in Seoul, South Korea earlier this summer!  (My notes from that presentation are on my desk at my office at USF in St. Petersburg - but - I do still have the photos that I took in the camera roll on my phone.) His research was comparing civics education in Nigeria and South Africa.) Yes, it truly is a "small world."

Looking forward to collaborating with Dr. Isike as we launch the Center for the Study of the US in Uganda - as well as our shared research agenda related to strengthening civics education.

Center Director Dr. Isike with Center Director Dr. Kaweesi

Center Directors in Uganda, USA, South Africa 

Dr. Isike's presentation at the IPSA Conference in Seoul! 

Lodging in Kampala - The Fairway Boutique Hotel in Nakasero

For the month that I was in Kampala as a Fulbrighter with the Center for the Study of the United States at Makerere University, the Fairway Boutique Hotel was my home-away-from-home.

It was actually a complex that included several buildings for the hotel rooms, a pool, gym, spa, multiple restaurants and bars, a small shopping mall, a conference center, and more.

The Fairway Boutique Hotel is located in the Naksero district of Kampala -- a good neighborhood that was convenient to the university.

The hotel is clean, modern, and welcoming. 

All the staff welcomed me by name as I came and went. I felt like a VIP! Not only did this make me feel genuinely welcomed, but also their attention to detail as to whom was present in the hotel at all times underscored the safety precautions that were being taken.

There are multiple restaurants – so I could eat without leaving the hotel (alleviating safety concerns about walking around alone at night). 

I also took advantage of the spa after I arrived (that first Saturday after the 36 hours of travel and adjustment to the time change). It was heavenly. 

I was able to take advantage of their laundry service.  

And I changed USD to UGX at the front desk.

The Center arranged for the Fairway to have a driver for drop off/pick up every day to/from the university.  This worked out very well.  The drivers were  friendly, professional, and reliable.

It was easy to communicate with the front desk via WhatsApp.

Every morning there was an extensive breakfast buffet (hot and cold - and an omelet station).  Chef Prilla - who cooked my eggs every morning - always started my day with a smile. 

There are also a number of cats and kittens who live there – and seeing them around always brightened my day.  Here's a post devoted solely to the kittens:

https://drjsmafricanacademicadventures.blogspot.com/2025/10/the-cats-and-kittens-of-fairway-hotel.html

Here is the hotel's website: https://fairwayhotel.co.ug/

I hope some day I can return to Kampala for an in-person visit. And I would surely look forward to staying at the Fairway again.

my room -- a 4th floor walk up -- good exercise!

Chef Prilla helped guest start every day with a smile - and a delicious omelet!

The views from my room:

around the Independence Day holiday I could see fireworks from my room!

 

I never did go swimming in the pool -- but I did use this quiet space to read 

  

there are multiple restaurants at the hotel - this is the one back by the pool - here I am trying the Goat Muchomo - goat is considered a delicacy in Uganda

the hotel bar is called The Professor

the hotel bar is called "The Professor" - so I ordered a cocktail my first weekend in Kampala

I never did have a chance to go swimming, but there is a lovely pool (and pool bar)

trying the Ugandan Waragi at the hotel's Asian Fusion restaurant 

Not long after I arrived, when learning more about food and drinks in Uganda, I heard about Ugandan Waragi --a local gin. On my very last night at the hotel - I learned that it had been on the drinks menu at the restaurant the whole time.

Packed up and ready to head to the airport -- hoping it's not Good Bye, but See You Later