Envying the Chinese

Recently, I watched live on CCTV as the Shenzhou-9 spacecraft "blasted off" into space, and tears came into my eyes. I cried because, for the first time it hit me that I might die without witnessing something magnificently Ugandan; something that would make Ugandan hearts somersault with pride; that would have the whole world shed tears of envy and die wishing they were Ugandan!

Flying higher like this traditional dancer from Rwanda

Please do not tell me about the Kiira EV, and the man in Katwe alleged to have assembled a plane from scraps before he was allegedly foiled by the police when he allegedly tried to test it! Do not tell me because it will only serve to exacerbate my misery. I mean did you watch that beautiful manned monster spacecraft with its trio astronauts including a woman, whiz into the high heavens?

It was another terrific leap of Chinese adventure toward the fulfillment of the country's ambition to become the major world player in space exploration. While that was happening in East Asia, a pothole was enlarging on a Kampala city road, a national budget that does not make sense to an ordinary Ugandan was being read, a Ugandan businessman was importing matchboxes (yes, from China!) and malaria was killing a Ugandan child and jiggers devastating some feet somewhere in Busoga.

By the way, did you know that China's national anthem is called "The March of Volunteers" and that its national flag has a big star and four small ones? So, while they march like an army of ants onto star-dom, we are busy singing to God to uphold us, meanwhile our Crested Crane (poor beautiful bird) is facing extinction, and a wetland is being developed! I know Uganda is not China as is not Spain but do not remind me!

Maybe it is not in our DNA to assemble the largest space station and have an expedition to the moon, but can't we be a little more ambitious? Can't we dream big and pray big? The world's best motivational speakers have said if you want to do something really great you must first believe and then ask God what is beyond your reach.

May be it is time to start believing in the Uganda Cranes to become the first African soccer team to lift the World Cup in Brazil in 2014. That surely will make the world pause and recognise us. And it will wipe away your tears and mine, and replace them with smiles as gigantic as Lake Victoria.