Archive for July, 2008

Alarm Bells: Celtel call tone is offensive to us

Wednesday, July 16th, 2008

I am disappointed by Celtel Uganda which is currently playing a song of this musician about to come to town. I got embarrassed when someone called me on Sunday morning and this song that carries a secular message was played back to him before I picked his call.

Celtel is using this as a way of marketing themselves and their activities but it is injuring our reputation. Two committed Christians claimed that calling me and listening to such music spoilt their Sunday.
When I called Customer Care, the arrogant woman who picked my call told me they selected the numbers randomly. But this is bad marketing behaviour.

Ronald Leonard Egesa
0752442375
This was published in the letters section of The Daily Monitor of July 16 2008

Supporting Football

Saturday, July 5th, 2008

Ten years ago, I was only a small boy in secondary school and all I would think about was that one day am going to be like David Beckham or Ronaldo Lima. To be honest with you I had never thought of being the computer geek that I turned out to be. Well I must confess that intellectually rewarding stuff was kool on my side, but football was simply irresistible.

The two desires were complementary and I ended up saving every coin that I got so that I would go to the internet cafe to have a few minutes online and read the latest soccer news and CNN headlines. In 2008, when someone asks whether I still support football, I tell them that “I left football because I was fed up of stress” But when Liverpool hits a big one, I swing back into supporting ; what am talking about may sound like I turned into a “fair weather kop”, but that is not what happened. I simply do not seek to know that bad results because I do not have time to think about them.

Believe me, I know what it means to be a football fan. It takes your mind, passion and the finest of commitment within you. I loved and cherished Liverpool FC and football in general in my early years of secondary school to the point where I ‘adored’ the merseyside team. I knew all liverpool greats, dreamt about Robbie Fowler and watched all televised games in three consecutive seasons. Football was now forming another type of blood cells that made my blood (probably the color was not pure red). I had rules that dictated that I would not read books when Liverpool FC lost a game and believe I stood by it even when the following day exam time.

How I wish people would love their spouses the way they love their football teams to the point of wishing to beat anyone who talks about the lousy ball passing they exhibited on the pitch. I remember those good days of football fanaticism when my day would be made by good inter-passing by the guys at anfield. As I talk, someone is about to ask for what happened to me and made me a fine weather supporter! well just read on, there was this bad season, actually two consecutive ones under Sir Gerald Houllier. Liverpool matches caused me the stress than no other emotional guy of my stature would afford to stand for the next 3 years!! The end result was that I first put a period to watching the premiership and all football matches and also avoided football discussions.

My story with Liverpool is a long one and I will be doing an escapade every week, so please just watch out! Enjoy your self