Week 5- Cool as a Banana in a Fridge

Location: Makerere University, Kampala, Uganda

The notion of privacy and consent is so different wherever you go. Back in the states, privacy is strict. You have the right to whatever information you want to share and provide to others. Any sense of your invasion of privacy, there is always administration available to talk to or help you through it. If you ever wanted a chance to witness a personal incident, such as a surgery, you wouldn’t just have to ask the consent of the patient, but there would be forms from the hospital you would have to fill out and credentials you must have. Our trip to Rakai and the vacation to Zanzibar were a perfect example showing how even in a more educated and modern project in Uganda, their sense of privacy is completely different.


The educational tour and classes at the Rakai Health Sciences Program (RHSP) was probably one of the most eye-opening experiences anyone could have. We first got a chance to tour the workplace, and even the research lab, that would usually be off-limit in the states. The most privacy invasive experience was when we were offered a chance to watch a circumcision taking place. All this occasion required was the consent from the patient (one patient didn’t wasn’t even asked for his consent; it was automatically assumed he would say yes, since all the other patients did). We were allowed to walk in, wearing extra coverings over our head, body, and shoes, and stand next to the musawos (doctors) and patient through the whole surgery. Not only that, but pictures were also allowed. Needless to say, this would never be allowed in the US. RHSP is an institution that is highly regarded as one of the best research centers in the country, let alone Africa. The education level of all health workers there are high and the facilities are top notch. The institution serves only as a workplace, as most workers there go home on weekends to see their family and friends. I assumed, while being there, that the ideas and customs held at Rakai would be much more similar to the United States, rather than Uganda. It was very surprising that their culture and customs resided still strongly. Their sense of privacy as a nation is much less relevant. This experience puts ideas into perspective and provides a better international mindset.


The Rakai circumcision situation was a very evident difference in privacy. A more common occurrence would just be cultural customs walking down the street. I witnessed this while in Kampala, but even more strongly so in my trip to Zanzibar. The culture here provides that there is no personal space. You can walk down the street and someone can grab onto your arm very tightly and not let go until you have reached your destination. There have been occasions where I shake someone’s end, but eventually we end up holding hands for the next 30 minutes (I love holding hands, but come on, 30 minutes? And we’re not even in a relationship). This was especially evident in Zanzibar. April is low season for vacationing, so we were part of the few tourists there. As you walk down any street, there will be people following you and grabbing at you to ask to come into their store “just to take a look”. There have been multiple occasions where I ask people to seriously stop following me, I don’t want your ganja, and I know how to find my own way, but they don’t seem to grasp the complete meaning of “stop”. In the states, this could be considered harassment. Nonetheless, I really enjoyed the vacation to Zanzibar! Hakunana Matata and everything is as cool as a banana in a fridge.


Privacy is something that will always be a concern at the back of my mind through the many activities carried out here. Learning the culture and customs is important as to not offend them, and keeping their privacy in mind is very important, even though it may seem they are more open here. Consent, even for just taking pictures as a tourist, is important to obtain before performing any of the activities. I hope to keep this trip as an open-minded and learning experience.