The New Vision Web page Hacked?!

By the time I started typing this, the online version of one of Uganda's top national newspapers, The New Vision, had been hacked into for several hours. All we could see on The New Vision website, all over the world, was a blank screen! Well we thought it had been hacked into. And now before I wrap up my little post, The New Vision has regained control and posted The Monday Edition. It is midnight in Uganda. The battle is over! And my story almost just changed.


Akira, my Japanese friend, where he to be an ardent reader of the paper's online version, would have said to me this afternoon, "Papa, everysing is gloomy!" This time he would have been quite spot on with the usage of this word. And you can understand why. This guy often says it is gloomy when he drops one hundred Yen!

All the links were inactive.

I first noticed something strange when I searched for a picture in an archived article that was published by The New Vision last year. I got the picture but it was a little strange that it was against a backdrop of the "Batman: Arkham Asylum Welcome to the Mad House" wall paper. I went on with my work. A few hours later, a friend's status update on facebook shouted out, "The New Vision has been hacked!"

I hurriedly checked out the site and was shocked to find a black page with the words "Website Going regular Maintanance. We shall be back shortly". Now this was extra gloomy! There was definitely an evil dark cloud hanging over The New Vision. Being the nosy guy that I am, I couldn't help noticing the errors in the message: the grammar and the spelling (maintanance). I know that The New Vision usually has some issues with its webpage temporarily going off (apparently due to too much traffic) and some spelling mistakes here and there but this one was in a league of its own. Maybe the IT guys were actually doing maintenance, and being that their work involves the flow of electrons, getting the English right lay at the bottom of their list or worries. But then it took quite longer than normal. Over six hours.

Website Going regular Maintanance. We shall be back shortly

Unsatisfied, and still inquisitive, I continued searching for The New Vision page and finally landed on The New Vision page showing the Joker and the words " REALQW IS BACK. HAHAHAHAHAHA. HACKED AND DEFACED BT REALQW AGAIN..." Now this wasn't regular maintenance. Someone had hacked into their system. Again! I guess the The Vision IT team was running all over the place trying to cover up and struggling to restore sanity. Or were they negotiating with Realqw like it was a hostage situation?!

The choice of the Joker is a revelation of the sinister motives of Realqw: pulling a prank!

  
Thinking that the whole Vision empire was under attack, I checked out The New Vision's kid sisters (The Sunday Vision, Bukedde, Bukedde Ku Ssande, Orumuri, Rupiny and Etop). Thankfully all of them were still on line. Safe and sound.
 
It was difficult to imagine the hacker's motives. But it is known that some of these guys hack or crack systems just for fun. And the use of the Joker's image probably suggests that the hacker was playing around and was wallowing in pleasure at this achievement. Some simply want to expose the security weaknesses of your system. Others might be aiming at earning some bucks from you. They hack and you pay their tech guys to restore your system. Some might use it as a technique to frustrate your business. Whatever the case might be, they serve to show that the internet is not a very safe place. 

I had already started thinking about the impact of the hacking. Would it lead to an increase in sales the following day since the online version would have been unvailable to the readers? Would it in anyway affect on line advertising, depending on how long the paper is offline? Would it force The New Vision to redesign their webpage, so that it for instance has a better search option? The bit of having to sign in when searching for an article in their archive is sickening!

And what if MTN was hacked into? Would customers stand the risk of losing airtime? Then I imagined something more serious: the 2011 elections are around the corner. What if someone hacked into the electoral commission system? The tallying center. The scenarios can stretch a mile but thankfully The New Vision is back on line. Whether they have been oiling their system or they had been hacked into the fact is that they are back. And it is the same old webpage. It has been fully maintained!

As for Mr. Realqw, his achievement was definitely one hell of a porcine orgasm. Long and satisfying. But it still came to an end! Just like all of them always do.

OMG! I think Papa celebrated a little too early. Mr. Realqw might be having another one. Could be an orgy! The Sunday Vision online front page has also been done.

At around 1:00 am (Uganda) Monday 18, October The Sunday Vision front page also gets defaced by Realqw

Jigger politics: when the media makes leaders scrub jigger-infested feet ahead of elections

For the past one month, the media in Uganda has been awash with stories concerning jigger infestation in Busoga region. One might think that the jigger epidemic started, or even came to light just a couple of weeks ago. However, the infestation by this parasite has been with us for longer than has been reported. But the earliest record (on the internet) goes back to June 2008, when some Honorable Members of Parliament from Busoga vowed to arrest anyone infested with this parasite saying that, “It is total negligence for any sane Ugandan to suffer from jiggers”. Two years down the road one simply wonders whether it is not these very leaders that could have neglected their own people. Because why would they be the ones washing their electorate’s jigger-infested feet right now, hurriedly ridding them of jiggers, just four months ahead of the 2011 general elections?

The media has done a very commendable job of relentlessly reporting about this issue. You will find more than forty stories (articles, opinions, news pieces and letters) on this ‘subject: most of them written in the last one month. And this has happened during the time when government is trying to consolidate its achievements ahead of next year’s general elections. However, the fact that the government has finally launched a campaign to rid the country of jiggers emphasizes the role and influence of the media on guiding government action and policy. Or should I say forcing it to act when it veers of course and neglecting its duty in the process?! Interestingly, what would have been seen as neleglect will turn into heroism and the government will be assured of bagging some votes for its actions early next year.

 

Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs) such as The Busoga Health Sensitisation Networks (BHSN) and PLAN International have done their part. These came in to help in 2009; almost a year after the MPs had vowed to make arrests. This has also shown how important the role such organizations is. Much as they might be ill funded, they bring a ray of hope to some of the people as the leadership is still ignoring their plight or when it is unable to act.

Several people have written. Blame has been apportioned: poor sanitation and hygiene, ignorance, laziness, neglect and poverty among others. Jiggers have caused death, incapacitated several and have even been blamed for poor performance in school. Suggestions to curb the problem have also been made: treatment, eradication by spraying, sensitization as well as eradication of poverty and empowerment of the poor who are the worst hit. And the voices have been hearkened to. For that is what the action by the state would imply. Government launched its campaign on October 13 2010 with a gloved Prince William Nadiope of Busoga providing manicure to his subjects while the cameras flushed away. 

Prince William Nadiope treating his subjects in Kamuli District

Although the timing and location of the launch might be questionable, the fact that efforts have  finally been made is very much appreciated. Maybe one would have expected that since the incidence that brought this whole saga to light occurred in Bugiri district, the Wakooli of Bukooli (Chief David Muluuya Kawunye) and Hon Fred Mukisa,(State Minister for Fisheries in Uganda and MP for Bukooli county in Bugiri) would have spearhead the campaign. But the campaign was launched by the Gabula of Bugabula Prince William Nadiope and Hon. Rebecca Kadaga Woman MP for Kamuli. In Kamuli district.  Anyway, the campaign was launched. The victims received treatment, slippers and basins. No mention has been made about approaches to deal with the economic empowerment of these people. And yet it should be obvious that if they cannot afford to buy soap, one wash at the campaign launch wouldn’t be sufficient to qualify them as being hygienic. Even if they now have a pair of slippers and a basin. Government efforts may soon go to waste if poverty is not addressed. The slippers on their own cannot protect these people from the jiggers since jiggers can jump up to twenty centimeters off the ground. A slipper is no more than two centimeters thick! The slippers will also surely wear out soon. One wonders what the lasting strategy is.  

Interestingly what would have been seen, by the suffering poor, as neglect by government or local leadership, is going to turn into heroism. And definitely the ruling party and politicians involved in this campaign are bound to benefit through the ballot box come 2011. We are very likely to hear statements such as “We are the ones who helped you get rid of jiggers…” as the movement drags home sack-loads of votes from this region. The sort of thing that happens when new districts are created and roads are tarmacked or graded.

 

But as the jigger politics rages on in the background, I found it interesting to chronicle the debate in the media that finally led the government into action. I have collected close to fifty titles (and their links) that have featured this subject. Maybe you missed reading some of them. Now you will be able to just click and catch up with the unfolding of events and the debate.

Below are the various stories on jiggers that have appeared in the Ugandan media.

People with jiggers face arrest - MPs 

The Monitor June 23 2008

Jiggers are crippling communities 

The Monitor February 10 2009

Manafwa blames poor PLE results on jiggers 

The Monitor February 17 2009

Busoga Health Sensitization Network

BHSN June 17, 2009

Ahadi Trust, Kenya: Official Launch of anti-jigger campaign,

Uganda- 10th April 2010 Video 

 Kamuli starts fight against jiggers 

The New Vision 29th June, 2010

We must kick jiggers out of this country 

The Monitor August  23 2010

Jiggers invade nine Busoga districts, minister tells MPs 

The New Vision  21st September, 2010

Jiggers kill 3-month-old baby

The Monitor September 28 2010

  

Who is to blame for the jiggers in Busoga?

The Monitor September 29 2010

Kadaga launches campaign against jiggers  

The New Vision 29th September, 2010

Of private jets, UN summits and jigger epidemics

The Monitor September 30 2010

It is sad Ugandans still die, suffer from jiggers attack 

The Monitor September 30 2010

 How jiggers have bred pain and death in Busoga

The Monitor October 1 2010

 Abandoned by family for having jiggers

The Monitor October 1 2010

Busoga leaders should unite the people to fight jiggers

The Monitor October 2 2010

Jiggers are a big shame to Uganda

The Monitor  October 3 2010 

  
Jiggers are just a simple problem of poor hygiene

The New Vision 4 October, 2010

Busoga Diocese joins war on jiggers

The Monitor October 5 2010

  
Jiggers attack is a telling story of 25 years of NRM

The Monitor October 6 2010 

Use environmental approach to fight the jiggers menance

The Monitor October 6 2010

Busoga politicians welcome to fight jiggers infestation

The Monitor October 7 2010

Eliminate poverty and jiggers will fast disappear in Busoga

The Monitor October 8 2010

Uganda oyee! 48 years of uhuru, 48 years of jiggers

The Monitor October 9 2010

  

Can Besigye Save Busoga From Jiggers?

The Monitor 10 October 2010

Avoid dust to escape jiggers infestation

The Monitor October 10 2010

Set up jiggers medical unit

The Monitor October 11 2010

Government Budgets To Get Rid Of Jiggers In Busoga

Radio Simba 11 October 2010

67 affected by jiggers in Kitgum

The Monitor October 12 2010

Jigger Campaign starts

NTV Uganda October 12 2010

Campaign against jiggers starts today

The Monitor October 12 2010

Anti-jiggers campaign set for launch

Radio Sapientia  12 October 2010

Improving Busoga's income can do the trick

The New Vision 12th October, 2010

Jiggers invade Kayunga district

The New Vision 13th October, 2010

Stop the jiggers menace at once

The Monitor October 13 2010

Gabula kicks off jiggers campaign in Busoga region

The Monitor October 14 2010

Let Us Fight Rats, Jiggers in Busoga

The New Vision 14 October 2010

Jiggers in Busoga a Metaphor for President Museveni's Long Rule

The Monitor 14 October 2010

 

Jiggers in Busoga a vote of no confidence in local leadership

The New Vision 14th October, 2010

Of jiggers, illiteracy and development economics

The New Vision 15th October, 2010

Extend jiggers campaign

The New Vision 15th October, 2010

Jiggers eradication requires effective communication plan

The Monitor  October 16, 2010

Your status update and what it could mean

“Why would someone be so mean to a new employee? I thought one would be happy because they’ve got someone to help them with work!”

One of the most interesting and yet potentially disastrous things about face book is the status update. It says what is on your mind: basically the kind of stuff that swims around in your skull besides the functional neurons. And it can also throw you into regrettable trouble. The ‘Whasgono’, ‘Complaint’ and ‘Location’ updates can! 

Anyway, this week my friends and I looked at several status updates with the intention of classifying them and reading between the lines. It has been a daunting task but one whose results we feel are worth sharing. You might recognize some of the examples we have used. Some could even be yours. But just pretend you are seeing them for the first time. Below are a few of the categories and the examples that killed us this week.

Broadcast

This is supposed to be newsworthy material. Something that just happened recently, is important and really worth alarming the world about. We saw several, such as “10-month chimpanzee rescued”; “The $ 1 bn home built in India”; “Kipsiro wins second gold medal”…

However the team agreed that the gold medal for the week’s broadcast goes to “Hello World, just in case u missed the story. Presenting to you a potential record holder in polygamy, "Grand Master" Akuku Danger. 100 wives, 206 kids and many great and grand kids. RIP Mzee. Akuku”. The “Hello World” intro was mega! You might also want to think that the broadcaster was really thinking about an old man finally going to be with the Lord. But if you encourage yourself to read between the lines you will realize that he must have been thinking, “Oh my, 100 wives! Viagra! Viagra! Viagra!”  

Crazy stuff 

Strange but true e.g.,“A chicken walks into a supermarket”. Mark you this update was complete with a picture! What do you expect of a journalist anyway?! This one had no equal but I felt like adding, “Have you heard about black-skinned chicken ?! the one that is claimed to make people ‘Grand Masters?!

The worm on a hook aka baiting 

Basically intended to attract attention. Sometimes for no obvious reason. We recognized two updates, both from the same guy. These were, “Eh?!” and “Why”.

Cryptic, soduku, catch me if you can or back off 

These updates could be written in a language other than English. In this case the author is deliberately shutting out some people. Examples, “Saat nya tidur... *ikutan jadwal Anya*... :)”, or “Obuhangazi bw'embeba bukagiriisa aha muguta gwa Kapa”. If your friend posts a comment in a language you don’t understand just take it they are hiding something from you. But it might not be that important especially when you finally realize that they were talking about their lousy cat finally eating up an old, tired and fat rat that had pitched camp in their bedroom! But if an update is written in English and it reads, “That was worth a hangover. I should have one”, just sit back and watch. The gold went to “I remember us driving in her brother's car, her body tanned and wet down at the reservoir. And at night I'd lie awake and pull her close just to feel each breath she takes…” The boys were very happy about this one because they discovered Bruce Springsteen and his lovely hit:  “The River”.

 

Double Dutch

You might be fooled into thinking it is cryptic but it is actually unintelligible writing. Think about this, “English..teachers teach preachers preach..vegetarians dont eat vegetables humanitarians don't eat......???(complete)….” One of my boys said, “Sincerely I would have thought along the lines of “…vegetarians vegetate and humanitarians humanate. But only the author knows what they were attempting to do here.” The boys unanimously agreed that the author was ‘Double Dutching’!

Advice/ Quotes/Philosophy 

You suddenly wake up in the morning feeling unusually wiser than normal. Or something happens to you and you decide to lend advice by throwing a quotation at us. This was so cool, “I think we consider too much the good luck of the early bird and not enough the bad luck of the early worm...Theodore Roosevelt”. And you should quickly get the feeling that this guy got to the office a little too early and was then given an unenviable assignment. And then this, “If you are good at something, never do it for free”, tells you someone took the brother for granted. And he doesn’t want to you to suffer his fate.

Marketing/Promo 

“If you are in Uganda and you feel you need to read Dr Kobusingye's book. Just let me know. I can buy and send you a copy”. Please notice the quotation marks!

Jokes 

The kind of innocent stuff that even Osama can laugh at. This particular joke was platinum material. “A preacher ended his sermon with, "If I had all the beer in the world, I'd take it and throw it into the river. And if I had all the wine in the world, I'd take it and throw it into the river. And if I had all the whiskey, I'd take it and throw it into the river" He sat down. The song leader then stood and announced with a smile, "For... our closing song, let us sing Hymn # 365: "We Shall Gather at the River". Seriously,  if you didn’t laugh at this one then you need to call your doctor to fix an appointment ASAP.

Wacky 

Stuff you wouldn’t say in the presence of your mum or wouldn’t want her to read. Unless she is wacky, she would be greatly disappointed. Embarrassed! “When u tickle the anus of a lion.... u dont expect it to lick yo nose!” Why do I think this guy tickled a cat the wrong way and he later imagined what it would be like on a larger scale?! The guy who asked, “Is it true that if she's on top she won't get pregnant? Gravity”, deserved serious spanking for letting the world know what he was thinking about during office hours.

 

Lackadaisical

Updates of this kind normally come after midnight. When the brain is weary but the eyes won’t shut. When you are also possibly in your worst state of boredom and creativity is running terribly low. This is when you should consider watching TV or going conjugal if you have legal access. Gold went to “Sipolingi sipolingi my faza lumbelu simula simula head.......omekyele ne nyama olyawo ki???? FENNE!!!!”. Silver went to “2:00 AM in the morning and I fell like going all the way to 6! Got to get to bed now..” And bronze “Oh Gosh! Sleepless night”.

Amorous 

You are either in love and your update reeks of it. Or you are feeling like a god or goddess of love emitting amorous wisdom. You are the kind that should call up the Mills and Boon guys to propose a title. This would be a sneak preview of your latest project, “ Her smile is like a full moon in a dark sky, with her pale chocolate dark skin, her eyes glitter like the amber with her eyebrows inched high”, “I wanna see your face every time I come home. Stay with me, don’t fall asleep too soon. Angels can wait for a moment”.

 

 Whasgono

This is indirectly informative. You are telling the circle what is actually happening in your life: what you are doing with yourself. Take this for example, “The paper work and money involved in moving is a pain...oh my!!!!” This person is shifting to a new house! The next one informs those interested that you are still at work. And if they are thieves, they have one hour to wind up: “Finishing a 12 hour shift but the last hour seems to drag!” Now the gold for this section went to this one, “…has decided to be in auto-pilot today”. It was so creative and yet laden with a lot of meaning. Some of the interpretations could lead you into trouble at work, if your superiors were to read such an update on a Thursday, for instance. One of the boys said, “If I was his boss, and I read his update, just after giving him an important assignment then I would know he has delegated. I would also question his earlier performance”. Another added that “You can’t be in autopilot on a working day unless you are a boss or supervisor. This person might even be trying to say that he was tired and therefore decided to sleep in the office. And that if anything goes wrong he should not be blamed.” The worst form of whasgono is you complaining about your job because if your boss found out they might eject you. Some people have been thrown out for posting silly remarks about their jobs.

 

Where thou art 

Posting the location or ‘where thou art’ status update is the worst mistake one can ever make. You might think you are informing your friends where you are but you will end up in extreme shock upon returning home, after ‘spending the whole night in the club’, only to find your crib empty. Apparently some evil minded chaps can track your movements by simply following your status updates. And they will know when it is safe to strike. It has happened before and can happen to you if you are not careful.