Living without the internet

I honestly did not think that this would happen more so in a country that is trying to develop like this one. I did not think the President had that much power!! Imagine a lockdown part 2 but without the internet!!

Internet service providers announced that following orders from Uganda Communication Commission they were to switch of the internet.I saw these posts on different telecom social media pages but the African in me believes by seeing.I did not think the President has that much power to make such orders.

At exactly 7pm Wednesday 13th January 2021,I realized I could not access my socials.I asked the people around me and they told me it was the same thing on their side.But this was still not enough for me.I called two friends of mine and this is when I knew it is a WRAP. I went to bed early that night at about 8pm but I had so much anxiety probably because of the presidential elections that were due the following day.

I woke at around 3am and did not sleep again.I was feling angry and frustrated and annoyed.Not because I was having any health issues or problems,but because I did not have the internet .Thats it. THE INTERNET!!We had made plans a few days back with a friend of mine to make sure we both vote as our polling stations were close.By 9am I was at the polling station and I was among the first 50 people. Mind you this was the time I voted.We headed back home and this is when reality kicked in.I would pick up my phone to check for the election updates or may be google something forgetting we don’t have the internet anymore.I would absentmindedly open up twitter or Instagram to scroll through only to realize I was going through old data.

But I got used to it somehow.If there is anything I have learnt in this life,it is to accept everything that life gives you and move on. One day day into it but I was already seeing a difference in my life. I did a lot of things I initially thought I didn’t have time for. I still can’t believe I read a 306 pages book in just 2 days.While I love to read,it had become harder to concentrate on anything longer than a page or 2. I managed to unplait my wig cornrows.I usually go to saloon for these.Not anymore. I also thoroughly organized my bedroom,cleaned all my hair accessories and tided up my space.I had been postponing this for a while.Eating and reading were basically the order of the day.As usual my head says i should start running and waist training but my heart says I should eat more food.

The internet is now back and I decided to educate myself about these internet shut downs because this is something I had never experienced since I started using the internet and I found out that my country was actually not the first but over 29 nations have done it mainly to prevent the spread of information their governments deem dangerous.What a WOW!!

My goal is to continue in the same fashion once the internet is back,but a few hours after it was back I was checking my phone more often,constantly feeling the need to be connected.Like anything addicting you get a rush when you start up again,lying to yourself thet you have got it all under control. I am managing a few hours. I do hope to move to days and weeks later.Maybe it is time we looked up from our phones and took in the world around us.Experiencing the moment rather than social media is much better.

I see my country people already making jokes about it but YES don’t forget the people that actually picked up their phones,and checked on you.They didn’t wait for you to post a picture on Instagram or facebook and put those fake ass sappy comments below.Those are your people.