Right Answer

When I first came back to the US; my Dad asked me if the cultural understanding of honesty is different in Uganda.

Instead, there is a strong emphasis on the right answer. For seven (or more) years of their lives, people are taught the "right answer"

Ex: Teacher "What did you eat for breakfast this morning?"
Children (in unison) "Bread and tea"
-- even if it was bananas
"Bread and tea"
-- even if it is nothing
"Bread and tea"
-- even if you don't know what bread is
"Bread and tea"

Therefore, when you grow up and you are asked how much you paid your worker
it is 50,000 shillings-- even if half of that is still in your pocket, not budging.

Therefore, when a policy is written on proper hand washing facilities and the inspector comes, you tell him how the children just tore down the hand washing stand this morning-- sorry you missed it!

Therefore, when the white person asks you any question about life, you tell him/her how terrible life is so they will give you money.

Therefore, when you are a personal driver with more than one vehicle, a farm, and a shop, you talk about how poor you are and you can't pay your child's school fees.

Therefore, in church you agree with everything then return home to your multiple wives.

Therefore, when someone asks you where you are from, you never give the right answer.

One day, I finally told one of the sisters-- you just can't tell the truth, can you!