Ugandans on Monday 8th April, 2024 had the vigor to have a glimpse of the total solar eclipse little did they know that it would not appear anywhere in the country.
As many were eager to see the mysterious phenomenon, only people in Northern America regions were treated to the scenic moment.
Tens of millions of people craned their necks, tilted their heads to the sky and watched in wonder as the day turned to night. This was a phenomenon like no other, where the Moon moved between the Earth and the Sun, extinguishing its light in a total solar eclipse.
KENYA’S TURN
Back in 2013, a total solar eclipse passed over Uganda, and the small town of Pakwatch in the nort was identified as the best place to see it, possibly in the entire world. Specifically, Pakwatch’s Owiny Primary School was singled out as a prime viewing location.
As hundreds of eclipse-chasers and onlookers prepared to head to the area for the eclipse, the Minister of Tourism’s office announced that it would erect a monument to the event at the school. The monument was constructed amid a number of other infrastructure fixes, including improvements to some of the local roads and renovations to water stations and buildings.
On November 3, 2013, the eclipse passed over the assembled onlookers at the school, a crowd that included Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni
The 2013 eclipse was a momentary economic boon to the area, but the monument is its more lasting legacy
According to solar-eclipse.info, Uganda will be witnessing a Partial Solar Eclipse in 2027, an Annular Eclipse in 2038, and a Total Solar Eclipse in 2041.
As many would marvel in the wondrous natural occurrence of the solar system, Ugandans have in the past sparked conspiracies and myths speculating the end of the world during the happenings of the solar eclipses.