Dog Window-shops with Old Man

Old man and dog

"Bagyenzi bange!!" In Ateso we say "ikatunga!!" It's an expression of surprise.
When I first came to America, I was shocked at how close people were to animals. In some cases it seemed the relationship with other humans had been interchanged for that with animals.

Growing up, dogs stayed outside in kennels. They were kept for security purposes with "umbwa kaali" signs pinned on gates. On occasion one bumps into the likes of Ian Clarke who alarmed that one of his dogs had gained a lot of weight put it on a diet.

At home dogs ate leftovers - if we had posho for dinner they had posho, if it was atap - atap it would be. Have you ever seen a dog hassle with a piece of millet?  - it gets stuck on the roof of it's mouth and poor thing can't quite get to it - kinda like chewing gum. But anyway, you've got to understand why this atesot was amazed that dogs could be placed on a diet.

 A lot has changed since. More Ugandans have pet dogs, a few are lucky enough to come into the house but with the kafufu and mud of Kampala bambi!! there is no way those little feet will be allowed to climb onto the sofa but then again, I don't know things have changed.

Old man and his dog in super market

Years later I understand life can get quite lonely and people are complicated and complex.

This is the second time I run into this man and his dog. They are quite a close pair. It reminds me of Meursault's neighbor in Albert Camu's "The Outsider" who's dog looked like him.
This an elderly man is probably in his early 70's. If say his children have moved out and he is living on his own (a speculation) it's not such a surprise that he would bond with his dog. We were created to relate. Companionship is part of the human DNA.