Uganda, April 14 -- Ahhhhhh, April. It is a lovely month, with children on holiday while the rain pours with the sun shining in between. Our brothers and sisters in the colder parts of the world are also eagerly looking forward to spring, when the first leaves start peeking shyly out of the snow and ice.

But wait. Every year, for the past forever, the rains have caught us by surprise. It does not matter whether it is the short rains or the long rains or the surprise rains, ah-ah! We are always shocked to realise the rainy season is upon us.

In countries that make sense, activities like clearing drainage systems, digging ditches and storm drains, grading and levelling roads and so on happen during the dry season, in anticipation of the r...