The first time I witnessed so much excitement and interest in the US elections from non-American citizens was in 2008 when Barack Obama was elected as the first Black president of the United States.At that time, across Africa and particularly in Uganda, people not only celebrated the historical significance of his win but also the sense of pride it brought to them as "fellow back men".
For many children, myself included, then in Primary 4, the excitement was less about policy implications and more about the delight of having school items branded with Obama's name.Today, the same has surfaced in response to the recent U.S.
election, where Donald Trump emerged victorious.
Ugandans on and off social media are responding with mixed emotions; many celebrating Trump's win, while others expressing disappointment.This attention may come as a surprise, especially since the matter of race that drove interest during Obama's election does not apply to Trump.