On Saturday, I got an email from the AP asking me to cover German President Horst Koehler’s visit to Uganda beginning on Sunday.

The Media Center has already submitted the finished list of accredited journalists to the State House several days earlier. I called, begged, and they told me no. Is there anyone else I could call?

After about fifteen phone calls, some name dropping, and two visits to different Ministries, I got accredited.

Here’s the photo:

German President Horst Koehler, left, looks at some local dancers as Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni’s wife Janet, second left, welcomes him at the Entebbe State House in Uganda, on Sunday Feb. 3, 2008. Koehler will stay several days in Uganda, touring the Parliament, a university, and visiting the northern part of the country, which is currently recovering from a 20-year war. (AP Photo/Glenna Gordon)

Though Koehler didn’t arrive in Entebbe until nearly 7 pm, the Media Center had asked us to arrive at 2:30. Which meant lots of waiting around the State House.

Guns and music.

The Presidential marching band. Who knew there were so many big brass instruments in Uganda?

An officer has a lower ranking fellow tie his shoe.

Museveni and Janet looking very bored. A few seconds later, a Chogm repeat happened: he held out his hand to me, the only white woman in a crowd of male Ugandan journalists, and beckoned me forward. (This time I didn’t keep him waiting.) Once again, I said nothing interesting. Janet did not look amused.

Inside the State House. They served us juice and water on silver trays while we waited for the Big Men to sign some papers.

Charlotte, though I did send your photo to the AP in Nairobi, they decided to pass on it and instead publish the pictures of Koehler. Sorry. I know you’re reading this, and I know you have a blog, so it’s just a matter of time until I find it, so you might as well let me know where it is….