Yellowed wigs

I went to visit the Supreme Court of Uganda with some of the local law clerks at my NGO. We were supposed to be watching a murder case, but due to some scheduling mishap we ended up in a mind-numbing session on electoral laws. Here are the notes I took, before I started to nod off:

Sitting in the Uganda SC. Smallish, non-descript courtroom. Nothing remarkable about it except the faded country crest. Rickety ceiling fans spin. Water stains. Waiting for trial to begin.

The judges enter! Ha, they’re all very old men with the white wigs from colonial times. Lavish (but slightly dirty) red robes with gold embroidery. “My lords” says the lawyer. His client hasn’t even shown up and he awkwardly and vainly scans the audience behind him. A couple wigs are yellowed. You can tell who’s been here longest.

Judge begins drawling away, reading judgment about some electoral issue. At one point he motions sternly for a clerk to come pour a glass of water for him, from an already pre-opened bottle right in front of him. Some roosters are crowing outside.