Welcome to Uganda

 I was a little tired after meeting my organisation (The Child Welfare Mission) and dozed off on the drive to my new home for the next couple of days. 

 

I was a little startled when I woke. No street lights, people walking on the roadside only moving when they heard a car horn and sometimes not even then, taxis (people carriers) pulling out in front of you in the hope that you will just slow down or get out of the way. My contact (and now close friend) Ferdinand muttered the words

‘Welcome to Uganda’ then laughs!

Although I was only in Kampala a short time (8 Days) Ferdinand and his family made me extremely welcome.  I was pleasantly surprised to be taken for lunch on my first day in a very nice restaurant (think Starbucks with a ‘Franky and Benny’s’ style restaurant attached). 

To be fair if that was not your taste there where some western style hotels and country clubs.   However, these Hotels and country clubs were in stark contrast to some of the surrounding areas that made up the suburbs of Kampala.  

I was there during the rainy season which meant sunshine for most of the day. Then for an hour or so amazing clouds, thunder that made you think there was an earthquake. Sheet rain and then back to sunshine which was an amazing experience every time it happened!

The people I met were very friendly, and were always up for a laugh.  The culture of holding hands while greeting and asking how you are was a bit different.

Practical Points

Kampala provides amenities that allow many home comforts as there are retail parks where a lot of the stores cater for ex pats and richer Ugandans with food, toiletries and sundries that you would expect to find in a Tesco’s or Asda, cash points and banks are easily accessible here as are pharmacies (just in case).

CWM provided very nice accommodation which provided a mosquito net, bedroom, living room/kitchen, fridge freezer; shower and washing machine although the humid environment meant things took a little longer to dry out.

Places to visit  

‘The Mandela National Stadium’ is a must for anyone into that kind of thing (you can walk all around, have a kick about on the pitch etc)

‘1000 cups’ is a coffee place that has the best Arabian coffee as well as pages of other options that puts Starbucks to shame

‘The Africa Craft Market’, you can get any amount of traditional ornaments/mementos, presents for all ages and at very good prices (especially if you haggle)!

Any church on a Sunday!  Religion is a massive part of Ugandan culture and even if you are not religious you can’t help but enjoy the gospel like choirs and services that even the humblest church puts on!

Restaurants like ‘Spur’ are good (and show the footy if there is any on), try the Spur Steak, or some Tilapia!!  

If you are up for planning ahead and have some additional days at the end of your placement then you have the option of travelling to Jinja where you can visit the Nile, and maybe get involved in some white water rafting or there are National parks such as Queen Elizabeth which you would need a good few days to take in but straight forward to organise.