An 8 hour day and 2 visits

This was a really Africa day and one I try not to do more than once in a visit as you will see why !!!!

After failing to send emails this morning we set off for Mukono which is about 30 miles away – with wonderful faithful Saisal – the traffic in Kampala is horrendous with boda boda’s diving everywhere – and the mini buses cutting in the whole time.

A day at snails pace …

I had said I needed to change some money so instead of deciding to do this in Mukono we went to a particular Forex which meant a solid hour to get about one mile.  Exchange completed but then lost the car they had parked in some strange place so lost another half hour!

Finally set off again at snails pace and after 2 hours get to Uganda Christian University where we are meeting Beatrice and Nelson who need the money I have with me so that they do not get thrown out of university for non payment.  They are not there when we arrive so another 20 minutes of waiting – they were very polite and are good students but I still have to find a main sponsor for Nelson.

We then drive on and after a few phone calls locate Jessica the wife of Rev Elly – and drive up a rough track to her house. She is quite a special person – she has 5 of her own children and 5 others live with her – her husband has always worked away in South Sudan and at present works for Bishop Anthony which is why CRESS is supporting her. She had not been expecting us and had rushed back from church.

Jessica explained that could no longer teach because of her eyes but she had started farming and had cows, goats and some pigs – very enterprising.   CRESS is going to give her some funds to purchase 200 boiler hens for fattening.  We also met her youngest Joshua who  is now sponsored – she was SO grateful it made the whole journey seem worthwhile.

After cake and drinks it was off to another wife Perry Bahati who brings up her children on her own as her husband Victor works for the radio in Kajo Keji.  CRESS had already given her a grant and she showed us her new pig which had just farrowed and had 7 piglets.  There was no other sign of any wealth but again A

At 5.30pm we left and Saisal said the traffic was likely to be bad so we should travel north and then turn back to kampala about 15 miles out in order to avoid sitting in a queue for 3 hours.  We duly did this and got back in 2 .5 hours – rather hot and tired.  It had been worthwhile but had taken 8 hours to do 2 visits!

The end of a busy day

International supper in Café Java this evening and tomorrow we are leaving for Entebbe at 8.00am to avoid the traffic again!!!

Over and out from hot busy Kampala !!!

Caroline Lamb
Founder & CEO