LIFE IN KAMPALA

Kampala and the surrounding area is quite large and is composed of hills and wetlands.  Originally Kampala encompassed 7 hills but has now overtaken many more hills.  The population I am told is about three million in the city proper, but up to seven million with the growing surrounding areas.  On the news tonight there was a story about the "exploding population"with 37 million in all of Uganda.  The whole area is beautiful - lush greenery everywhere you look.

It is a city mixed with the modern business area and tall buildings, as well as markets to serve all your needs in the surrounding areas.  It is extremely vibrant and colourful.  Your senses are on high alert all the time.

Business area

Center

General marketplace is common everywhere

Ladies Fashions

Meat Market

There are taxi's everywhere which are white vans that seat at least 14 people.  We took one last trip and we felt a little uncomfortable as most of them are not in good repair.

Boda boda's are available in huge numbers to take you anywhere, but the way they drive is scary.  They weave in and out of traffic and knock cars all the time but quickly leave the scene.   I haven't taken one yet but maybe one day.  There are literally thousands of them and the government is now trying to regulate them...a difficult task.  There is a constant battle on the roadways with cars, trucks, taxis and boda bodas.  Pedestrians need to be very alert.

I've had excellent meetings with the staff coordinators at the head office.  Every time we come here we learn something new and find out that some things have changed.  Life here is different and it is important to respect the differences and learn how to work within their system.  It is sometimes easy to communicate and other times more difficult so we make the best of it and laugh a lot.  The way we pronounce words is so interesting.  For example:  when I was talking to someone about cars the word they used sounded like "tah-boh".  So I was struggling to understand what it was we were talking about and then after some time I started to laugh when I realized they meant "turbo".  We end up laughing at each other because they think I sound funny.

Wednesday I went back to Masuliita with Ronnie the sponsorship officer to give encouragement to the P7's.  They are the students that have been doing extra classes until 7:00 each night and have also come to the school on Saturday mornings in preparation for their National Exams.  The exams start on Monday Nov 4 so Wednesday was a time to celebrate all their hard work, and a time to encourage them and show them that everyone is cheering them on.  What a nice way to show these students that their hard work is recognized, and even though they live in a rural area they are just as important as the students in the cities.  The parents came, the chairman of the school committee came and made a speech.  Then Ronnie gave them some very encouraging words including "I also grew up in a small village but was able to complete school and get a degree in social work.  So If I can achieve this so can you - just work hard."  Then I was asked to say a few words as well.  Any visitor is asked to say a few words so I'm now ready for that invitation.

Ceremony

Leanne addressing the P7's

Parents dressed in their finest

Until next time...