As some of you know from my prayer points at the bottom of each blog page I have recently been asking for prayer for Uganda as they approach their elections. Some of my friends have been very worried that I will still be here during the elections period others tell me that Uganda is a peaceful country and will not allow unrest during this time. Unbeknown to me I had booked my departure on the 20th February three days after the elections. I had also planned, while I was here, to make further inquiries into applying for a Nigerian visa which I had not yet done. Now with the pending elections and the concern of friends I decided to visit the Nigerian Consulate to see once and for all whether a visa was possible. Henry was hoping to be able to take me but as midday and the close of the Consulate was approaching he arrange instead for a BodaBoda acquaintance pick me up from Wakisa. We arrived just before twelve o’clock, I signed in, filled out the visa forms and handed in all the papers needed then waited. It wasn’t long before I was called up and asked where the Ugandan work permit was in my passport. After telling her I was here on a tourist visa she explained I would have to go back to Australia to apply to enter Nigeria. How frustrating! Surely all they needed was my payment which hadn’t been able to go through on line. But no, the door was definitely closed! Disappointed I decided to walk part of the way back even though it was quite a hot day.
I had walked a short distance when a Boda Boda asked where I was going and quoted me 20,000 shillings. I told him I was not going to pay Musungoprices to which he offered 10,000 at which I scoffed and told him it was 3,000 and kept walking. Just ahead of me was a shopping centre and more BodaBoda drivers who were looking for passengers. They too called out to me. I told them I want local price and was offered 3,000 although from here it was only 2,000 but I accepted and was dropped at the junction of the road to Wakisa and the Cathedral where I knew some of the BodaBoda drivers. The fellow I was hoping to catch before Sunday was Eric, he was there so I asked if he was able to pick me up on Sunday and take me to the Watoto Church. He knew Vivian’s home and could pick me up from there at 9:30am.
BodaBoda drivers are notorious for having accidents so I’m always praying when I get on one. Dorcas warned me to check their eyes too before accepting a ride as many are on drugs. This can be rather difficult when they are wearing dark glasses. Do I ask them first to remove their glasses? The drivers are known to take risks as they speed and swerve around vehicles and potholes along the road. The zip in and out of the traffic and often cross intersections before the lights change if they see a gap in the traffic. Although they are supposed to wear helmets they often don’t and of course the passengers don’t have helmets. Like their Asia equivalent the motorbike taxies are in abundant. You might be walking down the street and one will pass you calling out to see if you are needing a lift. Women passengers often ride side saddle especially if they have tight skirts. It is quite a skill to sit side on. I definitely straddle the seat and grip tightly with my legs and hang on tight to the bar behind the seat so as to stay securely on as we weave around the obstacles. Thank God I haven’t had to ride in the wet as I’m sure it’s twice as dangerous not being able to see the potholes and having muddy water splashed all over you.
Mally, my friend from t
he UK had been asking me to visit her since last year so I contacted her and suggested I come on Friday. I then chatted with my friendly BodaBoda driver, Eric and asked what the cost would be. Mally had said somewhere up to 9,000 shillings which I thought was rather expensive. Eric was very honest with me and suggested 5,000 which I gladly accepted. I then arranged for him to be waiting for me on Friday at 10am. He was there ready for me when I arrived and wove me through the traffic towards the apartments. We stopped twice to ask directions before he dropped me off at the gate. Mally is married to a local doctor whom she met at university while he was studying medicine in the UK. They moved here recently with their 5 children the youngest being 10 months. She certainly has her hands full with all of them being home on school holidays. What I did notice was that her idea and mine of discipline children were similar. She said it was very frustrating for her as her visitors were often undermining her authority by pandering to the children when they were disobeying her instructions, yet told her how well behaved her children were.
She also explained that the container with all their possessions including clothing, was being retained by the authorities which she feel was something to do with them not paying a bribe to have it released. They had arrived with a few suitcases and that was it! Thank God, her husband had recently been employed at one of the hospitals so although things were very tight for them they were now looking to a brighter future.
I left after a full day and walked down the dirt road to the main road which was about 5 mins walk before I found a Boda Boda to take me home. I of course had to barter the price which but although I asked the same price as I had before, all the way back the driver complained that it should have been at least 7,000. He also kept asking me which way and although I didn’t know but told him to take which ever was the quickest and with the least traffic. Then as we were approaching a familiar area I say go d
own this way and then, yes, to straight up the hill. This I knew took me to the junction where Eric’s station was and where I hopped off and walked the rest of the way. Arriving home just after 6pm. The power was off! Emma said it had been off and on all afternoon. When it finally came back on it was not at full power so we were unable to use water heaters for refrigerators only lights, so it was a tepid shower for me that night.
Arriving home just after 6pm. The power was off! Emma said it had been off and on all afternoon. When it finally came back on it was not at full power so we were unable to use water heaters or refrigerators only lights, so it was a tepid shower for me that night. Praise God my tablet was powered up as was my phone. Two major items of communication.
Saturday, I had a morning of cleaning the house and then at 1pm met up with a couple planning to go to Sydney to study at Bankstown University. Shalotte had previously studied in Sweden and had chosen to further her studies in Australia as it is an English speaking country. We had a lovely chat over a cappuccino discussing some of the aspects of moving to Sydney for three years of study.
Sunday, I waked down to Erik the BodaBodaas he had called Dorcas to ask if I was still coming. I called him to say I’d meet him at the entrance to the Cathedral on the Hill which was half way. It didn’t take long for him to drop me at the Watoto church. It certainly is a large church with four Sunday services. I really enjoyed the praise and worship as well as the pastor’s message on Jesus being our encouragement as we faced the challenges of this coming year.
When I left I
decided to walk back as it was overcast and not too hot, I wanted to see how long it would take. I reached the Wakisa home after about 25mins of brisk walking and popped in to say hi. Harriet the midwife was pleased to see me but said she was about to take a girl, who was in labour, to the hospital. I told her I would be back but first walked home to ask Vivian if I could have the keys to her office so I could turn on the internet as I had some things I wanted to look up for Shalotte and had promised to give the agriculture teacher, Faith, some notes on espalieringfruit trees. When I returned the girls were all eating lunch and happily watching TV.
Harriet didn’t take long to return. She had dropped the girl whom she suspected would have the baby that afternoon. I then returned home around 3pmto defrostthe fridge. It had started to ice over and even with the power being off the ice around the freezer hadn’t defrosted and the little door was getting difficult to open and close. I had wanted to wait till I no longer had milk in the freezer, and as I had pulled the last packet out this morning to defrost, it was the perfect time to turn the fridge off to defrost it properly. It reminded me of my childhood days when we had to defrost our refrigerators frequently. Ok, so that ages me!
Photos: 1. Sunset over Vivian’s home 2. Photo of me taken by Ezra 3. Mally’s family and Pastor from Christ’s Heart church 4. Watoto Church Kampala 5. Baby Hanna Gloria’s baby
Prayer & Praise Points:
Thank you Lord for Wakisa Ministries and all the young girls they are helping. Praise God for the staff, volunteers and supporters.
I thank God for the opportunity to help out at Wakisa and also just experiencing life in Uganda.
Praise Him for providing for me in all areas including general protection as well as while I’m traveling on the roads and for good health.
Please continue to pray for Wakisa Ministries as they begin the first phase of constructing the birthing centre.
Please pray for Uganda as the people prepare for elections on 17th of February this year. May there be peace and may God provide an upright man who will bring positive change to Uganda.
Thank you for continuing to pray for my mum’s health and wellbeing. Having ring her a few times she sounds like she is settling into her new routine. I’m looking forward to being home on 29th February.