Blogs from Eastern Region, Uganda, Africa - page 4

Thursday September 27 After two nights in Uganda's capital Kampala, we drove north to Kibale for a night and then onto Kisoro. Lying in bed at Gorilla's Backpackers, it's like the night before Christmas when you're a child. The excitement and anticipation mixed with relief that it's finally here. Except it's not Christmas. It's far, far better than that. I'm going to meet the mountain gorillas tomorrow and I. Can't. Wait. Well I can wait, actually. I've waited a really long time so a few more hours is okay. But at 6am tomorrow we'll drive an hour and a half to the check in point, be split into groups and begin the trek to the family we're going to visit. No bright colours, no flash photography, no standing taller than daddy gorilla and definitely no looking ... read more

Aye, so quite the bit has happened since the last time I was near a computer, so please forgive me for any muddled information, incorrect dates and pure lack of commitment to the blog. There has been 4 attempts to finish it, and towards the end things may seem rushed. Please also forgive any gramatical errors and spelling, which I'm sure I've just caused. Changes and corrections will happen when I get back. 1st July Sunday compromised mostly from recovering from Nile Specials (easy due to me being responsible, not drinking beyond my limit and going to bed before everyone else), packing tents, and making special use of the luxurious toilets and cold showers. I’m really going to miss them! We also had a little time to scout out the market. Some girls got some tailor ... read more

Aye, so a canny bit has happened since the last time I was on here. The majority of the other volunteers have arrived, only two more to go. Meeting everyone was great, everyone is a good laugh, very cool to talk to, cannot wait to get started with everyone. Group bonding so far has been a little interesting though. The local drink has helped a lot, but I have also experienced drink outside the NRC (Nile River Camp) where we are staying. Clubbing in Uganda is something to experience, everyone is still very very friendly, but the dance offs are a nightmare! Very intense stuff trying to keep up with their moves, huge fun though. And the Guinness here is much stronger than back home, about 8%! But don’t worry, all is safe and I’m not ... read more

When I visited a Kampala bookshop recently I was almost bowled over by the number of books on aid, nearly all were negative – ‘Dead Aid’, ‘The Trouble with Aid’. What I find more remarkable is that these books are not really aimed at Ugandans, only the richest would spend the amount of money required to buy a book published in the West, but international aid or development workers. As I now work for a bigger ‘development agency’ (charity is a dirty word) I have come across this criticism of aid and development more firsthand. I can understand why those from outside the industry would be critical; it is quite easy to find evidence of the damage caused by billions of dollars of Western aid. I just find it strange that the very people who dedicate ... read more

After leaving Kisumu, I got a fairly cramped matatu on a terrible road to the Ugandan border. This was possibly the easiest border crossing yet, made especially easy by the fact that us Irish are one of the only European nations that don't have to pay the $50 visa fee. Thank you Fianna Fail, for whatever deal you strick with the equally corrupt Ugandan government. On a bit of a tangent - having read a couple of English language papers in Kenya and Uganda, it is incredible how many stories revolve around corrupt politicians and officials. It must be the subject matter of every third story. It's not that novel reading about this kind of stuff, but what was a bit unique was the story of the 14 year old Ugandan boy who was nearly lynched ... read more