Blogs from Central Region, Uganda, Africa - page 51

As a prelude to the week, I should note that perhaps one of the greatest obstacles to getting anything done in Uganda is the lack of organization. I have heard that most management positions, or a lot, are filled by kenyans (not sure how reliable the info is), and that Uganda is considering allowing Kenyans longer working visas to confront the problem. A lack of organization was one of the main reasons why the platform took a week to build; instead of bringing all the supplies and having assigned tasks, supplies would come on an ad hoc basis and it seemed that no one knew what was suppose to be done. Anyway, just a little rant, and I should say that it is not THAT bad, but it does frustrate me quite a bit.... The week ... read more

Phew! It's taken 35 mins to log on and upload those two pictures, so the full 360degree view will have to wait until I get home! I was really pleased with the transformation though and wanted to share it with you all. The teachers are delighted too, and I've bought them enough paint to do the remaining classrooms ( now they know it is possible for even a woman to paint!). We've now finished our school placements and I left with a mixture of emotions. It was sad to say goodbye to the people in the village, the teachers and especially the children. I do feel ready to move on though - and ready for a break, May half term seems so long ago! ... read more

The final day at school brought very strange feelings. Usually I'd be frantically labelling drawer units, sorting schemes of work etc. However, the work was done and the preparations were for the farewell ceremony that took place in the afternoon. The children were busily composing their own songs, with only a little help from a teacher, and running round with leg rattles attached practising their dancing. The staff were to be found rolling out chappatis on a stool, using a bottle of Nile beer as the rolling bin. Children were bring extra firewood to make a hot fire on which they were fried. The proceedings were due to start at 2pm so typically got underway at about 3.30pm. The ceremony followed the now familiar pattern of prayer, introductions, reading of agenda and then speeches by the ... read more

I really thought I'd seen the most bizarre things on the back of bikes until last weekend. I'd seen: several people, live chickens, live goats, a pile of firewood higher than the rider, four crates of sodas, charcoal, bananas etc... But last weekend took the biscuit! I was heading back on my boda-boda, so unfortunately couldn't get a photo, when I saw a carpenter loading a solid wooden single bed frame on to the back of a push bike, obviously going to deliver it! I've started using my video camera a bit this week, though feel very self conscious to have something that costs so much. The children at school just love looking at the screen and so it's quite hard to film as I have a swarm of children as soon as they see it ... read more

Thanks again to all who have sent in messages - it really is lovely to come and read them. Lynne - hope you and the family have a great time in Corsica. M+D - glad to hear you had a great time in Edinburgh. Whilst we were staying at the hotel last weekend there was an item from the festival on Sky News which was bizarre to watch from the middle of Uganda! Couldn't see you though! Well done England at H. Enjoy your walks with Poppy. V+C - thanks for your updates - hope the weather has cooled slightly. I heard about the whole situation with the arrests in Bucks. Yesterday the blog site was down so I read The Times instead! Emma - enjoy your last week on Casualty - where will I get ... read more