Uganda

We crossed from Rwanda into Uganda and you wouldn’t have been able to tell one mountainous African country from the next, aside from the heavily militarized zone in between, the passport checks, cars driving on the opposite side of the road and an hour’s time difference. 

Our time in Uganda was short and sweet and mostly gorilla focused, but any of the people we encountered were warm, welcoming and very proud of their home.

The scenery of this country is stunningly beautiful. It is mountainous and at a high altitude, above 6,000 feet. The mountains are lush and green. The river valleys are filled with farming plots full of bananas, beans and others that I can’t quite identify. Mountain sides are dotted with simple, adequate structures.

A few facts about Uganda: It is a country of 47 million people and is roughly the size of Michigan. About 10% of the country is dedicated space for National Parks. English is widely spoken, and taught in schools, but there are 52 regional languages based on the local tribes.

We enjoyed talking with our driver who took us to see the gorillas, Moses, and I asked him all sorts of questions, particularly about schools. We passed many kids in uniforms, walking down dirt roads in the dark to get to school on time. They often walk a mile or more to get to school, and private schools often start early with extra classes, then serve a simple porridge for breakfast before the true classes begin. English is taught thoroughly at a young age, and it is later in school that other options of languages are offered. Speaking many languages is very common.

I also asked Moses about politics. Every five years, Uganda holds a presidential election. However, for the last five elections, the same man has won. Moses said the younger generation is beginning to show frustration with this, so there is hope that there will be a change soon.

The roads we traveled on were a varied. The roads in town were all paved and in fairly good condition with sets of five speed bumps in a row scattered throughout. The other roads we encountered, just outside of the city were red, dusty roads. This meant that if you had a car, it needed to be one that could withstand some bumps! Most people we encountered, though, were walking. Students started their long trek to school while it was still pitch-black, as did men in suits. Everyone walked. It was a way of life. The tiniest of children, appearing around age three, walked down the road independently, knowing to step to the side as cars drove by.

Power outages happened frequently. This meant at the restaurant, there were certain things that could be made over the grill or perhaps in a stove heated with gas or fire and other menu choices that were not available. This meant that our electronics that were being charged as we slept didn’t always fully charge. I promise I know how minor these “issues” are, it is just a reminder of how fortunate we are and how accustomed we are to our way of life!

I’m thankful to have had a few days in Uganda! It’s a beautiful place with lots more to explore!