My dear readers…I don’t even know where to begin. The day after arrival was a day of rest really. The next day was a national holiday, Martyr’s Day. Today (June 4) was an amazing experience. I got to really see the streets of Kampala. First imagine the worst traffic jam you can ever imagine. Next know that everyone is driving on the wrong side of the road. Sorry to my UK friends and my Aussie friends, but it is true. Well I suppose there really is not a real right side of the road here anyway, you just get through the best you can. Multiply this mess by at least 1000 cars. Add in about 5000 boda-bodas (small motorcycles) driving like crazy people and then about 2000 bicycles and about 10,000 people in all directions, standing, walking, sitting, crossing, carrying supplies home on boda-bodas and atop their heads. Mix in all sorts of supply trucks carrying a varied amount of objects (charcoal, beans, wood etc.) add in some fire smoke, exhaust and horns honking every few seconds. When traffic stops imagine being acosted by a multitude of street vendors selling everything from phone airtime to sugar cane to steering wheel covers forcing them at you through the car windows. Welcome to the city of Kampala. You have arrived into the main veins of the city. This city pulses all night.
To negotiate here you really need an excellent driver. I have found a few of them and I’m extremely happy about that. I haven’t gone on a boda-boda and probably will not during this trip unless I get desperate for something.
Everything is on African time here (very laid back) and it is quite difficult to negotiate through this gridlock. So inevitibly everyone is late, but I’ve found the drivers to be very prompt.
I can’t wait to upload the pics but those will have to come later as the connection won’t support much uploading. My photo takes forever and a day to upload and may cancel at the end taking my time away from my internet plan.
Tina (my Ugandan guide for the day) and driver Jack took me first to the mall to get the modem and my Ugandan sim and airtime. I found out very fast that airtime goes quickly.
