Kampala Day 2

Today we were picked up at the hotel by 2 CCA vehicles and drivers which took us on the short 3k drive to CCA head quarters here in downtown Kampala. We quickly realized that weekday traffic here is much different than weekend like most big cities. Bumper to bumper most of the way. It took about 20 minutes to do. On the topic of traffic in Kampala - its like a constant game of “chicken” is being played during the rush hours between the cars/trucks, motorcycles and pedestrians. All 3 come within inches of being hit (in all combinations) several times along the way. Never seen anything like it. Its first come first serve into any free space of pavement that becomes available. Traffic lights and signs seem to be no more than colourful streetscape decorations. I have to admit to doing a few “wince and turn my eyes away” kind of moves as we squeezed our way through the streets and to the office. Hundreds and hundreds of cars and motorbikes. The exhaust fumes are heavy. Like heavy to the point where you could say you can almost taste it. The traffic is so slow at times that it creates an excellent business opportunity for street entrepeneurs - who come right up to your window (like the squeegee kids under the Gardiner in Toronto) to sell you things like leather belts, newspapers and cell phone accesories.
When we arrived at the UCA (Uganda Cooperative Alliance) offices we were met by the General Secretary Leonard Msemakweli (head honcho) along with Rose Angeyango (Director of Micro Financing) and Prossy Tumushabe Bahilgwa (Project Coodinator). All three were in the meeting with us which ran from 9am to noon. Leonard took us through the history of the coopertaive movement in Uganda from the year it began in 1919 to the present day. Afterwards Rose and Prossy provided us with some specific information about the operations of the credit unions we will be visitting.
Must tell you about the “break”. We were served Ugandan tea, chocolate energy drink, instant coffee and bananas which were just a little bigger than the size of my thumbs. I had the Ugandan tea (excellent). The bananas here taste much different than back home. The texture is more dense and the taste is way more flavourful. Its hard to descibe. All I can tell you is I wolfed down 2 in a matter of seconds - they were so good.
The meeting wrapped up at about 11:45. It was annouced at that point that the drivers would be outside at 12:30 to take us all to lunch. We were taken to an authentic Ugandan food lunch buffet.
We were back at the hotel a couple hours later where we were given the rest of the afternoon off as free time. Another great day.
Tomorrow we go to work. More to come thanks for reading. Hope you enjoy these pics.
Charlie

Kampala Day 1

Well the journey here is over. It started with a 7 and a half hour flight from Toronto to London (Heathrow) which started at 9pm Friday. We had a 12 hour layover in London, however the CCA arranged day rooms for us at the new Sofitel Hotel which is right at the airports new (and huge) Terminal 5. The group was tired but we caught our collective second wind and decided to see some of the sites during the break between flights. We h0pped onto the London Underground (aka tube) Piccadily Line and took the 40 minute ride to Picadilly Cirrcus station. The weather was great and we walked for miles around the St. James Park/Westminster Abbey and of course Buckingham Palace. The second leg of the trip (London to Entebbe) began at 4pm EST yesterday and 8 hours and 30 minutes later we touched down onto the continent of AFRICA! - hard to believe I’m actually here. We arrived at 8:30am(Sunday) Kampala time (12:30am EST). It’s hot man. We were met at the airport by representatives of the UCA (Uganda Cooperative Association). Rose and Leonard (didn’t catch the last names). The 37 km journey was interesting to say the least. On the way here we saw hundreds of small market stalls on either side of the 2 lane road that leads to the city. Mostly wooden some concrete but very few. Selling everything from bananas to used bike parts. They drive on the wrong side here just like in the UK. Lots of people all over. Its Sunday so many are dressed for church services. Crisp shirts with ties, shiny polished black shoes for the men and colourful dresses for the ladies. The road here to the “hotel” is paved but the shoulders and beyond are a reddish coloured dirt kicking up alot of dust. I did not take any pictures along the way (never would have been able to steady the camera long enough to get a shot anyway). However I do plan to get out to the streets while I’m here so I’ll post a few later. All the Ugandan’s we’ve met today have been extremelty hospitable and kind. I’m not a very good sleeper on planes so I’m running on empty as I type this - the plan right now is get out and buy a few bottles of drinking water to have in the rooms. Oh the rooms - also interesting - but after some of the places we saw along the road here I’m thinking we are staying at some pretty nice digs. My room is smaller that my office, it has a single bed (with a mosquito net in place), internet access (thank you God) a small sink, hot plate, TV, air conditioning - not bad (all things considered). I do have to turn on the hot water switch 15 minutes before showering but thats not a big deal. I leave you with a couple pictures from our short excursion in London, our greeting at the Entebbe airport.
Tomorrow we (all 6 members of Team Uganda) are scheduled to attend a mission debreifing session with representatives of the credit union division of UCA .
More to come. Thanks for reading.