The Rainy Season and Mbale Retreat

Time has flown since the last blog. There were many projects to finish off and it all had to happen before 15th October. This was coupled with the fact that the rain was washing the roads away and some places were not accessible even with 4 x 4s.

The place became much greener and crops have been flourishing (well, most of them, but more about that later). My work has been mostly about supporting small businesses with bank loans and trying to explain how to incorporate stock records into profit and loss accounts. Any suggestions, feel free!

One of the first things I noticed back in Uganda was the amount of baby animals - donkeys, calves, etc. The work of the herdsman is never finished, so they start them at an early age. One kid looking after another - see what I mean?

These little guys are sorting through sticks and twigs for enough to fill a bag and sell for mum. Do you think the baby rucksacks will catch on?

Now I said it was wet at times. In the dry season, you wouldn't even notice the slight incline. In the wet season it becomes a Holy Island type experience, (for those used to driving through deep rushing water). Some bridges were washed away, but I am reliably informed, not those built by the British during the colonial years.

Banana trees are great, not just for their fruit, although it may be difficult finding a vase for these flowers.

The wildlife here is fairly few and far between, execpt in the National Parks, but it was good to see this owl early one morning, sharing a bit of sunshine with me on the rocks in Kaabong. (You need to look closely)

On our travels between districts, we saw quite a few victims of the floods. Usually heavy trucks or buses that just sank in the mud. The blue vehicle is a mobile bank and I couldn't help but chuckle. The vehicle in front is the armed guard for defending against any attacks. Mmmmmm. Doesn't look much use to me, although my colleagues didn't think it was such a great idea to go and have a look in the back of the van.

This is how you defend a bank. Sling an AKA 47 over your shoulder  and feign interest.

Now then, I mentioned crops. Damilie and I dug a little garden patch in our compound. I got blisters, she didn't! We watered the plants twice a day but it has been too hot or maybe the seeds were more used to European temperatures, so all we have now are a few maize plants and two beetroot plants.  So much for expanding my vegetable options, looks like its back to beans and cabbage.

 

There are a few weird insects here as you would expect. Snakes, very large spiders and scorpions etc. What about this cute caterpillar? No, not one to pick up and cuddle. It uses its furry hair to hold on to you and is highly poisonous. If  you get he hair in your eyes, it's pretty dam serious.

One of the most popular crops here is peanuts or groundnuts. This chap here on the left was very keen to tell me about his 10 children of which Madam Amazon in the middle is his eldest. The bag of groundnuts weighs around 100 kgs and matey boy didn't see anything ironic about asking me for food for her. It's a weird thing that so many people have so many children without any thought of the cost of bringing them up.

One of the interesting jobs we had to do this month was handing over infrastructures, like markets to the general community. It is an excuse for everyone who feels up to it, to stand and make a speech. It can be about anyting. It doesn't have to be related to the piece of infrastructure and it is obligatory to include at least one complaint. Yawning and playing with your mobile phone isn't classed as rude, so you don't really have to pay that much attention. I was the official photographer for the day, but as you can see I was forced at one point to hand it over. Can you spot me in the crowd?

Now, life in Uganda does have its plus points. This is outside Garry's Corner and this chap sells spicy samosas after dark. Very good when you haven't made it home for dinner.

I enjoy being adventurous with my food and now and again, we get to hear that there's fresh fish. Yes as in the photo below. We are 7 hours from Lake Victoria and there is no chill chain, so it gets "smoked" somewhere  en route. Don't ask any more questions! I had the best ever fish and chips at Niccos Take Away this week. No, not ill the next day either.

 

Mercy Corps decided this year to hold a retreat for their employees. It was held in Mbale and included seminas on creating wealth for poor people. Mbale is a sophisticated town with both tarmac and electricity, so it was very exciting for me.

We stopped on our way to Mbale in Lira and started as we meant to carry on. This is, from left, Peter (aka Romeo), Norman and Galdin. Just look in the background. Is that Garry giving us a cheer?

 

In addition to the serious stuff, there was also some entertainment. We had a volleyball tournament which was hilarious. I thought I knew how to cheat, but the Americans and the Ugandans are even worse/better. Talk about changing the rules. When the ball got stuck in the tree it was classed as a let, except if you were on the opposite side when it was then counted as a point against you. In the picture, after managing to avoid serving for at least half the game, I was forced to serve and everyone was amazed, including me when we all found out, I was actually not a bad server. However, we were robbed and did not take away the cup. Better luck next time maybe.

Everyone is proud of their origins here, especially Santos who brought his tribes traditional hat and scarf. Normally the Karamajong warriors don't wear anything under their scarfs, but we were somewhere sophisticated, so I guess Santos thought he should conform. He took his hat to a nightclub during the week and believe it or not, no-one pinched it and he took it home again.

Another afternoon we all went off to Sipi Falls, a waterfall and tourist attraction. It is to the east of the country and has lovely fertile land. The cows are bigger than ours and the fields much greener. This is how you load cabbages. Out of the garden, across the grass and into the truck. How good would these boys be at volleyball?

 

Also at Sipi Falls, I spotted this.  My first job was trading cocoa and it was right next to the coffee trading department, but I didn't recognise this at all. Coffee beans . I was impressed that the lady had decorated her house to match the beans.

It was a great retreat . We were well fed and watered and really spoilt. We were as happy as the chap below.

 I heard a story that some of the guys from up north couldn't work out how to use their key cards, so spent their time in their hotel rooms in the dark! No-one from our office of course.

This woman walks from the bottom of the falls up to this point every day with the 100 kg bag of coffee beans on her head.

A picture of Sipi Falls

Our evenings entertainment varied. This was prize giving night. Sam, is our top peace builder, but on that night he became Sam the Magician and made money appear and disappear and also read peoples minds. Ok nothing too weird about that. No, but some of my fellow colleagues are highly superstitious and wouldn't touch the money or come near him.

When he performed the disappearing act for some politicians, some time ago, one came to see him afterwards to ask him to make some  magic money for him. I love politicians.

This is Santos hat being modelled by Tim our Deputy Country Director. I think it suits Tim better than Santos.

It was Independence Day recently, so to celebrate kicking out the British, they have a parade by all the military forces and anyone else who wants to march up and down.

We had to wait half an hour for one of the Brigadiers to turn up. And there's me thinking the army would be highly disciplined and efficient. See for yourself the highly polished marching below. Pan's People were more co-ordinated.

 

I have been doing some extra curricular training and Fatty is now much better at fending off unwanted amphibians. She is also a peaceful individual, she just pats them around, she doesn't kill them.

Back in Kotido, I have found a new restaurant. Known locally as The Sheraton it has an extensive menu - beans, rice, posho (nasty cornmeal mixed with water and boiled), chicken soup, goat soup, greens, boiled potatoes, sweet potatoes and pigeon peas. Below is Sharon and Monica who are now great favourites there.

Today we are having a party. There has been no solar power most of the week and our generator has broken so no internet or electricity. Coupled with that, as we have finished one project and starting another, we are between budgets, so no money. However, in true positive spirits we are having a review! We have bought 2 goats, a huge sack of charcoal and half a sack of potatoes. I haven't shown you a picture of the goats. I reckon you have probably seen enough goats by now, but here is Oliva and Galdin peeling spuds. What is unusual is that men never ever do any work here except sampling home brew. This is the first example I have seen of a "new" man.

Hopefully the beer is on its way and with the borrowed generator, we may have time to get it cold. I will let you know.

We have got our work cut out for us going forward. Lots to do and this particular project finishes in June. Lets hope we have no more power problems.

Bye for now and feel free to comment.

Alison