Day 8

By Alan.

Finally persuaded to put digit to keyboard. It’s our last full day at Jinja, at the nessun dorma Paradise on the Nile. Those who managed to sleep were awakened to heavy rain, which ultimately stopped play, or even travel to the ground until late morning.

It’s Uganda Independence day today, when those nasty British finally said there was nothing more to extract from the country (49 years ago). There seems little real celebration of this, although late morning we did see a combined march which could have been in commemoration, or simply on their way to church. Perhaps our presence here is putting something back – I do hope so.

Rain stopped about mid morning and we made our way the 45 minutes or so to the 3 schools we were to work with. The group split, and all worked for about 3 hours with the newly trained teachers. Again, lots of happy children. Those who know me will recognise the Pied Piper who appears once a group of children come together. All of this group of us here together have the same effect.

Personal perceptions of this country are quite different from those which I anticipated. Everywhere is exceptionally fertile, and we have yet to find the middle class or wealthy. There are poor, and some of the sights which we have been privileged to see have been humbling. However, the children we deal with, although clearly poor, are polite, very clean, and without exception incredibly keen to learn.

Having returned to our “haven” (honest Jane it’s not that bad!) we all went off in the evening to the “Source of the Nile”, about 20 minutes away, and a boat ride into the lake and the start of the river. This proved to be an outdoor aviary, with far too many birds spotted to name or remember. Yet another assault on our senses.

Half way in on our mission as I write in the evening. As a group we work well and have no prima donnas (I hope the others will agree). I am humbled in not having the words to describe or remember all that we have seen so far, and, although we still have a long week ahead of us, am delighted to have selected for Uganda, and would heartily recommend anyone thinking of such a venture to plump for this fascinating country. Just remember to bring your own earplugs if you want to sleep in Jinja.