Clem and Janet get to look around

Saturday 14^th January

Ann is currently in charge of the alarm clock but unfortunately on this one day when the alarm was not required it went off at 6.30am!! She may be relieved of her duties in due course!!

This morning was a good opportunity to show Clem and Janet around the hospital. I think it helped her understand the challenges particularly of managing diabetes in this environment.

This afternoon we went on a circular walk behind the hospital. 

                                        Only slightly hot and bothered on our walk

At one point some women were digging up some ground nuts and wanted us to have a go Ann was up for it and enthusiastically wielded the hoe but ended up chopping through several nuts rather than delivering them intact! The women doing the digging were very amused.

                                                        Ann digging for nuts!

Outings from Kagando

Friday 13^th January

Ann Janet and Clem were able to see the nearby orphanage this morning. Janet and Clem were very brave and made the journey by Boda Boda (the local motorcycle taxis!) As usual Ann hogged the baby for a short while before letting Janet have a go. Jethro had been abandoned at around 7 weeks old.

                                                                At the orphanage

This afternoon they ventured to the Kazinga market which busy. They came away with a good haul of mangoes, bananas, passion fruit and pineapple. En route Ann was able to show them the local primary school and met the headmistress Madame Defrose.          

                                                             Kazinga market

I spent some time on male medical this morning and in out patients this afternoon. Unfortunately Bernard the visiting physician stopped coming about 4 months ago so there has been very little input into the medical wards in the last few month

Onwards to Kagando

Thursday 12^th January

Today’s main activity was travelling here to Kagando All went smoothly leaving Mityana at 12.30 and arrived here around 6.30pm in time for an evening meal which was excellent. The strike seemed less solid the further west we travelled which matches how pro government the area is you are travelling through! We are now unpacked and feeling quite settled in a quieter room with a pleasant through breeze!

Everyone is on strike!

Wednesday 11^th January

One of our most important purchases has been a thermos flask for UgSh12000/=. With the power off so much of the time it has proved an absolute life saver to enable us to enjoy a refreshing early morning cup of tea!!

                                                     Our trustworthy Thermos!

Everyone is on strike today in protest about bank interest rates and frequent power cuts so everything is relatively quiet. In fact Mityana’s streets have never seemed emptier with virtually all the shops shut. I’m told the current loan interest rate from the banks reaches 30% here. Even the local restaurants have been affected offering even  more limited options than usual i.e. chicken and matoke (green bananas) only!

                                                      Mityana looking deserted

After a visit this morning to the orphanage where the children had great fun with parachute games and bubble blowing, we spent much of the rest of the day with the pastor helping with the latest spread sheet designed to accurately track income and expenditure here in Mityana

                                                      Im forever blowing bubbles...

Off to Ekiwumulo

Tuesday January 10^th

This morning we went to Ekiwumulo where around 40 children are still resident for their summer holidays. Much has progressed on the site since we were last here in June with a 5^th house under construction with its roof timbers on, completion of the vocational training block, extensive work to provide rain water collection from many of the roofs to 4 large collecting tanks and many of the windows now having glass in place. We had a good time seeing the children and Clem enjoyed teaching them a couple of songs

                             Carrying down a case with toys and equipment for the school

 

Ann showing Farida and Rita how to use a science kit!

After returning Ann and I went to see Mama Bob who lives about an hour away by vehicle. She was well looking after Stephen from Namacossi orphanage and Wakabi Richard (who had been living with Pastor) both for the summer holidays in addition to her own son Simon. All are currently living and sleeping in a very small traditionally thatched house in a very remote area near to the local lake.

                                         Mama Bob, Wakabi,Simon, Bob and Stephen

Our visit enabled a load of firewood to be transported back to town-firewood collection in the region of Mityana is now banned with punishment by fines of 3 times the value of the wood taken. Great to try to prevent deforestation but very difficult for local people reliant on wood for cooking.

Later in the afternoon we took a trip to the maternity unit to hand out clothes for any new born babies. It was interesting to see inside the hospital which I haven’t previously visited.There was one 9 year old I saw with Dan Douglas, a trainee medical officer, who had severe meningitis but was gradually improving. Meningitis doesn’t seem to be a common problem here in Mityana unlike Kagando.

A lot of keys today

Monday January 9^th

Today is about keys. We were delayed because the pastor’s vehicle key broke in the petrol filler cap! Eventually our first port of call was the new site for the Esuubi café. It is totally undeveloped at present but in an excellent position by a long straight section of the main road. 

                                                    The site of the new Cafe

 We then journeyed to Ebenezer the secondary school where a large number of the sponsored children attend. We were made very welcome by Richard the headmaster and Clem and Janet who are travelling with us were very pleased to be able to see the school and its facilities The girls dormitory was locked “because the man with the key had gone!” We came away with a large paw paw.

                              Clem was concentrating hard talking to Kenny a trainee dietitian!

 This afternoon we went to pastors house and met a number of the young people there Clem has had the opportunity to talk to a number of people linked to Esuubi while he has been here but particularly enjoyed a time with Eric and Akim who are both musicians. A jamming session is being planned for tomorrow evening! New security arrangements involve a padlock to a gate to the first floor with only one key and 3 rooms occupied!

Sunday January 8^th

Yesterday’s flight can best be described as “chicken”. Chicken with Cous Cous followed by chicken sandwiches and a chance to watch 3 films! We made it to Sunset Motel by 11pm.

Today it wasn’t meant to rain! Unfortunately our luggage was in the open back of the pick-up and we had to stop en route to purchase a tarpaulin. I was left in charge of guarding the luggage. While we were waiting a soldier put his head through the vehicle window “Are you born again?!!”  He was keen to sell us his CD of God’s Fire Band but this was politely declined. People are very open about their Christian faith here in a way which is almost unknown in the UK now

Here at Kolping in Mityana we have had some good times with Pator Kisakye and John Bosco planning activities for these next 3 days

 

Getting a little wet!!