Friday 19th October

It took us 24 hours to reach Jinja (where we stayed for our first night in Uganda) from Gatwick. We flew to Entebbe Airport via Dubai and a set down at Addis Ababa. The drive from Entebbe to Jinja (about 2 1/2 hours) was fairly eventful. The traffic in Kampala was unbelievable with virtual gridlock. There are very few traffic lights and the driving is mad. We saw one pair of cars moving slowly, both over-taking, and ending up nose to nose. There is a strong smell of diesel and petrol in the city. When we went into the bureau de change to convert our USD into Ugandan shilling, we had to go through a metal detector and outside there was a guard with a submachine gun. Armed troops were in evidence throughout Kampala. There were many posters there for the upcoming Commonwealth Heads of Governments meeting, which is being held in Kampala starting on the 23rd November.
As we got into the countryside, we noticed smoke everywhere from bonfires. We think it is people burning domestic rubbish (no rubbish collection in these areas). We also saw a lot of roadside stalls selling bananas - Fr James bought some tiny, stubby ones (about three inches long, very tasty. We passed many schools, most of them quite small. We also passed two fine new buildings - one a high school and one a university.
We saw many young people in school uniforms walking along the roadside in the country areas and we think they must have long walks to and from school.
There are many potholes and roadworks on the route and enormous speed bumps. As you circumvent the road works you drive over the dirt and raise clouds of red dust. The road to Jinja is fairly straight and has stretches that are flat interspersed with long hills. The goods lorries and tankers struggle up the hills and everyone is either stuck behind them or overtakes madly.
As we approached Jinja there was an enormous thunderstorm and torrential rain - very dramatic.
We arrived tired, hot and in need of showers. We had a meal in the hotel and George was presented with a birthday cake by the staff. The hotel staff were very friendly and kind.