This is now my second day in Kampala and things are going ok so far. I’ve been shopping almost till dropping. Yesterday was the most tiring. I did 13 hours including the drive down. I took two young men from the health centre in Goli to Kampala and one was sick in the back of my car!
I learned a valuable lesson today. NEVER tell your Boda guy you are in a hurry. Weaving through traffic, over speed bumps, through gutters and along the Jinja road at breakneck speed. One hand held my hat on, whilst the other gripped the bike tightly.
The triumph of today was to finally get my hands on caustic soda! In Nakasero market, there is a small hardware shop which upstairs, sells chemicals. Small bags of white powder and water bottles filled with dubious looking chemicals fill the shelves. I bought 2kg for 4000 shillings (about £1.20) which I’m hoping to use to make soap. Avocadoes are so cheap in Uganda that they are sometimes fed to pigs. I believe that the oil could be extracted from the fruit and seed and used in soap production.
So I don’t have malaria, at least I don’t think so. Last week was tough with pressures and strains which I hadn’t anticipated or allowed for emotionally. Thursday was a bad day, the morning in particular but I felt rested after Friday.
The garden continues to take shape. I’ve been trying to finish digging one area of ground to plant vegetables but with the lack of real rain, its unlikely to be soon. Rain has been a problem recently. I have been praying for rain so I know God will answer.
I had an interesting trip to Zombo to view a Cypress plantation by a local landowner. His problems were evident. A lack of cash flow with significant investment. His intercropping with cassava was working well.
This stay started well. I was up early and did some digging. I’m getting on swimmingly and the fruits of my labour are evident now in places. The small tree nursery has produced some quality seedlings already including what I believe to be two Castor trees. I cant confirm it yet but will soon find out. They grow very fast. I’m told the poles are used to support banana, the seed came from Andrew, a local welder with an interest in trees.
I had a visit with local man Robin Piquoe yesterday at his farm. He is a young man and already we had a lot in common. I was able to give him some advice on his small farm. His parents separated when he was young and his mother taught him to farm and so he paid his own way through school up to S5. His lemon grass was going a good job of keeping soil erosion to a minimum. I showed him how to use the A frame and left it with him so he can construct a copy.
These last few days I have been feeling increasingly unwell with erratic trips to the latrine, headaches and dizziness. I was tested for Malaria which was negative though its not always accurate. Today I just feel generally mince and have a visit to Nebbi planned. I may just rest tomorrow. The treatment for Malaria is available and free of charge.
So here it is, the new fantastic blog for Neil White in Uganda. I’m writing this in Kampala just now. There is good internet access at the AIM guesthouse and so I take advantage of the service every time I’m here.
I’m in Kampala for two main reasons. The first is to help my colleague (and former AIM missionary) Andrew Moody transport books for his Christian Resource Centre in Goli and also to collect my brand new used fridge. I’ve managed up until now without one but it will be nice to keep things cold. The electricity in Goli is better than before and so its an option. Being able to freezing things such as meat and bread is a big bonus.
On the drive down, I saw hippos, waterbuck, olive baboon and blackfaced vervet monkies. Who needs safari when you have the Pakwach-Karuma road. Crossing the Nile is always a highlight and with the recent rains it was full!
The work in Nebbi district has been encouraging. A group at the Archdeaconry HQ at Junam, on the banks of the Nile, contacted me with an interest in planting trees to slow down soil erosion. As well as helping them with a few tips, I had a good time of fellowship with the church leaders, praying with them and encouraging them through their ministry.
