Two weeks ago we headed to Kampala for Barnabas’ best friend’s wedding. It was a long 12 hour, over-night bus journey to get to Kampala… especially while still struggling with malaria. There used to be a bus that left from Butogota (which is just a few kilometers from Bwindi) to Kampala, but it no longer operates so we had to travel to Kihihi (about an hour) on boda bodas to get to the bus to head to Kampala. By the time we reached Kihihi, we were so covered in dust that even our tears (from the wind blowing in our face) made mud. It made for some good laughs though. We reached Kampala at about 5:30 the next morning and went straight to Hotel Catherine to check in and head to bed. I was pretty sore from sitting in the bus for so long after getting injections in my bum and back for malaria treatment, and from having a fever, that I was ready to lay down in a bed.
That afternoon, after some much needed rest, we headed into downtown Kampala for some shopping and to get some food. We were able to get pizza for lunch which was SOO good as it is something you definitely cannot find in Bwindi. That night we met up with Barnabas’ brother and enjoyed a HUGE plate (actually two huge plates) of fried chicken for dinner at my favorite restaurant from last year called Chicken Tonight. It seems the best part about Kampala and really all that is on our minds when we are in Kampala is food.
The next day was Gilbert’s wedding. The service started at 3pm at a popular church in Kampala. Many couples get married in that church every day so they are just shuffled in right after one another which is pretty funny. As one couple is walking out, the next bride is walking down the isle. We then headed to the reception across Kampala and enjoyed a feast of chicken, chapatti, beans, rice, matoke, beef, sodas, and of course cake! (Like I said, Kampala is all about food!) The party was very fun and the wedding was beautiful. Unfortunately we had to leave early (at 11pm) so I could go get another injection. :(
The next day we went to the most amazing church service at Watoto church in Kampala. There were hundreds of people there and a huge choir. Most of church was spent singing and dancing. After church we headed for more pizza! We ended up spending an extra day in Kampala as we were originally planning on heading back to Bwindi that night. Instead, we spent the next day touring the museum in Kampala and of course enjoying more pizza.
The ride back to Bwindi the next night was much better than the trip going there and when we arrived we were blessed with a car to take us from Kihihi to Bwindi rather than boda bodas. The day we arrived back was spent resting, cleaning, and more resting.
On another note, I have made a switch in projects and am now working with the Batwa Development Program again. After a meeting today, it seems like I will be focusing on implementing a school sponsorship program for the Batwa children and continuing on the school lunch program we were working on last year.
It is now tea time! …And I have just seen the bushes moving from my office window which means the gorillas have come for a visit!
Sutter Allen, undergraduate student, Human Development, UC Davis
That afternoon, after some much needed rest, we headed into downtown Kampala for some shopping and to get some food. We were able to get pizza for lunch which was SOO good as it is something you definitely cannot find in Bwindi. That night we met up with Barnabas’ brother and enjoyed a HUGE plate (actually two huge plates) of fried chicken for dinner at my favorite restaurant from last year called Chicken Tonight. It seems the best part about Kampala and really all that is on our minds when we are in Kampala is food.
The next day was Gilbert’s wedding. The service started at 3pm at a popular church in Kampala. Many couples get married in that church every day so they are just shuffled in right after one another which is pretty funny. As one couple is walking out, the next bride is walking down the isle. We then headed to the reception across Kampala and enjoyed a feast of chicken, chapatti, beans, rice, matoke, beef, sodas, and of course cake! (Like I said, Kampala is all about food!) The party was very fun and the wedding was beautiful. Unfortunately we had to leave early (at 11pm) so I could go get another injection. :(
The next day we went to the most amazing church service at Watoto church in Kampala. There were hundreds of people there and a huge choir. Most of church was spent singing and dancing. After church we headed for more pizza! We ended up spending an extra day in Kampala as we were originally planning on heading back to Bwindi that night. Instead, we spent the next day touring the museum in Kampala and of course enjoying more pizza.
The ride back to Bwindi the next night was much better than the trip going there and when we arrived we were blessed with a car to take us from Kihihi to Bwindi rather than boda bodas. The day we arrived back was spent resting, cleaning, and more resting.
On another note, I have made a switch in projects and am now working with the Batwa Development Program again. After a meeting today, it seems like I will be focusing on implementing a school sponsorship program for the Batwa children and continuing on the school lunch program we were working on last year.
It is now tea time! …And I have just seen the bushes moving from my office window which means the gorillas have come for a visit!
Sutter Allen, undergraduate student, Human Development, UC Davis
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