Greetings from Uganda

Land borders are always interesting, chaotic places and the Ugandan border is no different.  We are amazed to see the trucks lined up for miles and realise these guys might be here for days if not a week before they are given the all clear and cross over to Uganda! 

Our journey is less eventful and much quicker but negotiating our way through the maze of trucks is tricky!

We finally arrive at our campsite close to Jinja.  We have 3 nights here which is a relief after all the driving of the last 2 days.  We put up our tent and and enjoy our room with a view!  Yes, that’s the Nile River and I hear we are very close to the source of the Nile.  There are many optional activities to choose from in the two full days we have here but on my first day I chose to volunteer at the Soft Power Education Project along with a number of other campers.

Established in 1999, the project has been working in this area to provide an education for under privileged children and orphans including those with AIDS.  They also undertake a number of community development programs to combat poverty in the region.

www.softpowereducation.com

The term ‘soft power’ stems from a recognition that we need skills such as knowledge, information, culture and ideas as opposed to the driving forces of past history in the region which was focussed on ‘hard power’ such as  military might, political authority and wealth.

Our first visit is to the primary school where we are given a rousing welcome from the kids who seem delighted to see us and clamber all over us. 

We then travel African style to a primary school about 6 km away.  The journey takes us through the neighbouring villages and we are greeted with more cheering children along the way!  We wave back and duck occasionally to avoid hitting our heads on overhanging branches.

Our task for the day is to help with painting some of the rooms and the walls around the classrooms.  

Many hands make light work and it isn’t long before we have made a bit of a difference and we are treated to a Ugandan traditional lunch of rice, beans and spinach.  

It has been a wonderful way to get a taste of the local culture and give a little back.  The kids here are absolutely wonderful and I can’t stop taking pictures.   During the journey back I chat to Moses and Kibina.  They tell me more about the project and the conservation work that Soft Power is undertaking at Murchisson Falls to reduce issues such as the poaching of elephants.  Kibina (far right) has had an interesting life including a stint as a free lance journalist.  We talk about our common passions and dreams for the future.

It has been a wonderful introduction to Ugandan culture and a great way to meet the people here.  I say goodbye to the guys and hope I can come back here one day.   

“Leave more than footprints!”