Masaka

The sun rises, much like it set, almost instantaneously. The city explodes with noise.

Unrest in Jinja.

The news repeats of civil unrest, the people are demanding better health conditions with dusty roads. The police response was swift, tear gas, truncheons break up

protests.

We depart for Uganda Rural fund. A few hours drive through small villages, markets, burnt grass, endizi fields, bikes covered in bananas, and traffic jams.

It is against the law for someone to be inside of a vehicle without a seatbelt. To circumvent this, large groups of people will ride, standing, in the back

of trucks.

The temperature stays around thirty degrees celsius.

Masaka is the closest town to Kyetume (Cheh-tuh-may), a village near URF. Cell phone and airtime stores alternate with clothing stores and supermarkets.

Behind the shell gas station with the digital display several men playing a gambling game with dice. Boda Bodas leave the front regularly, picking up

whoever pays. Many stores are dark, power is turned off during the day to conserve energy.

Lunch is matooke, a dish similar to yams in texture and taste, but made from endizi. (type of banana)

Arrival.

Off of the highway is a dirt road up a hill, a small brick building is outfront, several more behind. Immediately visible are cows, goats, chickens, ducks, turkeys,

and hidden from view are pigs, rabbits and a few cats. The kitchen is outside, and in an open structure. Fire inside of stone. We are greeted by many and led inside.

A room with 3 bunk beds, no ceilings, and a lizard who acts as a safeguard against mosquitos are inside.

We walk to Kyetume. Mezungu, Mezungu, children yell, and follow as I go store to store. The small brick buildings are close together, offering

juice, water, fish, rolex (egg in fluffy fried flour tortillas), fruit, nuts. Hidden behind some of these shops is the cinema. A longer brick building

with a tin roof, and a small gray satellite dish attached to the side. Rows of benches with people watching footba hen we get back home. Aunty makes dinner, which consists of rice, noodles, beans, and matooke. "You are supposed to take two helpings".

Probably one of my favourite phrases.