Trip to Jinja - the source of the Nile

Today we left early at 7:30am to drive to Kampala and then 2 hours east of Kampala to a tiny rural village, near Jinja, about 14kms in fact from Jinja and the source of the Nile.

We went to this village to visit Harriet’s parents (Harriet is Susan’s best friend since high school) or so we thought. traffic getting to and out of Kampala was awful, congested and terribly slow. we spent 3 hours in a cramped taxi after Jackson dropped us off in Kampala for the trip. it was crowded in the taxi seating 12 people including a live chicken. I sat beside a mom with a toddler who slept most of the way or stared at the mouzoungo (me).

We were greeted at Harriet’s parents with drums, singers and dancers with the whole village it seemed waiting for us under a canopy seated in rows and 4 chairs for us 4 mouzoungo. We were greeted as honoured guests and was quite disconcerting as we were not expecting this reception. We were greeted by the village's women's cooperative by its 3 founders and current chairman and formally introduced to everyone by their name. As we sat in the front facing them. We were so honoured. Until the chairman's speech made it clear that the coop was expecting the mouzoungo to provide much-needed funding for their programs. We don't know where or how the breakdown in communication occurred. Susan was caught by surprise and didn't know anything about
it either. Expectation were running high and it was so awkward as how we were going to handle this one with 30 or 40 faces watching us.

There was more drumming, singing and dancing to entertainment in between formal speeches. We were given the coop's formal report verbally and in writing in English. With descriptions of how 9 of their members had used their $40 micro-credit loans. Many used it to provide seed money to raise chickens, or pigs, or grow vegetables.
One had to use it to create insulated bags for cooking pots with hot foods in them to keep them hot. Ingenious! And intriguing. I regret not buying one to bring home.

After the formalities, Madeleine and Shalan met with the founders and chairwoman to try and talk to them about their activities and try to ascertain what could be done about the situation we were in. meanwhile, Susan interpreted for brad who gave his little speech about Maama Watali and that we were there to establish a community library in Luweero. Big mistake! Because during Q&A people were asking us when they would get their library. Remember, they all thought we were there to fund them. Really hard to pull that one back. Brad stammered his way through backpedalling while Susan translated.

The 2 girls came back and we had more entertainment before we were served lunch. it was just us with the founders, the chair, and Harriet’s parents who hosted the event. Everyone else was seated waiting for us to finish our lunch of chicken stew, greens, rice, matocki, sweet potatoes, and irish (roasted) potatoes with fresh juice. AWKWARD!!! I felt so bad for everyone who must have been hungry too and here we were eating their food under what felt like false pretences.

When we had a quiet moment to chat the 5 of us, the girls said they had offered to send the chair a publication on grant proposal writing for NGO's which is a challenge for them. We also agreed to pool the funds we had with us to collect $80 or $400,000 shillings enough for 2 micro-credit loans for 2 people. Susan presented the chair with our contribution and what was intended for. They already had 2 recipients chosen, both of whom went on their knees to thank us with tears in their eyes. This gift was going to make a huge difference for them in starting a small rural business. The micro-credit system is a small loan of $40 at 2% interest payable in 30 days before interest is charged. Harriet’s mom administers the loans, and chooses the recipients, based on type of business planned, how capable she is in making it go, her character, will she work hard, will she use the funds wisely and will she repay the loan on time. When the loans are repaid, the funds are then carried over to the next recipient with the same terms and criteria. it works in an economy where funds go much further than they would at home. it was an emotional day and we were tired after an early start,

Harriet’s sister, Becca was driving us back to Kampala to meet up with Jackson for the drive back to Luweero. it was already nearly 4pm and 2 hours later leaving than planned for Kampala. But Becca and Susan wanted to take the mouzoungo to see the source of the Nile. so we did that since we were so close already but it took us another hour out of our in making up time. but saw the Nile and took pictures before we got back in the car to drive to Kampala to meet Jackson for the trip home to Luweero.

The drive back to Kampala was smelly with diesel fumes as we got stuck behind a transport and couldn't pass him as traffic going other way was also bumper to bumper as was our side. Our drive took hours and it was 7:30 before we made it to Jackson. he had had a tooth pulled that day (we didn't know until Saturday) and he was recovering from a cold which I would get by Monday morning on our trip. he was tired, in pain (he declined pain meds because he knew he would be driving and he waited 4 hours for us to get back from Jinja! I think we used up a more than a few favours in the favour bank that day. we got home to Luweero darn close to 10pm fighting traffic most of the way. With more diesel fumes making us sick and nauseous. And I don't want to talk about the smoke from brush fires (set on purpose to clear it) and the dust. A lot crap went into our lungs!