This is the blog for Rhona and Bobby Hogg's VSO experience in Uganda. In August 2008 we applied to do VSO and, following an assessment day in London last October, we were accepted as volunteers . Because of the strong Scottish links, we had set our sights originally on Malawi where we spent a week in June 2008 but joint placements are difficult to find and in February we agreed with VSO to open up the search. At the end of March we were delighted to be offered placements in Kampala, Uganda. We are to work for a HIV and AIDS initiative called Reach Out Mbuya (http://www.reachoutmbuya.org/) where, we hope, Rhona's community nursing experience and Bobby's IT experience will prove useful.

We are due in Kampala on 18th September and have committed to spend a year there. We are very excited about the prospect of living in a very different part of the world and working with Ugandans who, from many reports, are fun to be with. We expect there to be many challenges but our stay in Uganda should be immensely enjoyable.

We are indebted to VSO for giving us this opportunity. Our preparation, including 2 training courses in Birmingham, has been excellent and we are confident about the in-country support that we will get from VSO in Uganda. I understand that it costs VSO around £15,000 to support each volunteer. If you would like to make a donation to support our placements in Uganda please visit the Just Giving site through the link opposite.

Saturday 30 January 2010

A good life in Kampala

Wednesday 27th January.
Well, after the excitement of Christmas things have settled down and we are both hard at work for Reachout. We are feeling very settled in Uganda and a lot of our earlier fears have diminished. We find the Ugandans to be a gentle and friendly people although some of the behaviour on the roads seems out of character. We are more comfortable with the routine but there are constant reminders that life in Uganda is harsher than back home –a member of the Reachout staff died over the weekend after a boda boda accident last Friday.

Last Thursday I enjoyed a trip out into the country. Reach Out Mbuya has four bases where they run clinics. Three are relatively close on the east side of Kampala (Mbuya, Kinawataka, Banda). The  fourth, Kasaala, is about an hour and a half north of Kampala just beyond Luwero. I hadn’t been before but a visit was required to understand what data recording was in place. Kasaala appeared quite idyllic compared with the busle of the city. Kasaala village, I think, has a population of about 1000.



There is a bore hole water pump in front of the clinic. This was in constant use filling up the stack of yellow jerry cans. 




The land is lush and green and I became aware of the abundance of fruit and vegetables as the pickup was loaded for the journey home.



Last Friday evening we enjoyed the monthly gathering of Kampala volunteers. This time we met for a drink and a meal at the Centenary Park next to Garden City.



Our Sunday routine, when there are no other commitments, is to spend the morning at the gym and swimming pool at Kabira Country Club. Last Sunday we were a little more adventurous and we visited the Speke Resort on the shores of Lake Victoria for the first time. The centre was built for the CHOGM conference a few years back. Apart from extensive hotel and conference facilities, there is an Olympic size swimming pool and a modern gym. The setting is very attractive with the view out to the lake.

On Monday night we were at the Caledonian Society's Burns Supper which was very enjoyable. It started at 7.30 and was attended by around 80 people. We left at 12.30 although the dancing was not near finished. It was a first for me to pipe (or bow) in the haggis on my fiddle. Conveniently, for Kapalian  Burns Supper goers the 26th is a national holiday - NRM Liberation Day.
The last few days have been very hot with temparatures in the low thirties. On Friday we are looking forward to welcoming our next visitors and showing them how we live when they are not watching the gorillas.
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1 comment:

  1. Koraput Hilary31 January 2010 at 14:59

    I never thought I'd miss haggis and Burns Night suppers but now I remember what I'm missing! Your monthly gatherings of vols must be fun, it's good to get together with others in a similar situation to yourself.
    The 26th is a holiday here as well - Republic Day, 61st this year

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