Uganda – First Impressions

Yesterday I set foot in Uganda for the first time – after an 8 hour flight from London and a full day of flying from Vancouver. A daytime arrival means you have time to marvel at the lushness of the landscape before making the final approach over Lake Victoria – a scenic entry to the country. Getting through immigration and customs is surprisingly quick though right off the bat you’ll be out $US50 for a Ugandan visa (cash only by the looks of things).

And then the first thing that hits you is the temperature (very pleasant in October) and the traffic – highly unpleasant at any time. Welcome to Uganda – a country of red, red earth, lush green and roughly 32 million people.

I’m in Uganda on behalf of the KiBO Foundation – a Canadian charity formed to address the needs of youth between the ages of 18 and 30. KiBO endeavors to teach young people internet technology and communication skills as well as instilling in them a sense of the importance of giving back to their community. I saw some of that work in action today and will see a great deal more over the next few weeks.

I’m overwhelmed by what needs to happen in Uganda in the face of a growing population – educating a very young workforce is key but so is clean water, adequate food, access to healthcare and things we take for granted in the western world – paved roads and sewers, environmental regulations, high speed internet everywhere and that’s just the start….. It’s rainy season right now and all the unpaved roads (the majority) turn into a giant mud pool. Imagine the worst traffic jam you’ve ever been in, add slippery mud, and to top it all off throw in some raw sewage. It’s a driving nightmare but I digress.

I’m also energized and mightily impressed by the young people I’ve met. The staff at KiBO put in long days (our driver is easily working 14 hour days) and yet genuine smiles and concern for others is obvious. So is their ability to laugh and have fun at any opportunity.

Students at KiBO come from a wide variety of backgrounds – from high school dropouts to high school graduates to those who have never even seen a computer mouse to the unemployed. There is room for everyone.

Today I met Jimmy, a 24 year old fellow from Rwanda. He has the confidence to introduce himself to me in English – his 6th language! He escaped from Rwanda during the genocide (where he lost 3 family members), moved to Burundi and then the Congo (picking up languages along the way) and just graduated a few weeks ago from the KiBO program. He has big dreams – owning and running an internet cafe in a small village, teaching computer skills, becoming a coffee farmer and working for the United Nations. He is also steps away from completing a degree in business and finance. He and his brother send home enough money every month to look after ageing parents too. Today I helped him polish his resume and lent a voice of encouragement – not much in the whole scheme of things but he was very thankful. Despite what this young man has lived through, he is an optimist and eager to help others. It was a humbling experience to speak with him and one I know will be repeated many times on this trip.

Tomorrow the adventure continues. We’re off to visit a small village a few hours drive away from Kampala which was the focus of a recent student project. Please stay tuned and follow my journey through Uganda and on into Nairobi over the next few weeks.

Leigh

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