Why they went to Uganda
On my last visit to Uganda the BA flight was on developed a fault so I used the time to get to know some of my fellow passengers mostly out of curiosity aroused by demography! Earlier that evening I had been intrigued by the fact that although this was a flight bound for Uganda, the Ugandans only made up 1/8 of the passenger list.
Of those I spoke to these are the stories that fascinated me the most
Simon: is English was travelling out to Uganda with his wife and two children. Simon’s father is a pilot and has lived in Uganda for as long as Simon can remember. He had not been for two years and in those two years the second child had been born, the purpose of this visit was so that his parents could meet their second grandchild
Emily: is English too and Uganda has been home for the last 2 years. I asked her what it is that she does in Uganda and she told me that she manages a BACKPACKERS hostel.
I asked how that came about.
I used to work in the corporate world as a Marketing Executive but was increasingly frustrated with the work, and hours I had to put in and so was my other half.
So did you just pack your bags and found yourself in Uganda?
No, I saw the job advertised and decided this would be the answer to both our problems, we applied, backed our bags and we have never looked back, Uganda is our home and you must be mad to want live elsewhere
On the way back I sat next Ed another English man and we talked for most part of the 8 hour flight. I discovered that this had been his first visit to Uganda. He was there on a security conference. Ed works as a Money Laundering expert and had spent three days in Uganda and those three days he had fallen in love with the country so much so that he decided he would return as soon he could. He also decided that Uganda could do well to market herself as a Conference destination..must say I am not sure what that is exactly or how a country goes about it.
Then there was Bryan an Irish man working for an oil company and had been posted to Uganda as head of Operations. Uganda had been home for 5 years or so but now his company had recalled him and to say that he was sad to be leaving is an understatement. I asked him about that
ooh, Uganda is going places and it reminds me of Ireland in the early days, full of ambition and energy, My children had settled in here the schools are good, and I like the fact that Ugandans are very conservative..
All this was fascinating as it gave me an insight into why there were more Europeans and Americans on the way out than Ugandans.
Here are some memories from my travels around Uganda
bujagali falls River Nile
Lake Bunyonyi SW Uganda
Tea Estate Namagunga Central Uganda
Sipi Falls Mt Elgon Uganda
Near by is the Sipi River Lodge run by two English men who names I can’t remember and here is one of them (in shorts)
Sipi River Lodge
Elephants Murchison Falls River Nile
I hope that has inspired you to learn more about Uganda or at least to visit Uganda
About IdaHornerFounder of Ethnic Supplies a social enterprise working to alleviate poverty amongst East African women involved in textile and handicraft production. Managing Editor of Africa on the blog
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I suppose you could combine the two, the flight from Nairobi to Entebbe in Uganda is only 45 minute. the source of the Nile has since been revised to be in Rwanda in the same range of mountains you find the mountain gorillas much to the disappointment of folk in Uganda! lol
Some interesting stories from your fellow passengers Ida
I recall your Facebook status update when the fault happened and then you were quiet for some time, and all I kept thinking was… I hope Ida is ok, I hope she landed safely!
The photos are stunning, they make me want to go and visit when previously I had only wanted to go to Kenya as I have relatives there. I may have to tell them their visit has been bumped for Uganda!
What a good idea, I would never have thought of asking people this. But how interesting and rewarding to have those conversations. Fascinating. And great photos too, thank you.
This networking bug has caught me real bad Sarah. Getting stuck that way gave me a chance to get to know others!
That is the unreported side of Uganda! do I hear a visit to Perfect and Princess sometime soon:-)
Thanks Carolyn. People's lives fascinate me especially why they chose to travel somewhere out of the ordinary, than say Spain or Greece, granted with the flight delayed and I was travelling on my own, getting to know others was a superb way to pass the time
I have to do Kenya first, I have been told
lol. The Niles source is in Uganda? I think you mentioned that or a similar fact before, is that where the Nile photo is?
I suppose you could combine the two, the flight from Nairobi to Entebbe in Uganda is only 45 minute. the source of the Nile has since been revised to be in Rwanda in the same range of mountains you find the mountain gorillas much to the disappointment of folk in Uganda1 lol
Lovely blog Ida – and the photos, the Sipi Falls in particular look amazing. One of my ambitions is to visit all the world's 'falls' – maybe I should start with Uganda and other African ones?
Thanks Lynn,
I would love to visit Victoria Falls in Zambia one day
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