Tag Archives: bodaboda

Month End Tales

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I promised myself to continue blogging, Okay, that is not totally true. There are a couple of witnesses to testify to this. One of them is Loyd Lutara.

At the beginning of this month, I thought I could visit Mavuno Church. Unfortunately, I failed. I may have failed at many other things this month but this blog is not about regrets. I am thankful that I am still alive, strong and healthy. I made it. The beginning of new month is always a wonderful time for me. More so, this November is extra special.

On 1st November, my lover sister Denise will be graduating from Uganda Christian University. We can not heap enough warmth on her. She is special! 

Previously, I used to do monthly recaps of headline stories of the month. Not anymore. I believe that if a story gets to the headline of any daily, it will eventually reach your ears. In October, I discovered a wonderful blogger: http://kanyindo.blogspot.com/ She is an amazing writer.

I am afraid of bodabodas. I am terrified of bodabodas with very loud music and lots of bling aka pimped bodas – these are usually ridden by men high on whatever intoxicating substance that is available on the market. Word of caution: Avoid these! My fears go to a new level when I am in situation where I have to sit with another passenger on the bike. Let me tell you; there is nothing more uncomfortable than that. It gets worse if the other passenger is a fellow man.

 

https://i0.wp.com/static0.demotix.com/sites/default/files/imagecache/a_scale_large/300-8/photos/1280240985-boda-boda-world-in-kampalauganda_384138.jpg

This is not correct! There should be a law forbidding this.

As the new month begins, decide to be happy and all will be well with you. Forgive yourself and forgive others. Be thankful for all that you have. It is a privilege.

Have an awesome month of November.

“Whatever the mind of man can conceive and believe, it can achieve“. –Napoleon Hill

PS: Remember 9th November 2013. It is going to be L-E-G-E-N-D-A-R-Y!

 

The World Will Remember You

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For weeks now, I have been thinking and planning how this blog should flow. Lots of ideas have come into my head, in the taxi to work, on the bodaboda cruising to a meeting in town.
It has been there always. Now that I am writing, I am at loss for words.

A couple of weeks ago I received an email from Esther Kalenzi. We fondly call her E-star because truly she is a star. This beautiful lady needs no introduction. Just check out: http://www.40daysover40smiles.org/ You will be amazed I tell you!

With the wonderful #Team4040, I have not made friends. You guys are family. It is official.

I can only conclude with 2 words to E-star and her selfless and tireless team: THANK YOU!

“While I know myself as a creation of God, I am also obligated to realize and remember that everyone else and everything else are also God’s creation.” Maya AngelouImage

 

“Be the change that you want to see in the world.”

 

 

Coming Back to the Start

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We have come to the end of the month. Every time, I start to blog, I wonder whether I should start with a title or it should come after. So far, this has not got a title yet. By the time, you read this, it will have one. Anyway, enough about titles. On to serious stuff now: Let us take a look at what happened in September.

 On top of the list is the terror attack on the Westgate Mall in Nairobi. The Al-Shaabab claimed responsibility. They chose a Saturday to unleash their deadly havoc on hapless and innocent shoppers at the mall. The results are still felt to date. A lot of lives were lost and many people were seriously injured. But Kenya rose above it all.

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However, more than a week later, a lot of people are still missing and the Kenyan government has not yet provided the answers that we seek.  I continue to pray for the peaceful rest of the souls of the departed ones. To the injured, I wish you a speedy recovery. May the good Lord find you.

Back home in Uganda, the registration of bodabodas has only become a news byte. The authorities and the riders are yet to agree on terms and conditions. Till then, we are watching and waiting.

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This next paragraph is dedicated to my amazingly wonderful friend SavvyKenya. I love you more than I can express on these pages. I promised to continue blogging. I will keep my fingers on the keyboard.

To my brother, Lloyd, this is blog #1, start counting….

The teachers went on strike demanding for a payrise that had been promised to them. This affected the beginning of the 3rd term. The strike was countrywide. Even though, the government and the teachers seem to have reached an understanding, it is still not clear what the teachers will do next.

The rains are here. This means that most of our roads will disappear as is the norm.

In October, there are few things that I have to accomplish and I hope to do so:

  1. 1.      Mavuno Church

I promised Lloyd and Brenda that I would pay a visit to  Mavuno Church. I have only been up to the doorstep of the church. This month, I am stepping in.

  1. 2.       Kigali

I have not seen my folks in Kigali in a very long time. Very soon, I will be with you guys.  The ticket is bought and the bag is packed. Here, I come…

  1. 3.       Kisaasi

After staying in Ntinda for the last 7 years, it looks like Kisaasi will soon be my new home. We are still working on  a few finishing touches.

  1. 4.      Better

Every month, I promise to be better professionally, morally, spiritually and financially. However, I do this behind closed and whisper it to God. This time, I am making a public announcement.

I think this should have been on top of the October to-do list.

“If you could kick the person in the pants responsible for most of your trouble, you wouldn’t sit for a month.” Theodore Roosevelt

  1. 5.       Project Fame VI

Tusker, the sponsors of Project Fame 1 to 5, are at it again. This year, they have promised a bigger and better season. Sit still and watch.

I should be paid for this ad…

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Finally here

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I am so hungry right now.  Focus, Sibo, focus! You are supposed to be telling you about your travels.

One of the bus companies in Uganda operates the Kampala – Kigali – Bujumbura route. It departs at 22h00 daily. At this time, most of the people are still awake, until when the bus hits Masaka at about 00h00 and sleep starts to overpower. Unfortunately, that is also the end of the good road. For the next 4 hours,  the road is in bits and pieces. So many potholes and yet so many humps. You are completely shaken. So you sleep in instalments waiting……just waiting for the next hump when your head hits the ceiling!

Arrival at the Katuna border is between 05h00 and 06h00 and the border opens at 06h00. We arrived at 05h30 and the border did not open until 06h45. Mbu it is a weekend!

The Rwanda side (Gatuna) is slower than the Ugandan side! Kudos my Ugandan people! We rock! These guys take their time. The official will look at your passport, check your face, a glance at the passport and then calls you just to confirm that it is really you!

To enforce the ban on kaveera, the Banyarwanda check every passenger’s luggage for kaveera. That is waht I noticed. If they find one, they empty the contents in your bag and take away the kaveera.

The road from Gatuna to Kigali is quite smooth compared to the rough ride in Uganda. The only problem is that it is in never-ending curves.

Arriving in Kigali on a Saturday morning at 08h00 is good and bad. Good because you have a full day to rest. Bad because this is slumber city every thing comes alive in the faternoon and by 20h00 it is asleep again! We Kampalans like to partry!!!!

This post will now take a break for breaking the night fast!

Katogo

Welcome back, dear readers!

So I spent a weekend in Kigali. Monday was Eid so a public holiday. If you do not have a car, the best way to move around the city is by bodaboda.

Rwanda boda

No helmet No ride! Police is very strict on this. Thatman who lives on The Edge can tell you all about it. He has been there.

I returned home with the bus at 13h00 after a very sumptuous lunch!

Lunch

While in Rwanda, visit the Genocide Memorial Centre in Gisozi. You will learn alot about how the 1994 Rwanda Genocide was planned, executed and aftermath.

Visit the National Museum in Butare. This is the best ethnographic museum in Africa (Not my words). See the history, witness perfomance of the Intore. Visit the university town!

Have a great weekend.

PS: My sincere apologies for missing at BHH.