We have made into Kampala and I thought I would update as we were told that the shopkeepers are closing all the stores tomorrow as a protest to the banks. Apparently the banks have raised the interest rates to 28% even for people with existing mortgages. This being done with the okay of the government as they reduced the money in the central bank to buy the last election so they have to restock. The good part is that the banks pay 14% on savings accounts but the rules are very fluid and that can also change on a whim. I probably won't invest in the banks here.
There are 3 kinds of police officers here, military who patrol and have teargas cannons located strategically around the city, regular police that repond from pick up trucks if required and traffic police who aren't armed and their main position appears to be to stand on the side of the highways and flag over trucks for inspection and are required to pay to get by the check post. I was discussing traffic investigations and was informed that the first question the police ask upon arrival is "did you honk?" everyone is honking all the time so a "yes" answer could never be disputed. The boda boda (motorcycle taxis) cut everyone off and squeeze into any open spot causing breaks and horns to work overtime. If they get hit by a car the car driver pays for the repairs to the bike and the hospital costs as the car drivers are richer. Doesn't matter who is a fault.
I was lucky to have a "power monkey" donated to test for charging the cell phone as power is a rarity. I can charge the cell from it and then leave its power pack to be charged either in the wall socket or by solar. It is amazing to think that I can call home from 8 hours away for about $0.10/min I just have to remember the 8 hour difference, however I am getting up most mornings at 5 so I get a call to Sue after the boys are in bed.
The little guy I scared by taking a flash picture the first night is now my friend as he does the Hi 5 whenever he sees me. He wants to drink from my water bottle so I always save him a bit at the end to drink and he wants to share. He is now wandering around the buildings taking "pictures" with his camera a broken radio!
They have a nice snack for me - a pastry made of banana and Yucatan root flour. It is very tasty and GF.
We decided to have afternoon tea at the Grand Imperial Hotel downtown as we kill time waiting for our evening Rotary Meeting and I asked for these pastries but they are a country item from the villages and not available in town. Apparently they are not "city" enough.
On our drive here we found a small hole in the front tire. Jackson pulled into a gas station and went to a guy in the corner, he looked at the tire, told jackson to turn the tire to the left and he promptly repaired it on the car. Adding a little air he charged 5000 shillings (about $2 US) and off we went, a 5 minute tire repair.
The toen came around and cleaned up after the Flea market yesterday it was quite a mess. Last night as the vendors were leaving on eof the Maama Watali girls (Maureen) went out and collected money from the people who had been using the front of the home and library - literally they hung stuff for sale on the windows and dug holes in the front yard to put up posts to hang display items.
I am impressed that even though there is poverty all over the place almost everyone is working. If you stop at an intersection or slowed in traffic (continually) the vendors approach every car, not just tourists, to sell papers, telephone air time, plastic items and fruit. It is better that everyone has a bit than some have lots.
We have decided that the small dirt area that has been a collection spot for left over construction items and the like in the back of Maama Watali would make a great compost garden. The whole area besides this one is concrete to allow the rains and water to wash away. Having a small garden will allow the girls to get a bit of their own produce, teach composting, and help reduce teh amount of waste as there is a subsantial amount of fruit and vegetable peelings left that can't be eaten. It may take awhile as the ground under the construction stuff appears to be gravel but time is relative things move at a snail's pace.
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