Back in Kampala again! My work!

I started working on Thursday. Actually I got my own office… my first office!
I work from Monday till Friday from about 08.30 till about 18.00 The atmosphere in the office is very comfortable. We are eight people there: Henry (our driver), Charles (our man for coffee and tidiness), Walter (our head), Margret (responsible for administration), Christine (Program Officer for Justice, Law and Order), Hans (Program Officer for Water and Sanitation) and me (trainee).




My work in the office is quiet different from those in the village. Here most of the time, I am sitting in front of the computer, sometimes we are attending meetings... but most of the time I am in the office, reading strategic papers, writing comments on development partners policies, composing strategies, dealing with different projects...
All in all, this internship gives me a good insight in what the Austrian Development Cooperation is doing in Uganda and I gain well-grounded knowledge about water and sanitation.
Actually most of my internship is completed... only one month is missing. Now we are trying to extend it for one month. Hans is on holiday in August and he would appreciate it if I can do some of his work (at least what I am able to do) meanwhile he is absent. But that’s not so easy because the new rule at the Austrian Development Agency says that volunteers are not allowed to work longer than three months. Hans has to request at the head quarter in Vienna. I am waiting for the answer. I would be very happy to extend my stay in Uganda... I think I have been infected by the “Ugandan Virus”!
By the way, if anybody is interested to do an internship at the Austrian Development Cooperation in Kampala in the sector water and sanitation... we are looking for a trainee from September for at most three months... if you are interested please do not hesitate to contact me!

Very exciting days in Egypt!

My father invited to stay one week in Egypt. The journey there was one of my exhausting till now.
At Entebbe Airport everything was fine. In a bookstore I had a nice conservation with the manager. He moved from his home country Nepal for work to Uganda one year ago and enjoys Uganda as much as I do.
I had to change the plane in Addis Ababa. They brought me and some others to an extra room outside the main building of the airport and told us to wait for some minutes. After about half an hour two guys asked me if I know what is going on here and even we did not have our tickets to Cairo. These two guys have been very personable. One comes from Egypt, Cairo and the other one from Jordan, both working for the UN in Congo, Kinshasa. For six months they have been working there. Especially for the guy from Cairo, Abass life and work is very hard and he is happy to have some weeks with his family. He has two children, one is two years old and the other one 15 days, so it is the first time he is going to see his baby.
Finally, with two hours delay we boarded the plane. My father told me to pick me up at Cairo Airport. However, I could not find him, he could not find me, his phone was off... I had a connection flight to Hurghada, but I was not sure to take it. Finally I changed this flight for two hours later and decided to fly to Hurghada because what should I do alone in Cairo? Suddenly I found my father at the other airport. Anyhow, I decided to take the plane... I have been very exhausted, didn’t sleep the whole night and my nerves have been much stressed. As I wanted to check in, this man told me that I am too late, they have already closed the check-in. I tried to convince him that I need to take this flight and he was kindly to give me the ticket with the words “Run as fast to the gate!”. I ran!
Arrived in Hurghada, waiting for my luggage... all the people have already left and my luggage was still missing. We found out that it is still in Cairo.

However, the time in Egypt got better from hour to hour, from day to day. I have spent a lot of my father and his wife Marwa. We enjoyed the time together... Relaxing, sleeping late, watching arabic movies, swimming, staying at the beach, shopping, going out...
I extended my stay there for a few days because Papa and Marwa decided to marry and they wanted me to be with them and the other way round. Three days we have spent in Cairo at the families place of Marwa. Oh my good, this time was great. Her family is so kind and I am looking forward to meet them again!!!
Going back to Uganda made me a bit sad.

Back in Kampala! Thinkings about the life in the village!

On the 21st April 2010 I travelled back to Kampala.
A lecturer from Makarere, the one who supported me to find a student assisting my research, proposed to pick me up from Muhanga brining me to Mbarara because he spent some time in Kanungo, one district near Kabale. His family stays there.

I did not enjoy the last hours and even the last days in Muhanga. I was sad to leave this place! I walked a last time through the village, saying good bye to those ones I have not met the last days... it was really sad!

I had to wait for my taxi about four hours longer than appointed, but during this time I had interesting conversations with policemen. We have been sitting near their “office” (a very small wooden hut with one bench, a table and a chair) and the main tap. We have been talking about Uganda and Austria, the differences in lifestyle, language, culture...
Very different is the way they see the liaison between women and men. Marriage and children are playing a very important role in their life. Most of them want to have at least four children. Often they mentioned the argument that having more children is a kind of a security when you are getting old. “Imagine if one of your children dies und you only have one or two?”
Some of them asked me to stay with them in Uganda and also to marry them.
I asked myself if it is “normal” or usual to ask a woman so quickly for marriage... why are they doing this?... is it because of I am “different”, because of my origins, my culture and also my skin colour??? Or do I make a too big issue out of these (thought) differences???
I could just say that I would not manage to stay together with an Ugandan man. From my point of view the role of a woman or better me in the marriage is contradicting with the perspective of these policemen. In a relationship I want to be independent and I need my freedoms. The role of man and woman should be equal, everyone has the same rights and responsibilities and there is no “typical” head of the family who is the decision-maker, or the one who is not caring for children and does not do anything in the household...
The reactions of the policeman have been surprised... they have been especially wondering that my boyfriend is cooking for me and that we do housework together. For many of them this is unimaginable.
When I am thinking about the relationship of my grandparents the attitudes are quiet confirm. In the western world many changes and transformations have been taken place in the last decades... will there be similar transitions in Africa or will they go a completely different way?
If you go to town the attitudes are different compared with those at the countryside. They are more similar to the western world. Women are able to act more independently and men are a bit more “emancipated”.
Finally I got picked and moving towards Mbarara where I stayed another day to do some interviews with staff from the Water and Sanitation Development Facility. I had a good journey with nice people. On the way we bought a lot of vegetables like pumpkins and tomatoes, matoke, onions, pineapples and pawpaw. Those things are much cheaper in the village than in town.
After doing my interviews, next day in the morning I travelled by one of the big very fast buses to Kampala. Actually I wanted to avoid to travel with such a bus because they are really fast, don’t avoid potholes and pass them with an enormous speed, overtaking everywhere... however, the travel was quiet comfortable... better than in a taxi (minibus) which is stopping many many times picking up as many people as possible and drop them.
I reached Kampala safe, but then I had the challenge to find out where I have to drop the bus, where I am and how I get to the office. I have been deboarding there where most of the people got out. Many people have been croweded around the bus to pick you with their boda bodas, special hires and taxis. It was quiet confusing. I found one guy who picked my rucksack and brought me to a boda boda to bring me to the office. Highly packed with my big rucksack on the handle bar of the motor-bike and one small on my back, the guy brought me safe to the office.

Back in Kampala! The life feels different. It’s very busy, lots of traffic, bad air, many people, croweds of people...
I have spent the next days in Kampala, alone in the house of my colleague who spent some time in Austria. It felt lonely and something was missing in this a big house, alone, with a night guard and a day guard...
I missed the simple life in the village!

Goodbye Muhanga!

This post is a bit delayed because since I have left Muhanga I have been a bit lazy in writing. I don't really know the reseaon... it's not like that I don't experience anything in Kampala... but the experiences differ a lot. However, I will take up my responsibility again to write down my what is happening here!

Let's go back... about two months ago:

Today I am going to leave Muhanga for a while. I will miss this place and the people!

I have spent seven weeks here. The first time has been a bit strange for me because I was not used to get so much attention. People greet you everywhere, asking,“Muzungu, how are you?, children waving to you, coming up to you, want to know where you come from and what are you doing here, even some, especially children touch you to see how this skin from a Mzungu feels like or it even loose its white colour, some are really staring at you, not really knowing what this is… sometimes I felt like a creature or an alien not coming from this earth. However, I appreciated these contacts, conversations and interactions with the people from Muhanga very much!!! Even people invited me to their homes… children wanted me to get to know their parents… to have tea or something to eat. Many families and organizations have a visitors book, where you can write your contacts and a comment that you have been here.
But over time people got used to me and I got used to them :)

For the interviews we walked from house to house… we also tried to get interviewees from the upper and isolated parts of the village… and some of these people could not believe that a Mzungu is visiting them and wants to talk with them. One woman felt so appreciated and said “If I die now, I will be in heaven because a Muzungu came to my place!”
Some people just came up to me, shaking the hands and saying thank you for all.

It feels really very strange when you get such a special treatment even though you have not done anything. It is just because of your different colour. For what does a white person deserve this? When you think about what happened in the past and what is happening in present time… I am thinking about slavery and slave trade, colonialism, exploitation of natural and human resources and now what you can call new-colonialism… the dependence from western states that is still tried to keep in form, for example, through the private sector and development cooperation…
Sometimes I had conflicts with my self also because of the reason that people don’t appreciate me because of my personality, but because of my skin colour… that feels a bit strange!

I tried to deal with it and also tried to make clear that I am not a special person or that I am different… of course there are differences because of culture, language… but we are all human beings and have the right for a good life.

However, the openness, hospitality, friendliness, expressiveness… of the people in Uganda is amazing! I wish that some people in western societies would be a bit like them!

Especially at the first time it was really hard to get information for my research. However, I never gave up inquiring and finally I got many answers.
Mary has been very sceptical and at the beginning she did not know how to treat me, me a Mzungu. At the end of my stay she told me the troubles she had as she had been informed that I would like to stay with a family. She asked herself “Where should we put this Mzungu?”
She thought her place is too dirty and she was also worried about nutrition. What does she eat?
Mary also told me that her friends and relatives are always ask her what I eat. They are wondering that I eat the same food as they eat and that I like it. During conversations with other people I also remarked that they are wondering that I eat the same things. Many could not believe it... I don't understand this?!

One of my most memorable experiences has been two weeks ago. I think this experience brought me a bit closer to them.
Sometimes Habas (her worker) asked me if I want to go with him harvesting sweet potatoes, or matoke. I enjoyed it very much learning from him. And one day we have been harvesting matoke and then he told me that he is going to fetch water. I told him that I will come with him and I would also like to fetch one jerrycan. Mary heard this and she said NO, I cannot carry it, 25 litres are too heavy for me. I could carry a small one with 10 litres. I said no, I want to take a “normal” jerrycan, I took it and went to the tap. I filled it with water it was the first time that I raised the filled jerrycan. It is quiet heavy. But I thought, there is no way not to carry this jerrycan. I followed Habas up the hill along the small path up to the house. It was really heavy and quiet exhausting. But I reached the house within the same time as Habas and with a full jerrycan. Mary saw me arriving and she could not believe it and said “Now you are an African!”
I felt very appreciated and proud!

These experiences in Muhanga have been very valuable and worthwhile and I will never forget this time in Muhanga!

I became a Mukiga!

I decided to make Mary a present for assisting me with my research and that I could stay in her house and that they made me feel comfortable in the household.
I have been consulting with Elizabeth and we decided to give her a “ebitenshe”, a cloth which is worn by the women here. There are different designs. Some people just enwrap themselves or tailor something. I have chosen one for Mary. She has been very glad about it.

I asked Elizabeth to choose one “ebitenshe” for me. And she also decided how it should be tailored. Even next day it has been completed.



I also had to present it to Mary and Harbas.
Especially Mary did not believe her eyes. She has been very excited, running around me, picking on the clothes, she expressed shouts of glee and said
“Now you are a Mukiga”!

My Research in Muhanga

During the first three weeks I have mainly done observations at the taps from the Muhanga Water and Sanitation Scheme as well as at several protected springs. I especially observed who is fetching water and how much they fetch and how they are interacting with each other.



One of the three protected springs. In the evenings you can find lot of children there fetching water, but I did not have the courage to take a picture of them.

Amongst other things I found out that the water scheme in Muhanga is confronted with o lot of leakages. Every month they have to look for leakages and to repair them. Even one of the tanks is leaking.



Some taps, especially in the villages are not working. There have been some problems in the villages, especially in Ruhonwa. People failed to afford the water. Most of them have no income. The solution was that they get water for free and in case if a tap is spoiled, they collect money and repair it for themselves. It failed. That's why you find some taps surrounded by bushes.



So, people from Ruhonwa continue using the water from the river. I have even seen children drinking this dirty water.



Another problem why some taps are closed is that people are not willing to attend the taps. The reason is the low salary. Tap attendants get 40 percent of the collected money. And at some taps not more than ten people are fetching one or two jerrycans per day and each jerrrycan costs 50 shillings. You can count for yourself... it is really not much. There have been several attempts to solve this problem but until know they failed.
There is just one tap which is situated in the centre of Muhanga Town which is attended everyday.



The result is that you find long lines with people waiting for fetching water.



Muhanga has been the first village where the scheme has been implemented. People have been very unexperienced and used unappropriate technologies during construction work. It became a kind of a learning scheme and I am really curious if they have learned from the mistakes of Muhanga and avoided these in other villages. I will try to find it out in August :)

During the last weeks I have been very busy with conducting my research.
Two weeks ago I got assistance from a student who did a BA degree in Social Sciences at Makarere University and is now finishing a Post-graduate in Development Management at Mbarara University. I had some troubles with the arrangement of getting assistance because actually the sister of Elizabeth should have come but after shifting her arrival twice and about ten days later she told me that she could not come because she has not reached to finish her work in Kampala. Finally, her sister came and I have been satisfied with her assistance.
She has been here for about two weeks and she stayed together with in at Mary’s place. I appreciated her presence very much because she translated me many discussions we had for instance during lunch and supper. And also many “conversations” between Harbas (the worker of Mary who also stays here) and me have been translated. Normally he use to talk Rukiga (with few English words) with me that’s why I often fail to understand him. That changed! It was really funny as we talked about my family and about the skin colours. He asked if my mother is also a “Mzungu” (outsider) and even my grandmother. And he could not believe that an old woman can be not black. We laughed a lot. Sometimes the thinking of the people in Muhanga is quite funny!
So, the daily routine changed a lot, since the arrival of Elizabeth. The first advantage was that I could better understand what is taking place in this household and also in the town and even in Uganda.
As I have reported, for me it was very difficult to get information from Mary. This has also changed. Elizabeth had a good rapport to Mary and they have been chatting a lot. So I briefed her what I wanted to know and she did the rest. That has been working pretty well. I have also talked with Elizabeth about the communication problem with Mary and she thought that this is because of the foreign language. Mary feels a bit unsecure talking in English.
During the two weeks we have conducted about 50 interviews. We have been proceeded in a stratified random sampling.


Even sometimes we found us lost in a banana plantation. Actually many people should live here???


Finally, we found one homestead. But nobody was at home :(

I wanted to have a broad picture of peoples opinions from different interest groups. That’s why we have interviewed the Water and Sanitation Board Members as well as some of the former members, tap attendants, tap users who are using different taps in the town and the villages around, people who have private connections and non-tap users.
Due to the use of a gender-sensitive approach, I actually wanted to have an equal number of interviewed women and men. But I failed to reach this aim.
We have been moving around in the different cells in the morning and the evening. But most of the time we only meet women in the households. In the morning men did already left the house and in the evening they have been still on the way. And if both of them, man and woman, have been in the household, the man send the woman to be interviewed because water for domestic use is mainly a women’s issue. In the villages it was a bit different because there we have often met both in the household, that’s why we have conducted the conversation with both of them. But mostly men have been dominant.
In general, people have been very willing to be interviewed and welcomed us very friendly. Some people could even not believe that a “Mzungu” comes to see them in their houses.
I have prepared an interview guideline with questions about participation and transformation processes. We directly went to different households and Elizabeth was the one who introduced us and our aims before we started interviewing. She started with the prepared questions and after each answer she translated the content, then I continued with posing questions or she continued with the guidelines. Sometimes I had the feeling that she did not translate me the whole content and she continued asking without involving me.
At the beginning of the interview process I have been a bit frustrated because many answers have been very short (one or two sentences) and especially the information the interviewees gave us concerning changes in their lifes due to the availability of save water has been very rare. We tried to formulate the questions in another way and inquired about these issues, but still the answers were very brief. I am not sure what I have been expecting.
Also brief answers are meaningful! There can be several reasons for this behaviour. The project has been started almost 13 years ago; maybe the people don’t know remember exactly how they have been participating and how their lifes changes through the project. Maybe they are not willing to give us much personal information about their lifes because they don’t know us. Maybe they don’t think a lot about the changes in their lifes. Now they have water and they are happy. Many many reasons which I have to consider in the analysis!
In addition to the personal interviews we have conducted three focus-discussion-groups. The arrangement of these eighteen people (three groups – each with six members) was really a big challenge. We started to organize the groups when Elizabeth arrived, so we had almost three weeks. We have talked with the Chairman (James) of the project as well the scheme operator (Mary). We had many many discussions with them and it cost a lot of energy but finally we could manage it.


The first Discussion Group. Elizabeth is the lady on the right-hand side and the Chairperson James is next to her. With the others I have not been interacting hitherto.


Mary (my host-mommey) is the first lady on the right-handside.



The last few days, I have spent a lot of time with my computer to transcribe the interviews. This work is too tiresome. But it is almost done and soon I can start with the analysis which is quite interesting. I am looking forward!

In general, I appreciated the cooperation with Elizabeth. Sometimes we had different conflicts about how to conduct the interviews and how to pose the questions. But we really tried to understand each other and to find the best way to do a good research.
She is a modern young lady (26), married and has one child. She has nine brothers and sisters and all of them have been studying or are still studying. This is quiet amazing!
The data collection is done and can be completed in Muhanga!

Some Impressions of Muhanga and its surroundings

With this post I would like to give you a few impressions of Muhanga and its surroundings.

Everyday in the morning the valley is traversed by a heavy cloud cover. It is impressive to watch how the sky opens up.



Now is the time to harvest sorghum. Everywhere in Muhanga people dry sorghum on big sheets on the soil, but first they put it into water for one day to make it soft. On the picture you can see women cleaning sorghum.



Prospect of Muhanga from the neighbouring village Nyaruhanga.


Road to Kabale Town



Today I have climbed another surrounding hill. I really enjoy moving around and getting to know the neighbouring parts of Muhanga.

Even I have found somebody who knows the region very well and who is willing to guide me through the small paths through the villages up to the tops.

But it was not so easy to convince him that I am able to walk up to the top. Sometimes I have the feeling people think that I am disabled.

Today we have been at Nykitabire. On top, the view has been magnificent!

My new hairstyle

Even before I flew to Uganda I have decided to braid my hair.
And on Friday it finally happened. The day before I have bought the additional hair. The choice has not been so easy. Actually, I wanted to a have the same colour as my own hair has. But here in Uganda it is not so easy to find such a colour. They just had a very unnatural blond. And that’s why have chosen “coffee brown”. And I am pretty satisfied with the colour.
On Friday, I have been at the salon at 09.00 in the morning and I have left at 20.00 in the evening. And you won’t believe it, but my hair has not been completely braided. On Saturday, in the morning I have continued the sitting marathon and finally at 15.00 in the afternoon I could walk home. You cannot believe how exhausting it is to sit the whole day.
However, it has been worth while. I have never had so much hair and it is really difficult for me to handle it. The lady at the salon told me not to wash it and just to use a spray.
That’s my magnificent head of hear for the next month! (I am curious how it will develop)


That's the way how the lady in the salon tied my hair up.

Rukiga in Election Fever

19.03.2010

Due to the death of Samwiri Byanagwa (NRM) Rukiga County is going to elect a new MP. There is running a big battle between the ruling National Resistance Movement and the opposition Forum for Democratic Change (FDC). Four candidates have been nominated for the election. One from the NRM – Adison Kakuru, one from the FDC – Jack Sabiiti and two independents.

After a few conversations with people here in Muhanga I have the feeling that most of them will vote Jack Sabiiti and they really want him to be the next MP. Apparently, he has been the one who installed a gravity water system in many parts of Rukiga as well as electricity.
My host-mammy argued that he is a hard working man and that the other candidates are just promising their support for making money. But Jack is in opposition, that’s why she believes that he would not win the election. Before the last elections in 2006 Jack has been locked in his house and also during this election campaign some agents of Jack has been attacked.

Since I am here in Muhanga, several election rallies took place. I have attended two of them with my host-mommy. She is very active in supporting Jack. Even a meeting in her house has been arranged with about 15 people, Jack included. However I miss most of the information because the only language which is spoken in this context is Ankole Rukiga (unfortunately my host-mammy does not translate a lot for me), but even so, it is very interesting for me to be part of these happenings.

Today, Mr. President Museveni personally has been on election campaign in Kabale for his candidate. Hours before his arrival, the main street in Muhanga has been guarded by the police. The whole morning people have been very fevered and waited with bated breath for their president. Ultimately, he arrived in Muhanga with a convoy of about 15 cars (amongst 4 military vehicles and one ambulance). I think almost all residents of Muhanga Town have been on the street. They stopped by the road and Museveni orated through the sunroof of the car for about 15 minutes. As the convoy continued to the next village, they have passed all the people… I think I have been the only Mzungu… even Museveni recongnized me and waved to me… and I waved back!

I am really curious how these elections will develop… but I think I am not the only one!

P.S.: I asked someone if I am allowed to take a picture… he answered with a strict voice to leave my camera in my bag… otherwise I will be arrested. So, I did not have to courage to take a picture.

Muhanga

09.03. – 18.03.2010

On Tuesday last week I continued my travel to Muhanga – Kabale Distict where I am going to conduct my research.
A colleague from the Water and Sanitation Development Facility took me to Muhanga – 2 hours away from Mbarara Town.
Firstly, we have visited the Sub-County Bukinda to let them know that I am around in this region and then we continued our journey to Muhanga where we had to look for the lady, she is called Marry, where I am going to stay.
We went up to her house which is located on the surrounding hills. I have been really impressed of her house and even of my room! I love the view from my room!



The house is quite big and is surrounded by her garden where she plants all kind of african food (matoke, sweet potatoes, irish potatoes, beans, peas, pumpkins etc.) and the house is connected to electricity as well, as the most houses in this small town.



I feel really comfortable staying in this house. I did not expect such a "luxurious" life. There are just differences in sanitation and water supply. However, the first time it has been a challenge.


Toilet on the right hand-side is for running water and the other one is for the rest

Marry is quiet an impressive lady and always very busy, working for the water and sanitation scheme or in her garden or she is politically active. Her man died in 1998 and now she lives together with one girl and one boy, but they are not her children. The boy, Harvas is my teacher in Ankole Rukiga, the local language. For me it is really hard to learn it. Our communication is quiet funny, because his english is very weak and I do not speak his language... but it is always fun and he is very patient with me :)
If I try to speak Rukiga with the people here, they are always laughing about me... but I think they appreciate it.

I hope I won’t gain too much weight here, because people here (the tribe is called Bakiga) eat really a lot and they serve me a lot as well!
For breakfast we usually drink tea (African tea, that means milk with tea and a bit of water and a lot of sugar :)) and eat bananas, or sometimes I get an omelette or even today I got bread. For lunch and supper we always have african food which means a lot of carbohydrate. I try to get more of the vegetables like pumpkin and cabbages, but they are rare.

The people here in Muhanga are very friendly. But walking alone through the village is always a challenge.





A lot of people are calling “Mzungu”, which means foreigner… and this is the word I hear most of the time and everywhere! With most of the people you can have a small talk. They are very interested in how I like their country and their village, where I come from, the differences to my country...
On Tuesday, I had one of my most memorable experiences since I am here. I did some observations at a protected spring nearby the centre of the town. As I have arrived there, a few children have been there, fetching water, sitting in the grass, playing cards… they have been very sceptical as they have seen me. I greeted them in the local language, but still, they have been very shy. More and more children came to the spring fetching water. One of the boys came up to me and started talking with me. His English was quiet good. More children came around me and then I have been surrounded by at least 30 children.
Some sentences they like saying "Give me money", "Give me a pen", "Give me sweety". However, we have been joking and laughing… I had a great time with them.
As I decided to go home, because it became already dark, the children took their jerry cans and followed me. And eleven of the kids even followed me up to my room, a walking distance of about fifteen minutes… I could not believe it…I told them to go home, but they ignored my words. At Marries place they danced and sang for me… so sweet!

However, communication concerning my research is really hard. Even the communication with Marry is difficult. She does not speak a lot with me and she also does not tell me a lot about the project. I always have to quiz her about her life, (I think I am sometimes getting on her nerves) and then her answer often is just one sentence. Sometimes I have the feeling that she does not want to give me more information. There are misunderstandings as well… sometimes if she does not understand my questions, she just says yes. We will see how our communication process will develop!

Until now I did not start with the interviews, because of the communication problems. And I think it is also better, when the people are getting to know me and get used to my presence... so that we can build a basic confidence.
I have been observing several taps from the project. All in all the Facility established eight taps, but just three or four of them are working. Due to many leakages the water is not running. I have been mainly observing the tap in the centre of the town, as well as the protected springs to find out who is not using the water from the scheme.


Tap from the scheme

I have been really surprised that men and women are fetching water. As it is written in literature mainly women are responsible for water for domestic use. I thought Muhanga is different. But a few days later I found out that these men deliver water to different households and so they earn their livelihoods. It is quiet interesting that men get paid for this job and women not.
I am in contact with the Head of the Department Sociology of the Makarere University and he has recommended a graduate who can assist my research. She studies Sociology and Gender and could stay with me the next month, that means that we could cooperate in a good way. She is not from the region where the research is going to be conducted but apparently she knows the local language. However, I am a bit sceptical.
Yesterday I got to know a man from Muhanga who made his Bachelor in Sociology as well, but I he did not find a job in this branch. That’s why he has two shops in this village to earn his livelihood. He also offered me his support for my research.
Is it better to choose a person from “outside” or to choose one who lives hear?
I do not really know who is the best person for my research… do you have any ideas?

Tea is waiting for me...
See you!

My weekend!

On Friday I travelled back to Mbarara where I met a friend to make a trip to Queen Elizabeth National Park. We have spent one night in Mbarara and on Saturday morning we went to Kasese District.




On our way - I always enjoy travelling through this beautiful country

It was said that in this Nationalpark you can see lots of elephants (population of 3.000) as well as lions.
During our first gamedrive we did not see anything! Obviously, it was too hot. Frankly, we have been desperated.


View over the National Park

For Sunday we have booked a guide for visiting lions. We started our gamdrive at 06.30.
This trip has been really successful! Firstly, we have seen a leopard and it is really rare to see one. Normally, you meet one once in three months. Further, we have seen some elephant families and even tigers crossed our way!

Some Impressions…













On Sunday we continued our trip to the South, to Kabale District.
On the way...


Matoke Market



View over Kabale - the coldest District in Uganda


Kabale Town

Our goal has been Lake Bunyonyi!
What a wonderful and relaxing place!



On Monday I travelled back to Muhanga!

Lake Mburo - National Park

06.03. - 08.03.2010

I had the pleasure to spend this weekend in Lake Mburo – National Park in the South-Western part of Uganda. It is quit a small park with about 260km² consisting of open grassland, acacia forests, swamps, everglades and a few lakes.
We have made several game drives and a boat trip on Lake Mburo and we have discovered lots of animals.

I have really enjoyed this time with very nice people!

We have seen Zebras, Impalas, Monkeys, many different birds, bushbucks, warthogs and more...

Some impressions of Lake Mburo - National Park…