16. Uganda - Saturday 17th October

It was with very mixed feelings that I awoke on my last morning in Luwero. Although I will be glad to return home to James and the boys, I will be very sad to leave this wonderful place. It really has been the experience of a lifetime. 

This morning we unpacked the cases that we brought with us; we all brought two cases, one containing our own things and the other full of clothes, shoes and toys for the Luwero pupils. These were donated by various churches and individuals around the school area. There were so many items! We divided them into categories and Gabriel got them ready for redistribution to people in the community. 

I have also donated all of my clothes (except the ones I am wearing!) and so has everyone else in the group, and I gave my head torch to Bush because it helps her with cooking in the hut when it's dark. I also gave a couple of wee private gifts. This left me with very empty cases! However Gabriel gave us each two big pineapples and some huge avocados so that filled them a bit.

All too soon it was time to say our goodbyes and we set off along the bumpy earthen road to Luwero town and onwards to Kampala one last time. I just tried to take it all in. The red earth. People cycling with huge bundles of sticks across the back of their bikes. Women walking along balancing high piles of bananas on their heads. Children waving and shouting excitedly as we passed by. Roadside stalls with beautifully displayed fruit. Motorcycles with two, three or four people balanced precariously on them, weaving in and out of the traffic. Markets, full of people and all kinds of products from food to furniture with barbecues and popcorn stalls smelling delicious. Traffic jams in Kampala, most of which our driver, Daniel, expertly managed to avoid. 

Daniel has been our driver for all of our trips, cheerfully and safely taking us to and from our destinations for many, many hours of driving. On the day that we went to the Equator there was a storm in Luwero which blew the roof off Daniel's house and washed away one of the rooms. The community are all rallying round to help him rebuild it. 

Today is Davie's 20th birthday so I phoned him from the bus during our journey, it was lovely to hear his voice. Twenty years - my goodness!

When he's going to the airport Gabriel likes to get through the potential delays of Kampala early and then have time for a stop before going on to Entebbe. We stopped for an hour at a wee mall with a restaurant. It felt so European compared to the other places we have been. We sat outside in the warm darkness and had drinks and snacks, with the sky lit up from time to time with distant lightning.