31 photos.
old taxi parkKampala, Uganda, 2004
Matatus (minivan commuter taxis) are an important mode of transport within Kampala and elsewhere in Uganda for many people. The legal limit is 14 passengers, plus the conductor and the driver; usually the five rows of benches can seat three people each. In Nairobi the matatus can seat 20; each row has four seats. Getting to your matatu in the maze of vehicles in Old Park can be challenging, and traffic jams can cause long delays.
Tim, Greg, Joanitha and DonaldBukoba, Tanzania, 2003
Donald passed away suddenly, just a few months after we left East Africa. He was in charge of rebuilding many of the important highways connecting Bukoba to other towns, including Mutukula, the border with Uganda. He was a jovial, witty and intelligent Brit whose wife was originally from Lesotho.
GregKampala, Uganda, 2003
Greg relaxing in front of the apartment on the hill in Nsambya where we lived for a year. It was a very dusty place with plumbing problems, but it was securely fenced in and our flowers grew like crazy. It was a 15-minute walk down the hill to Kabalagala and Kampala International University.
Mbarara University of Science and TechnologyMbarara, Uganda, 2003
Teachers from the Faculty of Science at Uganda Martyrs University went to Mbarara for a retreat and to visit MUST.
second-year computer science students, Uganda Martyrs UniversityNkozi, Uganda, 2003
Caroline, Natacha, Sandrine, Arlene, Donavine, Betrix, Maureen, Doreen, Florence, Patricia, Alice, Agnes, Guy, Herve, Armel, Elvis, Arthur, Ivan, Jerome, Charles, James, Herve, Christian, Thomas
Joanitha on Valentine's dayKampala, Uganda, 2003
The flowers and outdoor setting at this hilltop hotel in Kabalagala made up for the food and rooms.
Joanitha near Kampala International UniversityKampala, Uganda, 2003
Joanitha attended KIU for a year in computer science but was disappointed by the chaotic disorganization of the newly founded university and found the classes to be overcrowded, impersonal and nonpractical.
Joanitha preparing seneneKampala, Uganda, 2003
Senene are bright green grasshoppers which appear at a few short times of the year in the Great Lakes region of East Africa. They are attracted by artificial lights, captured in bedsheets, and fried in oil or slowly roasted over coals. They make a spicy, crunchy snack and are traditionally associated with couples in love.
Joanitha at a photo studioKampala, Uganda, 2003
We came to a small, crowded shop in the middle of town to have some ID photos taken, but they were taking so long that we decided to use their studio and my camera.
inside Kasubi tombsKampala, Uganda, 2003
Inside the main building are spears, shields, medals, portraits, a canon from Henry Morton Stanley, chairs from Queen Elizabeth I, and a stuffed leopard.
Kasubi tombsKampala, Uganda, 2003
This building holds artifacts of the four previous kings of Buganda.
Rubaga CathedralKampala, Uganda, 2003
I saw this Roman Catholic cathedral every week on my way to and from Uganda Martyrs University because they have a Rubaga campus where the bus departs for Nkozi. It has a large interior and nice pipe organ.
Joanitha photographing monkeys, national arboretumEntebbe, Uganda, 2003
The arboretum in Entebbe has a nice setting by Lake Victoria near the Wildlife Education Centre and is home to two types of monkeys and many types of birds.
breadfruitEntebbe, Uganda, 2003
The breadfruit or jackfruit is found in East Africa as well as Asia.
shoebill storkEntebbe, Uganda, 2003
The shoebill stork is a rare bird of East Africa, one of the many animals found in natural settings at the Entebbe Wildlife Education Centre.
two crested cranes, Entebbe Wildlife Education CentreEntebbe, Uganda, 2003
The crested crane is the national bird of Uganda and is often found in pairs in wetland areas.
Joanitha and two hatted characters, Speke ResortMunyonyo, Uganda, 2003
These two contestants in the hat contest at the goat races were like right out of My Fair Lady. Joanitha wanted to stay late; she could have danced all night.
goat races, Speke ResortMunyonyo, Uganda, 2003
Goats are not exactly born racers. They are followed closely from behind with a large banner, and run more or less neck and neck the whole way around. The winner is the one who happened to be a little more nervous than the others at the approach of the finish line. But it's a great excuse for food, drink and socializing.
Greg and Joanitha in the rainMount Elgon, Uganda, 2003
Mount Elgon was cold and rainy, and climbing muddy paths was a challenge, but we enjoyed the lush vegetation and serenity.
Joanitha with flowersMount Elgon, Uganda, 2003
Mount Elgon has a beautiful variety of flowering plants.
Joanitha with armed park rangerMount Elgon, Uganda, 2003
To take a walk in Mount Elgon, even for day hikes, you are required to be accompanied by armed park rangers, who protect against poachers and bandits as well as whatever few rare wild animals might remain. But the ranger said the park has been quite safe lately.
my first house, Ponhofi SchoolOhangwena, Namibia, 1995
I shared this house with Adams Kamulegeya, a Ugandan maths teacher I later met by chance in Mutukula in 2003, his Owambo wife Letu, their newborn baby, and some chickens (who had the biggest room). It was a modern concrete house with a metal roof, and electricity and running water (most of the time).