When I emailed my Ugandan friends from the conservation field station and told them I was coming back after two years they couldn’t believe it. I only had a small window to get to Budongo in western Uganda. Uncle Charlie and I have had a pretty mental travel schedule using various buses and staying probably […]
June 23, 2014
The journey back to Uganda began very early. We decided to catch the first bus leaving at 0600 to try to hit Kampala at a reasonable hour. No wifi this time, smaller seats and lots of screaming babies for ten hours. Ah well the first experience was too good to be true. Crossing the border […]
May 27, 2012
I have to say I think I have been blessed by the people I’ve been meeting during this mini adventure. Maybe it’s the expression I wear that diverts the idiots, not sure, but I’m glad it’s working. The night before the start of the two-day biodiversity and conservation conference I was sat in the reception […]
May 23, 2012
After my short episode in jail the last few days have been somewhat less exciting. On Saturday Moses and another field assistant from Budongo, Dominic made a trip to Biiso to surprise me. It was lovely to see them both. Although I half suspect the visit was an excuse for Moses to borrow a motorcycle […]
May 11, 2012
Blimey what a crazy couple of days, I’m not even sure where to start. People I was sceptical about have surprised me and those I thought I could rely have disappointed me. First Revelation: My “new Boda friends” Musindi and Mukaali are one such example and they are now in my bad books. I honestly was […]
May 6, 2012
The last few days I’ve been saying my farewells to my dear friends who have made me so welcome in Budongo. Moses kicked off the beginning of the week, it felt odd to say goodbye but I do I hope I might see him at the lake. He has promised to visit when he goes […]
May 6, 2012
The road to Biiso is remarkably smooth. You notice when your teeth are no longer chattering driving along a Ugandan road. The potholes have been filled and the road flattened – it’s one of the main routes used by large oil trucks heading to Lake Albert. Our white pick-up truck cruised along speedily with Zephyr […]
April 28, 2012
Next week is my last at camp Budongo. I feel quite emotional about it. I love the surroundings, the staff; field assistants, the researchers and Mary’s cooking (chapatis just won’t taste the same elsewhere!). It will be hard to leave dry-eyed even for a cynical old boot like me. Nine weeks have vanished, but I […]
April 26, 2012
It looks like I have to go back to Kampala for a day next week. I’ve decided to ask for a refund for the camp fees I paid to Vector Control Division. I wasn’t 100 per cent convinced about my safety or how workable a situation I was creating for myself and after a long […]
April 23, 2012
It’s been 7 weeks since I last my Uganda friends. This afternoon (Saturday) I arranged to meet Richard and his wife Teddy. As I loitered outside the shopping centre on Entebbe Road, I was approached by Boda guys; the God squad; letchy men and begging children. In typical African tradition he turned late: an hour […]
June 28, 2014
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