SHAWN DAVIS KAWALYA
At Makerere University, when doing Development Studies, a rural placement report is
expected from you. In the event of coming up with such a report, one is supposed to go to
the field, in this case a rural area preferably a village so as to carry out this field work. At
the end of it all, marks are awarded according to how good the work presented is, work is
personal, but students go in groups to minimize spending and for the sake of company. My
comrades and I chose to go to Jinja town, from which a village would be chosen.
Like any other student, I personally didn’t step in Jinja ahead of the trip, because I trusted my
comrades to get rooms and whatnot. I wasn’t disappointed, they did well in that area, not to
my expectations, but who cares?
I set off for Jinja at 4pm and 6pm, I had reached Igar petrol station just after the Bridge.
Officially, I was in Busoga land. I was hungry, apparently, most of these Jinja bound
matatu’s don’t make a stop over at the much craved for Namawojolo for the saliva stimulating
chicken and awesome Gonja(don’t know what that is in English)
The Boda boda men just opposite Igar petrol station where the matatu dropped me had already
known names of my comrades and where they were staying, so I didn’t even have to call any
of them, these very hospitable boda men took me to my comrades and they were busy talking
about how they are happy for JPAM.
Unfortunately, UCC had switched them off, I remember one of them telling me to bless him
with 5k so he could buy a decorder. I gave him the 5k, because in the land of the unknown,
I was supposed/expected to make connections and friends. That evening, I made two friends.
I went forward to where I was supposed to stay, old government buildings stood tall, unique
and well organised. In one of these awesome roomings, we were to lay/sleep.
Jinja is a distinctive town, with awesome clean roads coupled with mediocre potholes, old
beautiful buildings and hospitable folk. A serene environment with a cool breeze of fresh air.
The buildings where we were to stay have rules, we have to be in by 8pm, unless we are
not to come back till the following day, every thing including water and power are to be
used at a minimum, we were requested to be gentle during our stay at the premises.
First day was really short, but a few challenges here and there couldn’t be avoided,
language barrier always tops the list. There is a guy we asked about the bars and clubs
and he instead told us of how awesome the lodges were. Transport in Jinja is affordable,
its been a while since I was charged ugx. 500 for a boda ride or 300 in a taxi. I wouldn’t be
wrong to say the impact of inflation is hardly felt across the bridge.
So much of a first day, we were indoors by 8pm, supper was served, matooke, rice and
beans which stimulated a mega quantity of sleep, only to wake up on day 2 at 8am.
