Chapter 1 - The long journey

As we exited the plane at Entebbe airport, we were reminded of that familiar dry heat and even drier stares from the Ugandans.
As we navigated customs health clearing (thanks to the Ebola outbreaks) the security guard questioned Caz’s heritage as she presented her Ugandan passport.
Are you sure you are Ugandan? You must be mistaken; I am sure you are Kenyan!

Caz laughed it off as she was used to being questioned by Ugandans who thought she looked familiar but behaved and dressed differently.

We approached the “foreigners” desk to get Mark his East African Visa and were met with what we assume was sheer laziness from the woman at the desk. She was so uninterested in helping us, that her colleague took over dealing with us.
Despite how friendly Ugandan are, they are certainly not known for their customer service.
If Caz wasn’t so tired, I am sure she would have called her out for being useless!

After another bag security check (there are many) we exited the airport to the collections area.
We had hoped we would be able to spot our ride and avoid the crowd trying to get us to take their taxi. One guy walked past without stopping and commented – Guys, there is no need to call an Uber, when I am just here. To which Caz replied…. They have Uber here?

Once we navigated the chaotic and typically unorganised parking lot and were in the car, we could finally relax and enjoy the fact that we were back in UG after 4 years (we had hoped it would be sooner)

As we cruised the freshly paved Entebbe road surrounded on either side by lush green and orange topped homes. The rain and sun makes the vegetation of Uganda lush and green and often super sized!
The roadsides were filled with makeshift shops, food markets, boda-boda (bike taxis) drivers waiting in the shade….and a random skinny cow standing on the roadside.

The wildlife here is abundant, even within the inner cities, Mark was excited to spotted multiple species of eagle and hawk circling overhead.

It’s clear that a lot has changed and not at all in some ways…
There are luxury properties being build all around, and it’s quite a contrast between the have and have nots in some parts.
You cant miss the beggars and sellers every time you stop in traffic or at a rare traffic light, but we could argue that a person here with no

money, but with the ability to grow food is richer than any city beggar who relies purely on money to survive.

Great to be back in this vibrant and at times crazy city of green and orange.