Riots in Uganda

Well we were here in Uganda during the riots and in hindsight, very exciting...! Lockdown for one day and then the two weeks of 'mourning'. Jordan House was right next to Kasubi Tombs and you could so sense the tension every time we drove through. It wasn't pleasant: people shouting out slogans, early morning drunkenness, armed soldiers in the hedges and all over the place. The whole atmosphere just waiting for a spark to ignite. Also the staff at Jordan House prevented Channel 4 from filming outside of the orphanage, which was a fair call, but frustrating for them!

But we lived another day and with credit to the Ugandan Government in handling a potentially explosive situation, all has calmed down. We have since had 2 weeks enforced rest while waiting for our Sudanese visas which have just come through. Yeah!

We had an amazing day meeting our sponsored child. I have met lots of lovely sponsored children but I wasn’t prepared for the impact of meeting ‘our’ 12 yr old – and the reality that Jacob, the youngest of 5 is now able to go to school, get his education and make a go of life. He is two years behind, reflected by the fact that his mother was not able to afford to send him to local school continually. (We only took him on a couple of years ago.) I am still humbled by the stark realisation of what we’ve enabled to happen. In its own a way – a highlight of our time here.