It’s Monday, which means back to work. I join Lydia and James for a trip north to Gulu. We leave the office about 11 and arrive in Gulu at 6 p.m. The road has many potholes in it, so driving is quite slow at times.
A week ago, we went to the source of the Nile River. Today we cross a branch of the Nile River that feeds into Prince Albert Lake. This part of the Nile is wild. We see falls in the distance and the number of boulders in the river make this a rafter’s dream or nightmare, depending upon experience. It is too fast and wild for me, that’s for sure. On the other side of the river, we are greeted by baboons in the road and toss roasted cassava to them.
Closer to Gulu, we see many relocation camps for families displaced by the 20-year war in the north. Round huts with grass roofs are crowded together with little space in between. There are multiple camps and the roofs go on and on. Although the war is over, only some families have moved back to their villages. Some have split their families so that part goes back to re-establish their homes and will come back for the rest of their families, others may go away during the day to work and return at night if their village is close enough. Others fear the war is not settled and choose to stay. Still others have lived in the camps for up to 21 years and no longer know their home village and choose to stay.
We finally reach Gulu and check into a hotel that Lydia has stayed at before because it is clean and quite. Well, generally. Tonight is the African Cup soccer game, so the bar is packed and noisy. Good fun.
A week ago, we went to the source of the Nile River. Today we cross a branch of the Nile River that feeds into Prince Albert Lake. This part of the Nile is wild. We see falls in the distance and the number of boulders in the river make this a rafter’s dream or nightmare, depending upon experience. It is too fast and wild for me, that’s for sure. On the other side of the river, we are greeted by baboons in the road and toss roasted cassava to them.
Closer to Gulu, we see many relocation camps for families displaced by the 20-year war in the north. Round huts with grass roofs are crowded together with little space in between. There are multiple camps and the roofs go on and on. Although the war is over, only some families have moved back to their villages. Some have split their families so that part goes back to re-establish their homes and will come back for the rest of their families, others may go away during the day to work and return at night if their village is close enough. Others fear the war is not settled and choose to stay. Still others have lived in the camps for up to 21 years and no longer know their home village and choose to stay.
We finally reach Gulu and check into a hotel that Lydia has stayed at before because it is clean and quite. Well, generally. Tonight is the African Cup soccer game, so the bar is packed and noisy. Good fun.
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