South Western Uganda is Blessed Beyond Repair, Says My Travel Notes

WE started off on a day that usually belongs to my laundry, to my Kitchen, to my phone, to my Mom, to Daddy, to Norah and our flowers; Mercy and Fenella.

Saturday. It was late afternoon of it, when we pressed the start button. I was full of exhilaration because I was visiting for the first time despite the tasks involved. Poor me, I could not see them at all! I mean, I could not set eyes on the things that would excite me most during such moments as a little boy, back then in the 1990s.

                 

 The steep hills and valleys of Isingiro                    

With the weight of darkness taking its toll on this beautiful day, I had to painfully miss my childhood travel entertainment. I missed them all. The flying clouds, the racing trees, the houses, the people full of what to do. The millions of automobiles cruising to the opposite direction, and so many more. These were what enthused my journeys as a child. Just know, travels nowadays simply make me young.

Childhood reminiscences aside. What pre-occupied my mind all the way through the journey was the imagination of how the green guys might treat us. Our Country is under lockdown. Lockdown due to the oddest of visitors of our time. Due to Mr. deadly Corona Virus. Anyway, our journey hit finishing line at 8: 30 PM. The green guys were tired and paid less attention.

Mbarara. What a city! A city of compliance. Apart from dozens of roasted maize cobs we grabbed from Masaka, we had no options but to rush into our hotel rooms and snuffle peacefully until the next day. We were late for business. Did you see my tweet that night? It reads, “Mbarara, the City of strict adherence to COVID-19 SOPs. You can’t mess here…”.  We slept hungry.

A trip from Mbarara early morning to catch up with business in Isingiro district was another new experience. Isingiro is beautifully situated at the borderline of the Republic of Tanzania. Here, we are separated from Tanzanians by the dirty, but attractive and economically significant river Kagera. Lovely steep hills and deep valleys are key geographical features of this Ankole district. The people are welcoming. Did you know that Isingiro district hosts a number of refugees? Don’t forget that Nakivale Refugee settlement in Isingiro is also the oldest settlement in Africa.

            I was thrilled by both living & non-living things                  

My next destination was Kamwenge district, another sweet place to be proud of as a Country. The natural attractions of this district bring home an estimated 12,500 tourists annually. Kamwenge is blessed with numerous wetlands, grasslands and woodlands. Kamwenge shares the pride of Queen Elizabeth National Park with Kitagwenda district. Other attractions to this district includes; Lake George, River Mpanga, Rwenshama Falls and Katonga Nature Reserve.

There was more work to do, but I cannot forget the feeling of passing through Kyenjojo district to cross over to Kyegegwa another district with excess beauty of nature. Despite the shortage of infrastructural development here, I fell in love with the attitude of the people of Kyegegwa. Calm, friendly and generous Ugandans. The two nights I spent in Kyegegwa brought back memories of my life in Bunyoro Kingdom. Now I know why the Batooro and the Banyoro are identical twins. Let me reserve more for another day. Shooting back home was through Mubende and Mityana districts.