BY REGINALD ANDERSON MTUI
Traveling by road tends to be the most exciting experience ever
though I can't tell about others like air,metro and water transport.
By road you turn yourself into a multiple doer making lots of comic
steps. An amazing part of this sort of traveling comes when one is
in position to fall sleep but is forced to avoid sleeping guess a funny
look upon someones face and eyes. There was a time when I saw a person
whose eyes were closed but his lips and jaws were moving up and down
expressing that he was chewing some eat at the same time sleeping.
Sometimes back in 2010 I was traveling with my colleague by bus to partner stat ministries to
distribute EAC publications,diaries,calendar,and flags. We planned that our journey
would begin from Arusha via Namanga then Busia finally Katuna and
Gatuna borders.
Five days before the departure we had booked for the bus tickets already. I remember very
well the last day in Arusha before our departure; I had a sleepless
night as it was my first time to visit these areas. I was
enthusiastic to the extent of counting hours. I could open up my
window quite often to see whether darkness had disappeared.
I was so excited by this fabulous long distance.
Our initial point was at the EAC Headquarters where we packed ten
boxes of publications, five boxes of calendars, seven boxes of diaries
and four full boxes of the brand new flags both table and big ones. A
four day journey wasn't a joke rather required preparations physically
and emotionally.
One thirty afternoon found us already at Arusha Kampala coach booking
office. According to the tickets we were required to start the journey
at around three in the evening but unfortunately we delayed due to
traffic jam. We waited for the bus for about two hours.
Most likely all passengers had gave up. I thought the journey that was
waited enthusiastically would be postponed. I had said bye to all
neighbors and friends so they would be wondering to see me at home.
Half past five in the evening our buried hope rose from the tomb. It
was a bolt from the blue as if we were imagining a dirty bus in which
its red color could hardly seen. Immediately it was followed by a
sophisticated voice of a lady who worked with the bus station "all
passengers get ready to travel, your bus is already here". I sat on
the door side next to a driver. He looked gawky and uncomfortable. His
arms and legs were long, he had a thin elongated face that hadn't
filled out to accommodate his aquiline nose and expressive brown
eyes. He absolutely knew that he wasn't a jock. Facial expression
showed that he had little chance to sleep a night ago.
With a terrific speed we arrived in Namanga border before eight. We
had only fifteen minutes for stamping our passports. Four hours later
we had arrived in Nairobi where I was compelled to spend one night as
I had to drop EAC materials for Kenya ministry. I looked for a nearby
motel, I didn't care whether it was perfect what I had in mind was to
escape from the street people of this huge city which is claimed to
have many robbers. The following day morning i went to the EAC
ministry. Because bus always travels to Kampala at night I waited up
to ten.
Our new journey began at ten to Kampala via Busia border. In spite of
bad haze weather in Kericho and later Eldoret we reached Busia safely.
I was shocked to hear that we had eight hours to get Kampala. Perhaps
we arrived tired in Kampala I forced myself to distribute the EAC
materials for Kampala ministry the very same day.
Sunday evening at around ten we began a journey from Kampala coach
Arua park. We slept in Ishasha town up to ten thirty in the morning.
From there we began another journey to Gatuna border on the side of
Uganda. Though we passed safely Gatuna checkpoint things were
different in Katuna. An immigration officer inspected the bus, after
discovering twenty six boxes of ours he ordered me to get down. I
didn't understand the language easily. Until the conductor informed
me that I was needed. We walked back to a tall man carried navy blue
folder files with him. His other hand was in the black Jean pocket.
I picked down all twenty six boxes and the officer tore them to see
what was inside. After all he ordered me to follow him to his office
where I was told to pay custom duty. Having realized that there was no
time for exchanging words I paid immediately and demanded for
receipts. I took them to EAC ministry Rwanda and my money was refunded.
Still we had a journey to Bujumbura so we traveled on the midday by
bus. Through Nemba side of Rwanda border and Gishenyi side of Burundi.
We camped in Kirundo region and spent a night in lodge. The place was
badly in need of refurbishing. The matted peach carpeting had several
large stains, many of the ivory mini blind slats were bent and there
were networks of cracks on the walls and ceilings. More cracks
threatened to break thru the dated floral wallpaper in the two bedrooms.
The following day morning we began to depart to EAC Bujumbura ministry
to deliver publications and other materials. Finally we returned back
to Kirundo region where we spent one night before beginning a safari
back home.
Traveling by road tends to be the most exciting experience ever
though I can't tell about others like air,metro and water transport.
By road you turn yourself into a multiple doer making lots of comic
steps. An amazing part of this sort of traveling comes when one is
in position to fall sleep but is forced to avoid sleeping guess a funny
look upon someones face and eyes. There was a time when I saw a person
whose eyes were closed but his lips and jaws were moving up and down
expressing that he was chewing some eat at the same time sleeping.
Sometimes back in 2010 I was traveling with my colleague by bus to partner stat ministries to
distribute EAC publications,diaries,calendar,and flags. We planned that our journey
would begin from Arusha via Namanga then Busia finally Katuna and
Gatuna borders.
Five days before the departure we had booked for the bus tickets already. I remember very
well the last day in Arusha before our departure; I had a sleepless
night as it was my first time to visit these areas. I was
enthusiastic to the extent of counting hours. I could open up my
window quite often to see whether darkness had disappeared.
I was so excited by this fabulous long distance.
Our initial point was at the EAC Headquarters where we packed ten
boxes of publications, five boxes of calendars, seven boxes of diaries
and four full boxes of the brand new flags both table and big ones. A
four day journey wasn't a joke rather required preparations physically
and emotionally.
One thirty afternoon found us already at Arusha Kampala coach booking
office. According to the tickets we were required to start the journey
at around three in the evening but unfortunately we delayed due to
traffic jam. We waited for the bus for about two hours.
Most likely all passengers had gave up. I thought the journey that was
waited enthusiastically would be postponed. I had said bye to all
neighbors and friends so they would be wondering to see me at home.
Half past five in the evening our buried hope rose from the tomb. It
was a bolt from the blue as if we were imagining a dirty bus in which
its red color could hardly seen. Immediately it was followed by a
sophisticated voice of a lady who worked with the bus station "all
passengers get ready to travel, your bus is already here". I sat on
the door side next to a driver. He looked gawky and uncomfortable. His
arms and legs were long, he had a thin elongated face that hadn't
filled out to accommodate his aquiline nose and expressive brown
eyes. He absolutely knew that he wasn't a jock. Facial expression
showed that he had little chance to sleep a night ago.
With a terrific speed we arrived in Namanga border before eight. We
had only fifteen minutes for stamping our passports. Four hours later
we had arrived in Nairobi where I was compelled to spend one night as
I had to drop EAC materials for Kenya ministry. I looked for a nearby
motel, I didn't care whether it was perfect what I had in mind was to
escape from the street people of this huge city which is claimed to
have many robbers. The following day morning i went to the EAC
ministry. Because bus always travels to Kampala at night I waited up
to ten.
Our new journey began at ten to Kampala via Busia border. In spite of
bad haze weather in Kericho and later Eldoret we reached Busia safely.
I was shocked to hear that we had eight hours to get Kampala. Perhaps
we arrived tired in Kampala I forced myself to distribute the EAC
materials for Kampala ministry the very same day.
Sunday evening at around ten we began a journey from Kampala coach
Arua park. We slept in Ishasha town up to ten thirty in the morning.
From there we began another journey to Gatuna border on the side of
Uganda. Though we passed safely Gatuna checkpoint things were
different in Katuna. An immigration officer inspected the bus, after
discovering twenty six boxes of ours he ordered me to get down. I
didn't understand the language easily. Until the conductor informed
me that I was needed. We walked back to a tall man carried navy blue
folder files with him. His other hand was in the black Jean pocket.
He had a bulge abdomen a sign of satisfaction. " alright let's get the
owners permission" he spoke in a Germanic way of pronunciation.I picked down all twenty six boxes and the officer tore them to see
what was inside. After all he ordered me to follow him to his office
where I was told to pay custom duty. Having realized that there was no
time for exchanging words I paid immediately and demanded for
receipts. I took them to EAC ministry Rwanda and my money was refunded.
Still we had a journey to Bujumbura so we traveled on the midday by
bus. Through Nemba side of Rwanda border and Gishenyi side of Burundi.
We camped in Kirundo region and spent a night in lodge. The place was
badly in need of refurbishing. The matted peach carpeting had several
large stains, many of the ivory mini blind slats were bent and there
were networks of cracks on the walls and ceilings. More cracks
threatened to break thru the dated floral wallpaper in the two bedrooms.
The following day morning we began to depart to EAC Bujumbura ministry
to deliver publications and other materials. Finally we returned back
to Kirundo region where we spent one night before beginning a safari
back home.
