Images of Uganda

Photographs of Uganda from Bob Jones, formerly Head of Geography at Alleyne's High School in Stone. Bob and 6 other teachers took part in a study visit project in April 2004, "Learning from Ugandan Perspectives" organised by Tide~. This was an investigatory project exploring the ideas of Citizenship and development in Uganda. These photos taken by Bob give an overview of life in Uganda. They are not comprehensive, but Bob's notes provide background to go with the images. If you would like further information then e-mail Bob robertgjones@yahoo.com

	HIV/AIDS is still a major concern for the people of Uganda. To date 1.8 million people have died of AIDS in Uganda .An interview with a Ugandan HIV/AIDS worker 6th April 2004 gave a more optimistic picture of the efforts to combat AIDS in Uganda. Uganda's rate of new HIV infections has dropped dramatically from 18 to 9% between 1995 and 1998 (UNICEF data). Uganda is open in promoting an anti AIDS programme as this poster shows.
	Condoms are freely advertised to reduce the spread of HIV/AIDS. Some are distributed free but rural areas have lower usage than urban areas.
	Poverty is a major trigger for the creation of street children. Boys are often forced out of homes in rural areas because lack of employment opportunities as well as the break up of the family unit through the scourge of HIV/AIDS
	This young man (an Arsenal supporter) is a member of the 'The Tigers Club', a project that supports some of the 10,000 boys who end up as street children in Kampala. For details of this charity consult www.tigersclub.org/
	An American, Craig Esbeck, has settled in Kampala with the intention of producing low cost educational posters. Too often, commercially produced maps and diagrams are too expensive for most Ugandan schools. His idea of using cheaper materials such as grain sacks has given schools the opportunity to help teachers raise educational standards. One of these hand made posters costs 2500 Ugandan shilling (about 70p)
	Ugandans regard education highly. In 1997 Universal Primary Education was introduced. This raises issues of whether schools can cope with enormous class sizes often in excess of 80! Here a road haulier in the western suburb of Natete has allowed a simple structure with two classrooms to be built on his land. We saw two classrooms full of eager children in smart green uniforms. There was a keenness to learn despite lack of resources.
	Bananas traded along the roadside at Natete, a western suburb of Kampala. Plastic bags are a modern feature worldwide; bicycles the commonest form of transport along this unpaved highway
	Fresh produce well presented in Katimba market of central Kampala. Agriculture is the most important sector of Uganda's economy with 90% of agriculture carried out on a subsistence basis. Only the surplus is sold to markets such as this.
	Central bus station Kampala. Car Ownership is still low in Uganda and larger buses are used for long distances. In Kampala taxis called matatus are used to transport people around the city. Although the scene may appear chaotic, people are able to find a route ride a matatu to anywhere in the city.
	Bicycles, made in either India or China, are an important form of transport. Here village children use the bicycle to carry heavy plastic water containers. Bicycle transport known as "boda boda" is commonly used in towns to transport people.
	A dry weather country road near Bujagali Falls. A man on bicycle laden with sugar cane makes a friendly greeting "Jambo!".
	A heavily congested street scene in central Kampala. Many traders crowd the pavements. The informal sector of small scale traders accounts for 95% of the urban economy (UN Habitat 2003).
	Here a child in a village has made a toy car out recycled material.
	Jinja, Uganda's second city situated on Lake Victoria, had been laid out in colonial times in a grid pattern. Asian workers who had settled here to work on the Uganda Railway prospered and built many large houses such as shown here. The Asian community was expelled in 1972, leaving many properties to deteriorate. Asians are now returning and repatriating some of their property.
	Central Kampala contrasts with living conditions in other parts of Kampala. As the capital, investment in banks, hotels and government buildings predominate.
	Museveni is the president of Uganda. He came to power in 1986. He rules under the National Resistance Movement (NRM) banner. He instituted a policy of decentralisation and invited the Asians back. In 2001 Museveni won a further term as President.
	In the poor district of Danida, a suburb of Jinja ,residents have benefited from the sinking of a water well. 50 shillings (about 1.4p) will purchase 3 cans of fresh water. Local income is generated as well as employment at the pump. 16 water pumps have been installed in Jinja as part of Jinja Council's Agenda 21 programme.
	Children in Jinja. These children benefit from clean water, although housing conditions are poor. Many wear western "cast off" charity clothing which has impacted on the local clothing industry. Uganda has a very youthful population with 50% under 15 (compared with UK 18.9 %), 2001 figures.
	Charcoal is carried by bicycle and is an important fuel for the urban dwellers of Jinja. Trees are cut on the Lake Victoria island of Buvuma. Wood is burned for about 2 weeks after being covered with soil before it turns into charcoal. Three charcoal boats a day carrying 100 sacks each are offloaded at the lakeside in Jinja. The charcoal is protected by vegetation during transport. There are concerns that deforestation is causing undue environmental degradation.
	Jinja has the main HEP plant near the source of the Nile (Owen Falls). This produces most of Uganda's electricity. However many urban dwellers find it cheaper to buy charcoal and so these men, and some women, load the charcoal at the distribution point on Lake Victoria. The boss has the mobile phone. Can you spot it? Mobile phones are now more common than land line phones in Uganda and are more and more accessible.( 682,000 lines of which 90% mobile year 2003)
	To save charcoal, more energy efficient stoves are on sale in Jinja market. The Kenya Ceramic Jiko (KCJ) is a model in widespread use in this part of Africa. They are easily made locally and are an example on intermediate technology.
	Masese village on the outskirts of Jinja has installed a biogas energy scheme. It is part of Jinja Council's Agenda 21 Programme. Waste from 40 houses is collected in the biogas tank. Locals use the gas for cooking. Outcome: sewage is prevented from going into Lake Victoria and less charcoal is used and so reducing the effects of deforestation.
	Fish provides useful protein for the dwellers of Jinja. However the water hyacinth was accidentally introduced to Lake Victoria in 1988 and is now a problem for navigation. It is an ornamental plant originating from South America. The water hyacinth has also interfered with electricity generation at the Owens Fall HEP plant. Some progress has been made with the introduction of biological control through leaf eating beetles and mechanical control.
	Here the Lake Victoria (left) becomes the Nile (right). British explorer Speke "discovered" the source. Since Africans had been living in this region for thousands of years a new plaque reads "This spot marks the point where the Nile starts its long journey to the Mediterranean Sea through central Uganda, Sudan and Egypt".
	Tourism is developing again in Uganda. Here young British visitors are white water rafting on the Nile at Bujagali. There are new plans to build another HEP plant here which would mean the end of this type of tourist activity. Most Ugandans see electrification of rural areas as a priority and point to other areas of Uganda where tourism has a future.
Video clip white water rafting.  Try this short video to experience a virtual soaking!	Video clip Kampala Street.  This short video clip of street life in Kampala. It sums up the liveliness of the scene.

This page last updated 03 April 2012