Ways of commuting

Apart from owning a car, the most convenient transportation here is matatu taxi. These minibuses fit around 15 people and as soon as they are full they leave for their designed destination, stopping on their way to drop and pick up passengers as requested. The challenge is figuring out right spots to catch taxis to different villages and suburbs, especially in cases when you need to transfer several times. Taxi prices do not kill you financially, as for example the journey from Matuga (home) to Kampala's main taxi hub, a crazy valley with hundreds of vehicles (pic1), costs around 0,5 euros.

The only notable disadvantage when taking a taxi is getting stuck in traffic jams, which happens pretty much every time. Due to this, it normally takes an hour for me to get from home to downtown, despite the distance being just 15km. Bodabodas (motorcycle rides) are as cheap as taxis and capable of going around stuck cars. However, since they frequently get into serious accidents I have chosen to avoid them when possible. Locals seem more relaxed, as by holding babies they can fit a whole family on one bodaboda (pic2).

Pretty much comparable to bodabodas are bicycles. Some locals show highly developed balancing skills by transporting large, heavy items on their bikes in innovative ways (pic3). Maybe even more impressing is head carrying. Mostly only women seem to have mastered this skill, and they may also have a baby tied to their back (pic4).

Naturally, the most basic way is going by foot. I very much enjoy walking through villages; observing all the movement and sound created by people, animals and vehicles. There are very many children here. They run around with little supervision and I often see toddles playing right next to a busy road with dangerous looking objects. Festive type of music is always present, lifting up the spirit of everyday life. Ugandan streets are full of life (pic5)!