Who here doesn't have an AK-47?

Fancy!

So today we traveled up to Gulu, which was an awesome way to see Uganda.  Traveling up the main road we passed small markets, buildings, and lots of people.  Of course as you travel farther away from the city of Kampala, the sparser and less developed the landscape became.  After about 2 or 3 hours, we reached a bridge that crossed a part of the Nile known as Karuma Falls.  This is the point that “divided” the north and the south.  It was at this point in the not too distant past that you would have needed to have a military escort with you to defend yourself in case you were attacked by the LRA.  As we passed through the checkpoint (we’ve quickly become accustomed to all the police/soldiers with AK-47s by now), we noticed the “bush” quickly became a little thicker and there were definitely less buildings.  You can easily see how “rebels” would hide out in this jungle and be so hard to track.  After another couple of hours, we reached Gulu.

No malaria for guests - bad for business.

Entrance to the market

We checked into the Acholi Inn and quickly put our personal effects in our rooms.  Then we were off to see the school!  Unfortunately, it began to rain, and it rained just long enough that we knew the dirt roads heading out to the school would be quite muddy.  Since it was already early afternoon, we couldn’t risk getting stuck out in the mud and having to walk back in the dark (it’s about 45 minutes by car to the school each way).  So we called an audible and decided to check out the local market.  Not only would it be awesome to see where the locals bought their groceries and things, but it also provided first hand research into what kinds of things the local community purchased.  You see, the Galileo School leaders are trying to find ways to make sure the school can support itself on its own.  So they are looking into local business opportunities for the school (currently, they are looking into producing and selling honey).  The local market was this twisting, winding maze of shops that sold mostly clothes or produce.  Set back behind some buildings, you wouldn’t have even known it was there unless someone (like our guide, Pastor Samuel) took you down one of the narrow alley ways leading to the market.   

A local women selling beans and millet

Local honey - note the honeycombs and bees still in it.

Once inside, our team got plenty of smiles, stares, and looks (some dirty, some good) as we traversed the maze.  Often we’d ask to take someone’s picture but were denied.  It seems many people around here think you are going to sell their photo for money, so they don’t want you taking their photos unless you give them a cut.  

No doubt all the photo journalists up here over the last 20 years have intensified this problem.   Eventually, we did end up with a few good pictures, muddy shoes, and lots of research about the local honey.  Side note, the infrastructure for roads and drainage here is pretty much non-existent.  So when it rains, you end up navigating muddy roads and walkways full of a mix of rain water and probably sewer run off. Anyways, it was a fairly productive day given the rain. Tomorrow, we’ll get up at first light to grab breakfast and head out to see the school for the first time!