Uganda Day 5... Party Time

We got woken up really early by a sound system blaring music right outside our accomodation. Yesterday lots of people had been busy erecting marquees and putting out plastic seating. It was clear that it was a big deal.

We had been asked to meet at the new church at 0900 for the unveiling of the plaque by the archbishop of Uganda.... but just like a couple of weeks ago.. 0900 Uganda time is not the same as 0900 UK time.

Gathered near the church were lots of clergy dressed in white with different coloured scarves but no sign of an archbishop... more waiting... more walking up and down between the church and the statue, ready to be unveiled.

Apparently the archbishop had a last minute engagement and so two bishops were coming instead... the presudent of Uganda also had another engagement so his vice president was on her way. There were soldiers and police milling about ready for her arrival and we all waited. Whilst we were waiting a procession of children went past the front gate singing and dancing. They were only small but wearing graduation caps.... Apparently the celebration of the end of school year. They all looked so proud and very cute.

Finally the bishops arrived and the procession lined up... we hung back... but got waved right to the front of the procession and joined Dr Amos and the bishops in the short walk to the church, woth lots of singing and clapping, where we once again tried to melt into the background.

One of the bishops gave a prayer at the front of the church and then knocked on the door with his staff to open it.... we all filed in and made a big circle. More singing and prayers and more staff tapping ensued. 

The church itself was a huge edifice, built by the hospital as a gift from God.... money that could have been spent on the neonatal unit.... none of us really understood. Here all the works of the doctors and nurses is the work of God and only God so the hospital builds a church to thank God. Despite the church not quite being finished, it had a simple feel to it, the sunlight coming in through the blue strained glass  windows.  We then watched  the unveiling of the plaque before joining the procession to the statue unveiling.

Freda Carr was a 12 year old girl, daughter of missionaries, who died of Malaria in Kampala. Her parents wanted to help others so that they would not have their children die and the hospital was started with a grant from them and has been built up from that to what it is today.

The statue was unveiled with a lot of fanfare, more singing and clapping. We then made our way to the field where gazebos had been erected and shown to our chairs. There waiting for us were a few others from the Rotary club who were visiting to see the hospital and join in the celebrations.

We were given a booklet. of the service and the 2 Bishops started their sermons, and thank yous and praising God. This went on for hours... in the hot sun. Occasionally a choir stood up to sing and dance and water got handed out. Initially I didn't want to be disrespectful but as the service went on we started to chat amongst ourselves. I was sitting next to Rodgers who used to be a surgeon but now worked in I. T for hospitals. He was a wealth of. information about the country and I grilled him about the weather and safety... I have a plan in mind for another bike ride and he is the man to help!

At some. point the Vice President and her security team arrived and she got her own gazebo to sit in. Frankly she didn't look that interested either and spent a lot of time on her phone. When it was time. for her to speak, it sounded like she was starting her election campaign early, emphasising how she was born in this area and spoke the local language. She did also promise the hospital 20 million shillings which was a victory gor Dr Amos for sure.

Then the fun part started... Vice President left and a cow got pulled forward.... an auction!

One of the rotarians, Jim decided that we could all put in 10000 shillings and bid for the cow. If we won, the plan was to give it back to the hospital.

We didn't win the cow but we did win one of the goats that got auctioned... the goat is now called Jim and fingers crossed he is left to graze rather than be eaten!

The party was finally over and we traipsed back exhausted from being in the sun all day. Sam was very burnt and I had a headache that wouldn't go away.

We collapsed in. our accomodation and Grace came to join us. She looked pretty tired too! She had been working hard all day to ensure everything went well. But she also wanted us to visit her family, she has 2 sons and so we went to her house, took off our shoes and walked into the spotless living room. We had bought some pencils and pencil. cases and some bubbles and a notebook for each of them. Israel was the smallest and Jeremiah was the older. She also had a niece and nephew staying with her that she was looking after... as well as her job.! She had a girl to help her look after the children as well.

We spent some time playing with the kids and looking at some photos from her wedding. Her husband works in kampala so they don't see each other much. It was such a privilege to be invited to meet her family.

When we got back, even though it wasn't that late, after a brief night walk, where we only saw a few toads, I collapsed into bed. It had been a long but interesting day. Tomorrow it was time to start our teaching in earnest.