Getting Around Uganda

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Matatu is the fastes public transportation in Uganda, also it is the cheapest one too. This guys undoubtelly rule in the city centres, finding way out even in the biggest traffic jams, which is usual situation in Kampala. I always insisted to be sitting on the front sitts and was observing their incredibly high driving skills. They move around as perhaps having thousands eyes, likewise Argus from the ancient Greek mythology. To be honest, I was very impressed and didn't expect to find so skillfull drivers in Africa.
Matatu is actually very small bus with no more then 12 or 14 sitting placees but in each of it you will find at least 25 to 30 persons. Besides a driver, there is also his assistant who is master of the ceremony. He is the one who will let you in and out of the matatu, overfilling it for more than double capacities. At first I was avoiding matatus but later on find it very interesting and entertaining transportation.

We traveled around Uganda on 4W drive car that belonged to mamaland safari tour operator with our guide Tony. Most of the roads were unpaved and hard to drive especially after rains.
But we got to all our destination Murchison falls,Kibale,Bvindi,Quin Elisabeth NP,Mburo lake.

Motorcycle taxis

Boda - boda the name comes from a time when to cross no-mans land between borders/bodas of East African countries bicycles were used and still are last time I came through Busia border crossing.

Next time you are sitting around a table in a bar in Kampala ask anyone there to show you their scar from falling off a boda - boda everyone has one. Even me! I still bodas, they are dangerous and because of that they are great fun. Saying that they are probably no more dangerous than white water rafting.

On my last trip to Uganda there was a spate of bus crashes. several in one week. most were buses crashing into eachover or other vehicles. But one bus travelling from Karuma to Nebbi hit a hippo!

Several bus companies had there buses impounded while checks were being made on the vehicles. Gateway had for a few days all 40 vehicles off the road.

Kampala to Nairobi by bus is easy. A full list of prices and times of departure are on the uganda travel planner site. -

http://www.traveluganda.co.ug/businfo.asp

Akamba bus are mind numbingly slow. And here is a nice picture of yet another puncture being repaired. They are one of the many bus companys that operate on the Kampala - Nairobi route. If/when I do the trip again I think I'll be travelling with "Regional". Scandanavia have freezing aircon, Noisy TV, and a smelly toilet on board and you have to pay a lot more for the privallage so wont be travelling with them.

I have done the trip 3 times always with Akamaba Bus (Execitive service). I travelled with them as they are one of the few companies that have a morning departure. Some buses take the Eldoret route and some go through Kisumu.

Last time I didn't fancy doing the 12 hour trip so stopped in Kisumu which is about 1/2 way and got the morning bus from there. If you are travelling straight through on the morning service you should reach Nairobi about nightfall.

The border itself is fairly hassle free. Every one piles off the bus and queues up at customs and immigration on the Ugandan side, get your exit stamp then walk across no-mans land to the Kenyan side. You can get a visa at the border, a yellow fever vaccination certificate was once a must but doesn't apear to be so now. Once you have got your passport stamped you can board the bus again on the Kenyan side and continue on your journey.

The bus stops a few times along the route. First stop is a breif one at Mabira Forest where you can buy roast chicken or gonja. Momey changers usually board the bus just before the border or you can change money at the border itself. Once you enter Kenya there maybe time to buy food, water and have a toilet break at the border if not the next stop will be in Kericho. The last stop will be a couple of hours before you reach Nairobi at Nakuru.

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The 54-year-old Nile Bridge at the Owen Falls Dam in Jinja has developed serious cracks and is on the verge of breaking, an occurrence that only spells doom for a land locked country that heavily depends on its functioning to survive.

Any closure of the bridge would effectively cut off the south-eastern part of the country, the main import-export route, from the western and central portions.

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Every road has road works! Well it seems like that at the moment in May 2008. The road from the border to Kampala has improved since last year but there are a few dodgy areas around Iganga still.
The road between Soroti and Lira is a right mess and is supposed to be 5 years before the road is surfaced between the 2 towns. The road directly north at the moment is an absolute shocker, as soon as you leave Kampala the road is horrible all the way passed Nakasongola and all the way to the junction to Masindi. Its been a few years since I've been on the Mubende Fort Portal road which was a few years ago being surfaced so I guess by now it should be complete.

I remember being surprised at the quality of the roads in West Nile province they were well good but then again that has been a while since I was in that neck of the woods so could well have got a lot worse.

In this photo the chap in the hole did well to jump out in time before the truck almost backed onto him.

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A lot of people moan about gateway Bus. You often hear how the conductors are rude, the buses are in bad condition, and that the drivers are crazed miraa chewing mad men. But if it wasn't for Gateway bus a huge part of Uganda especially the east and north would grind to a halt. They may not be the best but do provide an invaluable service.