First Impressions...

Uganda is an east African, landlocked nation. It is bordered by Kenya, South Sudan, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Rwanda and Tanzania. It is one of 13 countries worldwide that straddles the equator. Sunrise and sunset are at the same time -- 7:00 am and 7:00 pm -- all year.

Kampala is the capital of Uganda. It is a major city. The population of Kampala has doubled to about 3.5 million people just since 2008.

If you drive south from Kampala, along the shores of Lake Victoria for about 40 km, you reach Entebbe. The main airport is in Entebbe. Entebbe Airport is most famous for the successful 1976 hostage rescue mission of 248 hijacked Air France passengers by Israeli commandos.

If you drive west, you eventually reach and cross the Nile River.

The population of Uganda is young. Life expectancy is between 58-65 (depending on who you listen to).

As we travel out and about, streets are busy. There is a lot of building and road work. People work hard and long hours. Due to COVID, Uganda was closed to international travel from Mid-March until October 1. Most local businesses were closed and vehicle transport shut down for many of those months. Residents were confined to home unless you were "essential." If you did leave home you could only walk. In fact, if the police saw you out and running, they would stop you because outdoor exercise was prohibited. At our hotel, many staff were laid off. There was one remaining guest - Steve the American. He was transferred to a neighboring hotel which also became housing for displaced Ugandans (and Steve) who were stranded by the lockdown of transportation.

Now senior-level secondary schools are open (and have been for some months) and lower level schools are opening in the next few weeks. Almost everything is open -- restaurants, movie theatres, gyms, churches/synagogues/mosques -- except bars and casinos. But if your bar is attached to a restaurant you are in a grey area that equals "open."

Life is returning to "normal." There are still some COVID restrictions. We have our temperature taken and hands "sanitized" multiple times each day. The local taxis (which would be 8-passenger vans in the US) are limited to 8 passengers, down from their standard 16. Most wear masks inside but nobody wears them outside. Scott's colleague, Patrick, lives in Kampala but grew up 40 km north of town. In Patrick's home village, nobody wears a mask. They actually doubt that COVID is real. They have lived with HIV/AIDS, Ebola, malaria and a host of other deadly illnesses for years and because they have not been directly impacted by COVID, they simply go on with their lives.

Nobody in Uganda, as far as we know, has been vaccinated. According to Ugandan media, a nationwide roll-out of the vaccine won't happen until 2023.

We wonder if the temperate climate, the fact that folks live much of life outdoors and an exceptionally young population explain COVID's minimal impact on Uganda so far. Or it could be a lack of testing/reporting. Or perhaps the fact that Ugandans do not live in nursing homes. At the same time, locals have been significantly affected. Most Ugandans cannot work from home. They don't have sick time and don't get paid if they don't show up for work. If they work for a business that closes, they don't get unemployment or rent relief. There is no eviction moratorium. The lockdown, business closures and lack of movement of people and products in and out of the country has impacted everyone, especially the average Ugandan. Things have been very difficult but everyone seems thankful to be getting back to work and life.

We're grateful to be here as life resumes "normal."