Every now and then, I have these work related travels to
upcountry places. Being a lover of travel, adventure and discoveries, these are
some moments I crave.
Some of the roads can be rugged especially where they snake
into rural Uganda but there are some very good ones too at majority African standards
and some others on construction or repair. So having to stop in an annoyingly
long trail of a jam with dusty patches, waiting for the opening of the blockades
is customary.
Thanks to the vigilance of Police in the recent past along
the roads where abrupt check ups for seat belts, speed limits, insurance, and
general mechanical conditions of vehicles is a common scene along a travel on
nearly any road. There are now spots
along most roads that traffickers are cognizant of obvious and regular police
checks. Along such routes, order and discipline are customary.
Aware of this, the Police also once a while relocate to queer
and unexpected spots. Some even have developed play tactics of hide and seek laying
embargoes in bushy and forest areas where their presence on the road is obscure
with their digital speed guns rehearsing the guerrilla warfare-like siasa, (sung
in one victory song), which led the NRM to
power some 27 years ago.
Normally they shoot at any on-coming car often seeking to seize
those driving above the allowed speed limits. Incidents of some underhand
practices by individual officers trying to push drivers towards paying bribes
grace such snares.
Even in a society that is almost rapidly degenerating into a
self-seeking, individualistic one, you can not fail to notice how drivers –especially
taxi drivers using uncustomary traffic signs, flashing headlights; pushing one
hand out of the window and pointing down, notifying the would be preys to slow
down and avoid the white boys.
Solidarity or rather being a brother’s keeper is the gesture
you can but fail to miss on any average day you travel. Looking out for the
other, warning them against danger, is the moral here. You need the other
person who has seen it all, who is offering you help. However, you owe it to
yourself to accept and heed to the warnings others and life gives you!