Transportation in Uganda

Uganda’s roads, mostly dirt, are full of potholes. On the eight hour trek from Kampala to Bushenyi the driver of the bus often swerved to the edge of the road to avoid the bumps -- crazy! There are no city laws and the right of way is determined by the type of car and how big it is. Big vehicles get the most respect (even ahead of pedestrians). There are no stoplights and street lanes are determined by time of day.

My favorite method of transportation is the boda-boda, also known as motorbikes. They are quick in heavy traffic and often operate in areas where there are no taxis. One must be careful though, b/c many of the drivers are not licensed. The common saying is, “They are learning to ride while carrying you. And will disappear as soon as you get in an accident.” I don’t ride them often, but when I do I ask around for one of the better drivers – and wear a crash helmet, of course.

In Kampala the locals travel by mini-buses, 14 seater commuters. They stop every five minutes and wait until the bus fills up again…takes forever to get anywhere, but cheaper than a boda-boda. Posta Buses are good for long treks…Elizabeth and I will take one to Tanzania in August.