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on Hoggs in Uganda (Uganda), 08/Oct/2009 19:52, 34 days ago
Bobby -Tuesday 6th October - We have started work. This is our second full day at Reach Out. Like yesterday, the morning started with torrential rain and a thunder storm. After picking our way carefully down the track to the main (Port Bell) road, we stop a matatu (taxi minibus). We are quoted 1000 shillings each but on declining to board we are quoted 500 shillings which seems to be the local rate (not the muzungu rate). We feel very pleased with ourselves.At Reach Out the morning starts in the training room with a short service, a presentation by Dr Stella on her trip to Canada, and then Rhona and I are blessed in song by the group.Yesterday when we arrived, Lydia, the HR manager, a set up a very comprehensive induction programme for us which will run over the next two weeks.The programme will introduce us to each of the departments and we will visit 2 of the other 3 sites.I also met Daniel who supports IT. Reach Out has around 56 networked PCs on the Mbuya site with a mail server and a file server. There's around another 20 Pcs on the other 3 sites. I discovered the air-conditioned server room which should be a cool refuge in the hot weather!Last Saturday we bought some more items for the house– a cane sofa and 2 chairs, a small desk for the  second bedroom– still no beds, and chest of drawers which allowed us to unpack our suitcases.On Sunday we visited the botannical gardens at Entebbe. From the Old Taxi Park in Kampala it took about an hour to get there. It’s a very beautiful setting on the shore of Lake Victoria. A guide took us round pointing out many fasicinating plants and animals. A crocodile tree with roots like crocodiles. The great orb spider whose net is strong enough to capture small birds.The bird life was amazing including the dozens of African Kites soaring over us. There were acrobatic Colobus monkeys and Vervet monkeys that couldn’t be bothered to move off the track as we passed.Apparently the 1932 Johnny Weismuller Tarzan was filmed in the gardens.We finished with lunch at the golf club before returning to Kampala.