I write about sections of West Nile in a bid to
share the positive insights into our society that many people have believed is
different from what it actually is; some people actually get shocked to find
Arua a very big municipality among the top towns of Uganda!
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| The Packwach bridge to West Nile |
People in this region are traditionally traders and
farmers and hate to meddle in politics of division-ism in many cases they have
avoided political office due to the bad PR of the past regimes.
What the region needs is good infrastructure, a good International airport, roads, linkages and such enabling services and the rest will just happen. I will share my experiences more from my view of people and places, in this first article of the series I look at some of the urban social places.
…
It was midnight and it was the eighth day of August my birthday and Idd, on the
previous day I had reflected a lot on what I had done in the past years and especially
what I had achieved in this last one, I decided it was one of the most rugged
years of my life but very full of lessons and good ones – those lessons that
make one a better being.
On
the last day of the previous year I had walked through Arua town to Orasia
Plazza and climbed the stairs to one of the best salons in Uganda, yes it is
based in Arua, “5ivers”, in 5ivers
you are welcomed like a Sir and treated to soothing music or entertainment on
TV while your hair is reduced to your style. Thereafter you get a very good
wash and massage then finally the head is oiled and you walk out new and fresh
actually younger by several years.
I
am totally pleased with the lady running this place she brings with her a sense
of customer appreciation that supersedes most such businesses in Uganda.
The
biggest downside to this town is the poorly maintained “main road” that is so
ugly and full of refuse, what a shame to have such a road for a very vibrant
private sector in the capital of West Nile!
West
Nile is popular for import export trade in addition to farming; it is full of
life with people moving all over the place going about their business. There is
the famous Arua hill too that attracts local tourists and romantics to walk
around and sometimes bask in the sun as they watch the forest in the distance …
Hidden in the back side of the hill is Rocks
and Roots, a quiet & cosy motel & guest house suitable for
traveling business people, here you are closed out of the hassle and bustle the
busy town.
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| The back side of Arua hill as seen from Rocks and Roots |
The
motel has a close knit community of staff, mid-term & short term guests,
with a business style restaurant, a conference facility and large compound one
feels so much at home away from home! Here is where I was hosting my Kenyan
business partners and friends.
On
this day everyone was aware that it was my day & Idd, but first I had to do
the ritual, the silent reflection and the walk. I decided to walk up and down
the stairs on the back side of Arua hill as I reflected and prayed for a better
future, then I run all the way to Barifa Stadium – a place that used to be very
special now practically abandoned – I had started the new year reminding myself
of the essence of good health to achieve my dreams.
It
was now mid-morning as we set out to have a nice day for the celebrants of the
end of Ramadan & for the turn of another year for me. We joined the chef
and started to prepare the original pilau, we made some juice and vegetable
mixes, we set the speakers out in the compound and set the music off … We invited
a few to join us and celebrated Idd & my birthday – Allah Akbar!
Later
in the day we took a walk to Heritage
Courts – this is my “Celebrating West Nile Heritage & Culture” place.
While walking there we met all these Muslim youth who had taken advantage of
the green in the golf course to picnic & celebrate Idd … and finally we
were at Vino World for a brief visit
before retiring to our new home.
This
year presents better promises, better business and indeed a light at the end of
the tunnel not an oncoming train …
