Gulu is changing

Bank of Uganda (Gulu Branch)

Not that I have anything to do with it, but there are many visible infrastructure improvements that can be seen in Gulu over the past year.

Office construction

When I first arrived, I saw a new 3-storey

Office completed

building in its finishing stage.  Little did I know that it was to be our new office.

Right across is a branch of the Bank of Uganda (the central bank).  Hmm, sometimes I imagine seeing my former colleagues going to work in that tightly guarded fortress.

Serendipity

The old market was also demolished to give way to a more modern structure.

Old market deserted

Market demolished

But to my mind, another community life-changing development is this town clock.  This was installed last 9 October 2011 coinciding with the 49th anniversary of Uganda's independence.

It is solar-powered

In a place where almost nothing starts on time, this will perhaps mark the dawning of a new day in Gulu.

Volunteers come and go

Judith (Kenya)  and Angie (Philippines)

In VSO, volunteers can serve for 2 months, 6 months, one year or two years depending on the nature of work to be done.  Normally, two batches of new volunteers arrive each year.

Debs (UK)

Volunteers work with VSO partner organizations such as local governments,

Charles (Kenya)

hospitals, schools and they get their allowances either direct from the partners or from VSO.  Some volunteers arrive with their partners either as a co-volunteer or an accompanying partner (ie., no allowance).  Here in Uganda, some of the volunteers in my batch have completed or will be completing their service soon.

Raja (India)

It was indeed a privilege knowing and working with them.  They have touched my life too.

Doug and Sandra (UK)

It is Pius and me who will be the last to go in our batch in Gulu.  Meantime, he will be most welcome to the garlic in my kitchen and to do his occasional clothes pressing in my improvised ironing board.

                Pius (Kenya), in Maasai garb

for information about VSO volunteering, visit

vsointernational.org or vsobahaginan.org.ph

Reaching out

My favorite chief - smart and diligent

My work requires me to travel to the sub-counties (or barangays in the Philippine setting).  Our visits are not regular because sometimes there is no money for fuel or there is no fuel supply in the pumping stations.  On my first trip, I was in high spirits as I was looking forward to the Filipino style of hospitality where food is served first to guests before doing business. 

Sub-county chief and his accountant

Alas, in most sub-counties, the sub-county chief and/or the accountant were nowhere to be found despite prior notice.  We cover around 3 to 4 sub-counties a day and we sometimes end up not doing any business at all because there is nobody home.

Finance people at work

There are sub-counties with conscientious civil servants.  But sorry, there is no lunch or snacks.  In most places, there are no nearby corner stores (or sari-sari stores as we find them back home).

The seemingly endless roads we travel

I learned that the trick was to bring your own provisions and munch along the way.  When the stomach grumbles, drink soda and you will burp.  Who needs lunch?

My colleagues at work

Head of Finance, CAO, Eve, Judith (first day at work)

In the Philippines, the local government set-up is described as autonomous; in Uganda it is decentralized.  I guess both structures are essentially similar looking at the Local Government Code of both countries.  In Gulu District, the government is run by the politicians,  and civil servants who are referred to as technocrats.

My colleagues (L to R), Susan, Morris and William

The elected political head is called the chairman (equivalent to a mayor).  I work with the technocrats in the Finance Department, and the Head of Finance reports to the Chief Administrative Officer.  The CAO is the chief executive, but his functions are more like

Susan, Lucy, Eve, Pasca and Jane

those of a chief operating officer.  During my early months, I had to read-up on their laws, manuals, geography, history, political and bureaucratic structures.  Ugandans acknowledge that they do not relish reading, so they are quite amazed to see me enjoy reading and asking questions.

Former Chairman (L) who ran for President

As a bit of influence, I loaded electronic copies of their reference materials into their computers.   And now they seem to have acquired the habit that when in doubt............... CLICK THE FILE.  It makes my day.