International Women's Day

International Women’s Day marked my first national holiday in Uganda. “International Women's Day is intended to recognize the role of ordinary women as makers of history; it is rooted in the centuries-old struggle of women to participate in society on an equal footing with men.”

I celebrated by reading in bed and taking a royal tour of Arua town and Arua district with my friend Martin and my colleague Patricia. We started by exploring greater Mvara, the area outside my neighborhood.

Martin at the helm:


Loud and Clear:


Boys on the Road – the white dust comes from work in the cassava mills:


A crop:


Celebrating International Women’s Day by working…this is a very common set up for sale of g-nuts (groundnuts/peanuts) and bananas:


Village homes, the thatched roof buildings are known as tukuls and payotes :


Building bricks during the dry season:


We reached a stopping point at “The Beach.” This place is far from a beach, but surely fantastic. I’m not sure the source, but a small stream encircles a small landmass, effectively creating a tree-shaded island where children bring warm beer and the bugs aren’t bad. I brought a Frisbee to throw, pictures to share, and books to read and it was a really lovely holiday break.



Me and Patricia:


Children’s art/toy:


Relaxing:




Hunger set in and we headed to the new, finest institution in all of Arua: The White Castle Hotel. This place is the sister of a bigger hotel in Kampala and is now the sole hotel (or building) in Arua with air-condition!



The Dining Room:


The pool (to be completed in “one month”) will be the first functioning swimming pool in Arua:


The celebration continued all the way back to the MSF house where Martin and Okonta cooked for all the ladies and a few gents - A Malawian and Nigerian version of spaghetti for ten!