We made a stop at Namawojolo for passengers to buy snacks and drinks. Many of my fellow passengers bought roast chicken, meats of all kinds, gonja (plantain), bottled water, sodas, etc.
We were pleasantly surprised when one of the staff of Kakise moved around the bus, distributing paper napkins for free to all passengers that wanted and needed them to use while snacking and afterwards.
Along the Iganga to Tiriniyi highway, we stopped for a health break, code in Uganda for use of rest rooms. An an opportunity to stretch our legs, relieve our bladders and generally make ourselves comfortable for the rest of the journey. The spot is a favorite for buses.
Imagine my discomfort when I realized we had to do it all in the bushes!
My fellow passengers who had to respond to the call of nature, had no choice but to add on to what others had left behind in the buses in the past – in different shapes, sizes and age. A fellow traveler, surely less than 10 years of age, was not able to make it to the bushes in time, so she soiled her skirt.
No public toilets anywhere in sight, and apparently there is none along the entire eastern route. Travelers on public transport on the eastern route are indeed suffering.
On a positive note, though. When our fellow passengers finished releasing their waste, the staff of Kakise, provided them with a jerrycan of water and soap to wash their hands and to clean up, before they got back on to the bus.
Need to ask, do we have a public health policy in Uganda? If so, what is it about Am I the first to notice that this status quo of no public toilets for travelers and other public places is really not wise. Need I explain?
Yes, we traveled by bus from Kampala to Tirinyi, then by taxi from Tirinyi to Pallisa Town and then by boda boda (motor bike) from Pallisa Town to our final destination. This is how I ended up aboard a Kakise Bus, travelling from Kampala to Soroti.
I was pleasantly surprised. The bus interior was clean and well organised (two seats to the left and tree seats to the right) – similar to the arrangement of seats on air planes. There was none of that rusted metal that you fear will give you tetanus.
The bus had metal racks above our seats for hand baggage. The rest of the baggage was placed in the boot located in the underbelly of the bus – very modern indeed. Except for us humans, I did not see any other live animals (two legged, four legged, and otherwise) on the bus.
Another surprise, the bus took off on time, at exactly 10:00 a.m. as promised! I continued to be pleasantly surprised, the driver was not over-speeding, the pace was relaxed enabling me to de-stress and to appreciate Uganda’s gift of nature – the pleasure I do not often get when I am driving myself.
Is there anything you can do to advocate for provision of public rest stops or rest areas along all roads in Uganda? If so, please do so.
Humanist 
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