Along the Iganga to Tiriniyi highway, on my adventurous journey by public transport, we stopped for a health break. We needed to stretch our legs, decongest our bladders and generally make ourselves comfortable for the rest of the journey. The spot is a favourite for buses to make a health stop. Not so pleasant a surprise awaited me then.

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, and the evidence was all there in different shapes, sizes and age.

One of my fellow, travellers, surely less than 10 years of age, was not able to make it to the bushes on time, so she soiled her skirt. No public toilets anywhere in sight, and apparently there is none along the entire route.

• 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 travellers and other public places is really not wise – need I explain?

Travellers on public transport on the eastern route are indeed suffering.

I need to finish on a positive note, though. When our fellow passengers finished releasing their waste, the staff of Kakise, provided them with a jerry can of water and soap to wash their hands and to clean up, before they got back on to the bus. Kudos to Kakise.

Whereas, these events happened in 2014, they remain valid and are likely recurring on a regularly basis on the Eastern route, and likely also in other parts of Uganda.

Post featured photo credit: Emmanuel Owaraga