The Jam

Above: the “taxi park” in Kampala where the matatu minivan-taxi-buses congregate to pick up passengers before dispersing in all directions, following some incomprehensible (to me) series of unmarked routes, stopping at unmarked places.

Roughly speaking, I live in the northeastern part of the center of Kampala and work in the southwestern part. It’s about a 45 minute walk. By moped, it’s about 10 minutes. But by matatu during rush hour, it takes at least an hour.

Kampala traffic is unbearable (the locals just call it “the jam”). Why is anybody’s guess. Some local friends tell me it’s simply plain old bad urban planning from the 1950s. The lack of traffic lights can’t help – there are only 2 functioning ones in the entire city.

All that idling of diesel engines and old cars means that on a hot, still day you can chew the air. When you blow your nose, sometimes it comes out with specks of black. Yum.