Ugandans - Truly hardworking

By Nsubuga Francis:

Yes, of recent we have been ranked the best English speaking people in Africa, our country having some of the world’s most welcoming people! We also rank high among the world’s most beautiful places. There is a kiboozi (street story) of us being the most alcoholic; I am not sure how true this is though.

I want to add another record, and much as it’s just my opinion, if you have been to Uganda, I am sure you will agree with me. We are the Africa’s craziest, most creative and hardworking people especially when it comes to finding ways we can survive, beating all odds and win tough times!

I am not focusing on the upscale or those folks in the corporate or white color side. I want to bring to you the picture of the average Ugandan, the one who hustles day and night, in rain or sunshine to make ends meet.

Tens of thousands earn a living from ridding Boda Boda – those passenger carrier motorcycles, not quite orderly but doing a great job.

These have their cousins, the ones in commuter taxis (Matatus). Matatu drivers think no one drives better than them. They try to underestimate and sometimes shout at whoever drives badly especially the ones we call ‘My cars’ and women drivers!

You will say, ‘Maaso Awo’ (right ahead), its what we say if we are getting out of the matatu at the very next point and funnily, in some places, drivers will say how its not the right place yet if they wanted to get a passenger, they don’t care about it being the right place or not, they load anywhere – anyway all that is Kampala!

Matatus have conductors, the ones we give the money! God, they always want their money even if it’s less by 50 shillings, if incidentally you lost a coin and your money is less, these guys expect no explanations. But what’s funny is they will want you to leave with them your extra change in case it was a bigger note, claiming they don’t have change. Literally they never lose!

They are meant to carry 14 passengers but as you know the hustle nature of us Ugandans, they sometimes put more and people seem OK with it.

Another group related to these are those guides at every stage. These work for a small penny per loading. They will sometimes even fight if they aren't given their full pay. They claim to have given the matatu passengers, very sure they didn't bring you to that stop! Kampala!!

A Ugandan matatu (commuter 14 passenger taxi)

In our urban centers, I am also putting my hat off and recognizing the mothers that busk in the sun all day selling fruits (mostly bananas and Mangoes) carrying those baskets on their heads and kids on their backs. These are also joined by those men that converse all corners with fresh pineapple, water melon or papaya on wooden carts! All these have to make sure that they smartly do business and at the same time dodge City authorities’ arrests for they think they don’t deserve to be in the city streets, I  hear they don't make the city look beautiful!

Women displaying vegetables for sale

You have perhaps met those that carry stuff on their backs, unimaginable loads in Kikuubo (its Kampala’s focal business and commodity trade place). If you are not so careful, these will simply hit you and the ones that might say a thing, will simply say, ‘Fasi Fasi’ meaning ‘out of the way'! The moment you hear this, please friend just get out of the way! One time this one simply shouted, ‘I am carrying acid’! God, you should have seen the stampede to give him way!

Lots of other things we do, we fish, make bricks, dig sand, quarry rocks, and because of our zeal, we manage to make it.

My drive to write this was however has been my experience in our local market the other day! For a long time, I hadn’t gone to these periodical markets, but I just decided to go there this one time. First I got a group of five young men, selling together. They never called anyone to come to their stall but in unison simply and loudly led a hymn song! Their noise almost covered the whole market and managed to pull everyone’s attention.

A young man selling men's underwear was all shouting, ‘Akaleega wire, akaleega wire’ literally meaning ‘something to hold your wire, something to hold your wire!!’ There was this young man sarcastically crying how he had lots problems and if they didn't buy from, he was going to commit suicide!

I got interested in their selling approach and was forced walk on through the market. There was this young man too selling ladies belts, he shouted the price at which he sold and on seeing a pregnant woman he added how items were free to all pregnant women as long as one came with, first the husband and then with papers to prove the day and how she got pregnant! I moved on noticing those usual habits of these market venders of pulling customers’ hands and shouting to whoever had no money to leave the market, the same things in almost all Ugandan markets!

A market place in Uganda.

The whole thing kept me laughing because for a long time I had gone to these local markets. It was real fun. I kept wondering the things we do to survive as Ugandans.

We are a country of very hardworking men and women. Over 75% of us bend our backs in that hot sun tending to gardens, most times from sunrise till sunset. Men sleep at the lake in my home village of Ssese Islands.

However some go an extra mile and attempt some things that are kind of weird or not right. A handful will snatch your phone in the city center or check your bag and pockets for any thing called money without you realizing – and they call this, ‘showing you Kampala!!’ 

There are those folks that secretly roast dogs, knowing very well Uganda isn’t China or someplace they eat dog meat. If you are not so careful, you might land also into a conman/woman and you could make his/her day, that’s on your bad day. This is bad.

Everyone seems to strive for a better living, no one sits back no matter the situations around. And when those moments that bring us together come forecampkr our National Team, 'The Cranes, a musical show, Christmas etc, we all come together and cherish them together irrespective of the huddles and hustle we go through!

Seriously, thinking about this awesome Ugandan spirit, I have been strengthened and its deepened my love for my country and our people and with pride, I want to shout to the world,

Ugandans making bricks

‘I AM UGANDAN’ 'Tetuloba' - 'we don't dose'!!!!