Tips and tricks

Straight from the pros themselves, here is the lowdown of different tips and tricks that should help anyone that wants to share in a place like Uganda. 

Street-smarts are a good thing to have when in Kampala. The government is corrupt, and the people can be desperate due to poverty. The thinking process is simple. White=rich.

"Hi, I'm an oblivious white guy with money!"

That makes you (Caucasians) a target. And target you they will. So things like backpacks can really put you in a bind if you're not careful. It fact, its a bad idea to walk around with something valuable in a backpack. An effective and favorite way to rob someone is to slice open the bottom of a backpack or bag while it’s being carried. Then, of course, everything drops to the ground and its easy pickings. If you have things like a camera, a phone or a wallet, or a laptop (etc) in there, then they are officially gone. Be alert.                                                                                                            (TARGET--->)
 

Your wallet should be in a belt that sits under your shirt. Wallets in back pockets are kind of an invitation, especially in a white guy like me. Flashing around a chuck of money is a bad idea too. Have some 'ready-cash' is a side pocket to pay for things like bus tickets, taxi fares, etc etc. 

Mobile phones? Avoid using those in crowded areas. You know how easy it is to grab something out of someone's hand while they are distracted? Very easy. I mean, I have never tried it, but I would only assume that it is easy. *shrug* 

Don’t put bags down on the ground if you’re standing on a road or street. Also an easy invite. You’ll eventually and naturally get into a certain mind-set after a while and will know when to be cautious and when you can let your guard down a little.

LaurenBerk, Flickr.com

The Ugandan’s are super friendly, and generally very open and kind. But before you go getting all in their face with a good chatting session, stop and realize it’s good not to give away too much information. And ff you want to take a picture, just be discreet about it and put your camera back safe somewhere.

Keep in mind that you will be doing LOTS of walking, so You will want good walking shoes or nice summer-weight hiking boots. Similarly, You will want clothes that are light weight. Oh, and easy to wash. Drying quickly doesnt hurt either. Along those lines, there is a lot of red clay around Fort Portal, so you will want slacks that don’t show dirt easily. 
There is still a good amount of things that I was told, but it is very specific to my circumstances, so unless you're really looking for that sort of thing I wont post it. If you are, however, drop me an email and let me know what you would like to know. If I know, I'll tell you, if I dont, I'll try and find out. 








Oh, and one last thing,

Bring deodorant for the whole trip. It is not available there in the country.

"Always standing after a fall, always braving the worst of storms. See you at the top."

~Trevor B