Children - and other Short-ages

Most people who live in this part of Uganda do not enjoy electricity or water to their houses – and we almost felt like we joined them this week.

On Sunday we experienced another of our regular power cuts – but this time instead of a few hours it lasted for over 2 days. 

We understood that the problem was caused by a fire at the distribution plant in Rwanda, (which supplies electricity to Kisoro), which destroyed the meter.

So we had to get used to life without light, hot water and our fridge for a couple of days.

One problem with no power is that it also affects the water supply as the pumps needed to distribute the water don’t work. Fortunately our storage tank had just enough to see us through. Most people here don’t have piped water, If they are lucky they take a jerry can to kiosks run by the Water Company where they can fill up for about 6p a can. One enterprising lad took advantage of a storm to fill up his can from a gutter of a local shop.

Another child with limited ‘power’ at present is Isaac, the 1 year old baby who was admitted a month ago to Potter’s Village Home for Vulnerable Children. He is getting stronger and now weighs just over 6 kg. Jeremiah, who is about the same size, is just 1 month old.

Children continue to ask Malcolm for photos. Here is one group dressed up for church on Sunday who were very keen to have their photo taken, as long as they could have a print afterwards.

This week’s proverb from the BBC Africa web-site is from Nigeria: “Rain may beat a leopard's skin, but it won't wash out the spots”