Living in a cash only society

One of the many ‘challenges’ (not problems) of living in Uganda is non-acceptance of credit/debit cards or cheques. I don’t think we have made a single transaction which has not been cash. It’s not uncommon for our local ATM to be out of order or to have run out of money. When the army/police/teachers, etc. have been paid it’s impossible to get near the ATM for the whole week. I’ve known people to queue for hours. Therefore, we set off to Kampala last weekend for a Christmas shopping trip with very little cash. Unfortunately, non of the banks in Kampala would allow us to use our cards in their ATMs but God moves in mysterious ways! Just as I was on the phone to the Help Desk I looked up and standing next to me was our friend James, a Californian priest living in Masindi. I explained our predicament and he produced a stash of cash from his bag. It was as though he’d fallen from the sky! Without his help we would have been stranded. I must try the Help Desk more often!
Cash also came in handy at the weekend when the hotel had run out of gas, there’s none to be found in Masindi or district at the moment, so an envelope full of money was sent down to Kampala on the local bus and the cylinders returned on a later bus. How’s that for service?
Yesterday we came home to find that Umeme (the electric co.) had delivered our monthly bill with one hand and cut the wires with the other, despite the fact that the date for payment was not due. When they cut you off here they literally cut you off! I marched straight off to the office and demanded to be reconnected. The Manager understood that I needed the cook the ‘big man’ his meal! Once again, it was cash that saved the day.

Highlights of the week:
The VSO Masindi cluster held a Christmas party for 90 kids from the Family Spirit School, mostly orphans due to HIV/AIDS. It was great. See photos.
We found a turkey to go with the frozen sprouts. See next week’s photos!
Setting up the Just Giving website and selling mosquito nets.
Meeting lots of other VSOers at a party in Kampala.

Lowlights:
Starting four babies on ARVs with the expectation that none of them will survive more than a few months.
Realising that Uganda has run out of TB drugs
Buying a bottle of gin and finding we had no tonic.
Me having an argument with the chef who has already resigned but is saying there will be blood before he leaves Masindi. Hopefully not mine!

Maggie