Yunisu's family home - another perspective

We set off from Jinja around 2pm to visit Yunisu and his family at their village. Yunisu is a long term friend of UgandAid, who have supported him and his family for some years (See previous blogs for more info).

When I had been told that I was able to visit a village, I had no idea what to expect. All I knew is that it would not be like the village I grew up in in Lancashire - Green Haworth if you’re interested near Accrington- or the villages of North Cheshire with its quaint t-shops.

Going anywhere in Uganda is always interesting, with cars, trucks, taxis and Boda - Boda (motorbike taxis) on the roads, but going down the road to Yunisu’s village could be categorised as extreme off road driving! It was like going into the heart of Delamere Forest, the roads are sandy tracks with large channels cutting across it formed by water from the heavy rain. Either side of the track had the usual assortment of tiny wooden shacks and buildings, including a table of cow intestines and flies next to the door of a butchers. We must have travelled for a further 20 mins passing huts and a few schools along the way - a large grassy area which had a makeshift climbing frame for the children which they shared with some cattle. It was a bumpy ride - Steve is a Master driver - and as the houses got further and further apart, we arrived at Yunisu’s.

We were greeted by his niece, Florence, a bright eyed 9 year old, and his mother and father. Their nephew aged 6, two further nieces 10 and 14, their mum Feraday, a nephew John, were all gathered (along with a turkey and chickens). 

Greetings are very important in Uganda so we took gifts with us of rice, sugar, soap and chocolate; the children were overjoyed with 2 pens and post it notes. There was no evidence of toys apart from a water bottle with string round it and a picture of John in chalk drawn by one of the little ones. So very different to how we would have spent our Saturdays with the array of entertainment we have back in the UK. Their house is tiny, 4 adults and 4 children/teens sharing the space with Yunisu in a separate block with a damaged door following a burglary last year. The house is a simple wooden frame house with clay soil pushed in and dried, the kitchen is a lean to of corrugated iron.  Feraday was cooking some food which I think was Matoke - a savoury plantain dish cooked in banana leaves. I asked if I could go into the kitchen where she was cooking on an open fire. The heat was about 40 degrees and there was smoke as well,  

hats off to her!! 

We found that they bury their dead in the garden, a short distance from the house. I asked if I could pay my respects to his eldest brother. I followed him as he led the way on his crutches across the uneven ground of his back yard. No beautiful landscaping here. It was very moving and it felt right him being there.

We left after about 40 mins not wanting to overwhelm them. We felt very humbled by the family and especially their commitment to each other as family. I’m sure I haven’t done this justice as it is really hard to put into words the assault on your senses and emotions. But I will leave you with this!

Yunisu, a disabled polio sufferer is supporting his family of 5 adults and 4 children, aided by the generous supporters of UgandAid. They gave us a parting gift of a rug made from leaves which would have taken 3 weeks to make - Christine Booth, a long term friend of the family was in tears.