What are your thoughts on Rupal's emotional journey? Post your messages at the bottom of this page... Saturday 17 September Awake at 2am, having had little sleep! Panicked, worried and anxious about the journey ahead. Andy the 'East Midlands Today' video journalist picks me up at 4.30am. What a long day and journey, firstly to Nairobi and then to Entebe. We arrived tired at our hotel around 1am Sunday morning! | "I couldn't contain the tears. To meet someone who knew my father, who passed away in August, was the most emotional moment of my journey so far" | | Rupal Rajani |
We'd made it! We were in Uganda! The place of my birth! It was humid and you could here the sounds of the insects in their element through the night as I fell asleep. Sunday 18 September Three hours of sleep and feeling very tired and jet lagged, I drew the curtains of the hotel room at around 7am. The sun was shining brightly, people were going about their business, trucks delivering green bananas driving past the busy road in Kampala. "Was I really here? Is this the country I was really born in?" Lots of questions were whizzing through my mind as I sat on the balcony drinking bottled water. This is where my family lived. "Had it changed?" I thought.
 | | A local who remembers Rupal's Dad! |
What a day it's been today! Andy and myself had decided to take a drive round Kampala to see it in the day. Our driver stopped at a local temple, as we went in I found someone who had known my farther in Kakira (where I was born), not very well but he would go to the shop my father worked at to get supplies to take back to his own town of Jinja. I have to say I couldn't contain the tears. To meet someone who knew my father, who passed away in August, was the most emotional moment of my journey so far. The temple was a beautifully carved marble building which contained beautifully made statues of some of the Hindu Gods and Goddesses. A prayer for my father's soul to rest in peace ended our trip to the temple. Monday 19 September
Even though Kampala is a city that is filled with cars, people, lots of noise, pollution and dirt, it has wonderfully lush greenery and wildlife! And perfect weather for all the fruit and vegetables to grow. Mogo (cassava) and Mutoki (green bananas) are the two main vegetables you'll see lots of here. Bananas and melons and the biggest pineapples you've seen anywhere! Today's trip was to the radio station that we're linked with at ³ÉÈËÂÛ̳ Radio Leicester - Radio One 90 FM! Based in the heart of the city in a building that from the outside looked deceivingly small. Getting to the station was a task in itself! Traffic in Kampala is the worst I've ever seen anywhere in the world. The organised chaos is too much for an outsider to even attempt getting behind the wheel here. The station is one of the top stations in Kampala which boasts of over 50 others. A big team of presenters, newsroom staff, make up the commercial station. The equipment I have to say is a mixture of new and old, a little bit like us at ³ÉÈËÂÛ̳ Radio Leicester in our home at Epic House. I am told I'll be appearing on air during my stay. Tuesday 20 September Our day began early for our long drive to Soroti to see where my family owned a shop, where my sister was born and to see my brother's old school. The journey took us through Rough, unfinished stretches of roads, various towns and villages including Jinja (where my best friend was born) and Kakira where I was born. Beautiful lush landscape mixed with people going about their daily lives – school children making their way, dressed in various school uniforms.
 | | Director, Headmaster and Deputy Head |
In Soroti we were welcomed by Hellen Adoa who is director of a boarding school called Halcyon High - a school funded by a couple from the East Midlands. The welcome we received from the children there was equivalent to greeting royalty! The whole school had turned out to sing and perform for us! Over 500 children attend this boarding school, some of which are orphaned, others who are victims of the wars in northern Uganda and have witnessed murders and even been abducted by the rebel armies and managed to escape. The children are so appreciative of all the things around them. The people, the food, the love and education they get. Wednesday 21 September Today we explore areas in Soroti, and discovered the area where my family owned a shop. We found someone who remembers the shop and my Dad! I think we found the house/flats my sister was born in (how amazing)! We visited the school that my brother went to. We were greeted with open arms. I talked to the head and one of the teachers who hoped we could develop links with schools in Leicester. The journey back to Kampala was long, a total of five and a half hours non stop! Glad to be back in Kampala and to the comfort of city life rather than somewhere like Soroti which seemed dirtier, more rural and lacking in basic facilities like proper toilets. How awful does that sound! But having been so spoilt in England, it's hard to imagine living a basic lifestyle. Thursday 22 September
 | | A young boy with HIV |
A bits and bobs day today! A short visit to meet the team of a child advocacy project that helps children with AIDS. The charity is based in one of the hospitals in Kampala. We were shown some of the problems that hospitals face with treating the vast number of children who have AIDS/are HIV positive. A real experience and shock to see children packed into a dirty ward. Cots lined up two or three deep with parents waiting for their injections and medication. Only two nurses with over 30 or 40 patients. Friday 23 September Off to Jinja today, where my best friend was born 40 years ago! First to the hospital, and then to see where her parents lived opposite the main police station. Jinja seemed much cleaner, warmer, colourful and exciting! To see and imagine where someone you've known a long time and care so much about lived is quite amazing!
 | | Lake Victoria, where the Nile starts |
They say Jinja is where the source of the Nile is - so off we went to investigate on a boat in Lake Victoria. Spectacular views, amazing wildlife and just so peaceful! Whether it's true or not, we stood where it's said the source begins. Lake Victoria one side and the river Nile the other. My family would have spent time here, would have come to visit this beautiful lake, maybe even taken the boat out to the source too... Buzagali falls are also in Jinja and what spectacular view of white rapids! A very busy visitor's attraction that looks even more spectacular as the sun is setting. | 
