Driving in Uganda

The picture above was not Troy's first drive - that went great!  This was day three of driving on a visit to the farm after a rain in the morning.  Clay roads and rain don't mix well until the sun comes out.  I think on this same morning the students at the farm helped around four others out of the same ditch.

September 30th was my first time to drive in Kampala and here are my few differences about driving:

1. Opposite side. It's all on the other side including the steering wheel, where you sit in the car and the stick shift is done with your left hand. Fortunately the clutch, gas and break are where I am used to them. My biggest struggle is the windshield wipers are where I'm used to the turn signal being.
2. Signs. Well there really aren't any. No street, no stop, no yield, no speed limits, etc... I think there are maybe 3 stop lights in all of Kampala.
3. Rules. Well there don't seem to be many of those either. For example, you appear to be able to pass in the city on either side (left or right).
4. Vehicles. If you were to take a cross-section of 10 vehicles in Kampala, you would see: 5 bodas (motorcycles that look dangerous but are cheap taxis), 3 taxi buses (these hold 14 or more people, you pay and they have a route), 1 work truck, and 1 personal car. 99% of cars are Toyota.
5. Right of way. It in sense is a game of chicken, where the biggest or bravest wins. So in sense it is this order: truck, taxi, car, boda, bikes, pedestrians.
6. Gas. It's expensive and you only get what you need for the day. Don't need to turn your car off, just get $5 to $10 of diesel and you are on your way.
7. Roads. Majority of major ones are paved, but there are either large potholes, speed bumps or both to slow you down. The side roads are a different story and most we would call 4 wheel drive only roads.
8. Horns. These are multi-use and are used a lot.
9. Congestion. There are lots and lots of vehicles, that observe little rules on bumpy roads with no signs on the opposite side of the road.

It has been fine, actually with all that, all though it is a bit nerve racking. And I was able to take my wife out on a date for our anniversary. Priceless.