Middle School Construction

My aim this trip was to ensure that the new middle school building we have been constructing for the graduates of Mwebaza School is completed before I leave, and before the rainy season starts! To make sure everything goes as planned, Namatovu started construction in April. On Thursday, I visited the middle school site for the first time this year. The plastering on the outside of the building was almost complete and the doors and window frames had been installed! I arranged for the electrical circuiting to be done over the weekend so the construction team can begin plastering the inside of the building and finish the floors.

Some of our construction team.... 

Our site supervisor, Jimmy... 

Our site supervisor, Jimmy, telling me to fix my hair before we took a photo together... 

And our contractor, Nasser... 

The next day we spent 5 hours in the government offices trying to certify our bank resolution document. After finally processing our payment, they said to come back on Monday to pick it up. Between spells of nodding off in a hot and crowded waiting room, I found myself at times frustrated and impatient with the entire process. However, these five hours was well worth it since it only cost us 35,000UGX ($10USD) compared to 300,000UGX ($90USD) it would have taken for a lawyer to do it! 

When we finally got back to Namatovu's family's house, I was greeted by a crowd of kids that Namatovu's mother has taken in to ensure that they get an education. Their smiling faces made me forget about such a long day. While we "took tea," I set up my computer and played the BBC documentary, Africa, for them. I couldn't help but smile at the gasps and awes coming from their mouths in between bites of popcorn and sips of tea.