The consent form and interview questions had recently been translated into the local language of Runyankole by a university in Kampala. This made the process go much more smoothly than the last time Annah and I worked together. Although looking back at all of my interviews I wish there was a simple way to pull a Cyrano de Bergerac so that my presence in the room would not be required. I fear me being there detracts from the process and affects the ladies’ responses.
After the interviews Annah and I stopped by Fang Fang for a late lunch. I had never been even though the small enclosure sits right across from the Ruhiira Health Clinic – where I spend most of my time. Unfortunately we arrived too late as they were out of food, so we went down the road a bit to another place which served fish and matoke.
I skipped the fish and ate matoke and g-nut (a soupy, grounded nut dish) instead.
The Ugandan diet relies heavily on carbohydrates like matoke, posho, rice, chapatti and Irish potatoes. Vegetables and meats can be found in the larger villages and cities but are more expensive. For those living in remote areas (who tend to be poorer), I would suspect that they have high protein and iron deficiencies because they cannot afford such nutritious luxuries.
As I was waiting for my ride back to Mbarara I hung out in the Ruhiira MVP radio studio with Moses, the local DJ. They are currently trying to expand the reach of the station’s signal in order to serve the entire Isingiro district.
Tomorrow is my last day in the field and I must pick up the two ultrasound systems we deployed last week. Then on Friday I am off to Lake Bunyonyi ('place of many little birds') and return late Sunday evening to pack and leave for Kampala the following morning. Tuesday I leave Uganda and head to Amsterdam!
