Outside on the dirty gray, square-shaped pavers of the busy Link bus terminal, two more green Link buses were in queue to be filled up next with passengers.
Inside the bus, the mood couldn't have been in greater contrast to the cool, rainy weather of the April wet season. The mood of the bus operators was about as low as it usually was and with good cause.
The bus number "070" had been in transit since 9:15 pm the previous night. On route from Kampala, only to make it to Masindi town, a quarter to midnight.
The Operators had had minimal rest; and bright and early resumed operations. They had to clean the bus, refuel it and give it a maintenance check before stationing it at the bus terminal for fill up.
Anyone who has ever been in the transport business will know the prevailing adjective is " backbreaking".
Back at my place, in the western ward of the laid back town of Masindi district, two days before, I had successfully made a two day reservation at the gorgeous "Prestige Hotel Suite" as I sought to book before I set off, grabbing the cheapest deal possible from the hotel's website whose reviews were very enticing across all priorities I set for my accommodations whole in the Capital of Uganda, Kampala.
By the time we made it to the city at 9:00 am, everyone on board was exhausted. Two had honked due to motion sickness; 60 per cent of the passengers had at one point dozed off. We all yearned for a good stretch of the limbs.
Two red, Boda Boda motorcycles emerged from the bus terminal gate and parked right next to bus entrance. A man sat comfortably on each yelling,
"Boda, Boda... Egenda!"
Meaning: Motorcycle transport was available.
"Boda boda" is the cheapest, and most popular form of transportation in and areas around the Capital city Kampala.
Two and half hours seated in a tight space had left banged up, I slowly stepped out of the bus, and greeted one of the motorcyclists. We soon came to an agreement on the transport fares for the trip to the hotel.
I hoped on and off we went...
Image source: Pinterest
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