Blasio Byekwaso
21 May 2005
column
Kampala — My tour of Egypt in June last year was in fulfilment of a promise I had made. It was a fact finding tour about what my primary teachers taught me about the pharaohs, who built gigantic pyramids regarded as one of the seven wonders of the ancient world.
The Biblical story about the children of Israel in Egypt and the interesting tales about the sea that divided itself to allow these children of God cross from a country, where they had been slaves to the promised land and the desire to climb Mount Sinai, where Moses received the 10 commandments from God, were among the reasons I went to Egypt. Besides, I also wanted see Sahara desert, the largest and hottest desert in the world.
I visted the Mediterranean Sea as part of my desire to see the mouth of River Nile, whose source I knew.
I also visited Stonehenge, Britain, another wonder of the world, using Egypt Airlines. I bought a one-month air ticket to Britain with a two-week stop over in Egypt.
When you depart from Entebbe Airport by Egypt Air at 3:00am, you reach Lake Nasser between 5:00am or 6:00am. Here, you can start seeing the beauty of the Nile as its waters reflect the first rays of the morning sun.
By 8:00am, when Cairo city begins to come into view, my neighbour in the plane, who was acquainted with the city alerted me to look out for the pyramids.
But as I looked around, I was impressed by the beauty of the city, which is characterised by skyscrapers. From my vantage point in the plane, I took some photographs. And the closer we came to Cairo Airport, the more I looked forward to walking in the city's planned streets.
Being a former British colony, I expected the English Language to be widely spoken in the country. But I was wrong. Even to find a person, who speaks English so as to ask about a bus heading to the city centre, was not easy.
People here speak mainly Arabic. The buses are numbered in Arabic and the numbering is based on the specific routes they take. Never-theless, I reached the clean and green city, whose buildings exhibit exemplary architectural works.
I believe all the other passengers on the bus noticed me, not so much because I was the only black passenger, but because I was photographing almost everything.
However, when I realised I had only 40 films to use in the 15-days-stay in the city, I started to photograph selectively.
Like any other first time visitor to Cairo, my next destination was the pyramids. I was there by 10:30am. And by 2:00pm, I was on my way to the exit of the pyramids with my guide, who was pressing me for a bakashis or a tip.
As a naturalist, cities rarely impress me except for their geographical features. However, I was impressed by Cairo, where I learnt a number of things that I wish to share with fellow Ugandans.
Roads: The standard of roads in Cairo was superb. Apart from being very wide (three to four lanes one-way) you also hardly see a pothole on the roads. One would be excused for thinking that Cairo is a recently built city and therefore the roads are still new. If I compare this with roads in Kampala City, then roads would be an eight-lane road with four one-ways on each side.
Luwum Street, for example, would be six lanes divided into three lanes, one-way each side.
The widest part of Cairo roads, is where roads converge or separate. And if you are to cross from one side to another, then that is like walking from Mini Bata (Luwum Street) to Shoprite in Kampala.
Flyovers are a common feature in Cairo.
There is need for a flyover at the Railway yard to connect part of Nasser road to Mukwano Road. Another site is Clock Tower, where vehicles from Kansanga, Ggaba and Muyenga do not have to enter the city through the Clock Tower roundabout. And why not a flyover at Hotel Equatorial junction, where Ben Kiwanuka Street meets Bombo Road in Kampala.
Environment: I loved the lash greenness of Cairo City. Egypt is mainly a desert country, yet plants are irrigated to keep them green.
In case a Ugandan does not know where they get water, just go to Bujagali Falls in Jinja and see the Nile water fast flowing northwards. This is the water that flows to Cairo, where its value is most appreciated by Egyptians.
In Uganda, when it takes a week or so before it rains, the green parches in Kampala weathers and turns brown.
Can't Ugandans irrigate plants, thir gardens and compounds in Kampala city, especially when the source of the Nile is right in the vicinity?
Buildings: Cairo has fine architecturally designed buildings and structures, including monuments. I took time to find out who the city's major building contractors are.
I wished I would contract them to rebuild Kampala. Arab Contractors, a construction company with a branch in Kampala, is one of the firms. Uganda needs a new modern city with beautifully designed buildings, reserved green patches, flower gardens and flyovers. I also toured Alexandria at the Mediterranean Sea, Sharm el-Sheikh at the Red Sea, Luxor at the Upper Nile and the Sahara Desert.
Tips for you: While at their level of development Egypt can afford to walk, Uganda, on the other hand, must run if she is to attain even a half Egypts's success now. To Ugandans wishing to go for holidays in Egypt, observe the following:
Plan your holiday to fall between May and July. It is during this time of the year that the sun is in the northern hemisphere and thus you get longer day-time hours, while the nights are short.
In some days during this season, the sun rises at 4:00am and sets at 10:00pm.
The weather is also favourable around this time.
Egypt is one of the countries in the world you must visit.
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