Welcome to Kalongo

Winter, cold weather, Europe and holiday by now seem light years away. I'm back in my world of dust, sun and mosquitoes.

After a week and half in Kampala (arrival of a new country rep and what looks like several exciting changes in the mode of work), I've made my way again back to the north, where in November I had started my new work adventure. 

So where is it that I am now? When you look at a map, Kalongo may seem almost as remote as my previous destination - but being only eight hours away from Kampala and three hours from the nearest tarmac and Indian restaurant (as opposed to 6-7 hours from tarmac and 11-12 hours from Kampala before) DOES make a big difference!

As a place, Kalongo quite similar to Kaabong - both are a rather unremarkable small dusty town in the middle of nowhere. BUT there are also some essential differences, in addition to the distance, which make Kalongo if not more appealing, at least an easier place to be.

To begin with, there is electricity! Ok, there is electricity when the supply is not interrupted, when the poles don't fall down, and when there is no other problem - but, as they say here, a lot of time "electricity is there" (and for the moments when "it is not there", we have an inverter in the office). No more one laptop batter charge to last for the whole weekend!

What is almost as good - here I'm no longer a muzungu! As in the whole Acholi-land (which is how this sub-region is called), here I am a munu - which is a refreshing change (though its resemblance to Spanish "mono" - monkey - is admittedly slightly unsettling).

And don't think that Kalongo is lost and forgotten to the world - quite the contrary! As the signpost forest in the town demonstrates, Kalongo has been a target of quite a few organisations, initiatives and projects (though perhaps less so now than when it hosted a big IDP camp during the times of LRA - but more on that some other day). 

Reflecting this cosmopolitan touch (at least compared to Kaabong), Kalongo hosts quite an abundant international community: one American, one Japanese, two Germans (heard of but so far unseen), and several Italians. OK, all of them are above 50 - but one cannot get too picky in the circumstances.

In particular the big Kalongo hospital seem to attract quite an attention: last week brought a bus load of Americans who apparently come to Kalongo every year to "do good" for two or three days; and the Japanese Red Cross, which always has a Japanese doctor stationed at the hospital, seems to contemplate sending five more Japanese medical staff! I even heard rumours of Belgian midwife interns, but those remain unconfirmed for the moment.

As a real metropolis, Kalongo has an airstrip right next to the "trading centre" (as the "downtown" Kalongo is locally called)...

... and even a roundabout...

... in addition to several other local points of interest.

Yes customer, in case you missed it, this is Jerusalem Corner...

World-class films being screened in Kalongo

And if you had any doubts, rest assured - Kalongo of course also counts with a big Catholic mission and a church.

But most importantly, towering above the town is the main reference point, the Kalongo rock - with a cross that is illuminated at night.

In general, the scenery around is quite nice, with rocks scattered all around - in fact, it's not too different from Kaabong.

My office is within one of the mission compounds, just next to the church (I'm still somewhat lost between the different mission parts, ranging between the fathers, the sisters, the little sisters, the Comboni house...), and the view from around is almost as good as from my old Kaabong office, so can't really complain.

And as a proof that Kalongo is really the place to be, I'm already expecting my first visitors in just over a week's time! Yay!