Notes from Friday March 23, 2012

Forgot to post this one:

 

Just out of the guesthouse at the main road there was an accident this morning.  I saw a large crowd had gathered and the police were doing some kind of investigation.  It is a popular spot for boda boda drivers to congregate but now there were at least 40 or 50 people gathered surveying the scene.  I learned later that there had been a serious accident where a pickup truck had hit into the back of a boda carrying the driver plus a passenger as the boda slowed down to turn right.  The truck driver evidently had not seen the boda signaling to turn and slow down.  There were skid marks at the scene – marks of blame.  The truck driver fled the scene in order to save his life.  It was his fault and Ugandans believe in localized justice which ends up being swift and violent.   It was speculated, by a man drinking at the nearby roast pork diner, that the driver probably ran for his home village wherever that might be.  He left his work vehicle right there at the scene of the accident knowing that he’d automatically lose his job.  As I thought about that group of boda drivers assembled there at the crossroad I shiver a bit knowing that the two on the boda are in critical condition fighting for their lives and that onlookers were looking for blood of justice.  I, for one, will be driving more carefully.