After a late start and a leisurely breakfast, I wrapped up my reports and packed for the journey home.
I arrived at Entebbe’s new airport terminal around 1pm, greeted by a huge queue for the Emirates check-in. Thankfully, I had opted to fly with Qatar Airways, and their line was much tiny in comparison! For once, I had a reason to smile as I navigated the many security checkpoints with ease, finishing up in good time at the café.
When it comes to boarding, I always wait until the queue has nearly disappeared. As I approached the gate, I noticed a bag filled with expensive duty-free gifts that someone had left behind. I handed it to the airline staff and continued on to my seat. Moments later, the young lady seated next to me suddenly stood up, exclaiming that she had left her bag at the gate. I smiled and suggested she speak to the cabin crew. A few minutes later, she returned, relieved to tell me that a kind stranger had handed it in. She paused, realising with surprise that it had been me. She paused and smiled as she realised that it was me. In a plane of over 300 passengers, you can work out the chances of that happening.
My layover in Doha was a brief three-hour break in the journey before I finally landed at a chilly London Heathrow, where it was 8°C - warmer than when I left, but still quite a shock to the system after Uganda’s climate.
As I write this, I am on the bus to Oxford, where my wife will meet me. It has been a great trip and I’m grateful for all we managed to accomplish in such a short time. This visit has laid the groundwork for exciting new projects we’ll be launching in Uganda soon - stay tuned for more updates. To top it off, I avoided illness, insect bites, car crashes, flight delays, and lost baggage - quite the achievement!
A big thank you to everyone who played a part, especially the fantastic team at the hospital, Miklos for posting all my blogs and kindly fixing my worst spelling mistakes, and the prayer team from my local church in Chipping Norton who along with my wife have kept a line of communication with me the whole time.
Geoff Coleman
Chief Executive
Mildmay Hospital
See Geoff's previous Muzungu blog posts here:
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Mzungu, also known as muzungu, mlungu, musungu or musongo, is a Bantu word that means "wanderer" originally pertaining to spirits. The term is currently used in predominantly Swahili-speaking nations to refer to foreign people dating back to the 18th century. The noun Mzungu or its variants are used in Kenya, Tanzania, Uganda, Malawi, Rwanda, Burundi, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Comoros, South Africa, Zimbabwe, Mayotte, Zambia and in Northern Madagascar (the word changed to "vozongo" in Malagasy, but locals will still understand the word mzungu) dating back to the 18th century.