Jennifer Burden traveled by invitation of the UN Foundation’s Shot@Life campaign to Uganda to observe UNICEF’s Family and Child Health Days, where children are provided life-saving vaccinations. This post reflects on Day 3 of her adventure in October. She has previously reported on day 1 about UNICEF offices in Kampala, Uganda and day 2 of her trip at a UNICEF Family Health Day in Mumbende, Uganda.
Riverboat Safari
On Day 3 of our Ugandan adventure we took a detour. We were scheduled to meet with the health staff who were going to be working at the Family Health Days that we were visiting on Sunday, but they were still busy preparing for Sunday. So, we found ourselves with unexpected free time. What better thing to do in Africa when your plans fall through than to visit one of Uganda’s national parks?

Queen Elizabeth National Park in Uganda. Jennifer Burden of World Moms Blog with Jenny Eckton of the blog, Formerly Phread while in Uganda in October 2012 with Shot@Life.
Saturday’s adventure led us to Queen Elizabeth National Park, where we went on a river safari cruise on Lake Edward. We saw a multitude of hippos and buffalo, as well as, elephants, crocodiles, monkeys and beautiful birds. We hopped a riverboat and spent the entire time out on the water. I have never seen so many hippos in my life. Apparently, some had been brought to the park in the 1960s, and they’ve been expanding every since! One moment the waters would appear empty, but the next many hippo heads popping up out of the water! Babies followed their moms. They swam around together in groups. Absolutely incredible!
Culture & Signs of Extreme Poverty
The excursion was a fantastic opportunity for our delegation to get a feel of the country’s natural beauty and a great team building exercise. We were bonded going into the next Family Health Day. However, driving through the extreme poverty on the long bus ride through the country really put into perspective how much UNICEF’s efforts were needed.
We saw homes made of only big sticks and mud with reeds or tin for roofs. Although they are great “green” homes for the country’s beautiful African sun drenched days, they are unsuitable when temperatures become very cold at night and there is no running water or electricity.

Ugandan house made of mud and sticks.
Also, children were seen walking long distances in school uniforms, many alone. Women, men and children carried large yellow containers to collect water in and walked for miles home. An image that will never cease to amaze me — the site of an African woman balancing her load on her head and walking on the roadside barefoot.

Woman in Uganda walking on side of road in western Uganda.
Unfinished homes and store fronts were quite common. We were told that owners would save up for bricks and then add gradually to the structure over many years. It was not uncommon to see unfinished storefronts in use or piles of bricks that had been delivered to unfinished residences. Bricks were made of heated, dried mud.
Here is an example of a typical storefront. This one is a bicycle shop and a clothing store. Often times, the storefronts were painted by companies seeking to advertise mobile phones and other products.

Common roadside storefront in Uganda.
We were truly humbled by our trip out to western Uganda. The further we drove away from Kampala, the more common it was to see mud huts. And storefronts were everywhere, often with mothers manning them and children playing outside. Day 3 was a truly memorable day. We captured photos that changed us and that will stay in our advocacy hearts forever. This day was good for our delegation to get to know each other better and prepare for the next round of Family Health Days on Day 4.
This is an original post to World Moms Blog by founder, Jennifer Burden of New Jersey, USA.
Photo credits to the author.
Great post, Jen! I’m glad you had the opportunity to get out of the city. Looking forward to hearing about Day 4!
Thank you, Jennifer. One day we’ll have to sit down over a warm cup of something good and talk. I’d love to know more about your experiences, too. Day 4 is a good one…so stay posted!! 🙂
Jen 🙂
I am loving this series Jen. What an amazing experience. Thanks for sharing!
Thank you, Maman Aya. I’m glad that you are coming along for the ride virtually!
Jen 🙂
Thank you for sharing your journey and reflections. The pictures are amazing and I look forward to reading more.
Thank you, Lyssa!! As I’m putting the finishing touches on Day 4 to be published soon, I just realized that I haven’t responded to these comments!
You are a Shot@Life star, Lyssa. Thank you for coming over to read and for your support at home throughout the trip! It is fun being a champion with you!
Jen 🙂
Thank you, Jennifer for the memories of of our wonderful trip. I love our riverboat safari and all the beauty around.
I’m so glad that I got to know you better on the trip, Felisa. You are a star! And, I’ve learned so much from you.
Jen 🙂
Thank you for bringing us to Uganda with you with your perspective and pictures Jen!
Thank you for sharing your journey with us. The trip sounds incredible and life changing!
It was, Tara. I’m still writing about it and plan to keep the advocacy ball rolling! Thank you for reading!
Jen 🙂
Your trip to Uganda was really inspiring to me, I was wondering how could you leave your young child to do it.
I sometimes talk to my friends about you and your trip and how i admire you, your purposeful way of living and how you are dedicating your life to help and support women and children living in poor countries all over the world while you can have an easy life in your country.
Wish you great success in your journey to help millions of women and children all over the world 🙂
Nihad,
These are beautiful words. Thank you so much. It was so difficult to leave my kids behind. I kept telling myself that I’d be back in that chair rocking my little one to sleep at night before I knew it, and I was. I think I would have regretted turning the trip down, and what I learned and experienced in Uganda is often being used in bringing up my girls and teaching them about the world. World Moms Blog has given me an outlet to act and help people! In the past I often did nothing because I didn’t know what I could do. I love this group of World Moms!
Jen 🙂