Places

No blip yesterday due to knackered battery and a full-day power cut preventing charging. Coupled with friend Sorg feeling a bit rough, we pushed a few activities into today.

Began at the Gadaffi mosque, built by the man himself at the request of the Ugandan goverment on an abandoned mosque site that was left incomplete after Idi Amin. It's the third largest mosque in Africa (capacity 35,000) and despite its questionable origins it's a beautiful building. From the minaret you get a city panorama where you can see other religious centres on the top of other hills. This is the interior of the dome.

From there, we walked to the Lubiri palace, the seat of the Buganda Royal Family. After the King/President was deposed by Obote, the palace was destroyed and became a military base; later, under Idi Amin, it became a torture centre. We visited the torture chamber itself, which is unspeakably dreadful. Since Museveni returned, the King of Buganda has returned to a ceremonial and cultural role within the Republic.

Then on down the Royal Mile (a hat-tip to Edinburgh by the King) to the Buganda Parliament, also referred to sometimes as the New Scottish Parliament - something I couldn't turn down visiting. A nice tour, with loads of info on the general workings of the Buganda social system. The parliament, like the King, has no formal power but their sociocultural influence continues.

Followed by a rainy boda-boda ride home (unpleasant) and now a relaxing evening. Back to Entebbe tomorrow to relax before making a move for the border.