“…the countrywide lockdown and closure of the airport found me in South Sudan where I have lived and worked for the last three years. So for a long time, I was not able to come home and had to survive abroad. On June 9, after close to three months, I finally found a flight home. On landing at the airport, a medical team extracted samples for the Covid-19 test, and informed we would go through a 14-day quarantine period at our own cost. I had no problem with this because I was prepared.
The government had designated hotels, which provided high end and budget options. Based on this, I had made my own arrangements with a hotel in Kampala called Arch Apartments, which was also acting as a quarantine facility and they were offering me full board accommodation and meals at a cost of Shs200,000 a day.
Trouble is, the government team that met us at the airport gave us only two choices: Hilton Hotel in Kampala ($135 a night) and St Stephen’s Suites in Entebbe ($50 a night), excluding meals. I was naturally incensed that I could not be allowed to go to a government designated quarantine hotel of my choice. I protested, but nobody would listen.
In the end, I opted for St Stephen’s Suites, Entebbe, which was closer to my price range, only that I did not know what the food would cost me.
On arrival at St Stephen’s Suites, we were met by a jolly and plump manager who gamely informed us that our accommodation would cost $50 (about Shs187,000) a night, excluding meals. Not even breakfast. If we wanted full-board accommodation with meals inclusive then we had to pay an extra $30 (Shs112,000) a day, bringing the total to a whooping $80 (Shs299,000). This cost was not negotiable. He advised that it would be cheaper than ordering each meal separately.
Limited options
Because, I was tired, hungry, and thirsty, I opted to have dinner and weigh my options the following day when I was clearheaded. I ordered fresh fish stew and matooke, something I had missed daily while in South Sudan. When it arrived, it was disappointing both in the quality and in the quantity. The price was a whooping Shs30,000.
I ordered some beers to quench my thirst and the price was a whooping Shs10,000 per bottle. A bottle of water went for Shs3,500. The following day I ordered breakfast and it cost a whooping Shs38,000. For dinner and breakfast alone, I had clocked up Shs138,000 Ugandan shillings (close to $40). This cost was unsustainable. I had to find another solution.
Credit: news.phxfeeds.com
