It's hard to believe, but my time here in Uganda is actually coming to a close. I am now in my final two weeks of this three month adventure, and it's just starting to get really interesting! Hah, no, of course the whole experience has been interesting, but our work on the Kitaka Mine has just started to progress really quickly in the last week.
Another couple of pictures from our visit to the Uganda Wildlife Education Centre, the first is one of the hyenas and the other is Barb and I with a shoebill. What an amazing bird! We entered the enclosure and our guide called him, and this huge bird flew right over to us and landed right beside me. It's quite a social animal, and was apparently gesturing to us and looking for the appropriate response. He would drop his head in a bow, and wiggle it back and forth - like shaking your head 'no' while bent over. We were instructed to repeat the gesture, in order to indicate that we were friendly, and to avoid getting nipped in the arm with that large beak!
As for our work at the mine, it looks like I'll be leaving just as the production work gets underway. We've partnered with a group of Chinese investors who were brought on board by our Ugandan backer, and they are interested in moving very quickly on the project. So far it seems that our interests are aligned, as far as the social and environmental responsibility components are concerned, but we will have to see how things go to be sure. Mining is a high-risk enterprise, and things can change quickly. Hopefully the future of the Kitaka mine is as positive and beneficial for the community and the area as the initial planning and development have been.
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