The Commute

By Naomi Annet Nankunda

It is coming to 10 years of working here at the Regional Service Centre Entebbe (RSCE) and as I reflect on the past decade, my thoughts focus on the journey to and from the office.

My daily commute.

See, I live in Kampala and work in Entebbe. Some jaws may drop at mention of this.

My journey starts at 7:00 a.m. via the Entebbe-Kampala Expressway that was commissioned in 2018. As I gaze at the morning sun brushing against the beautiful greenery and before tackling the day ahead, I bask in a prayer before selecting a podcast or playlist to kickstart my day.

The journey is always so peaceful and quiet. I get lost in thought, sometimes in joyous memories, but sometimes sad ones. Before I know it, we are at the UN Entebbe Campus and I disembark, thanking the driver that got us here.

On the journey back home, I engage colleagues in a little banter, then I enjoy a good book. I mostly read autobiographies. I look at my planner to tick off my To-Do list.

I am happy, thinking about the hugs from my daughters that will meet me at the door when I get back home.

Colleagues hop off one after the other at different exits until we all get to our destinations. While some may think this a tedious the journey, it has become somewhat of a solace for me, helping me achieve mindful growth.

I look forward to my next commute.