House hunting (3)

After 2 months of house hunting we know which questions to ask if a house or plot is worth visiting, even though the answer is often: “You just have to see”. When Heleen came back Michel knew about a special plot 15 km out of town, but on the foot of the Ruwenzori mountains (5000 m high!). No water and electricity, but near. The site was also close to a campsite. The man travelled specially to Fort Portal and by car we went to his plot.

When we parked the car and wanted to leave he asked us if we do not have boots. This should have made all the alarm bells go off, but it was a rainy morning and we were still too polite. When we started walking on a footpath I ask innocently if the car cannot reach the plot. The owner nods and says when the area is more developed. During the walk we get explanations about all muzungu’s (whites) who have lived in the area; 2 people, and how the sometimes take a motorcycle to climb the steep hill. A future neighbour (woman with child) is following us to work up in the fields. After 30 minutes steep walking we reach the campsite. Completely out of breath Heleen asks Michel if he is serious about this place. For courtesy Heleen decides to look at the plot and politely mention this is not what we are looking for. But after another 15 minutes Heleen decides that hurting her knees is not worth the courtesy. Heleen explains we do not want to live in a place where we have to climb the mountain for 45 minutes. He says surprised:”But madam you will get used”. By the way the nearest electricity pole is 1 km, if the hospital gets connected in the future.

Michel decides to continue and after 15 more minutes he reaches the plot. The owner has two wives and lives with one wife in a mud house on this plot (called semi-permanent house). He now mentions that he would like to keep the house, but is selling the rest of the plot. The house is on the only not-completely-vertical part of the plot. The rest is too step to do anything except growing beans and potatoes. We add to the list of questions: Is the house/plot accessible by car? Anyway, the view was breathtaking, despite the damp morning we can see as far as lake Albert and lake Edward.