Uganda

The ride from the Rwandan border town of Gatuna to Kabale, Uganda only takes 15 minutes. But with nine people crammed into a Toyota Corolla it feels like a lot longer. "Now you see how it is in Uganda," said the passenger next to me.

Rwanda runs by the book. Possibly more so than any other nation in Africa. No more than four people in a cab. Period. We've tried to do five and there was clearly no way it was going to happen. In Uganda the cab won't move until it's full. Full meaning you can't get any more people in the cab. We had four in the back and FIVE in the front. Two in the passenger seat, two in the driver seat, and one perched on top of the emergency brake. Did I mention this was a stick-shift? No idea how the driver managed to change gears with one guy almost in his lap and another straddling the stick.

I was in Uganda primarily because my 90-day visa for Rwanda had expired. The easiest way to renew it is to wander across the border and then wander back. Uganda seemed like as good a place as any. The passenger in the cab next to me explained that the country has more than 30 tribes who all speak different languages. They communicate primarily in English, the language used in schools and for all government functions. So instead of the "bonjour, Muzungu " I get in Rwanda I got "how are you, Muzungu."