Knock knock, it’s December! The festive rush is everywhere, as if everyone is heading to their villages. Buses fill up before sunrise, fares are double the usual, and your WhatsApp won’t stop buzzing with “When are you coming home?” and “What are you bringing?”
Yet many still travel without a plan. They arrive thrilled, only to panic when they’ve spent everything, including what was meant for their transport back, or when UEDCL does its thing, a situation that affects Gen Z the most, known for their adrenaline-fuelled scrolling.
#1. Power Banks: Not Luxury, but Survival
Electricity in most villages is something many travellers take lightly. Power can be cut off without warning, voltages fluctuate, and in some areas, it’s normal for power to be out for the entire three weeks that most Kampala people plan to spend in the village. A power bank will save you a lot of frustration, especially when you need your phone to light the way, snap photos, get some Mobile Money, or chat with friends you haven’t heard from since last Christmas.
Surprisingly, power banks are not as costly as you might think. You could get a good 10,000mAh and 20,000mAh battery between UGX 35,000 and UGX 75,000, depending on the brand. As a matter of fact, most of the good ones, such as Oraimo, Anker, Green Lion, Xiaomi, and Yesido, charge fast, have multiple charging ports, and last the whole day. An iPhone or Samsung user can get two to three full charges from a 10,000mAh power bank, and a few days of use from a 20,000mAh power bank. It is one of the best December investments you can make.
#2. MiFi: Save Money and Your Sanity
One thing people often forget is how expensive data becomes when bought in small amounts. You arrive in the village and start buying daily bundles of UGX 2,000, thinking it’s cheaper, until you do the maths and realise it rounds up to UGX 15,000 a week. Over a three-week stay, UGX 50,000 is gone! Now, if you buy a MiFi, you could cover your whole family’s internet needs, saving everyone from spending UGX 50,000 on daily bundles.
A MiFi is a small, portable device that gives you Wi-Fi wherever you go. It works like a phone: insert a SIM card, load a weekly or monthly bundle once, switch it on, and it creates a personal hotspot that you and even your family can connect to all day. It is cheaper, steadier, and saves your phone battery. Fun fact: Your phone battery drains faster on mobile data than on Wi-Fi, and it’s even worse when your phone struggles to pick up a weak village network. Good and affordable options in Uganda include MTN MiFi, Airtel 5G Smartbox, Airtel 4G Pocket MiFi, Zuku MiFi, and Huawei Universal MiFi devices, most priced between UGX 80,000 and UGX 150,000 depending on the speed and model.
#3. Plan Your Transport Back Before…
What makes Jan-worry feel long is that most people forget that the journey back is equally important as the trip to the village. You should keep your transport money aside.
Many of our colleagues are usually broke in January thanks to the festive season. Don’t wait until the last minute to hustle your transport back; otherwise, you might end up calling all your friends for help.
If your transport to and from the village is UGX 80,000, set that amount aside and treat it as untouchable, no snacks, no airtime, not even a little temptation. Don’t touch it for anything. When it’s time to return, you’ll thank yourself.
#4. Bring Your Own Essentials: Avoid Household Strain
By the time the festive season rolls around, most of your brothers and sisters have arrived, your cousins are showing up, and your nieces and nephews, children of your aunts you haven’t seen since you were a kid, are everywhere. Just like that, the house is full, bedsheets are in short supply, and chargers are being borrowed left and right.
Bring your own towel, lotion, Vaseline, toothpaste, soap and maybe an extra bedsheet. These small details will make your stay much easier and take some pressure off the household.
#5. Prepare Mentally for Family, Questions, and Expectations
You might hear questions like, “When are you getting married?” “Where do you work now?” “Eh, you have gained weight!” “You have lost weight” “Did you come with something for us?”
Do not let these questions wear you down. Remember, not all relatives are bad; some are genuinely interested. Accept them and answer with grace.
Most importantly, be present. Play with the children, help your parents, join in the cooking, share stories, listen to the old folks, and take evening walks. It’s these simple moments that make Christmas, not just the gifts or the Instagram photos.
Before You Set Off!
Set aside at least some money to help you in unexpected situations. God forbid you fall sick and need treatment.
Above all, be mindful of what you pack. In some villages, girls wearing trousers or outfits above the knee may be judged morally wayward.
And one more thing, don’t forget toilet paper. Otherwise, your grandmother might happily hand you some leaves instead.
