Banks, Banks and More Banks

We took a break from shoe distribution today in order for me to help the team make school fee payments. It sounds simple but Uganda makes it difficult. At the conclusion of each of the three terms of the school year, students are sent home with report cards from the semester just completed and fee slips for the semester that will begin 30 days later. During the holiday period, parents are expected to bring those fee payment slips along with the money to either the school bursar (most of the schools on the outskirts of Kampala and in the rural schools) or to a bank that has been set up with an account for fee collection. January also marks the beginning of a new school year in Uganda. That means that we have dozens and dozens of students moving from primary to secondary O levels, from secondary O levels to secondary A levels and from A level to University or technical schools. Approximately a third of our students have fee payments to be made at local banks.

Our morning began with a trip to Standard Charter bank where we remove the money from the Project account and then are assigned banks in downtown Kampala where we bring the fee slips for payment. I was assigned Centenary Bank, a popular local African bank run by the Catholic church. When I arrived at the bank, a new process had been put in place. A single line had been formed for a single teller to handle all fee payments. The problem was the line snaked back and forth through the bank a dozen times and had well over 300 people crammed together, each one in touch with the person in front of them and behind them (use your imagination). After I entered the line, a kind bank employee said she was sorry that I had to wait in line but that I may not be served today even after waiting all afternoon on line. They would close the bank on schedule at 4 and anyone still on line would have to return the next day. I will give you part two of the story when I can connect to the net again, hopefully later tonight.