Adjusting Our Western Uganda Route Mid-Expedition
Unexpected Rainfall, Unplanned Reroute
What was supposed to be a straightforward three-day expedition into the Lake Bunyonyi corridor quickly turned into a logistical scramble. Flash flooding in the lowlands had cut off the primary access route by midday on Day 2, forcing our field team to pause, reassess, and adapt.
“The trail was gone. Not washed out — just gone. It had become part of the river.”
Luis Mendoza, Field Operations Lead
Flexibility Is the Real Field Skill
Being nimble in the field isn’t about having the best tech — it’s about knowing when to backtrack, when to push forward, and when to call for backup. With radio signal weak and weather worsening, the team made a call to delay the delivery by 48 hours and reroute through the eastern ridge trail — adding 15km to their journey.
Why this matters
Medical supplies had a temperature threshold
The community at endpoint was experiencing a dengue uptick
Porters were already en route from the north side
Field Lessons We’re Carrying Forward
Redundant routes aren’t luxury — they’re necessity
We’re now pre-staging laminated backup maps at every depot
Partner orgs will be looped into route planning earlier for local checks
The Supplies Still Arrived — Just Later
By Day 5, the team completed delivery: first-aid kits, solar chargers, and a compact satellite modem for the community hub. The delay cost time, but nothing was lost — and everything was learned.
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