I resorted to Lip Balm....

Just a few weeks past, soroti is no longer making world headlines.

The heat that finally has be-falled town is a sharp contrast to what it was a month a go when the district surrendered its sovereignty to floods.

Hundreds died, thousands displaced, diseases broke out, crops perished, humanitarian assistance increased acutely, transport paralyzed, bridges brought down….

During my time there, it seemed the floods were a predicament of what was a smell away.

The high temperatures were back, way beyond thermometers’ reach. Adjusting to this condition presents a distinct challenge which drove me into making a contravercial finale decision.

Among others, I ad to stay In doors for most times, move under umbrellas, or simply walking at shadows of anything. While these would be sustained, my lips wouldn’t even with the application of the above measures.

I applied lip bum. My lips had started cracking. Not just cracking but steadily doing so. Worse still my stay was still premature. I had some days to burn in this now semi-arid town. This period is the beginning of the dry season.

Well this might raise a few questions but without a doubt I needed a solution as first as I could have one. And this honestly worked.

Look, I wouldn’t eat anything with a drop of salt. My lips were denying me Coffee because they wouldn’t get in contact with the slightest of heat. I like oranges and these too could not find direction towards my mouth.

It was too much. I was starving!!

At home, i had three cousins who all were ladies. I didn’t use their lip bums for starters because I hate to thought of sharing one…yaaaak!! I don’t mean they are in anyway untidy. They are smart. You know campusers? Don’t you? So I bought one.

Applying was where I encountered some blocks. On first trial, I blew it all. My lips started glowing. I wouldn’t dare move a step outside the room.

Immediately, I had it rubbed with my handkerchief and washed. At one point, the thought of asking a professional application from one of the cousins came in but I thought it would look weird.

I gave it another conscious shot. This time, I was impressed. Rubbed my lips a little with my thumb and I was good to go.

While this was a short term solution to the unbearable upcountry heat, some how even back in Kampala with a rather mild weather, the act has remained.

At University, I have very detailed friends who notice the slightest of changes in me. They even noticed the fading mosquito bites goose pimples which looked invisible with human eye. They thought the little time I was away, I added some weight. Imagine they noticed I had lost my body complexion a little due to the heat? These guys just can’t fail to notice anything unfamiliar with me.

Surprisingly, they didn’t notice changes on my lips.

Anyway I think it would be too much for them the fact that I apply so little that some times I fail to notice it one the mirror. I do apply just once. That’s when am leaving my house. Carrying the lip bum around has not come across my mind yet.

This though has nothing to do with gender equality. Or any of these crazy acts gripping Africa today. You know them…don’t you? I was just desperate for a solution. And I found one.