FLOWERS OF UGANDA

‘Pull over here, Kisekka,’ Arnold instructed the driver of the jeep.

‘We are not there yet, Sir,’ Kisekka replied.

Kukomesha!’ Arnold utilised one of the few Swahili words he knew.

Kisekka brought the jeep to a stop.

‘What’s in there?’ Arnold asked, pointing at the white structures that covered the fields.

‘They grow flowers, Arnold Sir.’

Growing flowers on an industrial scale miles from Kampala made no sense, and according to his map, this was government-owned land.

He jumped down. ‘Wait for me here,’ he instructed Kisekka.

He saw no sign of any security cameras or guards.

Arnold jumped the fence. He heard chatter. Young voices among the sound of machinery.

There was a gap in the sheeting. Arnold peered through.

Hundreds of young boys were inside the tent. Each had a table of metal pieces in front of them. They expertly assembled the various pieces.

Arnold had found what he had been sent to discover: Idi Amin’s weapons factory.


africa

Written for ‘What Pegman Saw’, a weekly prompt based on a view from Google Maps. The idea is to write a piece of fiction of around 150 words based on the prompt. Full details can be found HERE. This week we’re off to Uganda, a country with a long history of civil war and child labour.

For more stories based on this week’s prompt, visit HERE.

16 responses to “FLOWERS OF UGANDA”

  1. Wow, love where you took this prompt. I could see it vividly. Now I want to see what happens next!

    Like

  2. This was chilling. An unexpected take on the prompt.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Thank you, and congratulations with your novels 🙂

      Liked by 1 person

      1. You’re welcome and thank you! 🙂

        Liked by 1 person

  3. And what terrible fruits that these flowers will bear. Unfortunately it’s still a problem that has yet to be resolved, and it’s one you’ve illustrated wonderfully in the story.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Thanks Chris. Amazing how long one country has constantly been at war and left no one unaffected.

      Liked by 1 person

  4. Good story. Uganda certainly has plenty of violent history to cull for story ideas.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Crazy that a country can tear itself apart for so long.

      Like

  5. Evil, hidden behind the veil of innocence. So sad, so very sad. Well written and evocative.

    Liked by 1 person

  6. Dear Iain,

    Frightening, chilling and well told. It seems we both went the Idi Amin route. Lots of fodder for stories.

    Shalom,

    Rochelle

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Certainly a deep well of tragic material to mine. Thanks Rochelle.

      Like

  7. Idi Amin never disappoints when it comes to fodder for stories, isn’t it? Well done.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Thanks Neel, he certainly doesn’t disappoint.

      Like

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