Uganda, Feb. 8 -- Driving to Kigali, the capital of Rwanda, requires little advance preparation especially after you get out of the metropolitan traffic snarl around Kampala and head southwest proper.

The new Mbarara city is dotted with shiny new Shell petrol stations advisable, if your car engine may be susceptible to small changes in fuel blends across the border. The Mbarara-Ntungamo-Kabale-Katuna stretch is remarkable for one thing. Very light motorized traffic especially at night.

The vast South Ankole Plateau-and Kigezi highlands are remarkable for another thing, very light economic activity. Not much can be observed on the big farms happening at night.

It seems the cows are resting after their owners returned to the capital afte...