Countries, Rivers and Famous Architectural Structures of the World
Primary 4 · English
Countries, Rivers and Famous Architectural Structures of the World
Lesson 2 of 5
45 min
Mutesi's aunt is on a trip to Uganda. Every evening she sends a message to the family phone, and Mutesi reads it aloud to everyone.
Today you will read her message and learn how to talk about countries and places you and your family have visited.
Dear Mutesi,
Greetings from Kampala! We arrived yesterday evening. We travelled by bus from Nyabugogo bus park in Kigali, and the journey took about nine hours. At Gatuna, we crossed the border into Uganda.
Kampala is a big, busy city. Like Kigali, it is built on hills. But there are many more cars and motorbikes here, and the traffic is very slow! People speak English and Luganda, and many people speak Kiswahili too.
Today we went to Jinja. We saw the place where the River Nile leaves Lake Victoria. I have never seen such a big lake! It looks like the sea.
For lunch I ate matoke, cooked green bananas, with groundnut sauce. It was delicious, and it reminded me of our own ibitoki.
Have you ever been to Uganda? I think you would love it. Next time, let's come together!
Love,
Auntie Umutoni
How did Auntie Umutoni travel to Kampala?
By bus, from Nyabugogo bus park in Kigali.
Where did she cross the border?
At Gatuna.
What did she see at Jinja?
The place where the River Nile leaves Lake Victoria.
How is Kampala like Kigali? How is it different?
Both are built on hills. Kampala has many more cars and motorbikes, and slower traffic.
To ask about any time in someone's life, use Have you ever … ? with been, seen, eaten and other past participles.
| Verb | Past simple | Past participle (after have) |
|---|---|---|
| be | was / were | been |
| see | saw | seen |
| eat | ate | eaten |
| fly | flew | flown |
| visit | visited | visited |
| travel | travelled | travelled |
When you say when it happened (yesterday, last year, in 2025), use the past simple: I went to Uganda last year. Not I have been to Uganda last year.
Speak: Do a class survey. Ask five friends: Have you ever been to another country? Have you ever been to Lake Kivu? Have you ever eaten matoke? If they say yes, ask When did you go?
Write a message like Auntie Umutoni's, from a place you have visited (or would like to visit). Say how you travelled, what you saw and what you ate, and end with a Have you ever …? question.
Tip
“Ever” and “never” go with have. A time word like yesterday or last year goes with the past simple: I have never been to Kenya. I went to Uganda last year.
Write your answers in your exercise book, then check.
Answer with a short answer: Have you ever been to Burundi? (No)
Answer: No, I haven't.
Complete: I have never ___ (see) the sea.
Answer: seen
Complete: My uncle ___ been to Kenya three times. (have / has)
Answer: has
Correct the mistake: I have been to Kampala last year.
Answer: I went to Kampala last year.
She is in Uganda now. Complete: She has ___ to Uganda. (been / gone)
Answer: gone
What you learned today
Sources and credits
Quick check
Which sentence is correct?
