Being part of a big UK contingent lost much of its effect with the staggered flights and the lack of a reunion at Khaazi. We questionned whether all the central organisation was then worth it. Marvin as co-ordinator lost a year of his life and we found we were duplicating a lot of the paperwork by sending it to the co-ordinator.
Organising the transport in Uganda gave poor Marvin a lot of work and during our stay it often seemed that the local firm had bitten off more than it could chew. I don’t think they undercharged either. As our links with our colleagues in our partner district develop, we hope they will be able to assist with the arrangement in advance of transport facilities.
The banking arrangements were very useful and we probably benefitted by transfering such a large sum and paying one lot of commission. Again this made a lot of work for Marvin.
The service team was very good. They were well planned and their actions were effective. We should like to thank them for all their work on our behalf. However, we also realise that each group could send its own advance guard who would buy ‘phone cards etc, and then become part of the group once it arrived. Each group had plenty of adult leaders and the Ugandan leaders we were with were certainly capable of helping out in case of emergency.
With regard to our own visit, we should like to pass on to our successors the following recommendations which we list here as they may be of interest to other groups.
The ideal size of party in Masindi would probably be c.20, as the local shops
might find it difficult to support more and it would fit well with the dictates
of the transport facilities.
We should have had the safari first during the acclimatisation period, and
then worked until the end, when we should have had more of a celebration.
As it was, we had a lot of “dead” time travelling.
During our time in Masindi we should have had more rest days as the group
got very tired. This would also have afforded the opportunity to go shopping
earlier and to order clothing locally, giving us more choice and putting more
money into the local economy.
Hiring a local cook was an idea to be recommended. A native speaker made shopping
easier, we learnt a lot about the food and the way of cooking and we contributed
to a needy family.
We should not go to Kampala again as there is nothing there. We should rather
plan to go from Masindi to Entebbe.
An existing relationship would give us more say in our choice of project.
Next time we should like to work inside the school too.The better our relationship
develops, the more input we shall have.
We shall pass on full records of finances and reasonable recommendations based
on our experience this time. (“We need lots of Marmite and a mincer”
are examples of the required sort of level.)
2003 REPORT FROM THE MASINDI CONTINGENT