This article was written for a Company Magazine prior to going to Uganda!
There are many great moments of history. One of which was when John Speke,
a British explorer, entered the country now known as Uganda, sought the source
of the Nile and arguably found it. It is not recorded what Speke said at this
momentous event, possibly because it was - "Oh!".
The full import of this discovery was only realised some time later when entire
geography books needed to be rewritten. London was in uproar at yet another
momentous British achievement. Mind you, Speke's native bearers were puzzled.
They'd been up there for a picnic the year before and though they agreed it
was quite a nice place it hadn't changed their lives one jot.
Still, a hundred and twenty five years later I have the privilege of being
one member of a contingent visiting Uganda (and Speke's discovery).
Uganda 2000 is a continuation of the Uganda (UNITE) project originally run
by the Scout Association to promote International friendship, aid and social
development within Uganda. In 1995 a contingent from Surrey travelled to Kampala
forging new contacts and establishing the groundwork for the relationship
between the U.K. and Uganda Scout organisations. The contingent going in August
is from all parts of the country, ranging from Newcastle to Kent, from E.
Anglia to North Wales.
Most (more than 80%) of Ugandan Scout troops are based on schools. Scouting
puts a lot of emphasis on service to their districts and community. Because
of the troubles that Uganda have endured through the years there is a generation
"gap" which has left a large percentage of the population under
the age of 25. The need to educate the young people to be aware of the society
in which they live with a view to improving it is paramount. The Ugandan Scouts
Association is banking on the children and young people because they are the
future of the country. However education in Uganda is not free! Therefore
only those that can afford it may get the best opportunities. Schools in Uganda
(unless well-off) have no books, pens, maps, compasses, rope, string, axes
or spades. What we take for granted in our country, water, free health and
education are not taken for granted in Uganda.
In order to help with resources an initiative was undertaken to provide shipping
containers nationwide to collect as much clothing and equipment as possible
and ship them to Uganda. This ranged from colouring books to, believe it or
not, a Land Rover.
So what exactly will I do in Uganda? The contingent (around 150 people with
an age range of 15 to 60) has been divided into Units. Each unit will, at
some time, go to a specific Town or Village and undertake a community project.
This may involve painting a school, erecting fences or putting in a water
system. My unit comprises only five persons. Two fifteen year olds from Derby
and Caldicott, a twenty year old from Kings Lynn, a twenty three year old
from Tunbridge Wells and me. Our unit has a more varied timetable than some.
After acclimatisation at the Avonja campsite at Jinja we will be heading eastwards
to climb Mount Elgon, bordering on Kenya the highest mountain in the east
of Uganda. After spending 4 days on the mountain we will bus to our designated
town, SOROTI, to meet and greet local dignitaries, scout leaders and scouts
and hopefully establish links with the people there. The project we have to
undertake is at the moment unknown but may involve a grain mill?????? Leaving
Soroti we travel to the Murchison Falls National Park to see the wildlife
and the Falls itself. Finally we travel to an International campsite at the
peculiarly named place called KAAZI, on the shores of Lake Victoria where
we spend the week with approximately 5000 scouts from Uganda, Kenya, Rwanda
and other East African countries. The week will involve sharing and learning
skills. My unit are planning on taking out climbing and abseiling equipment
and building a climbing tower to give the young people the chance of adventure
under qualified tutors. Much of the equipment we are taking out will be left
for the benefit of those that can't afford it. A lot of the money being taken
out will be used to finance the schools and the children that cannot afford
simple education. Wish me Luck!
Recently I was asked why I had chosen to visit Uganda. I gave this question
a lot of thought. Pondered for hours. And then the answer came! Truth is,
I was offered the chance to go and my wife let me!
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