On Nov 7th I set off from Bahrain with 73 kgs of luggage.  I flew with Ethiopian Airlines to Entebbe via Addis Ababa.  My flight was delayed, I missed my connection in Addis, but miraculously I arrived on the same flight as my 4 heavy bags.

Once there I was met by Ezra (the driver), and Fabith (the Diocese Treasurer) and her husband Apollo.  They had been in Kampala attending Apollo's accountancy graduation ceremony and so it made sense to share the journey as well as fuel is so very expensive.  The small truck was ideal for carrying all of us plus my luggage and various bits of shopping.  The next day we tied the fresh fish that they bought on the road on to the front of the truck to keep it fresh!

My first night was spent in a guest house in Kampala.  And it was there that I slipped in the shower and bruised various parts of my body.  As I lay there, checking for broken bones or deep cuts, I thanked God that I was in one piece, and realizing that the whole week could have turned out quite differently if I had not been so fortunate.

The travelling down to Kanungu as as I remember it - with roads that had seen better days, and other new roads being built.  We stopped in Mbarara at the Pelikan Hotel where I had a delicious lunch of fish and chips, as well as using the civilized toilets!

The last one and half hours driving was worse than I had remembered from before.  The untarmacked roads snaked round the hills, and much of the time it was rather like a fair ground ride, or a challenging drive along a bumpy river bed.  I could see why it is that there are so many serious accidents along the road.  We arrived in Kanungu just as it was getting dark, at about 6pm, and I was very relieved to have got there in one piece.

My program was extremely full, with very little time to relax or rest.  I soon realized that I must remember for my next visit and learn to pace myself a little!

My first visit to Nyakabungo Girls Secondary School gave me the opportunity to meet with some of the girls that our charity sponsors.  Not all of them were there as they had gone home after their Senior 4 exams.  I was able to give them various gifts of necessities that had been kindly donated, as well as a T shirt each.  Rather like Christmas.

During that visit I was able to experience what it is like in a classroom when it rains.  The deafening noise of the rain on the iron sheeting roof made conversation totally impossible and I realized that lessons, exams, study, talking - were all out of the question when it rains.  Everything stops.  For as long as it takes - 10 minutes or perhaps 30 minutes.  This is so very disruptive and was quite an eye-opener to me.

I returned again to the school on Friday, November 13th, when the celebrations for the school's Silver Jubilee ( see below) took place.

It was an incredible occasion with the whole school coming together with the parents, teachers and other well wishers, showing pride in and solidarity for the school.  During my speech I promised mosquito nets for all the girls as I had been extremely surprised that none were being used.  Malaria is the number one illness in Uganda. **  I also presented a cup on the occasion of the Silver Jubilee - called the Mary Wood cup (named after my mother) - for Friendship.  It was given to a delightful girl called Proscovia, who had been chosen by the senior staff as a worthy recipient.

The school has recently appointed a female deputy head called Justine, and this seems to indicate the recognition that a girls' school really does need female teachers at its core.

I was also able to launch the electricity connection project by giving a cheque from two generous donors here in Bahrain.  By the end of the afternoon two-thirds of the money needed to complete the project had been raised, and this means that the girls should be able to enjoy lights at night once they return to start the new school year in February 2010.

Another of my days was spent visiting the Ruth Memorial School at Kihiihi, which Ephraim runs for orphaned children, in memory of his late wife, Ruth.
 

Clare with children from
Ruth Memorial Nursery School

 I was able to give him the 38 pairs of shoes and sandals that I had travelled out with, and then leave the money so that the remaining 43 children could also have shoes bought locally.  My visit was like a party as I treated the children and staff to fizzy drinks and biscuits and they entertained me with songs and dancing!  The footballs, tennis balls, netballs and skipping ropes were also handed over, and I know that they will be greatly enjoyed.

Also, Ephraim now has the finances to be able to equip the new classroom, to build a new pit latrine, buy all the desks for the new classroom and also supplement the teachers' wages so that they can have a proper Christmas.  I was proud to be able to this on behalf of all the supporters in Bahrain.

I had hoped that all the glass in the windows at St. Peter's Cathedral at Nyakatare would have been replaced during my visit.  However the glazier had had an accident and they were finding it hard to find someone else to do the job in this remote area.  I feel confident though that I will soon receive a photo showing that it is all completed.  The question of the roof and how to best make it waterproof without replacing it all is still in debate but we do still have some money to help contribute towards that.

During my trip I also visited a local health centre, where a recently constructed building was not being used to its full potential because of the lack of hospital beds.  I was able to see the Mothers Union  (see below)

in practice as it prepared to open its vocational centre for women in the New Year, teaching them how to use knitting machines, sewing machines and computers.

I travelled to a remote parish called Kazinga near the Congo border, where the vicar has three churches.  One is a big substantial building, but it appears to be suffering from subsidence and huge cracks are splitting the walls and the floor.  Another of his churches was just 4 poles supporting a banana-leafed roof, and the third was a glorified wooden structure.  Rev. Benon told me that he does not like this area as they are in constant danger from wild animals (it is in a national park) and also the local people practice witchcraft.  Because of this his family has not accompanied him and he sees them only occasionally.

My last 24 hours in Uganda was spent in Jinja, to the north of Kampala.  Here I was hosted by a couple called Moses and Christine Kivunike.  They run the Bread of Life Evangelical Association (BLEA).  This is a charity that provides education for orphans, and that friends of mine from Wilmslow in the UK have been supporting for many years.  I had always said that I would try my best to get to visit the place during one of my trips.  We drove some 60 kilometres north to view a 100 acre piece of land that Moses had bought recently.  He plans to teach young people how to grow crops and plant trees in this wonderful fertile land.

I also spent an hour or so at the beautiful Bujagali Falls in Jinja, which some consider to be the source of the River Nile.  The dam nearby produces the hydro-electricity for all of Uganda.

The drive from Jinja to Entebbe was rather fraught as we got caught up in the afternoon traffic jams round Kampala and I was worried that I would not catch my flight.  But again God was good and all was well.  However in the rush I was unable to say goodbye properly to Ezra, my trusted driver and companion, who had kept me safe during my 8 days in Uganda.  Hopefully I will see him again when I return next year.

I am so very grateful to all those people who have given support both financially and in kind during the past couple of months.  Without you none of the above work could go on and it is such a privilege for me to be the 'front man' so to speak.

Your prayers and support are still needed as the school, the nursery school and the cathedral all move forward with their plans. 


God bless you all.
Clare Ramsden

** If anyone feels they might like to make a donation towards the 300 mosquito nets @ BD.2.5 each, then do please get in touch.  My numbers are (+973) 39911921 / 17691182 or you can email me at clramsden@aol.com