Since our return from Kinkiizi, one of the questions I’ve been asked most frequently is,
“Was it what you expected?”
I began the trip with excitement and apprehension. I had visited Africa before, but not Uganda, so I expected to find friendly, hospitable people, but I knew Kinkiizi was in a remote part of S W Uganda and should there be any problems help was a long time away!
Our itinerary had been most efficiently arranged by Justus Tibesigwa (Kinkiizi’s Diocesan Secretary). He generously devoted much of his time to us during our stay, ensuring everything ran smoothly.

One of our first visits was to Katebere Primary School. It had taken us over an hour travelling from our base, on narrow, steep, bumpy dirt roads but on our arrival there was a welcoming party to greet us! Katebere is a small rural school with only 6 classrooms. There are no facilities for staff – they use one of the classrooms, which serves as staff room, office, bookstore and more. We were taken there immediately and given drinks and food.

We were shown round the school. The 5 remaining rooms house up to 350 pupils; Years 1 & 2 were together, 140 children with 1 teacher - it was very cramped! Years 3 & 4 were also together, the remaining 3 Years had a room each. As we entered, each class stood up and together chanted a welcome for us, their visitors. Most children wore school uniform but very few had shoes. The Years are determined by ability, not age; they must pass their exams to move up each year, so some pupils can be 15 and still at primary school.

All the children gathered in the church, which shared their site. It was quite a large space, brick built with a rough floor and no windows or frames in the window spaces. (Unless it rains, this is not a problem.) The children sang and danced with great enthusiasm, clapping and beating rhythms until the dust came up from the floor in clouds! They performed several songs in our honour and presented us with gifts of woven baskets made by someone at the school.

The warmth of their welcome was uplifting and we were greatly touched by their generosity when they have so little. The school delivers an education under very difficult conditions but it felt like a place promoting love, fellowship and compassion for everyone.

Another visit, which left a lasting impression on us all, was to Nyakatare Health Clinic. We were warmly welcomed with drinks and food as always. We had collected over 50 pairs of spectacles before our trip, which we gave to this clinic. They were delighted.

The facilities were extremely basic and although there were some new buildings (financed in part by money from our Deanery) there were very few resources for treating patients. They possessed only 1 stethoscope and very few beds. They wanted to provide an eye clinic but had no instruments with which to test or diagnose patients. Similarly a dental facility is desperately needed but there was no equipment to provide such a service. The facilities were extremely basic and although there were some new buildings (financed in part by money from our Deanery) there were very few resources for treating patients. They possessed only 1 stethoscope and very few beds. They wanted to provide an eye clinic but had no instruments with which to test or diagnose patients. Similarly a dental facility is desperately needed but there was no equipment to provide such a service Staffing is a real problem because there is no staff accommodation and travelling to work is so difficult on the poor roads. There was no resident doctor. All the services that were available had to be paid for by patients and inevitably some are too poor and do not come for treatment. Rita, the clinic administrator, wishes to build staff accommodation and provide the dental clinic as soon as possible. Her biggest problem is funding.

So was Kinkiizi what I expected? In many ways it was, but I was very unprepared for the poor state of the roads and humbled by the welcome, generosity and Christian love shown to us throughout our stay by our friends in Uganda. I have returned home determined to do all I can to help make a difference in Kinkiizi.                                                                     Gill Tybjerg