We have received the following report from Moses Kamya, Mustard Seed School’s Director, of a life changing trip to Rwanda for the Mustard Seed girl scouts…
Students had a sleepless night on the night of 25th December eager to set off the next morning of 26th for the East Africa zonal scouts’ Jamboree and competitions. Early in the morning after breakfast, we set off to Jinja first to be hosted by a prominent radio station (Baaba fm) and to bid farewell to the parents and the community. By 10:00am, we set off from Jinja occasionally having bites enroute. We got lunch with Peter Kisirinya, Isaac Newton High School Director, at Nabbingo on Masaka road. Thereafter we proceeded having a stopover at Kayabwe for a picture at the Equator (picture).
We continued with the trip that had turned into a learning tour packed with fun. At Mbarara, we got two tyre punctures in our hired bus which was quite scary; after repairs we continued, reaching Kabaale at night proceeding to Katuna border crossing point into Rwanda. It took us about two hours to clear immigration’s bureaucratic red tape on the Uganda side to cross the Rwanda side where we were subjected to an Ebola test ; by good luck none of us had Ebola. We then began trekking roads with hair-pin bends over steep precipices. We could not exceed 30km/h as we climbed steep hills and the bus consumed far more petrol than we had budgeted for. This was a first time experience for all of us nearly resulting in heart attacks for fear of sliding down steep chasms. By 4:00am, we had reached Kigali. Led by a Boda-boda cyclist, we drove a 20km journey to Ndera where the camp site was located, a place with Eucalyptus trees all over. Girls were given a classroom to sleep in at a nearby school with their female teacher while I, a scouts trainer, driver and co-driver had to sleep in our bus.
Next day was 27th the beginning of the camp (see picture of our scouts’ kit inspection), unfortunately my camera lost the battery, some of the other pics I may have to download from the trainer’s later. We met scouts from Rwanda, Burundi, Kenya and Tanzania. The camp was supposed to end on 2nd but was cut short to close on 30th in the morning. Our scouts did well in the competitions and emerged in the 3rd position in the junior category.
Needing two new tyres and given the high petrol consumption and other expenses the trip cost far more than we had budgeted for. We would have been stranded in Rwanda with insufficient money to get home but for the generous additional help from our UHST supporters, who sent us an emergency transfer of £500 by Western Union in Kigali to enable us complete the camp and return home.
We left Kigali by 1:00pm on the 30th December, first touring Kigali city concluding with Kigali international airport. Kigali is a fine modern city built on a grid pattern with many sky scrapers. Inside Kigali city, we were surprised by the high level of cleanliness, nobody drops litter all streets are tarmaced. Taxis only stop at specific stages. Boda-bodas (motor-bike taxis) carry only one passenger, who must wear a helmet. Policemen act professionally and never accept bribes. This is not the case
with Kampala. Actually it’s the opposite. We were fascinated by the meandering roads on top of cliffs.
On our return journey we slept at Isaac Newton High School in Masaka. This enabled us to visit Nabugabo Lake to allow some relaxation on the beach to relieve us of the stress of the journey. Scouts had fun at the beach taking photos dancing, taking sodas and the tasty fish of this lonely lake without tributaries. On the morning of 31st, we set off for Kamuli. After Kampala we used Kayunga road to enjoy the ferry ride (see picture of students on the Nile ferry) in Mbulamuti enroute to Kamuli. We had to stop at Kayunga town for lunch. We arrived at the Mustard seed school Busota at 5:00pm. All scouts were in good health condition except for one Zaina who had developed malaria in Mbarara on the way back but was treated. Thanks to the experience of our driver, one Jafari who drove us professionally and safely to and fro.
At school, the District scouts Executive committee arranged a function where the DEO was the chief guest to receive the scouts ceremoniously. A series of journalists from local radio stations and national print media were available to cover the occasion. After speeches and drinking a few sodas, we had a wonderful dance celebration (right). It was generally a very wonderful experience for all of us, getting out of Uganda for the very first time. This trip has earned the school tremendous publicity.
Some of the scouts had this to say about the trip to Rwanda;
It was fun moving on mountainous roads and seeing mulit-storeyed buildings in Rwanda, meeting new friends and going to the beach for the first time. Thank you Director and all who have made this trip a reality. (Joanex Christine Mukisa-Scout leader)
I was very happy to travel outside Uganda for the first time, something even my parents have never experienced. I have seen lots of other people, different from my tribe the Basoga, my outlook is now
widened. (Gloria Mukyala)
I thank the Mustard seed school for taking us outside Uganda to Rwanda to camp with people from other countries, I have learnt the way different people in Kenya, Tanzania, Burundi and Rwanda behave. I have come to appreciate different cultures. (Evalyn Aketch)
And the District Executive Officer for Kamuli District Scouts urged the scouts to even higher achievements in their academic work: You scouts should know that what you have learnt in scouting can lay a foundation for your future career. Stick to those good values in scouting and no doubt you will be successful. If you could defeat others in scouting, why not in your academic work?
Mustard Seed Scouts’ success in Rwanda Jamboree
Posted: January 1, 2015 by Steve Hurd
We have received the following report from Moses Kamya, Mustard Seed School’s Director, of a life changing trip to Rwanda for the Mustard Seed girl scouts…
We continued with the trip that had turned into a learning tour packed with fun. At Mbarara, we got two tyre punctures in our hired bus which was quite scary; after repairs we continued, reaching Kabaale at night proceeding to Katuna border crossing point into Rwanda. It took us about two hours to clear immigration’s bureaucratic red tape on the Uganda side to cross the Rwanda side where we were subjected to an Ebola test ; by good luck none of us had Ebola. We then began trekking roads with hair-pin bends over steep precipices. We could not exceed 30km/h as we climbed steep hills and the bus consumed far more petrol than we had budgeted for. This was a first time experience for all of us nearly resulting in heart attacks for fear of sliding down steep chasms. By 4:00am, we had reached Kigali. Led by a Boda-boda cyclist, we drove a 20km journey to Ndera where the camp site was located, a place with Eucalyptus trees all over. Girls were given a classroom to sleep in at a nearby school with their female teacher while I, a scouts trainer, driver and co-driver had to sleep in our bus.
Needing two new tyres and given the high petrol consumption and other expenses the trip cost far more than we had budgeted for. We would have been stranded in Rwanda with insufficient money to get home but for the generous additional help from our UHST supporters, who sent us an emergency transfer of £500 by Western Union in Kigali to enable us complete the camp and return home.
We left Kigali by 1:00pm on the 30th December, first touring Kigali city concluding with Kigali international airport. Kigali is a fine modern city built on a grid pattern with many sky scrapers. Inside Kigali city, we were surprised by the high level of cleanliness, nobody drops litter all streets are tarmaced. Taxis only stop at specific stages. Boda-bodas (motor-bike taxis) carry only one passenger, who must wear a helmet. Policemen act professionally and never accept bribes. This is not the case
with Kampala. Actually it’s the opposite. We were fascinated by the meandering roads on top of cliffs.
Some of the scouts had this to say about the trip to Rwanda;
It was fun moving on mountainous roads and seeing mulit-storeyed buildings in Rwanda, meeting new friends and going to the beach for the first time. Thank you Director and all who have made this trip a reality. (Joanex Christine Mukisa-Scout leader)
I was very happy to travel outside Uganda for the first time, something even my parents have never experienced. I have seen lots of other people, different from my tribe the Basoga, my outlook is now
widened. (Gloria Mukyala)
I thank the Mustard seed school for taking us outside Uganda to Rwanda to camp with people from other countries, I have learnt the way different people in Kenya, Tanzania, Burundi and Rwanda behave. I have come to appreciate different cultures. (Evalyn Aketch)
And the District Executive Officer for Kamuli District Scouts urged the scouts to even higher achievements in their academic work: You scouts should know that what you have learnt in scouting can lay a foundation for your future career. Stick to those good values in scouting and no doubt you will be successful. If you could defeat others in scouting, why not in your academic work?
Category: News