Blogs from Kampala, Central Region, Uganda, Africa - page 25

Rebel members of The Lords Resistance Army had visited this Catholic school for girls many times. They had come for cloths, food, and blankets - took what they wanted but never harmed anyone. One cool night, the nuns and girls were soon to learn there was much different about this visit. This time, the rebels wanted more, much more; they wanted the girls...all 140 of them! Over the pleas from the nuns, the crying and struggling girls were taken away. One nun, Sister Rachele, would not give up. Sister followed the rebels, constantly pleading for their return. She recounted the times they were warmly welcomed into the school. Her pleas had no effect, the rebels with their human spoils marched on into the Bush. Sister's pursuit continued and she was able to halt the march ... read more

Didn't have internet anywhere this weekend and there were several power outages; very common here. Friday, we did a lot of running around meeting TKL partners and gathering equipment. The absolute coolest people here are the motorbikers. The preferred form of transportation is walking, bikes, taxi vans, and motorbikes; in that order. There are no traffic lights and very few stop signs. The country is energy efficient as well; no air conditioning anywhere-; estaurants-banks-hotels...anywhere. Meals are cooked on open fires or wood-burning stoves. Saturday was soccer day for the children of Katanga. The families live in make shift homes with no electricity, dirt floors, and no toilet facilities. A open stream of sewage runs through the slum in front of every home and circles the soccer field. The field has stones and other debris and ... read more

No words could describe what I saw and felt today, I could barely hold back tears. I visited two schools I will be coaching basketball in or assisting teachers begining Monday. The Nabawanuka all girls school and the Beupa School in the Katanga Slum in Kampala. I will let the photos speak to you.... read more

I'm in London's Heathrow Airport. After a very restful six hour trip (slept most of the way), I'm still a little blurry eyed. A nine-hour lay over (yippie) and I depart for Entebbe. Nothing much to report yet except the people hear are so nice and I could listen to them talk all day. Oh, and the dollar is much weaker than I thought.... read more

So, all of the preparation is done and all there is to do is wait to board the plane. There is a nine-hour lay over in London, so i guess I'll have to hunt down some fish & chips...and beer! The Kids League, my host organization, has done an amazing job working with the children of Uganda. TKL uses various sports to help the young people deal with the trauma of war. I will be supporting the soccer program, teaching basketball, and taking photographs to document their amazing work. We will work in Kampala and displacement camps up north in Gulu. last fall, an article in the Philadelphia Inquirer written by Carolyn Davis introduced me to TKL. The words and photographs reached inside of me and drew my spirit to that beautiful country; I knew I ... read more