The Endless Need - Notes from the Field, Uganda

The Endless Need - Notes from the Field, Uganda

Many countries have a strong presence of engaged service organizations and other non-government entities (NGO’s). Uganda is at the top of the list, especially with the number of Rotary clubs who work tirelessly to raise contributions and execute a wide array of projects on behalf of the poor. My own Rotary club in the SF Bay Area was the Sponsor club on what Rotary calls a Global Grant (raising about $125,000). Monies raised by clubs get matched, (to a declining degree after the pandemic) by The World Fund. After being drained of over $400 million due to the unusually high number of worldwide projects, our Global Grant was being pushed to the following fiscal year. 

It was unacceptable to me to push out the project anymore. For over 6 years, the 3,000 residents of Kabojja village have been subjected to get ALL of their water from a spring that tested high in eColi and total fecal coliform. The families boil this water, and the daily fetching with small jerry cans by young children had us saying, “enough is enough”. Fortunately, Global Water First was able to step up and take over the Rotary project. As an enterprise with a revenue-share model, the borehole and bottling plant could be executed. When the purification equipment arrived from Innovative Water Technologies in September, 32 Rotarians and friends joined me on a two week adventure in Uganda from September 7-20. A short 7-1/2 minute video provides a summary, found on this site’s front page (www.GlobalWaterFirst.com). Turn up the sound… great music!

Here is what I learned about Uganda… it is more functional than neighboring South Sudan. But political corruption is more deep-seated. While I was there, high-ranking Ministers of large authorities were being thrown under the bus with accusations of malfeasance. It was clear that the nation can’t function without the legions of service organizations and NGO’s. From the President on down, dysfunction rules the day. As just one example, the Health Minister made a bonehead isolated decision  to impose a Covid 19 test upon ARRIVAL into Uganda, regardless of whether you had a test and remain within the 72 hours before you arrived. I can’t explain how this set off chaos for visitors and businesses, and caused a fight between all the Ministries. As you might expect, people were making quite a bit of money from the confusion.

Should you go to Uganda? Absolutely. We performed several impactful service projects. Some of us tracked and hung out with Mountain Gorillas and many more enjoyed the hippos, elephants and giraffes that inhabit this beautiful, lush country. And we fell in love with the people who live there and try to help the less fortunate each and every day. We were mesmerized by the music and dance. I would return in a heartbeat. We will a couple times more before this year is over.