Sunday 22nd February 2026

The trip has been great so far. I arrived later on Friday and it was so good to see the team. Yesterday I had the special experience of meeting up with an old friend, William, whom my mum knew from her first few years in Uganda. He is now a paediatrician specialising in neurology at Jinja Hospital, which is amazing. I also had my hair braided, which took a very long time but was such a fun experience.

This morning we went to church, which is always joyful and full of life. There was so much dancing and vibrant worship, and a brilliant message from a guest female preacher. Watching the students celebrate and dance for the Lord is a beautiful sight and such a privilege to witness.

After church it was straight into sports day and what a blast it was. From parachute games to balloons and sack races, the sound of laughter filled the air. Seeing all the students together was incredible. I even learnt some Lugandan and attempted a dance, although rhythm is not my strong point. Once the games were finished we shared sodas and snacks, giving everyone time to chat and take photos, which the students absolutely love. Being a similar age to many of them often means I end up in what feels like a paparazzi line as a queue forms for pictures. This year I was grateful not to be the only one, as many of the students were keen for photos with David with the boys keen to talk football and pose proudly in their favourite shirts.

Uganda is a marvellous country and the relationships here are so special. One thing that has really struck me is the widening impact of UgandAid. While getting my hair braided I mentioned our work at NVI and the braider immediately recognised UgandAid and spoke about a friend who had been sponsored. It was such a powerful reminder that the impact reaches far beyond what we can see.