Reflections on UgandAid group trip 2026 Wednesday 25th Feb

As we near the end of our trip here I’m able to reflect on a whole range of experiences and how they can impact our lives.

The realisation that we have left the bubble in which we live our own lives started on the long bus drive from Entebbe to our hotel in Jinja. The road was crowded with thousands of small motorbikes weaving all around the bus on all sides and driving around the potholed roads which make even our worst roads look great. These bikes frequently carry all kinds of cargo, lengths of drainpipe, mattresses etc. and often whole families of up to 4 adults and children all without helmets.

Then, moving on to our main activity here The Nile vocational institute where our sponsored students live for 3 years of their lives. I was immediately struck by two notice boards outside themain office. Stating the core values at the outset: God fearing - discipline- Trust and honest - Time management - Integrity and flexibility- Love and teamwork. Then the other notice which made me laugh at the contrast to current U.K. schoolgirl ‘uniforms’ - Dress decently!

All the students and staff are polite, helpful and friendly, in fact living up to their core values.

All the UgandAid sponsored students come from deprived backgrounds and are frequently orphans and yet they are always cheerful and show a desire to learn.

Then Dave and I made a quad bike trip into rural areas beyond car access. We passed many families living in meagre shacks living a subsistence existence. The wide-eyed children often rushed out to wave and high five these aliens rushing by on weird machines.

On Sunday we joined the joyful morning service of Praise song and dance and then in the afternoon we entertained 80 of our students to a time of organised chaos of hilarious games.

Then on Monday we visited a refuge for street children in Jinja. These are children with no homes, no identity, no known DOB and often names they give themselves. At CRO- Child Restoration Outreach - we served them a basic meal and sang our blessing to them.

In all of these situations we have met so many living with a strong Christian ethic, genuine warmth of spirit and so much joy.

We who have so much more in material possessions have much to learn about living our lives with thanks and joy - in fact living with the core values taught at NVI.

Ian