Uganda Lodge

April 2009 – Two Swedish Students

Uganda lodge is surrounded by a marvellous environment of impressive green hills, bananas and Eucalyptus trees. The Ugandan people are very nice and friendly and here at the lodge it feels like you are surrounded by friends and family.

This is a perfect place to stay if you want to get to know the real Africa and be a part of the everyday lives of the Ugandan people. There are many opportunities for volunteering, such as teaching English at the nursery school or helping out in the community.

The location is also perfect since it is in the middle of all the big attractions of Uganda, such as Queen Elizabeth National Park, Lake Bunyonyi, Bwindi Impenetrable Forest and Lake Mburu where you can spot all the big animals, like Elephants, Gorillas and Hippos.

We stayed here for about two month and we could not have had a better experience of Uganda and if we are ever going to visit it again we would definitely come back and we highly recommend it to everyone who wants to have a genuine experience of Africa.

// Johanna and Camilla (University students from Sweden)

December 2008    -  English Senior Citizen

I am a single mum of four girls and now I am in my sixties. I decided it was time to do something different in my life., and went out to Uganda Lodge for six weeks, helping in the nearby schools and around the Lodge itself.

Beautiful scenery, mountains, walks, fresh air, mild climate, friendly people, shops, hospital, three schools , lovely church, comfortable accommodation at the Lodge, banana, pineapple, coffee plantation, a chance to experience real Africa.

I recommend  that everyone should have such an experience at least once in their lives.  You will not regret it.

Nina Moore  – Oxford, England

November 2008      Notes from Richard.

In 2008 I was looking for something different, something away from the usual, and somewhere where I could make a difference. I looked to Africa.

Some friends of mine put me in touch with Ann who sold me the adventure to the Uganda Lodge and so began my 2 month stay deep in the middle of Uganda. The Lodge itself is situated on the main road through Uganda in a lush green valley.

The Lodge was larger than I imagined it to be and my Banda, although needing some minor maintenance was perfectly adequate and clean. I had three good meals a day and the local people really took to us, playing pool, having a drink and welcoming me in. I learnt Ranyankole, the local Ugandan dialect as well as being toured around the surrounding plantations and farm land. I was even invited along to watch the local boys football team who I later sponsored with donated money providing them with a kit, Ball and and sports bag. I was even involved in a few games, something which drew a crowd. Go Mazungo….go!!!!

With the funds my family had raised I was able to provide 3 portable DVD players to the local schools as well as educational DVDs supplied by Thare Machi Education, a UK based charity. There was also work done on the nursery and when Sam and Lucy, brother and sister travelling to Kilimanjara arrived we gave the Lodge a much needed identity on the main gate.

What every your reason for going to the lodge, its being there that counts. If your volunteering, listen to what they want and need. Give them your time. If your travelling through on a tour of the area with a local, its fantastic and the views from the east and west range are stunning.
But what ever you do, stay for a while, the people are incredible. Enjoy the Lodge and do what you can for the community.

Richard   – UK

September 2009 Kate & Ben from Tasmania

Next up on our African Overland journey came our volunteering at Uganda Lodge- the main project we’d fundraised for before we left Hobart. Although we were only able to stay with Denis and his family at Uganda Lodge  for one week helping out in Ruhanga, we had a great time and we think that our efforts were well spent. We met up with Denis in Kampala and the three of us drove our way down to the lodge, on the way picking up some tilapia fish for supper  and strapping it to the front of Helga  (our 4×4) !

Upon arriving at the lodge we met Betty, little Jordan, and the rest of the staff who were amazing and looked after us for the entirety of our stay. The development/community centre is looking good. The computer room is setup, the internet is on, and the area is ready to begin teaching students and locals all about computers. Ben & I  both created laminated printouts that explain costs for locals, visitors, and volunteers to use the internet per minute and these are being displayed in both the bandas and the community centre. We also showed Betty and the new computer teacher how to account for the internet rental money and show that it can generate income to be self sustainable.

After a few discussions with Denis we decided to assist him with the building and development of the P1 classroom when we heard that it was to house the grade one students at the start of next year once they graduate from the nursery school. A lot of this was to do with the fact that many of the people that had donated had specified education and schooling as a preferred focus of their money, and we saw it as a perfect way to do that. So we bought materials lots of concrete, bricks, timber, steel reinforcement, hard stone and sand, amongst others. A lot of that went towards the primary school, and I think some of the steel rods and concrete went to the toilet.

As for Uganda Lodge itself. We had a great time in the Banda we were in (down the bottom). It didn’t matter that the toilet hadn’t been finished, and we had to walk to the other ones  but hopefully this will soon be done for other visitors that follow us.