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As the team headed back to Fort Portal, they were greeted by a “troop” of baboons along the main road. Fortunately none of them were hit, but they seemed to hate to see the team leave.

A few miles further down the road was the roadside equator stop. It is not clear how many people have “crossing the equator” on their bucket list but here it was. Nearby construction gave an indication that the Ugandan Government planned to make a stop at the equator a bigger deal in the future. But for now, the equator crossing was a big sign.

The miles seemed to fly bye and even a stop for lunch could not delay the team’s meeting with the medical students. The FINS Medical University was one of the newest in the region. It was located next to a hospital and one of its main buildings was still under construction. It was a bustling place even on a Saturday. It holds classes seven days a week with full time students and students seeking an advanced degree while they were working. They even have at least one bus. We weren’t sure if we met the school mascot.

While touring the campus, the team was able to meet several of the students and hear their stories. It is certain that even in a very poor country, a little bit of hustle and initiative, can lead to success.

It was wonderful to spend time with our two graduates. We had spent time with both their families earlier in the week and we hope that the graduates success will translate to better lives for their families. The similarities and differences between FINS and a US university was interesting for sure. The importance of education is a common theme.

The team headed back to their B&B to start packing for their flight back to the US on Sunday. They could not help but wish for more time to spend with the people of Buheesi. There was already talk of the next trip…..Spring of 2025 for the Secondary School Graduation. It will be a first graduation for Well Spring of Blessings. How exciting!

There is a question that has been asked in the previous two trips that was finally answered to the affirmative on this trip. Ugandans consider a trip to the Queen Elizabeth Park a “must-do” for any foreign visitor. In the two previous trips time was never set aside for this adventure. The 2023 trip was different had it on the itinerary for site seeing on Saturday Morning. Aloysius and his trusty cell phone was able to make the arrangements for the long-awaited Queen Elizabeth Park mini-safari. He, his daughter Gloria, and Francis joined Bill and Roberto on this trip.

How exciting! It did require an early start for the team to get to the Safari Trail during “prime time” mornings for the animals. How early you ask? A 4am wake up call and on the road well before sunrise. Driving on the Ugandan roads is hard enough, but in the dark, it is truly challenging. We did not take any pictures of the early morning drive but there were a surprising number of pinpricks of light along the road. It seems that even some Ugandans have porch lights.

As the team passed through the Rwenzori Mountains onto the plains near the Queen Elizabeth Park they noticed a small sign that said “equator – 1km.” Sure enough a small pull off with a larger equator sign noted that magical “line.” A photo opportunity awaited the on their return north later in the day. A hippo greeted the team along side the road. We didn’t see any “hippo crossing” signs but thankfully the hippo seemed content to stay on its side of the road. At the entrance to one of many Safari Drives they saw some horns from local animals. Unlike a zoo, this nature area is left alone, allowing the animals to live and die as they would without an audience of jeeps and vans filled with curious on-lookers. The Safari Jeep awaited the excited team.

As the team bumped along the trail we first saw a herd of gazelles. As soon as the jeep got close they were on the run with their telltale bounding that most see only on TV. A short time later we saw a pride of lions sunning themselves along the trail. I guess it was not their meal time as there was another herd of gazelles a short distance away. They seemed as curious about the team as the team was about them. Other than a turn of the head and a yawn, they didn’t move.

Other bush animals soon came into view fast and furious. It seemed like most took their turn posing for the camera. I guess a steady parade of jeeps and vans was no longer a big deal.

Huge herds of gazelles and uncounted water buffalo continued to come into view as the jeep continued down the trail. A last minute suggestion by the guide to go to the “canal” for a boat ride speeded up the landside of the Safari. As the team got back on the main road and drove a few miles further South, it found a boat with two crew members awaiting them. Despite the appearances from the picture, Aloysius was not steering the boat. The canal joined the two major lakes in Uganda. What the team found on the wet side of the Safari was awesome.

It was clear that the two man crew knew exactly where to go. As the commercial crews were removing their morning fish haul from their boats we took a leisurely journey down the canal moving from one side of the canal to the other. As the boat approached a clearing along the shore, the team found a herd of elephants moving among the trees. Just as the team tried to count the elephants, they were greeted by snorts and small geysers of water from a large number of hippos that until that moment were underwater.

As the boat moved slowly in the area, the sound of the motor seemed to draw the attention of more elephants and hippos. It became very difficult to even count all of them. There were huge elephants and baby elephants (calves) and every size in between. When one got thirsty, they seemed to all get thirsty. The hippos seemed happy to give them the space they needed.

The boat crossed to the other side of the canal once again where more animals were found. Hippos, beautiful birds, an alligator, and other elephants were in the area, but it seemed like a minor show compared to what the team previously experienced.

All good things must come to an end. As the boat docked the visitors glanced one more time across the canal. If you squinted just right you could see the elephants continue to move along the shore. It was time to head back to Fort Portal. The plan was to meet the two graduates from the Secondary School that were in the Medical School. Although not as exotic as the animals of the Queen Elizabeth Park, this Medical School visit was still critical to the team’s understanding of the value of a secondary school education.

One of the bigger revelations of these Ugandan trips is getting to know the methods used in the classrooms to teach students. Bill and Roberto had that experience highlighted on their Friday Morning itinerary. One of the first notable things was that the Ugandan Educational System had adopted a “team teaching” approach. Sound familiar to any one? So instead of rows of students centered on the front of the classroom, most classes were divided up into “teams” of students that would work together to answer the instructor’s questions. Bill and Roberto each spent time in two separate classes to get a feel for how instruction was taking place.

That session was followed by a meeting with the teachers and staff. The Headmaster provided a summary of the school’s progress within the Ugandan Federal Education System. It was great to hear that the Secondary School was so highly regarded locally and nationally. Bill requested some information on the teaching staff so our donors could be kept informed of what was being taught and by whom. The staff is relatively stable, but seem to have a few people leave and come every year. Aloysius and Bill also took the time to reinforce Well Spring’s commitment to the school and teachers. No visit would be complete without a group photo.

The rains came again cutting the team’s visit short to the school. Once on asphalt streets we were able to make some additional visits. The first was to Aloysius’ office in Fort Portal where he kept the school’s copier under lock and key. We counted four locks to get into the office. The printer was also surrounded by a wire cage to keep it safe from mice that seem to enjoy snacking on the internal wiring system.

The team was able to see a part of Uganda not previously visited in other trips. Taking one of the few paved roads out of Fort Portal, but this time not to Buheesi, they moved closer to the Rwenzori Mountains. This particular road would eventually lead to the Congo border with Uganda. But this winding, hilly road would have required a much longer time commitment than the team had. It was sufficient to see some of the incredibly beautiful vistas along the Rwenzori foothills. They also met some local villagers who were happy to receive any loose change the team was willing to part with.

The trip back into town took the team past a Medical School and Hospital that would be visited tomorrow. Also the team is planning a huge adventure on their last full day in country. You will have to wait for the next blog for those details.

The Well Spring of Blessings has not only financed the Buheesi Secondary School but has supported the Primary School as well. When we bring a team to Uganda we need to leave room on the itinerary for celebrations at both schools. As we started into the village we were able to stop at the site for the next well. The site is at the intersection of paths from three different villages and it was a challenge just moving down the path to its location. We got a picture of the current source of water and it is a small pond that noone should ever use the water from. We are hoping that one, or more, of our donors will take this project on. The $3300 cost will save lives.

When we arrived at the Primary School the line of students was impressive. Of course they have 980+ students. With the students divided into Primary 1 through 7 we could expect that each class would give a short program. Before the programs started we were given a tour of the building on the school grounds. Wow, they have done a great job maintaining the classrooms and offices.

The singing and dancing started with the Primary Grade 7 and worked down. Every class tried hard to express their appreciation for our support which often meant singing more than one song. While they were delightful it caused the program to run over and not all the classes got their chance to present their songs. It sure did not make the songs any less gratifying.

While we sat at the table on honor, Bill got a chance to connect with one of audience members. It isn’t any wonder what a smile and a friendly wave can do in any culture.

Bill and Aloysius were able to share some insights with the students, and surprise the rain held off!

The good weather allowed us to visit several other schools. One is a Primary School that we supported previously, the other was a Secondary School near the Cathedral. The Primary School still needs a lot of help. We got chance to talk with the students in the Secondary School which is always a lot of fun.

The team spent the evening with Aloysius and Francis and their families. Francis’ children are very young and after a few minutes warmed up to Bill. Roberto took over the grilling duties taking care of the lamb. The rest of the dinner fell into the category of a smorgasbord. That word took some explaining to the Ugandans.

After a wonderful day, the team headed back to the B&B. On Thursday the team will be spending time with the students in their classes. They will also get a chance to talk with the teachers.

After sending teams for now the third time, we know that everyone would love to meet the people of America. Not just at a Welcome Celebration but in the homes. So Bill and Roberto set out with Aloysius and Francis to spend the day moving through sections of Buheesi. The first priority was to visit the homes of some of the students our donors have supported to pay tuition for the Secondary School and a student being supported through the post-Secondary School Scholarship Program. This meant putting the rental car through its paces in the dirt roads and sometimes dirt trails of the local area. When it became impassable, the team jumped out of the car and walked on foot.

The first stop was a supported student’s house way up in the hills amongst some of the most beautiful farm fields in Uganda. The fields had banana trees, onions, sweet potatoes, and coffee trees. Families own various plots of land and as the generations grow, the land is divided up. The place we visited had a man that was 100 years old and we met some of his children, grandchildren, and great grandchildren in various huts along the trail. One of his grandchildren had prepared a speech for us pleading for continued, and even increased, financial support for the extended family. That was a common theme throughout the day. Ugandan families with 8-10 children in desperate need. It could break your heart.

The Buheesi villagers were anxious to express their appreciation for our support with gifts to the American visitors. So this is where we received the first of three live chickens, and some huge stalks of sugar cane. I wonder what Emirates will have to say about live chickens in our baggage.

As we continued our walkabout, we visited the first of two wells of the day. The importance of clean water cannot be overstated. Waterborne diseases are rampant and with the lack of nearby, and effective, medical treatment, can be deadly. As the word got out that the Americans were in the area villagers of every age were soon following us wherever we went. Which of course meant more stops in more huts. One must be polite after all.

We then made a stop at the home of one of the post-secondary school students supported by the scholarship program. Some of his siblings went to a primary school sponsored by a nearby church. The girls from the school gave us a choreographed singing and dance routine that was one of the cutest things ever.  Also, another chicken was added to the makeshift coop in the car.

Our journey continued with a visit to the second newest well. Roberto was happy to work the well pump for those with containers for water. We continued to visit nearby huts, which meant more pleas for help. By the time we were ready to depart we had drawn quite a crowd. Which of course meant a group photo. Can you spot Bill?

The travelers then returned to the Secondary School. Enroute we stopped at the primary school to drop off some of the gifts that no normal person could eat in a year. It was also a chance to some fist bumping with the primary students. It was an opportunity for a late lunch and for us to talk with some of the school teachers and staff. Roberto got to meet one of the students he has supported for several years. This student graduated last year and is now is in Secondary School level 5 at a different school.

The last call of the day was a primary school in Fort Portal. In fact it was the school that Aloysius went to as a youth. We were able to talk with some of the primary students level 5 just before they left for the day. There were benches under a large tree that seemed set up just for those types of occasions. Aloysius exceled in his “teacher” element.

You can see how Bill spends many of his evenings hard at work creating these blogs. This latest blog finished hours before the team’s visit to the Primary School for another big Welcome Celebration.