Exploring the Pearl of Africa

In August, Kikooba Infant & Primary School was on holiday so I decided to spend my time working on backlogs and traveling with my EUAV colleagues around Uganda to discover the Pearl of Africa. 

Sipi falls

Sipi falls is located in the East of Uganda approximately 277km from Kampala in the Kapchorwa district. These falls are found on the foothills of Mountain Elgon (the highest national mountain). The name Sipi has derived from the word sep, the name of a wild banana-like indigenous plant that grows along the banks of the Sipi River. The pronunciation of sep was distorted by the British explorers.

The Sipi falls are comprised of 3 waterfalls each flowing from a different altitude. The highest fall drops from a height of 100m. You can visit all of them in a few hours' hike. The paths are a bit slippery and muddy but the effort is rewarded by the amazing atmosphere and natural scenarios!

For all coffee lovers, the coffee tour is one of the best experiences you could do in this region. You will learn the process from the plant till your coffee is in your cup. You will see the coffee plants, and how the beans are being prepared, dried, roasted, and finally prepared for you to enjoy your cup of coffee.

Amuno: Education and Community outreach

During my stay at Villa Mamu, I had the opportunity to meet Anthony (Tony) Okiria, the founder and team leader of Amuno. Luckily, as his project is based in Kongunga Town, near Sipi falls, we visited his library and the community during our trip. 

In these months, Tony is hardly working to create a free access fully-stocked community library, with Ugandan national curriculum textbooks for all levels of education and English story books. The premises already offer a space where children from the community can come to learn by using books and playing table tennis to make reading more attractive and enjoyable. 

In the future, Amuno would like to provide computers connected to the internet to enhance the learners´ access to knowledge, and indoor games and provide more storybooks in both English and the local language (Ateso).  

Moreover, each year Amuno´s social workers identify the most vulnerable children who cannot afford to pay school fees to be beneficiaries of the school support program, helping them with fees and scholastic material. 

For more info, to contact the organization and donations: https://amuno.org/

Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary

Ziwa is the only place where you will be able to see wild rhinos in Uganda. The Rhino re-introduction project was a project of Rhino Fund Uganda and Uganda Wildlife Authority. Presently the sanctuary is home to thirty-three southern white rhinos. We enjoyed the on-foot rhino trekking with a ranger who guided us through the bush explaining to us more about rhino habits.

Murchinson Falls National park

Murchinson Falls National Park is Uganda´s second most popular safari park. It is located in north-western Uganda and it is managed by the Uganda wildlife authority. 

The National Park was an amazing place to take a game drive (safari) in the early morning. We boarded our safari vehicle and we went to explore the natural beauty and amazing wildlife. We passed through elephants, giraffes, buffalos, waterbucks, hartebeest, warthogs, chimpanzees, and little monkeys. Unfortunately, we couldn´t see lions if just only from far while they were hunting. An excuse to go on another safari as soon as possible!

We did a boat safari on the Victoria or White Nile towards the Murchison falls. We could enjoy the view of colorful birds, water animals like hippos and crocodiles, and amazing natural scenery. The park is home to the largest population of Nile crocodiles. 

Murchison falls is the world´s strongest waterfall. We could feel the power and the violence of the water compress to narrow rocks. This creates a permanent rainbow over the battlefield and causes a continuous roar. One of the mindfulness places I have ever seen. 

Bahá’í House of Worship

Bahá’í community compared the world of humanity to the human body. Within this organism, millions of cells, diverse in form and function, play their part in maintaining a healthy system. The principle that governs the functioning of the body is cooperation. Acceptance of the oneness of humanity demands that prejudice - whether racial, religious, or gender-related - must be totally eliminated.

The first Bahá’í House of Worship on the African continent, completed in 1961, is situated in Kampala and has become a well-known landmark of the capital. Bahá’í Houses of Worship are spiritual gathering places open to all peoples.

The holiday is finishing and my last month in Uganda is starting! With a bit of melancholy, I´m approaching my last month in the village of Kikooba but still determined to implement all the planned activities for Kikooba Infant & Primary School´s teachers.