The offer of ten days in Uganda just before Christmas – a
chance to escape the commercialism of Christmas and get some sunshine? No
wonder I jumped at the chance to go. Three of us went from Chippenham
Deanery at the invitation of the Bishop of Mukono to be present at the
celebration of their 25th Anniversary of our link Diocese. We
were the Rev. Simon Tatton-Brown, vicar of St Andrew’s Chippenham and the
co-ordinator for our link with Mukono, Phil Townswend, a youth leader from
St Paul’s Chippenham and myself. We flew out with our cases packed with
gifts for our friends in Mukono, and lots of good wishes. We were put up in
bungalows which were part of a fairly new orphanage complex funded by the
Rafiki Foundation, living alongside the young nurses and some of their
charges. We were taken out every day, being driven fairly long distances
usually along the busy main road which runs through the middle of Mukono
from Kampala to Jinja, and which takes heavy traffic from Kenya to Congo. At
the end of the day we would wash the red dust off in a cold shower to
freshen up before being taken out for a huge meal with one of the church
leaders in the Diocese.
We met Clergy, Lay Readers, Mothers’ Union members, children
and young people and sometimes were called upon to address these groups –
speaking in English and being interpreted in Luganda, which is quite hard
work. On Wednesday the Church opened their Medical Centre for free tests and
treatment. The queues and those waiting to be seen were given sheltered
seating and music played over loud speakers. The people were slowly triaged
and sent to the various clinics The Centre was crowded – it was like a
festival. In the afternoon we were driven some 50km to a remote rural area
over red dusty bumpy roads to a village where there was a small clinic built
by the missionaries in 1920s. A mobile clinic from the Church was there
offering HIV testing and other assistance – 700 people had turned up during
the day, picnicking and waiting patiently in the sun. The local community
had set up a committee to improve the clinic building and had ambitious
schemes for providing better facilities. This was a wonderful example of the
Church working in the community and meeting their needs.
On Sunday we were able to attend the Service of Nine Lessons
& Carols in Namirembe Cathedral in Kampala. It was strange in this climate
to find the Cathedral decorated with Christmas trees with flashing lights
and giant snowflakes. We were given reserved seats near the front a few rows
behind the Prime Minister and had a wonderful view of the lone choir boy
standing on the altar steps and were transported by his true treble voice
singing the first verse of "Once in Royal David’s City". The rest of the
service was a pure delight of beautifully performed carols – many heard
during the annual service from King’s College. This English experience in
the middle of Africa was most moving and one I will never forget.
Aurea Hart
