Primary school leavers' party

Helen proposed a celebration, and cooked cakes for the 45 school leavers (plus 18 teachers & a dozen others); a much appreciated first.

Only the 45 top students are admitted into year-7 from 100 year-6 pupils; improves school stats! They have taken and retaken mock exams endlessly (see pile of old papers) as you can only go to Secondary School if you pass the exams.

But school is not always serious; some Friends of Kagando sent some paint!

Local King recognized by Government

I million Bukonzo, who are short, industrious, and hospitable live in the foothills of the mighty Ruwenzori range on its Ugandan side (5 million on the Congo side). Over the past century political and physical conflict with a neighbouring tribe, and the British and Ugandan governments disturbed the area, leading to suppression, restriction on development and resultant poverty. Interestingly we sat next to the son of one of the 13 rebels who began the uprising 45 years ago with the King’s father.

Today the ‘cultural’ King of the Bakonzo was recognized for the first time by the President of Uganda, witnessed by 50,000 Bakonzo, who had walked in from miles around for the exciting event. Torrential rain predictably interrupted the proceedings half way through, but spirits weren’t dampened.

Fistula Camp

Fistula surgery here is headed by Frank (centre), who is a busy general surgeon. So to get a large number of cases done, train other Ugandan surgeons (2 on this occasion), and also to deal with very difficult cases Frank invites an expert (Tom Rassen) to come for 2 weeks. Frank also puts out advertisement on the radio to invite masses of patients.

85 ladies with injuries from obstructed labour came during the 2 weeks. We five doctors spent a day and a half examining them, and then 9 days operating successfully on well over 50 of them from morning till up to 9 at night!

Special memories for Dave were the patient, on whose birthday he did a special sling operating that he learnt in Sheffield one time. Another was a 12 year old, born with a displaced ureter that had leaked since her birth, which caused her to miss school (memories of the girl, Sara in Sierra Leone).

Another spin-off was that the theatre underwent a massive spring clean beforehand, and rain leaks, rat cupboards, and wobbly operating tables got sorted. We did have electricity and water cuts, which the visitor from Nairobi found disconcerting! Head torches and antiseptics made do. Generally it was a huge success. Thank God!